Hi every body, reasonably new to this straight razor pallaver, tried it once before about 12 years ago and just didn't know what I was doing so gave it up. Well now I am back at it with a determination that is getting much better results. Firstly I bought what I thought was a good quality razor (Dovo Solingen 3/4") paid £120 for it, got myself a best quality badger brush, a set of stones, a hanging strop and pastes and lotions and creams and soaps and aftershaves and balms, phew the amount of money I have spent on getting it right is crazy, decided that the razor was too big and thats why I wasn't getting a good shave so bought a smaller 1/2" one which I kept going at and honeing and stropping and got a few decent shave's from it. Then I saw a advert for a Zowada 9/16" Damascus which I just had to have, the post man came and I had 4 days growth and stropped it for a bit and got the rest of the kit out and finally have managed to get the best shave I have ever had in my life it was such a pleasure to use this razor.This is not an advert and I have no connection to this razor maker but the quality makes shaving an absolute pleasure.