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Thread: Original Strop Pastes

  1. #11
    Member Welshcitydragon's Avatar
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    Being a newbie , do I have to put past or some kind of oil, on a new strop that's never been use before? Or is it ok to strop my Razor for the first time without it ? I don't have any past here at the moment and I want to use my razor for the first time.

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    Senior Member decraew's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Welshcitydragon View Post
    Being a newbie , do I have to put past or some kind of oil, on a new strop that's never been use before? Or is it ok to strop my Razor for the first time without it ? I don't have any past here at the moment and I want to use my razor for the first time.

    I'm not a specialist but some thoughts:

    First of all, personally I wouldn't put pastes on a new strop. I've used nicked strops for that purposes.

    Secondly, if it's anything like the current white TI paste I can tell you that Gary Haywood (an experienced member here) has had excellent results using the paste on a cloth strop, so it doesn't have to be leather. So I guess you could just make a strop out of an old jeans and use that.

    Is the paste soft enough to put on a strop ? If not put some in a ziploc bag, put the bag in warm water until it's soft, and then apply it to the strop. If it doesn't get soft that way you may want to add a few drops of neatsfoot oil. Normally speaking no additional oil is needed (I've used oil only when I've had to apply chromium oxide powder). And don't put on too much.

    Oh, I enquired over at the Coupe Chou Club whether they know this paste, I'll let you know if something comes up ...
    Last edited by decraew; 09-21-2012 at 09:04 AM.

  3. #13
    Fizzy Laces Connoisseur
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    Default Re: Original Strop Pastes

    Just another note.

    Your daily use strop should have no abrasive pastes on it at all. To be honest all you really need for your daily strop is to rub it with the palm of your hand, that shouod transfer enough oil to keep the leather happy.

    Geek

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    Member Welshcitydragon's Avatar
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    haha Now You dont understand, what The problem is, is this, Its a new strop and Razor new used before. Now I want to know if I need to strop the razor, and If I do, do I ( is it a must ) put past on the strop. Cos as of Now I dont have any past here.

  5. #15
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    The days of having to 'break in' a strop before use have long gone, IMO. When new, some vintage strops came with a very hard leather (usually the 'russian' type - stiff and hard) that had to be broken-in before use, but new 'russian leather' (it's just cowhide tanned not with the traditional oak bark, but with birch bark, sometimes birch and willow bark) is not the same as the old and does not need the same breaking-in process.

    Modern strops are (usually) good-to-go right from the box. Some may work at nearly 100% efficiency right from the start, while others will still be good to use but will become better with use.

    Oil is mainly used to alter draw (the resistance felt when stropping) and to rejuvenate - don't use it just because it exists, use it because you have no other recourse. A brand new strop should not need oil.

    Yellow conditioning paste (a form of tallow grease) is what it says - a conditioner. It is meant to keep the leather supple and strong, but is not needed on a new strop. Occasional light use after having had the strop for quite some time and if any signs of 'drying' or cracking/crazing is OK.

    Other pastes fall largely into the realm of 'sharpening' pastes and have some form of abrasive substance in them. Their use is for when the edge of the razor becomes slightly dull. They are not used for everyday stropping. In fact, using the same number of laps as you would when stropping on a plain leather strop (say 50 - 60 or so) would be overkill on a strop pasted with abrasive compound and will compromise the edge of the razor - most abrasive-pasted strops require something in the realm of 5 to 20 laps only. If you use one of these pastes on a strop, then you will have to retain that strop for use with just that paste, and have another plain leather strop for daily stropping.

    Get used to what your new strop has to offer before even thinking of altering its properties. Hopefully it's a decent strop with good, supple leather and a fair and even surface. If not, you might be in trouble.

    Regards,
    Neil
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    Member Welshcitydragon's Avatar
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    I dont think maybe I said it as I should, I need to shave, I have a new razor never used, strop too.
    Do I have to strop the razor before I use it, ? and if so do I have to put past on the strop ? as The problem is I do have past here. But I see the Geek said I could use the palm of my hand. Is this right ? Geek !

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    Ok I think that about tell me what I needed to know. Thanks so much guys.

  9. #18
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Quote Originally Posted by Welshcitydragon View Post
    I dont think maybe I said it as I should, I need to shave, I have a new razor never used, strop too.
    Do I have to strop the razor before I use it, ? and if so do I have to put past on the strop ? as The problem is I do have past here. But I see the Geek said I could use the palm of my hand. Is this right ? Geek !
    As to whether or not you have to strop the razor before use, only you and the person/shop you bought it from know that. If it was sold to you shave-ready by someone here or from a dealer who knows what shave-ready means, then it should be what it says it is - ready to shave with.

    If you have never stropped a razor before, watch some youtube videos and read more here and in the wiki and practice with something blunt like a butter knife until you have proper co-ordination, or the chances are you will roll the edge of the razor (making it hopeless to shave with) and/or ruin the strop.

    As for paste, see post #15.

    Regards,
    Neil

  10. #19
    Senior Member decraew's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Welshcitydragon View Post
    I dont think maybe I said it as I should, I need to shave, I have a new razor never used, strop too.
    If it's never been used, chances are the razor is NOT shave-ready - see elsewhere on the forum on how to get a razor shave-ready and what it means.

    However, on SRP most people will advise you to have a new razor honed (on a stone). You probably don't have a suitable stone, but you do have this paste. In France, for instance, most people will get a razor shave-ready using a chromium oxide paste (Puma paste). If the razor doesn't shave you might want to use the paste you have. Lots of it. Followed by naked leather.

    But I suppose I'm repeating what's been better explained elsewhere on this forum ...

  11. #20
    Senior Member decraew's Avatar
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    Ok, one of the french brethren found this:


    They advise to apply it in small quantities to leather with the back of a razor (I suppose a spoon is ok as well) so it penetrates the leather well. It serves as an 'upkeep' of your razor so it retains a shave-ready edge longer.
    Last edited by decraew; 09-21-2012 at 09:44 AM.

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