Stropping compound/paste necessary?

[Shane]

So being new to this SR game I've been struggling to understand the necessity of stropping compound/paste over simply sticking with natural leather and cloth stropping.

I can understand that there may be benefits during the final stages of the honing process, however, for daily use is this a considered a necessity or simply a waste of money, time and your strop.

Eager to hear your thoughts and advice!

 

[Sxot]

Personal thoughts based on personal experience, my blades, my stones;

Nope, don't like the stuff, complete waste of time. That said, I have a nice Jnat hone, and can use that if needs be. I also have my technique in order and stropping on a plain strop gets me quite a while before I need a hone. In fact I often hone because I want to, not because I need to. When I started out though, it was a different story. My stropping was poor and my edges didn't last as a result. So, paste (CROX) helped bring it back enough that I could keeping shaving so it was beneficial early days. I soon bought a hone though and as soon as I did I skipped the paste and went straight to the Jnat for touch ups. I haven't feel the need to use it since because I feel my edges are great straight off the hone.

If you grab a SR, and want to try pasts, go for balsa. It's cheap and if you don't like it, throw it out and try a different paste etc. If you paste a strop, you're stuck with it. You also don't need to worry about poor stropping technique and it's a good prelude to honing.

My 2c Anyway.

 

[bald as]

I'm with @Sxot on this. I have found my edges are fine off leather only. I no longer use cloth/linen as I didn't like the result. On the other side of the coin, Mastro Livi with decades of razor making and honing expertise regularly uses pasted strops. Each has its merits but each will take practice to achieve optimum results. Ultimately your face will be the judge.

In fact I often hone because I want to, not because I need to.

Funny how I relate so passionately to that

Steve

 

[Sxot]

I'm with @Sxot On the other side of the coin, Mastro Livi with decades of razor making and honing expertise regularly uses pasted strops.

Yes but Livi does have some unconventional ideas...

 

[bald as]

And Mastro Livi has "decades" of very valuable and proven experience. Regardless of what the "INTERNET" thinks of his methods, knowledge trumps keyboard warriors every time. Time doesn't always make for mastery but quite probably in his case it has.

 

[bald as]

By the way @Sxot my last post wasn't aimed at you. I have read many "American" forum posts on honing and there are some who post comments based on their 30 seconds of honing experience criticizing Mastro Livi and his methods. I could hit a rock with a chisel all day long but I'm fairly certain it wouldn't be a statue of David. In Europe paste have been popular for a long time.

I'm still learning and hope I don't stop.