New member here from south MS. I originally got interested in straight razors from a knife making perspective after a fellow knife maker made one. I purchased a Gold Dollar razor to learn to shave with and to have some basic idea of the in's and out's of straight razors. Took me a while to figure out how to properly sharpen and strop it, but for the last few months has been all I've shaved with. If you had told me 6 months ago I'd be shaving with a straight razor I'd have said you were nuts, no way no how, but since I started I've found my face doesn't break out from shaving like it did and the stubble is not as course, not to mention with my stiff beard I only got two or three uses out of Mach 3 cartridges. Still have a lot to learn, but my first prototype is tempering rite now.

I was lucky enough to have a set of ceramic water stones I use for wood chisels, and I've found a cheap Radio Shack microscope works great for inspecting the edge during sharpening. Unfortunately the Gold Dollar, while it works, has a lot to be desired, one issue I have is I have to strop after the initial shave to make a second pass, and every 3-4 shave I have to lightly hone it again on the 8,000 grit stone. Might have something to do with only having an untreated strip of vegetable tanned leather for a strop, as I said, I've got a lot to learn.

My first prototype is in the oven tempering rite now, I can't wait to finish it and try it out. unfortunately there are quite a few mistakes, nothing hopefully will harm performance, but the fit and finish are not where I'd like it to be. Seems a straight razor is a bit more complex than first glance would suggest.

I look forward to learning more.

Will