New and need some ?'s answered

Hey everyone i am new to the site and recently got all of this stuff: My ?'s are at the bottom

Razor 5/8
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/st...il.html?s=G140
Strop
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/st...ail.html?s=J33
Sharpening
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/st...html?s=cc110rs
Brush
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/st...l.html?s=CC344
Soap
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/st...l.html?s=CC112
Aftershave
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/st...l.html?s=CC148

Ok my razor comes read and honed, my first ? is when stropping should there be anything on the strop, or can i just do it on the plain linen and leather? I recieved a yellow striped strop paste with the strop, do i need to use this, what does this yellow paste do?

As for the soap i thought it was soft but it turns out that it is hard so how should i scoop it out and how much? with a spoon? Almond sized scoop?

and last, eventually i am going to need to hone my blade and my sharpening too (see link above) is a wooden paddle with a rectangular block attached. It says you need one tablespoon of water but when i put a tablespoon it wasnt enough to wet the whole block, should the whole block be wet? and how wet? soaked? or just enough to cover the top of the stone?

The razor, strop, brush and the soap are just what you need to get started. That stone on a paddle is crap. Use it for kitchen knives but not straight razors.
I'm not sure how well those people hone blades, someone else will have to chime in with that.
For stropping, just do 10 passes on the linen and 30 on the leather. It should be ready to use. If it stops being nice and supple, use the yellow paste, but chances are you won't have to do it more often than once a year if you rub the leather with the palm of your hand a few times before every stropping.
You are not using the shaving soap properly. Here's an article on how to do it: http://www.classicshaving.com/articl...0351/18187.htm That site also has a good selection of hones and other sharpening implements. My suggestion is to take a look at them and ask here before buying any.
4/5 ain't bad, you're off to a great start :tu

Another recommendation is to change your nick so it does not contain your e-mail address, unless you like receiving spam lol. If you PM me with some other alternatives, it will get taken care of.

thanks for that link on how to use shave soap, lol i was doing it totally wrong, i shouldve realized they make it like a little cake and hard as hell because you leave it INSIDE the mug, i was trying to chip away at the thing hahaha. One ? though when you are done shaving do you leave the soap in the mug until it is done? or do you have to take it out after each shave?, i'm thinking you keep it in but i live in NY and i would have to order a new one and pay shipping etc... if i ruined it, so i dont wanna take any chances.

You can leave the soap in the mug until it's used up.

There are soft shaving creams that come in a little container that you can scoop a small amount out of, so you're not crazy. :) You just have a hard soap instead of a cream.

If it turns out that your razor isn't ready to shave with, I'd be glad to hone it for you for free--you just pay about $3 to ship it roundtrip. Send me a PM if you're interested.

Good luck,
Josh

When you say your razor comes honed and ready to shave is that because you had it honed by someone who knows how (because then you're good) or because the manufacturer claims that it is (because then you're in trouble). DON'T HURT YOURSELF! If you give it a try and it's not shaving or pulling and uncomfortable at all, STOP. We can help you out.

When using a proper waterstone (and that one won't do) you should soak it for at least 10 or 15 minutes before use, so soaked.

X

thanks man, if it is my last resort i will send it to you, only because i found this place here in Brooklyn where i live, its kinda close to my house too, where these guys have a family buisness for honing, they started around the time we stopped importing blades and other metal objects from germany around the time of WW2, i might check them out, but also i have got to learn it for myself sometime if i want to become an efficent straight blade shaver.

By the way thanks xman for clearing up how much water i need to use.

That could work out, but make sure they know how to hone a straight razor. Many knife sharpeners don't understand razor honing, and they can do some damage.

Learning to hone yourself is a good goal, and we'll provide all the support we can. It will take a little work, though, and it's immensely helpful to have a well-honed blade to compare your efforts to.

So, one way or another, get that blade honed up!

Good luck,
Josh

I think that "Ready For Use" quote in the sales listing is Dovo's, not the Knife Centers. I sold "Ready For Use" Dovos for a while too, they wern't <g>.

Tony

man im a noob what does <g> mean?

Lol no idea, probably a formatting tag ,but I'll second Tony's warning about them not being shave ready despite the DOVO corporate advertisement.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ironmikeko3

man im a noob what does <g> mean?

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Nah Tony's just trying to test how big of an internet nerd you are :roflmao. <g> is an internet shortcut to show a "grin". That is unless Tony's making up his own meanings. One of the many odd things I do is chat moderate for a online role playing game called The Kingdom of Loathing. It's a stick figure game that makes fun of anything and everything.