Thread: What do we really need to start?

Originally Posted by Timeo Danaos

You need one decent, pre-honed razor and that's it. Everything else is an indulgence.
Stropping must be carried out but does not require an expensive strop; you can make your own out of paper and it'll work. I strop my razors on the legs of my jeans and that works too.

Given the number of nicks I've seen in old strops, I think is apparent that some people occasionally accidentally strop in the wrong direction. If you think you might do this, make sure you're not wearing the jeans!

Lots of great posts already, I am one who believes that if you are going to do something do it right!!!!
You are going to eventually need 2 razors exactly for the reason you mentioned...
Tony does sell strops that are a cut above the rest, however my first strop that I ever bought back in 1981 is still going strong and that was an Illinois #837 so quality leather is quality leather. (if I knew Tony back in 1981 I would have bought his strops hehehe)
BST has tons of truly shave quality razors for sale, and yes it is hard sometimes to score them... So I would recommend putting in a WTB post there are some people like myself and others, that very rarely post FS razors but have a drawer full of razors that we would be willing to part with at very low prices and they are shave ready!!!! (I sold 3 yesterday that were never posted FS) just some random thoughts here for you