Hi, I've been lurking around for a few months now and am finally taking the plunge. My wife is buying me a new razor for Christmas ( now if I can just find it, I know it's hidden in the garage somewhere....) and am trying to get set up. Razor is new from Classic Shaving with sharpening from Lynn. Got badger brush, couple different shaving soaps from England, 2 sided paddle strop, .5 micron diamond compound, protractor.... Good thing this will save me so much money since I'm sure this will pay for itself in... well, maybe my grandchildren can finish paying for it!

Now my questions are, is there any good video of how to use a paddle strop? I've watched a honing video of using a Norton 4000/8000 but would like to see what proper paddle strop technique looks like. Is there anything I need to do to prepare strop? Do you strop before? after? Before and after? During? Is .5 enough or should I get 1.0 micron too? (Would that require a 3 sided strop? )

Should I pick up a Norton too (along w associated flattening tools- yet more $$$) or a Swaty? What is the grit size of a swaty and how does it compare? Is there a way to protect the gold spine during honing/stropping or is that just destined to wash away? Any thoughts on rust prevention? I know wd40 would work but methinks it may be an irritant- besides which, the smell doesn't blend well with Trumpers Almond.

Perhaps I need a second practice razor. Besides, a second razor would save me money twice as fast by making the first last twice as long, right?