Thread: Getting Started Questions

Hey,
I finally recieved all my shaving gear from Classic Shaving an I watched Lynn's DVD.
I am about to lap my norton 4/8 hone. I have a shave ready Sheffield razer comming from Josh Earl, but I want to get started with the Dovo 5/8 Stainless Steel razer I just bought from Classic, it's brand new and needs to be honed for the first time.

My questions are:

1) With this razor being Steel what pyramid sequence should I use on my hone?

2) Should I tape the spine?

3) I only have the norton, do I need a finishing stone or will this do?

4) I have a new DOVO Russian Leather Strop 17'' by 1 3/4'', how many strops on each side should I do? and does that number also depend on the type of steel? ie: carbon vs stainless

5) I bought DOVO strop paste conditioner and edge polish, yellow and white, should I apply them right away?

6) Is that the only Strop I need to get the job done?
Sorry for the string of questions, but I'm really excited to start and I don't wanna mess anything up.

thanks for all the help, I am addicted to this fourm!
Nick

Don't get too excited! That will come later.

You don't need to hone your shave ready razor just yet.

Don't tape the spine and do not put any pastes on your hanging strop if you only have the one.

Others will have to calm you down a bit too!
I'm sure you will at least have a couple of months good shaves in your razor. Keep us posted!

http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...d,20/Itemid,3/

The last file on the page. Called "The Art of the Straight Razor Shave". I'm not even finished reading it myself yet, but it echoes quite a bit of what I've read here and elsewhere. Seems to be quite the reference, and I'm guessing, many here would say it's a good place to start.
While it may not directly address your questions above, it does touch on each of them.
As you can see by my post count, and read by my introduction post, I'm an extreme newbie so YMMV, and I may be completely off base, but I'm fairly confident that document will put you on a VERY good path to start out.

hey guys, thanks very much for you input,
I just wanted to clarify somthing about my posts:
The shave ready razor isn't the same as the Dovo Stainless Steel razer, The Dovo I bought brand new from Classic, and the shave ready razer is a shefeild and hasn't arrived in the mail yet, so I wanted to hone up my new one out of the box.
And the pastes are a leather conditioner for the leather side and an edge polish for the linen side.
I just adjusted my origional post so it would be clear.

I strop 50-60 laps (up and back = 1 lap) before each shave. I don't use stainless blades ... yet.

X

Originally Posted by nicki9knuckles

Hey,
I finally recieved all my shaving gear from Classic Shaving an I watched Lynn's DVD.
I am about to lap my norton 4/8 hone. I have a shave ready Sheffield razer comming from Josh Earl, but I want to get started with the Dovo 5/8 Stainless Steel razer I just bought from Classic, it's brand new and needs to be honed for the first time.

My questions are:

1) With this razor being Steel what pyramid sequence should I use on my hone?

You mean stainless. That question is impossible to answer. It depends on which blade you bought and you'll need the name of the guy at the factory that honed it. If you provide that I'll let you know how many strokes you need. In the meantime go as conservative as possible. Start with 8K only, then a few 4K and 8K combo pyramids and then repost and we'll discuss how to evaluate an edge. Or you can search the forums for the info.

2) Should I tape the spine?

No, you should not.

3) I only have the norton, do I need a finishing stone or will this do?

No, that will do for now.

4) I have a new DOVO Russian Leather Strop 17'' by 1 3/4'', how many strops on each side should I do? and does that number also depend on the type of steel? ie: carbon vs stainless

Xman's advice applies. Steel type has little bearing on stropping.

5) I bought DOVO strop paste conditioner and edge polish, yellow and white, should I apply them right away?

A small amount of the yellow on the leather should protect it from the elements for about 6 months. Remember, I said a small amount.

6) Is that the only Strop I need to get the job done?
Sorry for the string of questions, but I'm really excited to start and I don't wanna mess anything up.

That is the only strop you need.

thanks for all the help, I am addicted to this fourm!
Nick

Cool, but only one question per thread.

thanks for the help, sorry for the list. I won't do it again.

Don't sweat it. I'm just playing with you. . . .

I'll have a couple of things to add...
If you want to save on a fine finisher, you can get a paddle strop pasted with a fine abrasive (0.5 micron chromium oxide works great for me).
10-15 on the linen and 25-35 on the leather works great for me.