Hi all,

Perhaps I am missing something but I am really confused about the whole relationship between all this gear.

I see strops which are plain strops. which are pasted, paddle strops plain and pasted . loom strops plain and pasted strop and hone sets which are pasted , something about slurries which frankly to me sound like a cool summer drink or something that needs to go down the drain.

I do read this site in an obsessive manner and have bought a 2nd hand cordovian strop ( UN pasted ) hones which look like they are made from agate. green and hard as hell they are supposed to be 4000 , 8000, and 10,000 respectively. They don't really seem to do much.

Are pasted strops or paddles the way to go, or are hones or are Japanese stones or is marble or pavement for that matter.

I realize that everyone has a preference and different items for different outcomes but all I am looking for is the simplest way to keep put and keep an edge on my razor .

I can sharpen my kitchen knives to "spec" why is this razor thing such a headache ?

Sorry for my frustration with something I am sure most of you understand.

I just don't wish to waste money and want to buy something great but idiot proof