Yesterday I went to an antique shop and found a crown and sword straight.

Little pitted nicks along the blade from rust.

I brought it home and used 1500 grit sand paper for 40 passes, then 2000 grit sand paper for 40 passes after cleaning up the blade. All nicks gone, nice bevel. I then Nortoned it with aggressive pyramids.

Stropped it on my el-cheapo zeepk strop. HHT passed all along blade.

This AM, very nice shave, no nicks.

So, at what point does a newbie cease to be a newbie? So far I've honed 3 ebay razors to HHT, and must admit thrashed two others.

Haven't replaced scales or pins yet. Haven't ground a blade yet. Still feel incompetent with the strop.


Its not that I think I need to graduate, but when does one leave the newbie stage to a more intermediate stage?

I don't think I'll ever reach the honemeister or stropmeister stages. To much ADD.