Newbie needs more advise... please

Hello,
Thanks to all who helped me several weeks ago. Since then I've had my first Straight Razor (bloody) shave. It shaved me very well, and I'm looking forward to the results improving with more practice.

My questions are:
1. Where do I buy a belgian coticule (the belgian coticule web site is, well, written in Belgian)?
2. When I need to hone my razor for the first time, do I go straight to the 8k side of my norton, or asume that it needs the 4k first.
3. I'm still struggling to dry my blade. After the blade had been left for three days, with WD-40 on it, it still developed rust spots (and some black tarnish marks) around the edge. What am I doing wrong?
4. Should I worry about water getting into the rivots around the tang?

I have looked through the forum for answers to these but can't find any.
Thanks again!

p.s. thanks to Lynn for doing such an excellant job of honing my first razor.

For the love of your razor and razors everywhere. Stop using WD40 on your razor. I used to use it on just about everything. I wouldn't put on a dog now. Get something else for protection. The guys here will tell you what's best. I would use LPS before I used WD40). If it will damage a gunstock finish I am certain it will damage your scales. I think I have seen where Camelia oil is good but the guys with more experience than Iwill put you on the right path

Hi Antony,
1) You can get the coticules from your namesake Tony Miller at www.thewellshavedgentleman.com.

2) For the first hone, do the pyramid, so you will be using both sides of the Norton. You may even need the 4k for touchups.

3) WD 40 MAY be ok for initial cleaning, but I'd rather use the CLR metal polish. Hoewever, I would not mess with it, period. If you want to keep your blade from rusting, keep it in a dry place and it won't need any protection for a few days. If you want to leave it for longer periods of time, just use mineral oil that you can buy in any pharmacy, and here's why:
a) It's safe on the skin. Baby oil is basically mineral oil with some scent added to it.
b) Even if you somehow swallow some, you won't get poisoned but you may get an irresistable urge to do the #2 (mineral oil is used as a laxative).
c) It has many uses around the house. Metal preservation, metal tool lubrication (I use it for my hedge-trimmer and for my hair clipper) and for use on oilstones (which I use for my kitchen knives).
d) It's dirt-cheap!!!
4) Don't get too worried about that as long as you give the razor a quick wipe (everything but the edge) and leave it IN A DRY PLACE.

Hope this helps. Welcome to the SRP!

Thanksto the both of you.
By the way, what is this "Pyramid" that keeps coming up on these forums.
Am I correct in that it refers to using the most abrasive first (4k), then in stages, down to the least (8K or higher)?

The pyramid was developed as a universal almost failsafe way to hone razors on the Norton (even though it can apply to other stones, just modified to match their grit/cutting rate).
The notation gives you 2 figures, the first one for the 4k and the second one for the 8k. Therefore 1/5 = 1 trip (each side of the razor) on the 4k and 5 trips on the 8k.

Hi, Antony. Just a few things to add:

1. Or here.
2. I still see a benefit in using the 4k in moderation. If Lynn honed it, it will likely only need a few 1/3 passes (4k/8k, the Pyramid is in the Permanent Archives of the Help Files along with all the other magic incantations. READ THEM ALL) to renew it.
3. I concur with Mineral Oil or Camelia, but only for razors which are going into long term storage as oils can trap water from the recent shave against the steel and actually cause rust!
4. Yes, but a puff of air through the scales and particularly around the pins as well as some time in the open air afterward (15 min. or so) should be sufficient to dry the works.

X

The pyramid in the files section does not apply to refreshing a razor. Use a series of 1/3 or 1/5 to refresh a previously shaving sharp razor such as yours.

Just rinse your blades with hot water, dry them carefully with a towel an then apply Ballistol on it. Ballistol is not an ordinary oil. It sucks the water of the blade preventing any rust or stain patches. It conserves your blade perfectly. It is perfectly biological you can drink it. It is desinfective, killing bacterias and so on ... It is really "it".

Greetings
Arnd