Thread: What's a newb to do?

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 )
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

OK , speaking strictly from my own experience (what little there is).

1.

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?

Yes, I did. Took a perfectly good TI that Lynn honed for me and attempted to strop it before the first shave. By the time I finished it was probably sharper when it came from the factory.

2.

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?

In theory the Norton should allow you to get shaving sharp with nothing else. The coticule or pasted strop is just polishing the edge for a bit smoother finish. What to use is a matter of personal preference. I went the way of the pasted paddle strop from Tony. So far I'm happy with it.

Keep in mind that with properly honed razors, correctly stropped, you can probably go quite a while with only a touchup now and then on either the coticle or the pasted strop without needing to rehone.

As an aside, when you watch the dvd on honing and Lynn says use only the weight of the blade - I found he wasn't kidding. The pressure is so ridiculously light that its hard to believe your doing anything.


Hope this helps, perhaps the "old hands" will put their 2 cents in.

I second Cabo_Sailor's advice. I just got my Norton 4k/8k today, and it does take ridiculously light pressure, but a different pressure than I was expecting...they really are fast cutters.

FWIW, what I did to practice my stropping was take my un-shave ready razor and practice with that until my shave ready came...and then when the shaved ready razor came, I shaved with it without stropping first just to make sure I got one good shave. Then, after all that, I got to strop my shave ready. Not sure this is the best or fastest way of doing it, but minimized the risk of ruining anything important.

Hope this helps,

Mark

I don't think you should get a coticule. I'd stick with the Norton.

You can rip up an edge on a strop and its actually kinda likely.

I would consider the razor you sent me sort of a starter razor and a good one to learn honing on.

Don't be intimidated by the stone. If you screw up the edge just send it back and I'll redo it. Chances are it may even get screwed up just by shaving with it at a bad angle. Its no biggie.

If you get frustrated remember we're here and one of us can always call you and talk you through it.

The paddles from Tony are a pretty good deal and many people like them a lot. A nice addition to your arsenal.

I think you need to go slow with purchases in the beginning. Frustration usually leads to buying more stuff in the beginning and that is soooooo against the whole concept of shaving with a straight. Its not the equipment that creates a good shave, its the patient practice.

This is all sooooooo old school as to be a different mental exercise than anything the MTV generation ever thought of.

Don't buy new stuff to fix a problem, take the time to learn how to use the stuff ya got (or are about to get).

Thanks for talking me down guys!!
Lynn's DVD got here today, I'll take it easy, and slow, and see what I can do with this Norton.
I was definitely planning on shaving with the shave ready that's on its way *BEFORE* putting it on the strop so I have something to compare it to. In fact, if it shaves as much smoother than the butchered Wade & Butcher that I've been using as I think it is, I'll likely get 3 or 4 shaves out of it before putting it to leather!
Plus, the shave ready will give me plenty of time to mess around with the W&B and get it sharp while still having something to shave with!

Thanks again guys!!!!!!!

Now... Heroes or DVD... heroes or DVD Damn.

Oh, I also picked up some 600 grit waterproof sand paper today (I'm going to find a nice piece of glass tomorrow) so that I can make sure the Norton is as flat as it should be. It looks like it, and it sticks to the front of the oven! , but I want to make sure. The W&B is either slightly curved, the hone is dished, or I just can't seem to hold the darn thing correctly!

I'll figure it out!

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Don't buy new stuff to fix a problem, take the time to learn how to use the stuff ya got (or are about to get).

This is one of the greatest advise I've read! Alan, I think it should go in bold red letters in the newbies-start-here sticky post.
I should start learning to hone soon as well...