Hey Gents,

In the past few months I've dove head first into the world of Straight Razor shaving. All you folks at SRP have been AMAZING as far as getting us beginners on the right track, MUCH THANKS.

So right now I have a nice Torrey I sent to SRD to to get honed and it's the razor I use everyday. However, maybe it's out of boredom or plain curiosity but I have an painful desire to learn how to HONE.

Throughout the last few months I've acquired some decent vintage razors that are in need of some TLC and a new beginning. They were cheap enough to be able to try my hand at honing and won't be too much of a loss if I totally BOTCH my first honing attempts.

I just bought the Norton 3 piece combo set from SRD. It has the 220/1k stone, the 4/8 k stone, and a lapping/flattening stone. SRD has the best price on this combo set by far. Think all three were 125 bones. From what I hear it should be a great set to get started with and hopefully not do "too much" damage. I will still need to get a slurry/prep stone as well and have been looking for a decent old barber hone as well. I'm anxious to see how the sharpening of my old razors will go after watching countless videos and now realizing that the learning curve for honing seems to be a large one.

Also, I was going to buy a paddle strop already loaded with paste/chromium oxide but I think I have decided to attempt to build my own paddle strop. I read the forum within SRP from where a few members have built their own paddle strops for final honing and they turned out pretty nice. Thinking I may try felt, balsa, and leather but it seems that most folks have better luck with felt or balsa in regards to pasted strops. I may also attempt to load up the canvas strop that came with my leather strop with some .5 Chromium Oxide see how that works.

Updates of my first honings and hopefully some pics of my attempts at a home-made paddle strop soon to follow. Cheers gentlemen.....