Hi I just found this site on Tuesday of this last week. Let me just start by giving you a little back round about myself. I have always been good with my hands and have always built or made what ever I need from Fly's for fishing to some of my own knifes. Tired of paying for razor blades and since I live in small town america finding it hard to find said razor blades I figured I would try shaving with a straight razor. Of to eBay I went and there I found a straight razor kit. Not wanting to spend much on something I didn't know if I would like or enjoy I purchased the cheapest kit I could find. Shortly there after I found this site. Talk about being over my head, by the end of my first night on this site I thought "what a big mistake I have made ordering cheep". With names like "Dovo" and tons of others coming at me as well as the list of "brands to avoid" I thought for sure there was no way that what I ordered could be worth anything more the a talking piece or something that looked cool in my bathroom. Let me just say that when I opened the box I was disappointed, not that it was bad just that it wasn't one of the better brands and in fact the dreaded Pakistan was printed on the razor. The soap smelled great the stoup was OK and the brush and bowl were pretty cool to. I knew the razor would need to be sharpened so out came the Norton Stones and I new right away that this was a project. My first pass I could see where the center of the blade was off the stone so to nip it in the bud I started on it with (gasp)the 220 grit, over the next few hours I managed to place an edge on the razor, and I can say that as of less then an hour ago, it was good enough to shave with. Will the edge last don't know and don't really care all I will say is that as of right now that kit was right for me, and I learned more about straight razors and shaving with this kit in two day to pay for it's self. BTW. I think I can build one for myself that would rival any out there.