Well as the title says, I got a straight razor set for my birthday and I like it, well if I could shave with it. I am not really sure where to start explaining whats going on in my head so I will try to sort it out the best I can....

Its a Red Deer blade, there is no more signs on it for what it could be (google pulls nothing) so I am not sure if its junk or not. The blade says its German steel, made in the USA. I was reading quite a while back that you dont want to spend the big bucks on your first razor because you will screw it up. But with that said, I love how the blade and handle feel in my hands, the few dozen times I tried messing around with it on the strop, rolling it over the spine and back - it just felt smooth and natural to me, so far I think the blade is a keeper for beginning.

The first issue I have though is I only have a leather side to the strop, the other side is like an unfinished leather. I am pretty sure I need a rough cloth sided one as well to try and hone in the blade a little bit. The blade came sharp-ish but not shave ready. I was also reading that I shouldn't need a stone, I should just have to work it a little with the cloth side and some of that grit stuff you put on it. I have a stick of it, right in the middle as far as grit goes (or so I was told) but only a leather side. Again, I think I need a new strop.

I bought some burts bees shaving cream, I used this stuff when I shaved with a mach 3 or whatever that crap is called. I love it, it holds a nice lather and doesn't dry out quickly, has anybody else used it? The straight razor did cut hair off of my arm when I put some of the lather on it but not as clean as I would like (or would hope) from a straight razor.

The brush, I dont know what its made out of but I like it. My friend used it on his shaving soap and said he really liked it and actually ordered one of his own - I dont know much about it though.

So a little breakdown here - has anybody heard of Red Deer? Do I need a new strop? If so, whats a entry level one I can get? Do I need a stone? I really dont want to spend a hundred bucks per stone...

I know this isnt cheap to get into but I really want to give it a shot. I always used a electric shaver but it would die about every year and I would have to buy a new one. Then I would have to shave easily twice a day... This I am told,the blades should last secaes if you take care of them. At this point I am at a Y in the road - I can stick with electric or spend a little more money (a little, I hope) and get the other tools and give it a shot. I am not even sure if I will like it or not.