I wanted to introduce myself. I've been shaving with a Mach3 for about 13 years now, and I'm done with its inaccurate trimming ability and its ridiculously costly blades (my facial hair grows pretty quickly). Shaving is therapeutic to me, and I've always been intrigued with the art of straight razor shaving, so why keep spending oodles of money on blades and struggle with trimming facial hair and side-burn edges? I already use a shaving mug, brush, and soap for my lather, so it made since to learn how to use a straight razor to boot!

I have my great grandfather's razor and hone, but while the hone is perfect one of the razor's schales is cracked clean through and the blade is dull. Because I have no idea what a properly sharpened blade even looks or feels like, I'd rather not try and hone this one now and damage it. Once I get honing down, I can think about refurbishing my great grandfather's blade and swapping handles if I want to use it.

So I just placed an order with Larry at Whipped Dog (thanks to suggestions from threads here) for a $25 sight-unseen shave-ready razor and a $14 leather strop. I figure if I take to straight razor, which I have no doubt I will, I can later purchase a better razor and strop after I've learned and made my stropping and honing mistakes on cheaper ones. I'll be scouring the forum and youtube for info on technique, and I'm sure I will have questions down the road. I look forward to my first shave!