Thread: Pasting vs. Canvas/Linen alone

given my total inexperience, Please help me choose which paste to purchase first. The main point is my shaves are good, but I know they can be better

Here's what I'm dealing with currently. It's my first and only setup:
Shapton 16x
canvas strop
leather strop

ideal would be a smoother against the grain shave, though my first two passes are very nice.
I can see the blade edge change between the stone and the canvas, and between the canvas and the leather, but why wouldn't more time on the canvas make up for not having any paste?

All I understand about this is that the paste also takes more metal from the edge.
Though I did a search comparing the two steps, I could not find anything about how it's a smoother shave.
Since I only own 1 strop, I'd like to use balsa wood (would a wooden paint stur work?).
Lastly, Since the Shapton 16x is labeled as .92 microns would a paste larger than 1 micron be ineffective?

Thanks for the help, and I'll be grateful with a closer shave.
I must say that this site rocks!

A shapton 16k should give a nice finish from what i'm told...... But if you want to try pastes too, 0.5 Chromium Oxide on Balsa is a cheap way to make a pasted strop.

Originally Posted by Elon9669

given my total inexperience, Please help me choose which paste to purchase first. The main point is my shaves are good, but I know they can be better

Here's what I'm dealing with currently. It's my first and only setup:
Shapton 16x
canvas strop
leather strop

ideal would be a smoother against the grain shave, though my first two passes are very nice.
I can see the blade edge change between the stone and the canvas, and between the canvas and the leather, but why wouldn't more time on the canvas make up for not having any paste?

All I understand about this is that the paste also takes more metal from the edge.
Though I did a search comparing the two steps, I could not find anything about how it's a smoother shave.
Since I only own 1 strop, I'd like to use balsa wood (would a wooden paint stur work?).
Lastly, Since the Shapton 16x is labeled as .92 microns would a paste larger than 1 micron be ineffective?

Thanks for the help, and I'll be grateful with a closer shave.
I must say that this site rocks!

Elon9669,

As Slartibartfast says, 0.5 micron CrOx is a good choice.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Should a blade coming off a 16K Shapton need any more than a plain leather strop?

Originally Posted by ace

Should a blade coming off a 16K Shapton need any more than a plain leather strop?

It's a fine, sharp edge, which can shave great without needing anything
else. But applying different finishing techniques after the 16k can give
the edge a different feel and the shave a different quality.

- Scott

The .5 Crox is a good choice like everyone else has said. Also a .1 Ferrous Oxide is good also on Balsa.

Thank you for the input. From my readings, I understand the 16k is sharp enough to shave with. The reason I want to add the paste is to make the shave smoother against the grain.

Can I get some additional input about which method is smoother. Please let me hear your experiences between plain canvas alone or adding some paste.
Is it actually the case that a smoother shave will
come using chromium oxide?

Am I missing the point of what the pastes do to the shave edge?

You dont want to use CrO before every shave. Think of it more as a high grit hone.

Originally Posted by Elon9669

Thank you for the input. From my readings, I understand the 16k is sharp enough to shave with. The reason I want to add the paste is to make the shave smoother against the grain.

Can I get some additional input about which method is smoother. Please let me hear your experiences between plain canvas alone or adding some paste.
Is it actually the case that a smoother shave will
come using chromium oxide?

Am I missing the point of what the pastes do to the shave edge?