Thread: Newbie strop/paste explanation

Hi! Being new to straight razor shaving something still confuses me. While browsing i usually run into one of these:


Strops with canvas.

Without canvas

These type of "sharpening" belts.



Paste

And bags of chromium and iron oxide.

There is lots of info out there on how to use a strop but i wanted to know the differences, and when to use what. I know what to strop is for. And i know you need "a" strop.

Would a leather strop be enough?
Do you need a canvas strop also?
What paste goes where, and why are there so many different pastes?
How often do you need to apply the paste? How to apply the chromium and iron oxide when it comes in bags?
How well do those "sharpening belts" work?

Sorry for asking here but i could not really find a place that explained it very well.