Thread: Building up a starter kit

Hey all, I started straight shaving about a month ago with a 51 Biedermeier frome H Eicker and Söhne that I found at an antique shop. I have an old horse hide strop and a broken pike stone(but I still manage to get a shaveable edge out of it). Reason for the old strop and hone is out here in Edmonton, I havnt been able to find a place that sells equipment. Ive wanted to ask, what's your opinions on the Eicker razors? I now own three. And I'm wondering if norton combination 4k and 8k stones are a good beginner hone? I've manage to find one wood working tool outlet that sells those along with diamond paste( this I would also like to know your opinions on)

The norton 4k/8k stone is an excellent place to start and if you like you can end right there for hones they will give you a great edge once you master them. diamond pastes or chromiun paste on balsa wood will help you smooth the edge a little and properly used prolong the time between honing sessions. for the pastes 1micron and .5 micron are the grits you need to look for.

enjoy,
jim

Thanks for the feed back, thought I should show what I have so far, I've a third Biedermeier coming in the male as well as a wade & butcher.