Hi guys

I'm a 19 y/o guy from England getting into straight edgers and was wondering if I could get some advice about keeping my razor in good condition.

This is the razor:



I haven't used it yet because I don't want to do anything to it before I know what I'm doing. In the meantime I'm using a shavette.

This is the sharpening stone I got off eBay, unfortunately it didn't come with any instructions at all so I was hoping someone here could let me know exactly how I'm supposed to use it (And yes I'm well aware that in hindsight, before buying the thing I should have come here first to make sure it's any good



The description on eBay said the following:

"This is a new Chinese Hone or waterstone, used for final polishing of open razors and similar items like woodworking tools. It is approximately 12,000 grit size. The stone comes from the Guangxi province of China. It measures 150 mm x 50 mm x 17 mm in depth . Stones are cut by hand, dimensions may vary slightly. Stones are carefully selected and cut but due to their natural origin differences in visual appearance might occur. Any such differences do not impair the stone function in any way. Each stone is supplied with a ‘slurry stone"

"It is an extremely fine stone and apart from being lapped flat and the edges chamfered it is unused (if you buy elsewhere it will not be lapped and chamfered - beware that although some people say that the stone needs flattening, it most certainly does need flattening - this has already been done for you!) It is very hard - almost like ceramic, and it gives a really fine polished edge. It is a slow stone, requiring 50 - 100 laps to polish the edge of a straight razor, but the results are superior smoothness - sometimes likened to a "buttery" feel"

So my main question to you guys I guess is: Is the thing any good for using on the razor? If so then how do I use it? and what the heck is the other stone for???

Also, if this stone is any good does that mean I can just use this to keep it in good nick meaning I don't have to buy a strop?

This is probably self evident but I don't know much about straight edge shaving so apologies if these are lame questions. I tend to agree with the saying that the only dumb question is one you don't ask though

Thanks in advance!




P.S. The blade etching reads: C. MYERS & SON, ATHOL Rd, SHEFFIELD. The opposite reads: MADE AND GROUND IN SHEFFIELD ENG. The folks at the auction couldn't tell me but I'm curious if anyone knows how old this razor is approximately??