Well I'm definitely a newbie. What got me interested was the rising and ridiculous cost of new razor blades. So I started researching getting a straight razor. The information I found on the Internet definitely got me thinking I can do that, so I ordered a Dovo 112 stainless steel razor and a strop and a brush from Classic Shaving. The first time I tried to shave with the razor I could not believe how dull it was, so I did some more research and found out razors don't necessarily come shave ready. More research and learned about honing and said well I can do that. Got a Norton 8000/4000 stone. I tried hard to get that razor ready for a good shave; I failed miserably, got discouraged and gave up. Put the stuff on the shelf. Then razor blades went up to $20.00 for just 8 blades, ticked me off. Right then and there I became determined to figure out my straight razor. Purchased Lynn's CD on shaving, it helped and my shaves got better. I was doing a lot of things wrong from honing to stropping. Still I am having trouble getting my razor to be sharp enough, I think. Still getting razor burn. I know it's just me, still not honing right or stropping right or even shaving right. I have noticed on my hone that one side of my razor rocks back and forth on the hone, it does not lie perfectly flat like the other side. I put tape on the spine so I know I have not ruined the spine with honing. I have tried to follow Lynn's suggestion of "less honing is better", still not sharp enough, If I understand it right a nice sharp razor used right will not razor burn. So I'm going to order a shave ready razor and see if I'm just not getting my current razor sharp enough. I will not give up, thanks to all the guys that describe the bbs shave they get, this encourages me. I hope to one day get good enough to get a bbs shave. Please I am open to any suggestions or thoughts you accomplished bbs shavers may have for me. Thanks, Manonegine.