Thread: Strop Paste

Hi All,

This has probably been asked, but I'm thinking of getting some strop paste. The reason I'm looking at it is that my razor needs a little honing. I was thinking about getting a stone, but can't pay out £100+ for one at the moment.

I stop the blade before and after a shave, but it has lost a little sharpness, so I just wanna get it back to cutting well.

Thanks for any advice.
Tim

If your blade has lost a little sharpness then 10 laps or so on a pasted strop could indeed be a solution.

I personally recommend Puma chromium oxide paste, but any high quality razor grade chromium oxide paste will do.

If you only have one leather strop, then I wouldn't recommend that you paste it. A cheap solution is to paste a flat piece of balsa wood which you can find in hobby shops.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info. I'll have to have a look for that paste tonight.

In the meantime, you can use a newspaper or pulp magazine flat upon the countertop. Arrange it carefully as a pad about 3-6 mm thickness and carefully strop spine leading. There are some folks that make hanging strops of newsprint.
~Richard

I have used CrOx and CeOx and have to say they both worked well. I actually did an experiment with the cerium and stropped with it daily, for several months. It was very effective. I got bored with only using two razors though and moved on. You can make a strop with denim or canvas. it need not be beautiful, simply effective. Another strop material that gets over looked is the cardboard that the make cereal boxes out of. It can be glued to a board and pasted or used just as plain cardboard.

Pasted strops are a double edge…

The reason most new guys have issues with shave ready razors losing their edge, is not from use, but from improper stropping.

Now if you add any paste to a strop, it becomes an abrasive strop and if the technique that caused the problem is not corrected, you will just make the problem worst.

Different paste can add different edges if use properly, for example Chrome Oxide has been used for hundreds of years, to calm and smooth an edge for comfort, while Diamonds can add keenness, but can make an edge harsh.

So, give it a try, worst case you may end up sending your razor out for honing or better yet, pick up a 12k Super Stone, find a local mentor, learn to touch up your edges.

Thanks for your post. I am relatively new to straight razor shaving and I have been having a lot of problems stropping with chromium oxide paste. Sometimes it actually makes the edge duller. I just finished honing a couple of hollow grounds and finished with CrOx on a piece of bass wood that I picked up from a craft store. I did 30 laps on the CrOx side and flipped it over and did 20 laps on the untreated side. Popped the hair.

Originally Posted by slurrycurry

Thanks for your post. I am relatively new to straight razor shaving and I have been having a lot of problems stropping with chromium oxide paste. Sometimes it actually makes the edge duller. I just finished honing a couple of hollow grounds and finished with CrOx on a piece of bass wood that I picked up from a craft store. I did 30 laps on the CrOx side and flipped it over and did 20 laps on the untreated side. Popped the hair.

Substrate can make a ton of difference too. Pastes behave differently on a wooden backing than say a flexible hanging strop.

I might suggest CrOX or CBN if you can find them. Diamond is surgically sharp to be sure, but for most not as comfortable as it could be.

So, first make sure that your Chrome Oxide is pure, Chrome Oxide and not Green polishing compound.

Stropping on any paddle strop is susceptible to the use of too much pressure, so watch your pressure while stropping. It is easy to roll or break an edge.

Balsa strops are notorious for new guys to damage an edge, fortunately a finish stone can usually put a new edge on the razor.

Look at the edge, with magnification to see if there is any damage to it.

Thank you. That is a very kind offer.

I'll try to work out how to send you a private message.