Thread: Strop material for diamond paste?

Got a chance to try out the .25 CBN today. I have to say, I'm very surprised.

I didn't go to the extent of getting a whole new strop for it. I took the stand alone poly webbing strop I made when I decided to put linen on my SRD strop and put the CBN on the back. So it has .50 CrOx on one side, CBN on the other. Then I took my Germania Cutlery Works that I had previously honed up on a Kuromaku 12K hone, stropped it 25 strokes on linen, then did 10 strokes each CrOx and CBN. It was against my better judgement, but I went ahead and stropped it the same as I did when the razor was fresh off the 12K hone. 100 laps each linen and leather, because after the Shapton 12K and CrOx that many laps wasn't quite enough to tame the edge down the first go around.

I was expecting that super keen edge I usually get off a synthetic hone. I'm not sure if my technique improved greatly (I did make it a point to use less pressure than ever) or if this stuff is just that good, but this was more akin to gently dusting hair off my face with the gossamer feathers of an angel wing than shaving. It only took a single pass with some minor touch up on my neck to match my best 2 pass shave to date. And with almost no burning sensation upon splashing some rather unforgiving Captain's Choice North aftershave on.

This is not a forgiving edge, it is true. I could tell if I slipped up the edge wouldn't hesitate to flay me open. But the comfort level I would say rivals (my) coticule, provided that the user does not slip up.

I did not think I would ever like a pasted strop. But .25 CBN from Chef Knives to Go has won me over. With slightly better technique I could probably achieve a zero irritation shave with this. And that's saying something, because my skin is quite sensitive.