Thread: An old newbie

I'm new to this site, so I hope that this is OK.

Even though I've been shaving with a straight razor for
45 years (on and off), I feel like a newbie since I
discovered this site. So much information, and thank
you for that!

When I was in high school (class of '63), I got one
lesson on straight razor shaving from my grandfather
before he died. I didn't learn much, but the whole
process fascinated me.

Armed with this one lesson (no internet then), I began
the journey. But now I know how much I don't know!

I've been using equipment and techniques which I have
inherited/learned/acquired over the years, and getting
what I thought were pretty good shaves. I never got
any more lessons, I never sought advice, and I never
realized (until recently) that there is a community of
folks dedicated to the art of straight razor shaving!

For the last 16 years I've been living on a remote
South Pacific island (Lifuka Island, Kingdom of Tonga),
and I think that I'm the only person in this small country
who shaves with anything other than a Chinese knock-
off disposable razor. So...not much "help" or comraderie
here.

Anyway...now that I know how much I DON't know,
I have a few questions, which I hope one of the mentors
will answer.

My equipment: a "Super Bismarck" razor, an Illinois
Razor Strop Company "Imperial Russian" strop (treated
with shaving soap on the linen side, and neatsfoot oil
on the leather), a "Swaty 3 Line" razor hone and a
translucent (hard?) Arkansas stone.

I've been maintaining the razor by first honing using
the Swaty stone, and then polishing with the Arkansas
stone.

After reading all the wonderful information available on
this site, I've decided to "start all over". I've ordered
a whole new set of equipment: a Boker "King Cutter"
razor, a Norton 4k/8k stone, a 3" latigo strop, a new
"silvertip" shaving brush, and a couple of different
"primo" shaving soaps and aftershaves.

Please tell me if I'm on the right track. Questions:

1) Have I been caring for the razor properly? How do
I fit the Norton 4k/8k into what I already have?

2) Should I send the new Boker razor to a pro to be
sharpened before I "mess with it"?

3) I will be visiting the Santa Rosa, California, area
soon. Is there a "mentor" in that area that I might
contact and request some "re-training"?

I would appreciate any and all information and
assistance.

Malo Aupito (that's Tongan for "Thank you very much"),

Paul Kidd