Hello, I just joined this forum, I've been perusing it for weeks now as I've wanted to get into straight razors for years but never did. Over the past month I had the most difficult time deciding which way to go on touching up paste, stones, cortis, ect ect. So many different paths, but this is what I finally chose for me after two weeks of thinking I knew then changing my mind.

OK, first of all I decided I'm going with a Naniwa 12k stone and Balsa paddles with Chromium Oxide for keeping my razor on edge. I will send it to Lynn to be honed or learn it myself in time, but for now this is my path.

However, I don't have a razor yet I ordered a Gold Dollar brand razor cheap strop, Naniaw 12 k stone and balsa paddle, to learn how to do what I want to achieve. Then in a few weeks I have my eye on the Dovo Bismark set with the quality strop, brush, mug soap ect ect. I want to learn how to freshen up the razor on the Naniwa and using the chromium oxide on balsa with my practice razor first before I use my Dovo i will be getting. I may also order some diamond spray .5 as well just to play around.

I have a couple of questions one, please recommend to me a good chromium oxide to use on my Balsa paddle.

Two, please recommend to me a good diamond spray.

Three, how many laps should I do on the balsa paddle to touch up with chromium oxide and how many laps if I'm combining using the Naniwa 12k and finishing with the Crox or diamond spray.


Thanks in advance