Most obsessive forum I have every read

[Steel]

You do have to remember some of us are over the top. Really you don’t need too much gear to start and it is not as complicated or ridged as it may sound.
People have been shaving with straight razors for hundreds of years without all the wazoo…stuff we can’t live without.

A well-honed razor, a strop, soap and brush. And a mentor… and you are good to go for a long time.
Our goals may be the perfect edge, yours should be to scrape the hair off you face without the loss of blood.

Keep it simple as long as you can.

+1. That's one of the best damn posts I've ever read here! I don't know if that says it all but sure says a lot!

[tedh75]

I just sent my first razors off to Lynn to be honed. I asked him if he strops the razors after he hones them and if not could I pay him to do so. He said he strops every razor he hones but still recommended that I strop it before I use it. I mentioned to him that I wanted to experience a properly honed and stropped edge before I ruined it as I have never stropped before. He said that I should go ahead and strop it anyway. He went on to say that people don't usually ruin an edge unless they lift the spine or use too much pressure. He recommended that I watch his stropping video which I have; along with a few others.