Hey guys,
I'm new, and although I know that I won't need a hone setup for a few months yet (my razors are still in the mail!) I think it's never too early to prepare.

So I've been thinking about what I'll be needing. I don't think I will be doing any kind of restoration or heavy honing...I've got three razors on the way (two of them are shave ready, one is not--it's a double arrow that I plan to learn honing on) and I can't imagine getting too many more in the next year or so. I do know how ADs go, though...I've got serious SBAD.

Anyway, for a small razor collection, with little to no "ground up" honing, I was thinking of going for a Shapton glass stone in #5000 and #8000, and then a coticule for touch up/finishing hones. I chose Shapton because they seem to be high quality stones at a price within reach, although if I get more than two it becomes a bit out of my league; if I need more than these, I will probably be moving to the Suehiro or King stones.

I was also considering pasted strops--say a four sided with diamond paste--or DLF due to space issues and initial setup costs. OK, or not really all that great?

Anyway, am I at least on the right track with my grit size choices? I know that for basic mainenance I shouldn't really need the #5000, but say for the Double Arrow it would help with the process, I was thinking.

Also, in re the coticule--there are some in the classifieds right now that are attractively priced. There are three sizes and three hardness, though, and I don't know which fits. I was thinkging a small stone at medium hardness, but that's just wild speculation. Any advice there?

Thanks in advance...

Jim