What to buy and when to hone?
Hey Gearhead
I think I am following the thread here and you have got some good overall advice. Just have a few things to add.
First with the big daddy do not apply the dovo white to the felt if you haven't already that paste and felt does not get along.
Second if you have multiple shave ready blades I would say pick one and shave with that till it will no longer shave even after touch ups on the paste. This will do a couple things for you as a new shaver. First it will let you get very familiar with that razor and that will help you get all the aspects of the shave down. I find each razor even of the same width shave a little different. Second once that razor is dull going to a new razor will really show you how far you have come in your shaving. Third you don't run the risk of ruining all your edges as you learn to strop.
Lastly with 8 shave ready razors and the basala strop I would say you probably won't need a hone for close to a year or two. Though you may want one sooner. As has been said the norton 4/8 k is a good starting point. The 8k can be used as your finisher and can be used like a barber hone. For me I like a 1 k hone and then a full run of dovo paste (green, red, and black) for my sharpening needs. So there are other options. One advantage to the paste method that I like is that you use stropping motions that you have already learned.