Pastes vs. Hones?

[Lucy7]

I was wondering with regard to straights, the pros and cons of honing on a stone versus sharpening with paste on a strop. I'd really appreciate the help, thanks.

[IsaacRN]

Honing is more for completely resharpening a dull blade where as paste and strop is like for fine tuning a dulling blade.

[PalmettoB]

Honing is more for completely resharpening a dull blade where as paste and strop is like for fine tuning a dulling blade.

Honing is using the stone to take away a small bit of the metal (or cutting) to reestablish a keen, sharp edge. Once you have done that (e.g., using a Norton waterstone, going from 4000 grit to 8000 grit), then you go over to a pasted paddle or hanging strop, where you polish that edge that you've already established.

As you begin to notice a blade not shaving quite as well as when first honed, you might be able to take it to the pasted strop first, but if it is beginning to pull or cut you, it's time for the hone.

[IsaacRN]

I was using more of the laymans terms....and now i feel like i posted a crappy response

[PalmettoB]

I was using more of the laymans terms....and now i feel like i posted a crappy response

Not at all, chief! I probably shouldn't have even "quoted" your post, but simply added my own. Sorry if I was stepping on toes! :o

[IsaacRN]

Not at all, chief! I probably shouldn't have even "quoted" your post, but simply added my own. Sorry if I was stepping on toes! :o


You didnt. I just realized i couldve been alot more detailed in my response.

[PalmettoB]

It's all good. Besides, I've just been doing a lot of honing lately (Ebay razors and all), and went ahead and picked up a pasted strop.

I was doing okay just going from the 8000 side of the Norton to a plain hanging strop, but the edges weren't super. Now, after I use the 8000 grit, I go to the pasted strop and finish on the leather. Much better edges! (Plus, I'm kinda cheap...I suppose one day I will get a Japanese stone or some such, one of those at the 12000-15000 grit level. But right now I just have the Norton waterstone and the pasted strop.)

[IsaacRN]

well your definately one up on me....i send my stuff to Lynn to hone

[PalmettoB]

That will also get you a very good edge. :p

There's not many better as honemeisters than Lynn.

[Lucy7]

No response is a bad response, any help is great. Thanks alot guys. I was wondering if you guys knew of a way to get started honing/sharpening that won't cost an arm and a leg?

[Tony Miller]

The replies look right on the money to me. The pasted strop will refresh and edge that is not too far gone and buy you time between trips to a real hone. After a certain point though a hone is really needed or at least a trip out to someone who can hone.

Common paste choices would be 0.5 micron diamond or chromium oxide for when a razor fist starts to pull, or possibly 1.0 micron if something more coarse is needed. I use 3.0 quite often on razors needed considerable work but that still have a good, and proper bevel. Some go as fine as 0.25 micron but for me at least the edge proves too delicate for my tough beard. While super sharp off of the 0.25 paste the edge seems to break down easily. It is possible I'm over honing though at that step and less passes would yield better results.

Tony

[Queen of Blades]

Welcome to The Shave Den, Tony!

Great first post! Thanks!

[IsaacRN]

Heya Tony.....welcome aboard.

BTW...Tony sells some GREAT Horsehide Strops. I wish i had 4 hands so i could give them 4 thumbs up.

[Lucy7]

That sounds good. If I could extend the time between honing that'd be great.

[Tony Miller]

Thank for the welcome everyone. I just found this group. Really a nice looking format. I'm sure I'll be a regular here too!

Tony

[Bill]

Count me in as one of those who is glad to see Tony here. His strops are dynamite, by the way! Straight up... a good strop and knowing how to use it is more important than having a good brush when it comes to a straight razor shave.

[PalmettoB]

Heya Tony.....welcome aboard.

BTW...Tony sells some GREAT Horsehide Strops. I wish i had 4 hands so i could give them 4 thumbs up.

Ditto for me. I love my Heirloom # 2 strop. Glad you made it here, Tony. Welcome to The Shave Den!

[Reformation Student]

TONY :bounce015

Glad to see you here!

Tony's strops are the best, everyone.

[coolsimon]

Ok this is where I tend to have a different experience, as regards the pasted strop.
In my limited experience I have used both, but before I owned a few hones I did own a brand new dovo favourit..a pressie fom the wife..this was the first razor i used on one of Tony's pasted strops...now ...the majority of people do say that you should hone a brand new razor on a high grit stone, this i am not disagreeing with,but I didnt have the confidence to even attempt it so I followed the instructions with the pasted strop and havent honed it yet, as I dont use it always but i am careful when I do strop it on leather, and i have found that it shaves like a champ, on me anyways....but as our more experienced members have said, eventually a trip to the hone is inevitable and the pasted strop will prolong the time between honings...

anyways this is my tuppence worth...simon

ps , good to see you Mr Miller...

[Tony Miller]

Simon,
Good to see you here as well. Adapting to the states okay are you?

Okay, my REAL take on pastes. Yes, everyone, including me says hones are eventually needed...BUT, I am closer to following Simon's path than my own advice. I rarely hone, I often paste. My first year in business EVERY razor I sold shave ready was done entirely on pasted paddle strops...no hones. I started with 9.0 micron for 15 passes then jumped down to 3.0 for 20, 1.0 for 25, 0.5 for 20-25 and tested. often I would need to repeat this process but I'm here to say it can be done, new razor, from box to shave ready completely on pasted strops.

Tony

[qhsdoitall]

Simon,
Good to see you here as well. Adapting to the states okay are you?

Okay, my REAL take on pastes. Yes, everyone, including me says hones are eventually needed...BUT, I am closer to following Simon's path than my own advice. I rarely hone, I often paste. My first year in business EVERY razor I sold shave ready was done entirely on pasted paddle strops...no hones. I started with 9.0 micron for 15 passes then jumped down to 3.0 for 20, 1.0 for 25, 0.5 for 20-25 and tested. often I would need to repeat this process but I'm here to say it can be done, new razor, from box to shave ready completely on pasted strops.

Tony

Thanks Tony, that is certainly good to know.

[Tony Miller]

Rich,
Remember though this is my somewhat unique experience. Most guys proficient at honing would say a hone is needed to get a proper bevel and from a scientific standpoint I would agree. My system works for me but is not ideal. Once I became good at honing I started to use pasted strops only to refresh, not to get my initial edge.
Tony

[qhsdoitall]

Rich,
Remember though this is my somewhat unique experience. Most guys proficient at honing would say a hone is needed to get a proper bevel and from a scientific standpoint I would agree. My system works for me but is not ideal. Once I became good at honing I started to use pasted strops only to refresh, not to get my initial edge.
Tony

True. That is why I send my str8s to the experts until I get some stones and relearn my lost sharpening skills.

[Queen of Blades]

until I get some stones

:rofl:rofl

:ashamed001 sorry, couldn't help it.

[Scorpio]

I use pasted strops for refreshing and hones to get it sharp. One step Itake before running the blade on the strop for refereshing is to run it about 30 laps on the 12k (although this can vary depending on the blade) then move to the .5 micron pasted strop. This works well for me. YMMV.

Raf

[bearbeard]

:rofl:rofl

:ashamed001 sorry, couldn't help it.

curling stones anyone?:: I think there are a few at the bottom of a lake somewhere.

[qhsdoitall]

:rofl:rofl

:ashamed001 sorry, couldn't help it.

:p You're forgiven. :D

[Queen of Blades]

:p You're forgiven. :D

I know. :D