Hello fellow straight shavers! I've been lurking here and over at B&B for several months now, and finally have decided to join this great community.

Im a lab tech living in central MN, born and raised, and play music, tinker with microbiology, and do random craftwork on my free time. I'm a fanatic about anything old school, (and i mean older-than-dirt school) always learning how they did things before stores, factories, fridges and fuel/elecricity.

Ive been using a straight for about 2-3 months now, and ive so far seen it as much more enjoyable, with my terrible duo of coarse beard and sensitive skin, than my grandpa's Gillette adjustable DE, which I've been using for almost a year. I have a Vintage Blades 6/8 carbon steel with acrylic scales, basically went for cheap when I planned to start, assuming I'd damage it while I'm riding that learning curve. That blade's edge, and my strop as im sure you guys would imagine, after almost 3 months of newbie use without a honing has seen some gruesome battles, lol. It had a small chip in the edge when i first got it, but i was too excited to start so i decided not to send it back for a rehoning.
But honing is exactly what my concern is now, since with my still improving skill ive hit a point where the shaves are no longer becoming more comfortable, and it sometimes feels like its pulling my face off. I figure what better month than no shave november to bear to part with my only straight for a few days to have somomeone who actually has experience hone it? I do plan to learn how to myself, but the money for all the stones is not in my budget quite yet. Yet....
So if theres anyone here with decent honing experience in the cloudy town area, Id love to have access to your services.

Anywho... hi again, you guys have already helped me with a lot of info about the world of straights, looking forward to joining this community