Thread: Hello and Redtrader99 beginner sets

Hello Schatz, welcome to the SRP! may I suggest doing a search in this forum using the search term "Lithide". That should give you a better idea of what the Lithide barber hone is like. I cannot comment on it because I have not used it. Most of my experience is with the Norton 4/8. You can go from the Norton 8K directly to a strop. However a lot of people finish with a 0.5 micron pasted paddle strop. Many guy's on the SRP use the Norton 4/8 and like it a lot.

I just want to jump in here to say that shaving with a spike is no problem for me at all. It's what I learned on and what I prefer. The spike has NEVER given me any issues in a year of straight razor shaving. I think it's like driving a stick. If you know how it's no big deal at all. If you never take the time, you may be in for a grinding or two.

X

I decided to bow to the consensus of the learned folks here and I'll defer the purchase of the hones for awhile. Instead, I have been communicating with Tony who suggests that a pasted paddle (2 or 4 sides) would be an easier route than jumping right in with the stones given a shave ready first razor. I'm anxious to see what Tony responds with on the paste suggestions and on the 2 versus 4 sided paddle. The 2 sided looks considerabley wider and I'd be using both sides for paste as I'll supplement the purchase with a hanging strop of some type.

Xman was kind enough to offer one of his yellow Dubl Duks at an attractive price so I will be going this route as soon as I decide which one. Does it make any sense for a newbie to get a second from Bob on eBay? (On badgerandblade.com we refer to a condition as razor acquisition disease, RAD). Does rotation have any benefits? How about a spare in case I make a mistake with the Duk and have to have it sent out for repair?

I would highly reccomend Tilly's starter set. I would also get a hanging strop first because they are much better to use for everyday use. It is normal practice to have a few different razors to rotate them from day to day. IMHO a spike is a great razor to learn on. The Dubl Duck is a great razor to find out what the straights are all about.

Glen

Schatz,
IMO getting a pasted paddle as well as a hanging strop will provide you all you need for day to day shaving as well as touch ups. Pair those items with the dubl duck you're getting from X and you'll be set for some time. With these items, you can defer the purchase of a hone almost indefinitely. Though, since you mentioned ebay, you might need more than just a paddle strop to bring some of what's on ebay back to shaveability.

A pasted paddle works very well to bring a razor with an established bevel to good keeness. However, if the razor lacks a good bevel, or has any nicks, you'll probably be better off with a hone. I can't say from experience whether a pasted paddle would work well to form the bevel as I've never used mine for such a task. Any rough work that needs to be done I do with my hone (norton 4k/8k). The rule of thumb that I kind of made up is that if it's adequate to pass a shave, then I'll use the pasted paddle, otherwise, I'll bring it to the hone first.

In case you're wondering, I have a 4-sided pasted paddle with 3.0µ, 1.0µ, 0.5µ and 0.25µ. Both my paddle and hanging strop came from Tony as well.

Just my 2¢

ToxIk,
You are right on the money about eBay specials and pasted strops. They will not do the trick there. With the finer pastes a pasted paddle will keep a pre-sharpened razor going for a long time. With more coarse pastes it will get a new, quality (Dovo, TI) razor sharp as well in most cases. Anything with a rounded edge or nicks though will need a stone, probably a Norton.

For beginners on a budget I usually suggest paddles over barber hones only because of the learning curve. I would suppliment the paddle with a barber hone though as one can duplicate the use of pastes and learn the use of a hone with one on the cheap. Tilly has great hones at very nice prices. While I am a strop guy first and foremost I have one of every hine Tilly sells and perhaps that many again in other types.....34 at last count <g>.

Tony

The second razor would be a good idea. It is all to commomn for a new guy to dull his first razor with improper stropping. Usually they use to much pressure and/or have to much slack in the strop