Dovo Yellow Strop paste?

I did a quick search but couldn't really find much opinions on what everyone uses/thinks.

DOVO Yellow paste on everyday strop? It is said that the Yellow paste has no abrasive quality and is simply to keep the strop from drying out. I have heard lots of people say to but absolutely nothing on their everyday strop. However, if is it just to make it last longer wouldn't it be fine to use?


I ask because I only have 2 strops currently, one with DOVO yellow paste (everyday strop) and one with DOVO red paste (twice a month strop).


I know that there is really no "wrong" answer to these questions I would just like to hear some peoples reasonings of why they do or do not use yellow paste.
Also, I would like to know what people think about using the red paste after 5-10 shaves.

And would it be worth it to invest in a strop with green paste? I am in the process of making my own linen strop currently because mine don't have one on the back!


Thanks,
Dylan

The dovo yellow banded tube I have is just leather conditioner, something like lard but probably not. I've had the same tube now for over 6 years. I use it sparingly... :)

last time I looked dovo red was around 3 micron abrasive paste, I think. That sort of puts it on par with an 8k hone by I always found it was a bit better than that. I still have 99% of that tube left after 6 years...

Black and green I have not tried, but they are abrasive pastes I think rated on either side of the red. That would be pretty easy to look up.

I treat my strops maybe once every 6 months or so, maybe less frequently. I don't use pasted strips much anymore but when I did I'd maybe touch up an edge with it every month or two...

James

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

The dovo yellow banded tube I have is just leather conditioner, something like lard but probably not. I've had the same tube now for over 6 years. I use it sparingly... :)

last time I looked dovo red was around 3 micron abrasive paste, I think. That sort of puts it on par with an 8k hone by I always found it was a bit better than that. I still have 99% of that tube left after 6 years...

Black and green I have not tried, but they are abrasive pastes I think rated on either side of the red. That would be pretty easy to look up.

I treat my strops maybe once every 6 months or so, maybe less frequently. I don't use pasted strips much anymore but when I did I'd maybe touch up an edge with it every month or two...

James

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Thank you James! This helps out a lot! Now I know I am not totally crazy for using them!

If that red paste is close to a 8k hone shouldn't you be able to hone your straight razor with only pastes and never actually need a water stone?

I use a DOVO leather strop since three months now and I treated it with yellow paste twice. Considering the information from DOVO and looking at the strop itself I will not use the paste the rest of this year. And perhaps even longer. I agree with others that the paste should be used with most abstention.

I don't really think it's necessary . I have a Tony Miller strop , and Tony says all you need to do is rub the strop with the palm of your hand , every time you use it . This has worked fine for me , for the past 4 years .

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Originally Posted by DylanMW

It is said that the Yellow paste has no abrasive quality and is simply to keep the strop from drying out.

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I thought that was the Dovo White? Or is the White only meant for linen? :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

I thought that was the Dovo White? Or is the White only meant for linen? :shrug:

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This is where I got my information from... Strop paste guide, paste for all your stropping needs, strop guide UK

It say the white is linen

Yellow is most definitely leather conditioner and in no way abrasive. As to what white is, you are on your own with that :)

James.

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Originally Posted by DylanMW

This is where I got my information from... Strop paste guide, paste for all your stropping needs, strop guide UK

It say the white is linen

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Fair enough, thanks.

Well I just ordered another strop and some green paste. So now I will have Yellow, Red and Green pasted strops. I also cut up some old jeans and made myself a denim strop. Hopefully it holds up.

I used too much of the yellow on my 1st Dovo strop. With hindsight I shouldn't have used any. In normal use, once every couple of years if at all, for the yellow paste. Just rub the strop with your palm, that is grease enough.

Has anyone ever tried to paste over a different paste?

I have a yellow pasted strop and a red pasted strop and was thinking about trying to paste over the yellow with green and then buying a new strop to use as a normal plain one.

Any ideas? Would I need to clean the yellow off or could I simply just put the red ontop? From what I read online it looks like saddle cleaner works pretty well to get paste off.

Hello guys,
I've done some reading up on strops and pastes.
I suppose I just need reassurance on what paste to use.
I am just about to purchase a Dovo leather & canvas strop.
What paste do I use for the every day on bothe the leather and the canvas.
Am I right in saying strop using the leather side first then the canvas for the polish?
Further to that I'm getting my favourite str8 razor sent off for honing:rock:
Thanks for looking,
Bri

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Originally Posted by grommit

What paste do I use for the every day on both the leather and the canvas.
Am I right in saying strop using the leather side first then the canvas for the polish?

