Thread: I want to know what strop will be best for what I'm using

lapping film is like super fine sand paper (very fine grits) some people use just that for honing on a plate of glass. Crox (chromium oxide) comes in paste, spray and stick. can be used on felt, leather, canvas or even cardboard or newspaper.

If I am wrong, correct me, but it sounds to me like you are using pastes/pasted strop every time you strop. If that is so, I think that might be the problem, more so than the strop or the razor. MHO.

So what is your finishing stone? And what are you trying to achieve with paste? Some will add sharpness, some smooth for comfort.

If you are just looking to experiment, a 12X3 inch piece of foam core is an excellent substrate and a 24 X30 inch sheet will cost you a buck at the dollar store.

Once you decide on a particular paste, any smooth leather or nylon strop will work, different substrates will produce different results. Also there is a difference in the quality of diamond paste as well as most paste, especially Chrome, Ferrous and Cerium Oxides.

Diamond will add keenness, CBN can do both.

There are many areas to address but I will answer 1 question as it seems to be the main one you want answered. You can use many different substrates for pastes as Euclid said but as you have diamond something with some give is often used to reduce the likley hood of harshness from using such an aggressive paste. Something like felt is common is it embeds and doesn't reveal the full particle making for a shallower cut. You will need a different piece for each paste. Hth

Originally Posted by SRNewb

If I am wrong, correct me, but it sounds to me like you are using pastes/pasted strop every time you strop. If that is so, I think that might be the problem, more so than the strop or the razor. MHO.

You are correct! I am using my pastes every time I strop, it brings the edge back but it doesn't hold it... It is a very cheap strop so the other side feels like it does more damage then good

Originally Posted by tintin

lapping film is like super fine sand paper (very fine grits) some people use just that for honing on a plate of glass. Crox (chromium oxide) comes in paste, spray and stick. can be used on felt, leather, canvas or even cardboard or newspaper.

Thank you! Do you have a preference? It sounds like the lapping film is the cheapest way to go because the substrate can be glass which is awesome... But is there any downfall to that? I think I'm buying modular paddle strop from SRD so the 2 felt pieces I'll be using my paste or spray.... Quick qestiom though can I use the rest of the paste I have on the felt then switch over to the spray with no problems?

Originally Posted by eddy79

There are many areas to address but I will answer 1 question as it seems to be the main one you want answered. You can use many different substrates for pastes as Euclid said but as you have diamond something with some give is often used to reduce the likley hood of harshness from using such an aggressive paste. Something like felt is common is it embeds and doesn't reveal the full particle making for a shallower cut. You will need a different piece for each paste. Hth

Thank you! Sounds like there is a common theme going here and that's what I was looking for, I'll most likely buy the felt for my pastes. Unless the lapping film Euclid suggested works great on glass because that will be super cheap as long as it has results that are equal to paste and felt

In my opinion, you're chewing up the edge with all the paste stropping. Pastes are never used by some, and used by most others only when a blade needs a minor refresh (after a significant number of shaves). In between almost everyone strops only on plain, untreated cloth or webbing, and then on leather (no paste or spray). It is that unpasted fabric/leather stropping that maintains and polishes a edge to perfection after it is properly honed. By using pastes every time you strop, you are constantly "sharpening", BUT creating a fragile edge that won't hold up, again IMO. Retire the pastes and pasted strop surfaces for a while and get a quality strop (SRD or elsewhere) that you keep untreated and use for every shave.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

In my opinion, you're chewing up the edge with all the paste stropping. Pastes are never used by some, and used by most others only when a blade needs a minor refresh (after a significant number of shaves). In between almost everyone strops only on plain, untreated cloth or webbing, and then on leather (no paste or spray). It is that unpasted fabric/leather stropping that maintains and polishes a edge to perfection after it is properly honed. By using pastes every time you strop, you are constantly "sharpening", BUT creating a fragile edge that won't hold up, again IMO. Retire the pastes and pasted strop surfaces for a while and get a quality strop (SRD or elsewhere) that you keep untreated and use for every shave.

+1 to all of that.

Originally Posted by Dafonz6987

. Quick qestiom though can I use the rest of the paste I have on the felt then switch over to the spray with no problems?

You can only use 1 paste or spray per piece of substrate. The only exception is if you take a piece of substrate and add a coarser grit. You can reapply the same grit rating to a piece. You cannot add finer grit as the coarser will stop you getting finer results. 1 application lasts a long time so you will not be reapplying often.