Another New Guy Question

[w12code3]

I'm not sure if anyone had broached this subject here or not, but I was unable to locate a thread on it through the search function, I know that you guys probably get fed up with answering the same questions over and over again so I try not to plague you all with questions that have been answered a thousand times already.

I am not too proud to admit that I am a man of limited means so I am setting myself up for straight shaving on a shoestring budget. I was fortunate enough to get in on the shave ready Wapienica group-buy put on by Mike Ratiff and should have a usable razor in a few weeks or so and I already have a strop of sorts that ought to work so I now need to arrange for a hone for long term maintenance.

My local barber has told me that he will give me his old Swaty stone when he remembers to bring it in from home. Regulations in this state forced him to switch from regular straight razors to disposable blade straights so he no longer uses it. I thought this was pretty nice of him to do.

Like all of the rest of my acquisitions, I need to do this with an eye for what I need rather than what I want. From what I have been able to ascertain from the posts here on the board, the Swaty is OK for maintaining an established edge but then again it seems that everyone is much more in favor of the water stones. My question then is whether or not this Swaty is going to be a realistic choice for an unexperienced person or do I really need to try to come up with the cash for a waterstone. Coming up with the funds for a Norton would not be impossible but it is an expense I would like to avoid in the near term if you guys think it's realistic.

If I am sure that this all makes me sound like a really cheap bastard LOL! Your advice is valued, Thanks!

Justin

[Kenrup]

Ask you barber friend to show you how to use it. Your Swaty and strop will keep you in great shape for a long time. The normal water stone for getting things back to keen is the Norton 4/8K combination. You have a long time before you need to get the Wapi rehoned. You might just save money by getting a honemiester to do a serious hone when you need. But over the years you would pay for a Norton. But there is a serious learning curve for honing. There is a enough of us on the board that will take care of you.

As for questions, no, we don't get tired of answering questions. It pumps our posts count.

[gssixgun]

Justin:
As close as you live to me, just toss that sucker real hard east, and I'll hone it up, and throw it west when I'm done honing it

[Jimbo]

Justin:
As close as you live to me, just toss that sucker real hard east, and I'll hone it up, and throw it west when I'm done honing it

Tape it shut first, though - you wouldn't want to put someone's eye out...

James.

[w12code3]

Justin:
As close as you live to me, just toss that sucker real hard east, and I'll hone it up, and throw it west when I'm done honing it

The throwing part is fine... it's the catching that would get interesting... I think Jimbo has a good idea with the tape.

[gssixgun]

The throwing part is fine... it's the catching that would get interesting... I think Jimbo has a good idea with the tape.

Naw just leave it open and maybe it will have that Boomerang thing happen I'l just hone on the fly

[Kenrup]

Naw just leave it open and maybe it will have that Boomerang thing happen I'l just hone on the fly

+++1

[vgod]

Tape it shut first, though - you wouldn't want to put someone's eye out...

James.

it's all fun and games till someone loses an eye.

vgod

[2Sharp]

I'm not sure if anyone had broached this subject here or not, but I was unable to locate a thread on it through the search function, I know that you guys probably get fed up with answering the same questions over and over again so I try not to plague you all with questions that have been answered a thousand times already.

I am not too proud to admit that I am a man of limited means so I am setting myself up for straight shaving on a shoestring budget. I was fortunate enough to get in on the shave ready Wapienica group-buy put on by Mike Ratiff and should have a usable razor in a few weeks or so and I already have a strop of sorts that ought to work so I now need to arrange for a hone for long term maintenance.

My local barber has told me that he will give me his old Swaty stone when he remembers to bring it in from home. Regulations in this state forced him to switch from regular straight razors to disposable blade straights so he no longer uses it. I thought this was pretty nice of him to do.

Like all of the rest of my acquisitions, I need to do this with an eye for what I need rather than what I want. From what I have been able to ascertain from the posts here on the board, the Swaty is OK for maintaining an established edge but then again it seems that everyone is much more in favor of the water stones. My question then is whether or not this Swaty is going to be a realistic choice for an unexperienced person or do I really need to try to come up with the cash for a waterstone. Coming up with the funds for a Norton would not be impossible but it is an expense I would like to avoid in the near term if you guys think it's realistic.

If I am sure that this all makes me sound like a really cheap bastard LOL! Your advice is valued, Thanks!

Justin

If I had to start out again from scratch and on a limited budget I think I would get a two sided or four sided paddle strop with paste to maintain my razors. You have to have a plain strop for daily stropping. A two sided paddle strop with 1.0 diamond and .5 Chromium Oxide would maintain a blade that is already shave ready for a long time. A four sided paddle would give you a couple more choices of paste. If you are handy in your wood shop you can make one yourself and save even more.

bj

[w12code3]

Thanks for the advice 2Sharp... I'll have to read up more on sharpening with pasted paddle strops.

Glen... an interesting aside in our razor throwing discussion, my mother-in-law lives roughly half way between us in Chewelah.... maybe if I throw it just right I can get her car tire and still make it to you... You might have to do a little extra work on it, but it would warm cockles of my cold heard in a huge way.