Thanks for your suggestions in other posts guys.

I'm shaving with my Solingen straight razor! I don't think it is as sharp as it could be, but I'm improving (largely thanks to your collective help, so thanks!).

I think my barber's hone has made a difference.

I also have a cheap pakistani razor that I am using to learn on. I don't expect it to be a serious shaving razor or to hold an edge for long, but I would like to practice putting an edge on it.

Yesterday I tested the edge before shaving with my other razor, and it wouldn't cut into my facial hair unless it is held at an incredibly steep angle - around 45 degrees (and even then didn't cut much).

So, I took it to the strops: 50x linen and 100x leather.

Still no good.

Then back to the barber's hone. 10x, followed by the same strop treatment.

It seemed better, but when I tried it on my face this evening it was no good.

So I took it back to the 4k grit sandpaper (approx = 8k hone...right?), followed by the barber's hone.

The blade seemed much better and was catching at a lesser angle - maybe 15 or 20 degrees.

When I stropped, the blade wouldn't catch again unless I increased the angle.

Am I stropping wrong? I lay the strop flat on the table when I use it.

I'm going to try to use the razor without stropping.