Thread: Do I need another strop?

I have the Revisor Beginners Set which consists of a 5/8 extra hollow ground razor complete with Herold 450*50mm Russian leather strop with a canvas backing.

I am only into my second week of shaving with the straight, but I think making good progress; I have achieved some really good shaves - comparable with my best DE results, yet they seem to last longer in as much as I find myself shaving only every other day.

My stropping technique is definitely improving, certainly my razor feels keener after and I'm not experiencing the same drag as before. However I decided the other day to buy some paste to experiment with; I bought the little red box of Stangan-Pasta produced by Herold that comes with the red (sharpening) and blue (polishing) pastes. On reading further on the subject I was advised to avoid using the same strop for both pastes, and when I emailed Revisor they suggested the strop I have was not suitable and that I should buy a different type such as the loom strop.

Questions:
1. Is my strop suitable for, or even needing the application of a paste?
2. Should I buy a second strop to use with each paste?

If you are into straight shaving only two weeks and getting great long lasting shaves I would suggest that you wait with pastes. I only paste for a quick refresh and when that doesn't work anymore the razors go to the hone.

I hope you don't mind me asking, do you hone your own razors or use a honing service?

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.

Originally Posted by TomP30

I hope you don't mind me asking, do you hone your own razors or use a honing service?

No problem asking, that's what we're here for. I've honed my own razors since I started shaving as a teenager in the early 1970's. I use a coticule. Back in those days there was no internet and I was the only guy around shaving with a straight so I was on my own. Yeah in those early days I had some goof ups on the hone but luckily I got everything down pat with no damage to the blades. I currently shave with about nine or so razors in my rotation but may add some later on to satisfy my addiction.

That's my ultimate ambition where shaving is concerned, I am quite confused however when it comes to the various stones available.

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.

Thanks TL, I'll definitely look into a canvas strop for the pastes. As mentioned already mastering the honing stone is my ultimate aim; having never attempted to sharpen anything beyond a pencil this might take some time!

You don't need to rush into honing, the most important thing here and now is to learn how to shave, even though you think you have it, trust me it's still a ways off where you can get the most out of a blade.
And stropping is crucial to learn and you will be a few months till your really improving an edge, which brings up the pastes. They are a good way to refresh but you still need to be good with a strop to see any good effects. A good touch up barbers hone us cheap if you ask around for the better ones. Or a synthetic 12k,
In the mean time concentrate on the stropping and send the razor out when it needs help for the first couple of times to assure your shaving with a good edge, and then see about looking up a mentor or make a meetup to learn how to hone. Tc

As suggested a separate canvas strop for your pastes is needed as you want to keep your strop clean, ensure to wipe your razors spine and edge after using pastes so you dont contaminate your Revisor strop. Pastes are a quick way to bring back an edge, I've never used the pastes you've got but I get good results with Cro Ox.

Originally Posted by TomP30

That's my ultimate ambition where shaving is concerned, I am quite confused however when it comes to the various stones available.

I would recommend the Naniwa hones, when you reach that point in your journey. They are a very consistant synthetic hone, perfect for beginners and pros.