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No, it's canvas first then leather. The progression is always roughest to smoothest.

As well, I'm not convinced that paste of any kind should be used on a daily basis, ESPECIALLY the abrasive types. The specific paste discussed in this thread, Dovo Yellow, is apparently a conditioner as opposed to a sharpener, yet even that shouldn't be a daily necessity. The general concensus is that the most a strop needs is a daily rubbing with the palm of your hand as the natural oils will be sufficient.

I've actually seen more damage done with that paste than good. Most people gunk it on which causes all kinds of fun when trying to strop. I agree with Ryan that only hand rubbing should be sufficient.

Have fun.

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Originally Posted by grommit

Hello guys,
I've done some reading up on strops and pastes.
I suppose I just need reassurance on what paste to use.
I am just about to purchase a Dovo leather & canvas strop.
What paste do I use for the every day on bothe the leather and the canvas.
Am I right in saying strop using the leather side first then the canvas for the polish?
Further to that I'm getting my favourite str8 razor sent off for honing:rock:
Thanks for looking,
Bri

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Out of indecision this is what I did.

1. No foreign substance on my strop. My first strop lasted two years and stayed supple without as much as a hand rub.
2. I ordered one balsa laptop strop covered with chromium oxide to experiment with this substance.
3. I ordered another balsa laptop strop covered with diamond slurry to experiment with that substance.

Here's where I ordered the balsa strops: Balsa Laptop Strop. It's not that expensive and doesn't put my leather strop at risk.

I really think you should try something like this. At the end of the day I just couldn't tamper with my hanging strop, either the linen or the leather. Until I know better this is the way I'm going to go.

I also received this e-mail from Ron at Star Shaving Supplies:

"I have the same stones [Norton 4k/8k and 12k] and then I use a Balsa strop loaded with Chromium oxide 50-60,000 grit and then I use a Felt strop loaded with Diamond slurry 70-80,000 grit and then the Leather strop which the English Bridle gives 90-110,000 grit so I get most all debris that causes dullness and the edge is scarry sharp. You use the Balsa and the Felt like you do on the Leather strop."

Ron and I disagree on loading up the leather strop with lather and neatsfoot oil, and you'll notice in the e-mail he uses the diamond slurry on the felt side of his strop whereas I opted to have it applied to a balsa strop.

Guys
I'm so greatful for the advice,
Sometimes info overload kicks in, so better to ask, no such thing as a dumb question...well if u don't know it that is!
Great advice in the daily use strop with the canvas first then the leather n rubbing with the palm of your hand daily.
Final question that I'm sure will have multiple answers n individual preferences.
Once I receive my honed str8 back how long should it be b4 I strop,and when I do how many passes on canvass then leather on average.
I already test my custom knives on my arm hairs for sharpness but thes beasts gonna bite!
Cheers again,
Bri

Unless the person who honed the razor said otherwise, I would strop before the first shave and every shave. How much to strop is something that people do according to their comfort level. What's right for you will be determined with time and experience. I'd say a basis from which to start is 25 on the fabric and 50 on the leather. That sounds to me as a compromise between not enough and too much among experienced people. Re-honing is needed when the shaves decline in quality.

As I've always understood it the yellow paste is to make the strop a bit sticky. There's a German word for it but it escapes me at this time. This is the absolute last phase of the honing process right before you shave. After applying the paste let it dry for a while. Then drag the razor along the strop. This will straighten out any microscopic "Waves" the finite edge may have. Kind of like when some kid has his mohawk straight up in the air.
The tackiness will slightly grab and straihten it out. Remember to "Pull" and not push the blade and with only the weight of the blade. Use somewhere about 10-15 stokes for each side.
The other pastes are for the actual honing phase with you "pushing" the blade. The white is for the linen and puts a very fine "sandy" surface. They all have some form of "grit" to them.
If all else fails I think the best thing to do is buy the Russian Leather strops. They're a little more expensive but the leather side never needs dressing, it has a natural tack to it.

I would agree that hand rubbing should be all you need.

There are two exceptions I'm aware of, that applied in my case

I purchased a Illinois #827 strop from the Classic Edge and it was advised the strop should be initially conditioned with Fromm Strop Conditioner. This I did.

