If you had to do it all over again...
I'm new to this particular obsession and thus far I've 1) smashed both of my electric razors against a brick wall (the reason I became interested in alternative shaving techniques in the first place); 2) purchased a good brush and shaving soap to ease into wetshaving while researching straight razors; 3) purchased a couple of $15 razors on ebay, a black diamond and a silberstahl; and 4) have read the entire Honing and Stroping and Stones forum.
Now I think I'm ready to ask a couple of questions to the collected wisdom of this group. First, it seems obvious that the honing equipment of choice is the Norton 4K/8K combination and I'm fully expecting to order one depending on your feedback. My only reservation is that I already have several stones in my woodshop including a combination india, a soft white arkansas and a black surgical arkansas. I know that the india is much too coarse for a straight razor, but will the two arkansas stones do the job?
Second, I have a granite lapping plate (approx 9" x 12" x 3.5"--weight ~70 lbs) that is dead flat (<0.00002") and rarely used. I was thinking that instead of purchasing a paddle strop, I would buy some leather from Hand America attach it to the lapping plate with pressure sensitive adhesive and treat the leather(s) with cromium oxide (0.5 micron) and boron carbide (1.8 micron) to finish honing razors prior to stroping. Thoughts on this approach?
Oh yes, one last thing. Because I really have no idea what a shave ready razor feels like, I'm thinking of purchasing one from Lynn as a point of reference so that I know what my razors should aspire to.
Thanks in advance for thoughts, advise, comments.
Ed