OK, I'm a newb. Got a really cool beast of a blade from my father-in-law that I am restoring. In the mean time I snagged a little dudley's barber vintage that is in ok condition to get by. I also scored a vintage from a neighbor who has been a barber for 45+ years. I was quizing him on honing and stropping. When asked if he used 1000-8000 stones, coticules, jap/chinese water stones etc, he just looked at me like I was silly. He said all he ever used were barbers hones and a good strop. What gives?
I wanted to get into the SR thing to keep from buying stupid mach 40 11 whatevers at $16 a whack, plus I think SR shaving is neat and It should be a skill to keep around in this high tech gizmo dominated world. When I started researching what it is involved in getting started - WHOA! all these guys on youtube and in articles, they've got hundreds maybe thousands in stones, hones, strops, paddles etc.
How did the old school barbers do it? I wouldn't think they spent that kind of money, or that kind of time in getting a razor sharp enough to split an atom, would they?
Again, I am new, so just trying to get my feet wet in this SR/wet shaving thing, but I don't want to get drowned. Any advice would be appreciated. As I grow in this deal, I may end up one of the guys that has all the "stuff" but right now I just want to be a do-it-yourselfer and not have to send my razors out either.
Look forward to hearing from ya'
Jamie