What size micron?

[Tales101]

I'm fairly new to straight shaving and I'm thinking of getting a honing compound just to touch up the edge of my blade. I don't feel ready yet to get into honing my own blades so I'll put off stones till later.

My train of thought right now what to buy a paddle strop with a honing paste just reestablish the edge and keep my hanging strop for preshave polishing, or should I put the paste on the backside of my hanging strop instead? And what size micron paste should I get?

Or should I take a different route altogether? I'm kinda lost about what to do here, to be perfectly honest.

[jlander]

I would leave the hanger as is and get one of Tony Miller's 4-sided paddles for touch ups with 3 micron, 1 micron, 0.5 micron diamond paste and 0.5 micron green chrome on the 4th side. You should be able to keep a sharp razor in shaving condition for several months (barring accidents) with one.

[Suzuki]

+1 on one of Tony's pasted paddles - either the above suggested pasts or 3, 1, 0.5 and 0.25 micron diamond pastes.

Using a pasted hanging strop is not nearly as easy as using a paddle - there's a lot more scope to do more damage than good - especially in the hands of a newbie.

[2Sharp]

+1 on the above posts. You could also get by very well with a 2 sided pasted paddle with 1.0 Diamond paste and .5 Chromium Oxide.

bj

[Mike_ratliff]

You're going to get a lot of different answers here... I use 0.5 micron Chromium and 0.25 micron diamond paste on all of the razors I hone, and find that this works the best for me. 3 micron is close to a 12,000 grit hone, and although effective, I really think it's overkill since the edge of the blade is usually between 3 and 5 microns wide.

I find that I can use the 0.5 and 0.25 about every 3 months to maintain my daily shaver, and don't need to touch it up on a hone more than once every 8 or 9 months with this combination. you can also use newspaper to refine the edge for an extra smooth shave... newspaper is about 0.1 micron?

[jlander]

You're going to get a lot of different answers here... I use 0.5 micron Chromium and 0.25 micron diamond paste on all of the razors I hone, and find that this works the best for me. 3 micron is close to a 12,000 grit hone, and although effective, I really think it's overkill since the edge of the blade is usually between 3 and 5 microns wide.

I find that I can use the 0.5 and 0.25 about every 3 months to maintain my daily shaver, and don't need to touch it up on a hone more than once every 8 or 9 months with this combination. you can also use newspaper to refine the edge for an extra smooth shave... newspaper is about 0.1 micron?

I quite agree the 3 micron is usually overkill. I hardly ever use it, but in the absence of a hone it would allow for a fairly aggressive option for a dulled blade, and the 0.25 feels too "harsh" to me (but that's just me) so I tend too pass over the option. Newspaper is a great recommendation for a smooth finish ( my preference is a Black Lithide as I haven't found an Escher yet :biggrin:).

Some good options here.

[loueedacat]

What is the difference between 0.5 chromium oxide and 0.5 diamond paste?

I have the chromium. Would I get any value of the .5 paste or does it do much the same thing? Or is the effect of 0.5 chromium between .5 diamond and .25 diamond?

[Tony Miller]

Chromium has more rounded crystal structure, diamond more angular. The result is that for the grit size chromium will leave a more face friendly edge but may be slower cutting.
It is a good deal more messy and that is my only reason for not liking it. Think green fireplace soot <g>

My thoughts on pastes are if you plan on not owning a hone then a 4 side with 3.0, 1.0. 0.5 diamond and either 0.5 chromium or 0.25 diamond. if you do think hones are a direction you plan to head then maybe 2 sides is all that is "needed" in pastes with either 1.0 and 0.5 or 0.5 and 0.25. These choices will depend on whether you go with only a Norton or add fine finishing hones as well.

We will be changing our pre-pasted options when we resume business after Easter. Instead of pre-pasting we will be offering small, 2 application containers at a similar price giving you a second re-pasting down the road.



Tony

[Tales101]

Thanks everyone for your advice!

[TstebinsB]

Chromium has more rounded crystal structure, diamond more angular. The result is that for the grit size chromium will leave a more face friendly edge but may be slower cutting.
It is a good deal more messy and that is my only reason for not liking it. Think green fireplace soot <g>

If I want to try both 0.5 pastes, do I need two different strops or can I apply one after the other on the same strop?

[jlander]

If I want to try both 0.5 pastes, do I need two different strops or can I apply one after the other on the same strop?

I wouldn't recommend putting 2 compounds on 1 strop, unless you clean it very well between. I think you would waste a lot of paste that way. Just use a strop for a particular paste. If you want to add a different paste grit in addition to what you have, then get another strop (leather or balsa). I have a Tony Miller 4-sided with 3,1,0.5 micron diamond paste on 3 sides and 0.5 micron Green chrome on the 4th. Works very well. You could make a balsa strop with 0.5 diamond on one side and 0.5 green chrome on the other.