Thread: Keeping edge on razor

Starting with a freshly honed razor, the usual protocol is to use a plain strop until it no longer brings the edge back. Then you use a pasted strop to refresh the edge and continue using the plain strop. When that no longer works, you hone the razor with 1-4-8k stones. Like others have said, a razor can last quite awhile on just plain leather.

There is some debate on using a very fine, mild abrasive on your daily strop. There is a thread about it you might want to read. I've used graphite and .05m allumina polish before; now I'm back to plain leather. I can't decide which I like best.

Originally Posted by Bob44

you use a pasted strop to refresh the edge and continue using the plain strop. When that no longer works, you hone the razor with 1-4-8k stones.

I'm not sure I completely agree with going from a pasted strop directly to a full honing routine, complete with bevel reset. If the edge isn't responding to pastes anymore you should just give it a few laps on the finishing hone of your choice (or barbers hone) and this will bring you back to business. This will keep your razor going for years; you shouldn't have to drop to a lower grit unless you damaged the edge or caused the bevel to become very convexed. Even then I'd start at the 8k level before dropping down to the 4k, and definitely before going back to the bevel setting stage. Keep it simple and save some steel.

That's a good point. I stand corrected.