How much I wish people could read the SRP wiki files before spending money. The article on "good" and "bad" straight razor brands has saved me so much grief and frustration!

I'm just a newbie, so my advice is worth what you pay for it! But many frustrations, some lost money, and more than my share of cuts and facial scars lead me to suggest, like the others here, that you pick up one of the professionally honed shave-ready razors offered by the reputable straight razor vendors, such as Straight Razor Designs (home-board favorite!), ClassicShaving.com, or some of the long-term vendors on this site. Get it shave ready and do nothing but strop it lightly before and after each use.

When stropping won't bring it back, buy yourself a Naniwa Superstone 12K for a 5-10 stroke touch-up followed by light stropping on fabric then leather. The stone is pricey, but totally worth it. When the 12K won't bring the edge back (by now you'll have been shaving for nearly a year!) you can pick up a Naniwa Superstone 8K to restore a sharp edge.

And read the wiki articles here from top to bottom. Many things about straight shaving earlier generations of men simply learned from their fathers, and from the local expert--their barber! But that is gone, so thankfully we have this place to educate ourselves.