Last November AFDavis11 met with me to help with stropping and honing. Below is part of a private message I sent him. It may help other beginners in some way. Also, as mentioned below, many on this forum gave me great feedback and tips, so I thank all who post regularly for taking the time to help us beginners! The people here are really special.

Private Message Excerpt:

Thought I'd send an update on how I'm doing.

The razors:
Got seven of them now. Yep, I know...RAD. But I enjoy the rotation, which in a way keeps me alert.

  • 2 Boker (Silver Steel), 6/8, both round points - the ones you've already seen
  • 2 TI (different models), 5/8 & 7/8, both straight (American?) points
  • 2 Ralf Aust (different models), both 6/8, round point and a Spanish point
  • 1 Dovo (Forestal), 5/8, round point



Stropping:
Going well. Still rely mainly on stropping to keep my edges sharp. Glad to have figured it out last November, with your (AFDavis11) and other forum members' help. Thanks for the verbal handholding, so to speak! (Readers can check my post asking for help under the "stropping" forum here at Straight Razor Place.)

Honing:
Finally had to resort to a touch-up honing session with my 12K Naniwa for one of my blades. Worked beautifully. Shortly afterward, I bought a TI factory-ready shave state. Shaved with it for a month or so after C/O paste stropping, but eventually decided to take it to my Norton 4K/8K stones to set the bevel and refine the edge...and finish off with my Naniwa 12K. A world of difference in shaving with it now!

Thanks for your (AFDavis11) instructions during the session last November. I would not have the success I'm experiencing without your (AFDavis and other forum members) help!!! The honing process is really enjoyable. I'm watching the way the edge pushes the water on the stones and eventually seeing the water rise up onto the blade during strokes as the edge becomes really sharp. Light/smooth strokes. Using just the weight of the blade for most strokes. I'm using my loop to check the edge as I move through the stones, as well as using a Sharpie to make sure I start by hitting the right spot and angle along the entire edge on both sides. Tend to already prefer touching up with a stone to using paste. In any case, it feels wonderful to be able to judge my edges and know that I can bring them back to "shave-ready" state.

Shaving:
For the most part shaving with a straight razor hasn't bothered me. I'm mostly shaving WTG with the straight razors and cleaning up a DE. Tried a few XTG straight razor shaves too, but not enough to build muscle memory. One thing I notice is that light passes with good angle is key not only for comfortably close shaves but also for minimizing razor-edge trauma, which means easier maintenance.

Bottom line:
It's coming together. I'm enjoying the experience and the learning process, as well as getting wonderful shaves.

Bill