A newbie here. Got fascinated with straight razors from a picture of a razor in a magazine. Sometime around last Christmas. So I googled 'straight razor' and at some point found SRP. Read the forum and followed the links for quite a while. Then decided to try a Shavette. The DOVO importers here (Bulgaria) just don't import it, but they had two smilar products: one that is an exact replica of the Shavette but from a different manuacturer and one that is like the Shavette but holds only the shorter blades. Started shaving with those (and continue to do so - even shaved my head a couple of times). Anyway, about mid february I managed to complete a good smooth shave without cutting myself at all. So decided to buy a real straight razor.
Got one from the classifieds of SRP. Really happy with the purchase.It is an Otto Fromm 5/8. Received it. Stropped. Started to shave. Feels much better than the Shavette like things that I have been using. Actually feels great. Shave not so close, but I am guessing it takes practise, right? No nicks or cuts - on the face. Funny thing is I managed to cut my ear. Didn't hurt much but made me laugh a lot. Complete idiot I am.
Anyway thanks to all you guys for all the information, comments, articles, advice, thanks for helping newbies like me.