I recently purchased a razor and strop from AliExpress. Cheap, but you wait forever for it to get here from China. About a month so far and not here. So I ordered another from eBay and it was here in 3 days. A much better one I believe with leather strop. Quickly I realized it didn't come with a sharpened edge. I thought I was going to be able to start and learn shaving and learn the honing process as I went. The more I read now the more daunting it gets. I almost wonder if I'd best forget it. It seems at every turn I could ruin something and have to buy again. I can't do that as a vet on a disability income. I had to think of this purchase several times before I let the money go. So now I'm stuck with a razor that won't shave and one still on a slow boat from China.

Is there any way I can learn this technique? Stones, grits, pastes .... holy heck? I can't find anyone in this area that does this sort of thing. Maybe I could practice on the cheap one from China ... if it ever gets here. Are stones and pastes expensive?

Is there any help or comfort I may get that this is not rocket science because at this point it looks like I could misfire and blow the whole thing off the launch pad the first time I move a wrist. Dear Lord I did not realize it was such a production. But I truly would like to learn as the safety razors are no longer giving the close shave I like. Guess the old hide is changing a bit. I suspect if there is some place you can send your razor to be honed it's gonna be pricey!

Thanks so much for any interest in my post! Jack ":-\\