Thread: Newbie stuff...

I appreciate posts like this. Being a newbie, I'm still trying to figure out exactly what it is I need to perfect this art. I have the razors (2), a strop, a badger hair brush, and all the accoutrements related to preparation. I'm probably going to buy a Norton 4/8 3" combination waterstone this weekend. What I don't understand is all the talk about .5 micron paste this, green/red/black strop paste that, paddle strops, etc.

I have one strop (w/linen backside), a 17" x 1 3/4" Dovo Russian . Do I need to get another or a couple more strops? Like I said above, I'm going to purchase a stone this weekend to start the learning process with respect to honing. But, other than the stone, I don't know if honing requires any other supplies.

I hope this "newbie" ignorance isn't bother/cumbersome to the experts. Any advice or shopping lists will be appreciated. Thanks!

Jeff