The only other time I've used the strop conditioner, was when one of my strops was literally completely dried out due to the lack of humidity. I applied two treatments, the strop literally drank it up, and renewed the surface to provide some feedback. Other than that, hand rubbing has worked well for me.

The dovo yellow paste is a fat used for strop conditioning. The green paste is about 6 mic the red about 3 and the black about 1. The white is for the linen only. As the yellow is only a conditipner it will be fine to paste over. Hope this helps. Ed

I know I'm resurrecting an old thread, but need a little bit of information (or at least some opinions!). I'm new to straight shaving and all things Strop, but I've got a Walkin Horse 3" Split Side strop on the way from a private sale. The West Coast Shaving product page says that Dovo Yellow Paste is recommended and even the WH site has a comment that this will help to prevent strop dandruff.

I don't have any Dovo Yellow, but I do have some Mink Oil that I have used on leather boots as a conditioner. Keeping in mind that extreme moderation is the rule of the day, is this a potential substitute? Or a terrible idea?

Mink oil can be used but any conditioner shouldn't be used unless needed which is unlikely if you palm rub before stropping every time.

Thanks Eddy. I will use the palm rub and see how that works for me.

Most of us palm rub only and have no issues. Climate may have a effect. If you do use it only takes a couple of drops to do the job. Im not 100% positive but pretty sure that on the superior shave web site it says no to use anything on the Walking Horse strops. Might be a idea to check what it says.

I use the green paste on the backside of my linen strop (from a tip in one of Lynn's videos). I have a hook on the end of a work bench and pull the linen over backwards when I use the green pasted side.

I have been palm dressing my hanging leather strop and this works well. I just started using the SRD paddle strop. The fine leather pad is very nice. I notice that if I take a little oil off the side of my nose and run it down the middle of the fine leather strop; and then palm rub it in over the full strop the draw changes slightly. It becomes easier to strop the blade at a lighter pressure.

I am still getting used to the diamond on felt. It seems a big aggressive. I'm down to five cycles on the diamond felt. Then I do a lot more cycles on the leather strop. This seems to make the shave more comfortable.

So far leather care is just my own body oils.

Best,

Ed

I thought I was the only one who used "nose oil".... :D

John

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Originally Posted by EdHutton

I use the green paste on the backside of my linen strop (from a tip in one of Lynn's videos). I have a hook on the end of a work bench and pull the linen over backwards when I use the green pasted side.

I have been palm dressing my hanging leather strop and this works well. I just started using the SRD paddle strop. The fine leather pad is very nice. I notice that if I take a little oil off the side of my nose and run it down the middle of the fine leather strop; and then palm rub it in over the full strop the draw changes slightly. It becomes easier to strop the blade at a lighter pressure.

I am still getting used to the diamond on felt. It seems a big aggressive. I'm down to five cycles on the diamond felt. Then I do a lot more cycles on the leather strop. This seems to make the shave more comfortable.

So far leather care is just my own body oils.

Best,

Ed

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You're not using Dovo Green paste I hope? You're using crox correct?

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Originally Posted by Phrank

You're not using Dovo Green paste I hope? You're using crox correct?

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Crox exactly. It seems to freshen up the edge and leave it feeling nice on my skin. I have no idea why. The diamond edge is a bit harsh if I don't work a lot of leather cycles afterwards.

Best,

Ed

Well in case this thread gets pulled out of the depths again, having used Dovo pastes for some time:

Like Lynn said, if moderation isn't your deal, don't put any of these pastes on your leather. To be honest, I found they worked better on linen anyway (clearly not the yellow). Better still was the balsa strip - for me anyway.

When I didn't know how to hone, starting with the green saved me. Later, I descovered I needed to use the green less and less.

I found if I wanted to liven the substrate up a bit, a touch of misted water brought the stuff back to life really well.

All said and done, my Dovo pastes were a great experience for me... but as my honing improved, the introduction of diamond paste and CrOx entered the scene. And oh how glad I am they did. I feel they work much better - though they don't seem to last as long. I haven't tried spritzing them lol!

I just discarded all of my Dovo products. I hope one day I'll toss my diamond and CrOx too - it'll be a sure sign that I have quasi mastered my stones. But until that day, I'll use em the "refresh" my blades lol!! :)