Thread: Complete novice!

afdavis11 is teasing. just make sure to not polish your razor and it will stay fine.

Really, the gold wash on the face of the blade should not very much come in contact with the strop, depending on how hollow the razor is, but if it's one of the Bismarks with a gold wash on the spine, it's possible that will wear (I haven't had one of these razors so I don't know for sure).

I would definitely tape when honing, I do when honing all my razors (I don't see why I should remove metal from the spine if I don't have to) as it seems these razors have quite pretty spines.

In regards to taping while stropping, while it's true I know no-one who DOES, if you WANTED to I doubt ill would befall you, it's just not generally needed or done, as far as I am aware.

When you get your razor, don't strop it. In fact, watch a BUNCH of videos about shaving with a straight, or, if you can, get someone to show you (I.e. demonstrate) and then watch you shave (fault correcting). Use it (for only one side of your face) without stropping and see how it feels. Does it 'tug' at the hairs? Is it smooth? If it tugs, send it out to be honed, by someone who KNOWS how to hone a razor and is GOOD at it and USES a straight razor. If not, strop it VERY carefully for maybe 10 linen 10 leather. Again, watch videos on how to strop. go SLOW and GENTLE. At this stage, stropping less is better than stropping more and badly. Make sure you clean the razor and dry it thoroughly and gently. Protect the edge, i.e. be careful of the edge while drying the razor. Finish the shave with your DE. Next time, do maybe your whole face, slowly. This time, strop BEFORE the shave too, same as before 10/10. Don't try to strop quickly. Be very gentle.

Build up from here, always stropping before and after. Maybe build up to 10/10 before and 30/10 after. You can do this for maybe a month before you need to refresh the edge (it varies, depends on your beard, stropping, etc). Buy a Norton 4/8 or a high grit synthetic (i.e. Shapton 16k) or better, both. Use the Shapton (taped edge of the razor) for 10 laps only. Build up from there (i.e. read the honing forum and the Wiki (library)). Ask a LOT of questions, we love answering them, but do do your part and read too.

Read the JANorton thread. http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

Main thing is take it slow. I've seen too many posts where new guys have basically wrecked the edge through poor stropping or just jumped straight in to honing in an aggressive way and ended up essentially destroying the edge in one madcap honing session.

Just my thoughts...

Carl

{EDIT}, Just checked the JANorton thread again and realised the first nine pages are essentially full of 'count me in' posts. read the first post by Glen and then skip to page 9, which is where a question about lapping is posed. Ignore my silly post on page ten and work through it from there. basically, it'll convince you you need only a Norton 4/8. I do love refreshing my edges on the Shapton 16k, though, and many use pastes and a LOT of other hones. BUT, you only NEED something like a Norton 4/8; and it's like EVERYONE has used one...Natural stones (I hear) are quite variable...

Many thank! I shall sit and do some more reading!
Thanks to all!!