Thread: Strops and honing?

Many in Europe use pastes in place of stones but have set the bevel and maybe used a lower grit stone(3/4/5k). It can be done but pastes tend to cost a bit for the good stuff and it will take longer. Really all you need to go from bevel set to shaving is a 3/8 or 4/8 stone and you can get that for the same price as you will for pastes and the strops to go with it. Do some searches and you will find a lot of info to look through. There is a section in the library that explains hones vs pastes as well. Its good to reaserch this stuff first as it can be a lifetime supply purchase if done right

Originally Posted by eddy79

Many in Europe use pastes in place of stones but have set the bevel and maybe used a lower grit stone(3/4/5k). It can be done but pastes tend to cost a bit for the good stuff and it will take longer. Really all you need to go from bevel set to shaving is a 3/8 or 4/8 stone and you can get that for the same price as you will for pastes and the strops to go with it. Do some searches and you will find a lot of info to look through. There is a section in the library that explains hones vs pastes as well. Its good to reaserch this stuff first as it can be a lifetime supply purchase if done right

Thank you for your help

I would go ahead and use a 10k or 12k stone after the 8k. Find out who makes great strop pastes, put small spots of it down your canvas side of your strop, swirl it around so it is worked all over the surface and your strop should be good to go. Do not buy a cheap strop. Strops do not necessarily get ruined by first-timers. I never ruined my first strop, which was an Illinois. You just need to be slow and deliberate with your strokes, rolling the razor on it's spine and begin moving it in the opposite direction BEFORE you lay the edge all the way down on it. That's how you do it. Later.

Originally Posted by eddy79

Many in Europe use pastes in place of stones but have set the bevel and maybe used a lower grit stone(3/4/5k). It can be done but pastes tend to cost a bit for the good stuff and it will take longer. Really all you need to go from bevel set to shaving is a 3/8 or 4/8 stone and you can get that for the same price as you will for pastes and the strops to go with it. Do some searches and you will find a lot of info to look through. There is a section in the library that explains hones vs pastes as well. Its good to reaserch this stuff first as it can be a lifetime supply purchase if done right

Originally Posted by WILDMAN1

I would go ahead and use a 10k or 12k stone after the 8k. Find out who makes great strop pastes, put small spots of it down your canvas side of your strop, swirl it around so it is worked all over the surface and your strop should be good to go. Do not buy a cheap strop. Strops do not necessarily get ruined by first-timers. I never ruined my first strop, which was an Illinois. You just need to be slow and deliberate with your strokes, rolling the razor on it's spine and begin moving it in the opposite direction BEFORE you lay the edge all the way down on it. That's how you do it. Later.

Cheers thanks for advise