So what do I do now...

[Sachiya]

to get into honing.

I've just received a 1k, 3k, 8k and 12k Naniwa super stones along with a whetstone holder and truing stone.

1st step will involve lapping the super stones....which is straight forward enough once I've removed the stickers.

My first straight razor will be sharpened next Monday and I was thinking of getting a blade from Ebay that I could attempt to get as sharp as my new dovo prima klang and actually start practising

But then having read Glen's post that starting out with an ebay blade isn't a terribly bright idea I'm left wondering if I should get the cheapest dovo available and start trying to learn how to hone on that

Bit confused as to where I should begin...it's very tempting to try do my prima klang on the stones.

[Stubear]

I would say definately DONT practice with your Prima Klang. Firstly this razor will be shave ready come Monday and wont need honing, and second it will be your benchmark to compare your honing efforts to. Definately leave that one alone...!

Who's honing your DOVO for you by the way?

An eBay blade is fine as a second razor as long as you get one that is in good condition. Make sure it has minimal spine wear, no chips or cracks on the blade and doesnt have loads of tarnish. Be sure to read the sellers description thoroughly: If they mention any problems at all with the razor, let it go. Check out JoeD's eBay 101 thread in the Auction talk forum as it highlights a lot of common eBay problems.

I totally agree with Glen that an eBay razor would not make a good first razor for a new guy. Its fine for second and subsequent razors once you know what you're looking for though.

Dont be tempted to get a Zeepk or other known poor make. It'll either be a total bear to hone or, more likely, such poor quality that it wont take an edge at all. Dont fall into the Gold Dollar trap either. These razors can take an edge but are a lot of work to hone and require grinding work on the heel.

Your other option is to pick a razor up from the classifieds here but ask that the seller doesnt hone it for you. That way you'll get a great razor without the risks of eBay. I'd recommend this option if you're new to the hobby and are unsure about what to look for on eBay.

Honing is great fun though, and very relaxing! Hope you enjoy it..!

[Sachiya]

I've been thinking of getting a blade from this ebay seller in London

taylors1000 items - Get great deals on Collectables items on eBay UK!

or as I said I can buy the cheapest dovo available...think it's EUR60 that I can use to start honing with on the stones.

I think I'll keep an eye on the classifieds but the prices for some are too high given I've already spent EUR600 on stuff.

If somebody told me a month ago I would have spent EUR 270 on rocks I would never have believed it

It's all for a good cause though, looking forward (eventually) to dumping my gillette in the bin

[Stubear]

Taylors1000 is a good eBay seller. I've had a fair few razors from him and they've all been in good condition and exactly as described. They also wont come honed, so they make a really good razor to learn to hone on. His prices are very reasonable as well.

If you're going to buy from eBay, taylors1000 is a good place to start IMO.