Beginner plan check

Hello all,
I've read a lot and have put together a checklist and wanted to get a confirmation that I am on the right page.

My goal is to concentrate on the shaving aspect. From what I've read, honing is a whole 'nother hobby but I do want to learn the minimum necessary to fully maintain my razor. At least for now. That said, the stone approach appeals to me more than pastes and from what I gather, you don't necessarily need a paste. This plan may be a bit more than needed, but please tell me if there is something I am missing or if I'm wrong about the paste thing.

Plan:

- Purchase 2 straight razors and have them pro-honed
- Purchase strop kit from whipped dog
- learn and practice stropping and shaving on one of the razors
- Periodically check one vs the other to see if I can detect the difference over time
- Once I determine one needs to be "refreshed" or "touched up" (I'm assuming these words mean the same thing in the honing context) I will purchase a 4k/8k stone and a higher grit finishing stone
- Practice honing the razor until it feels like the other unused one.

Seems like a reasonable plan to me. The devil's in the detail though - what razors did you intend to purchase?

James.

I plan on getting new production razors from one of the reputable companies mentioned Dovo, TI, etc.

5/8 or 6/8 carbon steel. From what I can tell from reading, as long as they are from a reputable company and handled by a pro-honer, I should be good. I imagine the honer that I go with will warn me if there is a problem with the blade.

I'll probably narrow down the choices by visual aesthetics.

Sounds good. I'm assuming you are choosing the strop based on the idea that it's better, if it happens, to ruin a cheap strop than a good one? Probably a good idea, nicks and sometimes cuts are common when you first learn to strop.

James.

Welcome to SRP, Shawn.

Sounds like the plan is coming together. If I might add a few thoughts:

Have you considered a plan for pre-shave prep? Soaps/creams? Lather making can be practices right now while using cartridges.

I wouldn't consider a 4/8K hone for refreshing. CrOx can refresh and edge. When CrOx isn't cutting it, I chose a Naniwa 12K Super Stone for touching up or refreshing the edge. Generally, "refreshing" or "touchups" are done on a finishing hone, if available. Keep in mind, you are going to be getting a razor pro-honed off a 12K at the least, if the dealer or seller is of any repute. That being said, an 8K would degrade the pro-honed edge. That being said, a hone shouldn't be considered as a necessity for a beginner's plan, IMO

Also, you may want to consider keeping the one razor as a sort of holy grail in order to compare what you are doing may be affecting the other blades' edge.

My 2c.

Regards,
Simon

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

Sounds good. I'm assuming you are choosing the strop based on the idea that it's better, if it happens, to ruin a cheap strop than a good one? Probably a good idea, nicks and sometimes cuts are common when you first learn to strop.

James.

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Or... practice on a sheet of newspaper fashioned into a hanging strop.
Will damage the razor less than leather can & will not damage the leather at all. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Siguy

Have you considered a plan for pre-shave prep? Soaps/creams? Lather making can be practices right now while using cartridges.

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I have been DE shaving for about 5 whole iterations now and I think I have the lather/pre/post thing figured out. I'm using Proraso preshave, Mitchells Wool fat, Semogue brush, 3 passes, alum block, cade balm.

I have other soaps to sample, but MWF is pretty awesome so far.

Welcome in! :chapeau

So far you are in great hands, with solid plans.

I will interject with you may want to consider a pro honing post starting,
I say this as most of us dull an edge or two fairly quick between learning the shave and the strop. ( 1-2 months for many)
At this point most are just getting good and comfortable with it and things have improved even as the edge has degraded.

If you choose not to I fully understand as I am one that likes the hard road more often than I may want to admit.

Good barbers hone is not a bad way to go for maintaining. If you destroy an edge or start buying razors that need restore/bevel set then you could get some stones.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 10Pups

Good barbers hone is not a bad way to go for maintaining. If you destroy an edge or start buying razors that need restore/bevel set then you could get some stones.

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I second this. I picked up a very good condition barbers hone for 15 bucks. Works great.

To add to or echo some of the solid advice you've already gotten:

1. Don't worry about the pastes. While I do have some CrOx spray on a makeshift strop, I have really only used it to smooth out a freshly honed blade, since they can sometimes be a bit harsh for a shave or three. Some of the pro's do this anyway after honing your blade, followed by regular stropping, so that your blade comes back in tip-top working order and ready for action.

2. If you're going the stone route and want to save some cash, look for a good barber's hone or a Naniwa 12k stone. The barber's hone, while less expensive, is more of a specific use item, but that is not a hard and fast statement (I don't have a 12k, so I use my barber's hone to finish my blades). The Naniwa 12k costs more, but will integrate well if and when you decide to take on the full aspect of honing.

3. As Siguy mentioned above, the Norton 4/8 combo stone isn't the best choice for refreshing blades, as you'll never get back to the same amount of smoothness or sharpness as when your razor was professionally honed. With that said, once you start honing, from bevel set to finishing, if you're doing it right, you should be able to get a good and smooth shave from the Norton 8k. It won't be as smooth as using a 12k+ stone, but good nonetheless. If you have the cash to pick up the Norton 4/8 along with the Naniwa 12k, by all means do so, but resist the urge to start honing (beyond just a touch-up) for a while. Your face (and razors) will thank you.

4. Jimbo and Onimaru55 have given you great advice on your strop... take it... you'll be glad you did! :)

5. If you want to try touching up a razor, do so! It's pretty straightforward, and you'll most likely have no problem. But, resolve yourself to know when to throw in the towel if you can't get it, and send the razor out to a pro. In fact, they may be able to tell you why you failed so you can know what to avoid when you try again.

6. The only thing I see that's not on your list is possibly a local mentor. If you have someone near you, try to hook up and learn all you can. We have some great guys on here, and they're more than happy to share their knowledge and expertise!

7. It sounds like you're pretty well mentally prepared for the learning curve, as evidenced by the amount of research you've done. With that said, embrace any challenges that come your way, and above all, have fun!