Thread: Do I need another strop?

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

Let me start by saying that those Herold/Dovo strops are excellent strops, really are.
You just need the canvas part only, unpasted, to apply pastes, if you look online you can buy those Herold/Dovo canvas strops separately, and you can use the both sides of it to use a different kind of paste on each side.
Any type of linen/webbing strop will work; maybe even a homemade alternative as jeans might do the trick, I have not done this myself, but I've read about it.
Of course you could also get a touch up hone / finishing hone and you won't need to use any pastes, the choice is yours. Nothing wrong with pastes at all, it's just personal preference.
Both work, but I'd think you'd eventually have to go to a hone, the pastes are a way of postponing the need to.
I prefer not to use pastes aside from the Dovo white, and prefer to hone my own razors; it takes a little time to learn but it's not that difficult in the end. You'll be able to service your own razors for your entire life.
And I'd think a hone is a more consistent way of sharpening than pastes, ymmv.

I would definitely not use the pastes on your daily strop, as the canvas side with the white paste (that I think comes standard this way) and the Russian leather is perfect for daily use.
If I were to use pastes, I would indeed use another canvas strop dedicated to pastes.

I agree with everything said here!

I know from my own usage that denim makes an excellent stropping material. Now, I don't advocate pasting your pants, but I often give ten laps or so on my denim clad thigh when first coming off the stones, so, an old pair of jeans cut appropriately would make an excellent surface for applying the paste of your choosing. Purely personal, but I use the T-I white, although I bet the Dovo is the same thing.