Training Camp in prep for Brian Brown Custom

I am very excited to be on Brian's waiting list. But it is not time to relax as I wait 3-6 months for the call to make some design decisions. Not only do I need to be prepared to pony up some spec's, I better be ready to strop this baby for 3-6 months and then be able to refresh the blade rather than destroy it. I am new to this game and my skills are improving as I hone the life out of every razor I own.

My current thoughts on spec's for the Brian Brown Custom is an 8/8 1/4 hollow-full wedge spineless with 2 5/8's smiling blade and Spanish point. I love all the scales that Brian creates so I am not worrying about that.

My current hones which I only recently successfully honed a razor with are: Shun 1k/6k, Naniwa 3k/8k and C12k. I have SRP paddle strop a couple of pads. .5 micron chromium oxide and .5 diamond spray. I just ordered the English Bridle Pad for the SRP modular strop as I cut up the original standard leather strop(skills are better, hopefully the new pad will be safe).

My request for opinions and concerns relate to everything. Spec's on the razor, hones and technique on a smiling blade. Should I be prepping a natural hone other than the C12K. Coticul, Escher, ........

I currently have a Dovo 5/8 Ebony Silver Steel, Globusman 6/8 and the best razor in my drawer, a Soligen 6/8 full hollow that I semi-refurbished from a rusty mess. The rusty mess had a good spine and no issue with the blade so I buffed it, set a new bevel and it is the smoothest (although ugliest) of the bunch. The brand new Dovo is the big disappointment of the lot. It shaves, but nothing to write home about. I bought the Globusman off of the SRP Classifieds and although pretty, the blade did not lay flat on the hone. By the time it did, I had made a mess of the spine. Now I hone it with 3 layers of tape but it is still a disappointment. I can't wait to try a professionally honed razor with a perfect spine etc...

Your thoughts and criticisms are welcome.

Thanks in advance------

Sorry to hear abut the Globusman. That's truly a tragedy.

As far as a smiling blade they do take a bit more practice. Honing a smiling blade for me is a bit more by feel. I tend toward prefering straight blades over smiling mostly because it takes less effort on my behalf

Your honing setup sounds fine. I too used the C12K for my finishing stone until recently. I just added a Okudo White Suita Jnat, and much prefer it to finish the edge.

When your BB starts to lose it's edge you will rarely have to take it to anything much other than your finishing stone and strops.

I don't YET have a coticule or (dare to dream) an Escher, or Charnley Forest, so I can't speak to them. Though there reputations are undisputed as a finisher, they tend to have exponentially higher expense.

Enjoy your Brian Brown Custom when you get it.

I can't answer any of your questions or concerns, but I can tell you how great working with Brian is. Is work is amazing, and the edges he puts on his blades are the smoothest I've ever felt. Good choice in going with him and his work.

I wish you much patience as you wait.