Glad I had a 30X stereo microscope!

I have gotten the gear, the DVD's, and the nerve together over the last couple of months while shaving with a Double Edge and a brush after decades of cartridge razors and foam in a can. One of the razors I picked up was a DOVO "Best Quality" starter razor. Tried that razor just stropping to see what would happen. In a word: nothing. So I taped the spine and went to the freshly-lapped waterstones and checked inbetween on the 10x-30x stereo microscope I've had around for other things. There was a section of the blade that was not developing a bevel on one side. I worked and worked on it with 4K & 8K but that section didn't change much at all. Finally, broke out the 1K waterstone and continued 15 stroke sets until FINALLY bevel started to appear in that stretch.

At that point, I started up the 4K/8K pyramid and finished off with 20 strokes on a 10K waterstone. Stropped it up this morning and gave it a try on my cheeks, hand swap for the opposite side. It worked! No blood this time -- but I won't get overconfident!

I'm convinced that I would have never figured out what was going on with the razor without the 'scope. Was definitely NOT shave ready.

The shave, just with the grain, resulted in VERY smooth skin. I can't wait to try again tomorrow in both directions! Lot's to learn but it's a start!

Preshave: Shower, Truefitt & Hill citrus preshave oil
Soap: Truefitt & Hill with Badger brush
DOVO Stainless Steel "Best Quality" 5/8 round end
Razor prep: waterstone hones 1K-10K
Stropping: Tony's 3" heritage, 30x on linen then 30x on latigo
Aftershave: cold water and lavendar balm, followed by a big smile!

--Paul

Congrats! I find the whole against the grain thing a little overated when using a straight. You can, as you've noticed, get very close without a lot of stress about an against the grain pass.