Hello All,
First let me start of by saying how great this website is and how helpful the senior members seem to be you guys are aewsome. I stumbled across this site about a week and a half ago and have been glued to it ever since.

I am getting ready to take the str8 plunge and have decided to go about it the hardest way possible. I have bought two razor's from ebay and am looking at buying a coticule from classicshaving.com and a DMT 8e I think it is as well as a philly strop from Kenrup. I came to this decision after I spent an awful lot of time going through the wiki's reading the posts and watching the video's. I probably will not have these razors honed by a proffessional unless I just can't get one shave ready or until I think I have one shave ready and need a bench mark.

I know this is going against the grain so to speak and against the advice of a lot of people that trully know their stuff (no disrespect intended your views are highly valued by this newbie) but for me it is the experience of learning the process and getting the payoff in the shave. I read a post on this issue and I can't remember who posted it but they talked about today being a time of instant gratification and maybe some of the newbies should start out this way. That entry resonated with me for quite a while because I was already thinking it. I guess I would rather put in the time than take the shortcut. Luckily I have this great resource to turn to!

My equipment list looks like this
Wade and Butcher Standard
Otto Fromm Cutlery Red Head 50 (Like the older ones in the discussion pertaining to these)
Van Der Hagen Soap,Boal, and Boar Brush (Already using working great)
Classic Shaving Coticul
DMT 8e (I am aware of the cautions and break in associated with these)
Philly Strop by Kenrup

I have only purchased the razors and brush kit and am getting ready to purchase the other equipment if I am on the right track. Any inputs would be greatly appreciated.