Thread: Buying my first straight, need advice.

I agree with the previous posts as well. Hold off on the hones, you'll plently of time for that later. Although, they are excellent choices, I see you even bought the D8C to lapp the Naniwa. This is great, but let me tell you what will happen, Learning to shave with a straight is much like learning to walk for the first time, or ride a bike, your gonna fall, and when you do, your gonna grab that Naniwa 12k and go to town on your razor.
It's very common begginer mistake, Many folks take poor angle or improper technique as the razor's fault. So, I'd hold off on the hone, until you get the shaving down pat. When you buy a razor from SRD, it's good to go, so theres no second quessing.
Do as the previous posts said, and get an Alum bar, Styptic Pencil or extra shave cream, Witch Hazel, etc....

Also, I'd reconsider the modular paddle strop, and go with a hanging strop for everyday. The modular has it's benefits, but I don't like paddles for everyday. I have many strops, but currently, my favorites are SRD's Premium 1 and Premium 4, I have multiple seconds, including the Hanging Wool Felt with SRD Diamond Spray .50 as finisher, or sometimes for a quick touch up, but usually only once...After that if the razor tugs again, I go to the hones....
Check out SRD's Premium 1, it's sweet. Some of the nicest leather I've come across, either that or the Bridle leather IV, it has a bit more drag.....

Both are good, Don't get me wrong, but I don't know anyone that uses a paddle for everyday...Now, watch the posts come........
I do have SRD's Paddle strop with rough leather, The rough side is just like your linen, or wool felt or canvas, it's pre strop medium.
You use it before the leather to prepare the edge, that's all. You do maybe 25 lapps, but again, Get a hanging strop. Trust me on this...Even a practice strop first, If you've never stropped before, there's a good chance your going to cut it, and there expensive. Check RupRazor. Ken has practice strops cheap...learn on that, and then use SRD's....

If your gonna mess around with pastes, I'd look for something cheap to paste up, not one of the SRD strops, that's for sure...

If your lucky, ChrisL had some NOS Linen strops on the classifieds for 10.00, that would have been great, but they're probably gone, but look around.....Check the classifieds....

P.S. That razor should last you 1 month minimum before you need to do anything no matter how rough your beard is...Don't paste it, Don't hone it, Don't do anything, Don't even strop it the first time, Just follow the advice here, and shave a small spot on your face until you get the feel for it....

Hope this helps...