strop question

when you get a leather strop do you have to get paste too if so what kind? I have a razor i got for Christmas, its dull, i didnt buy a strop im gonna get one but do i have to have paste also.

thanks,
ronny

You don't have to use paste at all. I never do. On the other hand, if your razor is getting dull, a pasted strop will probably do more for it than a plain leather strop. It may, in fact, have to be honed.

If your razor is dull, definitely send it to someone to be honed properly.

For general everyday maintenance, you will be using your strop; both the linen and leather components (use the fabric before the leather).

For touchup purposes you'll either use a pasted strop, or a high grit stone such as a Naniwa 12k.

Many people use pasted strops, and many use hones. It's a personal preference sort of thing. As well, many people who hone razors for themselves or others will use a type of paste after their honing progression. But for your purposes, I don't think we need to go there yet.

Hope this helps a tad.

For me a pasted hanging strop, or flatbed pasted paddle, is an adjunct to my non pasted daily driver. I rarely use a pasted strop while the non pasted is used daily. Like the previous posters said, have it professionally honed and work with a non pasted strop on a regular basis. A pasted strop is for when it is necessary. It's a good thing but like a lot of things it can be too much of a good thing.

Just use a plain strop for now.

More important is who honed the razor? Or was it even honed?