Ok, I don't have Lynn's DVD yet (I'm sure it'll be here this week).
I've never actually "honed" anything before in my life. (as such, I'm slightly intimidated by the stone, and worried I'll have to keep sending my blades out to be done by someone else, and I REALLY want to be able to do this myself)
I've yet to actually shave with a properly sharpened straight.
I'm sure my technique on the strop leaves a lot to be desired.
I have a Norton 4/8 and a razor to "practice" with.
I also have a Dovo strop (promptly given a small nick the day it arrived :cry::o)
My shave ready blade from Alan should be here before the end of the week, and I don't want to chance fouling that edge until I'm fairly decent at honing a blade myself.
Now to the questions:
Is it likely that I would/could damage the edge enough by simply using the strop that it would need to be honed again rather than being able to fix it on the strop or cardboard/newspaper?
Do I need / should I seriously consider buying a coticule now? Or should I wait until I can actually pretend to hone a blade using the 4/8?
I'm also considering this, or this from Tony Miller (pre-pasted - especially with the nick mentioned above). Would this be a viable option to extend the life of an edge so that I won't have to send it out again before I can learn to hone? (assuming it takes me less than 6-8 months to put a good edge on by myself)
Thoughts/comments/suggestions?
Now, I am fully aware that there is no single good answer, and that no suggestion will work, or be the best for every person. I'm pretty sure some of this post should be in the "Strops" forum, or that all of it should be in the "Newbies Corner", but since it started off being a question about the coticule, I just put it here.
Sorry for any rambling...
LANCE