thanks again for the welcome guys I am amazed at how friendly everybody appears on the forum, it is really great to see the camaraderie and willingness to pass on the knowledge of the group!

I am up in Forest Ridge so a little way from Packer leather(there was a fire there not long ago that all the mother groups were crying about how they are too close to houses and all this garbage even tho the houses were there AFTER the tannery)

sounds like a great idea making your own strops!
I am leaning toward getting a full basic kit out with a poor man strop and straight blade and a brush and styptic pencil and soap sampler from Larry at Whipped dog and go from there.

Look forward to learning and meeting up with everybody