Thread: Stropping progression

Hi all,
What is the correct way to strop after honing,
1. Diamond paste, crox, linen, leather
Or
2. Crox, diamond paste, linen, leather
Lastly, how many times should I strop on each surface?
Any and all answers are much appreciated and thanks in advance!
Tony

My regimen is Diamond paste-1,.5 and sometimes .25. I follow that with Crox. I do about 10 passes with 1; I do 5 passes with .5; I do 2 passes with .25. I do about 5 passes with the Crox. Though some would say Crox after .25 would be a waste. I am still experimenting but it seems to work. Finally, yes I do linen and leather after the pastes. This what I am doing at this time. If it does not work out I will repeat the process or go back to the hones.

Number one...but I really just go straight to leather. If you did your part right on the stones, the shave will be smooth.

using paste at all is an optional thing. Some like to and most probably don't. After honing I usually go to cloth and then leather.

If the honing has been done properly, all that is necessary is stropping on leather. If it's not done properly, pastes will provide only a temporary solution to a continuing problem.

There are millons of ways to get to the final outcome (a perfectly honed razor). From the typical to the more fringe, as long as you get to the proper ending. I myself walk the fringe path. After honing I use a Lipshaw Microtome strop. Its a 2 sided stroping block, the first side is a diamond textured rubber substance that feels like its got a fine abrasive on it (fabulous stuff). The other side I'm lucky enough that it was refurbished and Neil Miller English Bridle is on the leather finish side. Lipshaws are getting hard to find these days, but they finish a razor better then anything else in my opinion.

What grit of diamond are you using? Chromium oxide also comes in different grades which may have some bearing.

On the few occasions I use diamonds I use a paste marked <0.5 micron on leather followed by 0.5 micron chromium oxide powder on balsa or leather, then linen, then ebano, then latigo. Around 5-20 laps on the diamond/chromium oxide and far more on the linen/leather.

Play around and see what you prefer. I find the edge off the diamond paste a little too quick to bite me but some like it, the chromium oxide is more forgiving. Depending on which stone you finished honing on both may be entirely optional for a good shave.

Originally Posted by Proinsias

What grit of diamond are you using? Chromium oxide also comes in different grades which may have some bearing.

On the few occasions I use diamonds I use a paste marked <0.5 micron on leather followed by 0.5 micron chromium oxide powder on balsa or leather, then linen, then ebano, then latigo. Around 5-20 laps on the diamond/chromium oxide and far more on the linen/leather.

Play around and see what you prefer. I find the edge off the diamond paste a little too quick to bite me but some like it, the chromium oxide is more forgiving. Depending on which stone you finished honing on both may be entirely optional for a good shave.

.5 microns- and thanks to all who responded so far!

Originally Posted by anthogia

Hi all,
What is the correct way to strop after honing,
1. Diamond paste, crox, linen, leather
Or
2. Crox, diamond paste, linen, leather
Lastly, how many times should I strop on each surface?
Any and all answers are much appreciated and thanks in advance!
Tony

Do you think 1 & 2 are the only options?

I go back to the finisher after 5-10 on diamond then to linen & leather but not every time, sometimes I don't use pastes.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Do you think 1 & 2 are the only options?

I go back to the finisher after 5-10 on diamond then to linen & leather but not every time, sometimes I don't use pastes.

Im rather new to honing so for me yes that is all I know. I work a pyramid then after the 12k I finish off on the strops. Just wasn't sure if I was progressing on them correctly. I utilize number one but was once told that that was incorrect- thus the question. Im sure that there are thousands of different combos but this is what I have started using as a newb honer. I'll take better advice though anytime as my honing definitely needs work.