Hello all. So, I received a Dove 5/8 Astrada for Christmas and have about 9 shaves under my strop. I stopped trying to get that perfect BBC smooth shave for now. It helped with razor burn and actually let me enjoy a smooth comfortable shave that I can enjoy all day with wiffs of awesome sandlewood from my aftershave until 1100 am followed by an afternoon of spectacular aroma of almond from my soap. When I returned home my wife hugged me kissed me and took in a deep breath on my cheek and commented on how wonderful I smelled! That was a pinnacle moment that I've never experienced from any previous shave. The moral of this story is that there are so many wonderful facets of shaving with a Straight razor, don't obsess on getting the closest shave that one can possibly get, but to stop and smell the rosewater!