Hello all, I've started wetshaving with a DE razor for a while now, and sooner or later I want to try straights. However I know it isn't as simple as placing a blade between halves of a razor, so I have a few questions:
1.) I understand that Straights need to be stropped and honed. How many times does it have to be honed a week? Can I do it myself? I checked out the price of a Norton waterstone, and it's pretty expensive.
2.) Do we have to stop the razor everytime before it's use?
3.) I know there are strop pastes, what are those for? Do I have to use them on a hone as well as my strop?
4.) What's the difference between stropping and honing?
5.) If I ever were to travel with a straight, should I bring the strop and the hone with or or just one?
I know these are very basic questions but I'd appreciate it greatly if you helped me understand, thank you.
1.) I understand that Straights need to be stropped and honed. How many times does it have to be honed a week? Can I do it myself? I checked out the price of a Norton waterstone, and it's pretty expensive.
2.) Do we have to stop the razor everytime before it's use?
3.) I know there are strop pastes, what are those for? Do I have to use them on a hone as well as my strop?
4.) What's the difference between stropping and honing?
5.) If I ever were to travel with a straight, should I bring the strop and the hone with or or just one?
I know these are very basic questions but I'd appreciate it greatly if you helped me understand, thank you.