Greetings from Philadelphia PA

I have always hated to shave. Even though I have a baby face and can get away with shaving twice a week, it still sucks. :cry: I get razor burn, acne, and a generally bad shave. I have been using an electric simply becuse they don't shave close and cause me discomfort. I have always appreciated a custom firearm or blade. This led me to straight razors. I have a bad habit of being easily frustrated but have got better teaching myself to sharpen freehand. I know I am in for a slow learning process. I know some others live at least close to Philly, so maybe I can find some close help. I have everything I need on the way from Phil and Jane. I will be all set once my package makes it here from the Great White North.

Hey, Wolf. Welcome.

You seem to see it right - that easily frustrated & learning the str8 are at odds. That'll be true of learning to hone as well. But I bet you learn both pretty well. If I could suggest anything, it would be to learn stropping and the shave - for some time, before taking to the stones. You don't have to worry about costs of honing - I & others will do for just the actual costs of getting the blade back to you. But the first edges you produce will work against your learning the shave.

The baby-face - which I'm guessing includes some sensitive skin - will force you early on to learn what "no pressure" means in the shave. If you use pressure on the blade w/ sensitive skin, you'll light up a room w/ the razor burn. The early things to master are a detailed knowledge of your facial topography and how the beard lays on the face at each spot. This will point you to what direction you have to stretch a particular part of the facial skin to make the stubble stand up. You could think of it as making the stubble *available* to the blade - rather than thinking you'll succeed by taking the blade to the stubble.

You'll wind up doing well. I hope you have fun while you learn. Pls. don't hesitate to ask questions, ask for help, etc. This is the motherload of good help and good attitudes.

Hello Wolf and welcome to the forum & to straight razor shaving. Pinklather is 100% right learn the basics then worry about the other stuff. You need to practice, practice and more practice. Build your technique then move to the next step, and so on. The last thing I would worry about would be honing.
There are local members myself one of them who would be more then happy to give you help & advise.
Your starting off wonderfully Phil will give you a perfect benchmark of a shave ready blade. So you can always judge that edge against whatever you do to it afterwards. Har!! Just kidding
You'll get it, Lone Wolf stay the course & you will end up hooked on this passion of ours.
Good luck & dont give up
Darl (Tarkus)