So that's what poor stropping does to an edge...
I've been using a straight for under 2 weeks and I followed every sage bit of advice given here and elsewhere.
Shave ready razor from reputable vendor? Check. Paddle strop so that I don't have to fight too many things all at once? Check.
Yesterday, I attempted to do a few ATG strokes and noticed the blade was a little hoppy. Played with angle a bit and shortened my strokes even further, but it was like taking a butter knife to a full grown redwood. WTG strokes were still smooth, but I suspected something might be wrong with the edge.
I consulted a wiser hand and he mentioned that poor stropping might be a factor. I took my loupe and examined the razor and true enough, there were a few degraded sections along the edge.
I followed Lynn's video on refreshing razors and used diamond spray on the hard felt pad that came with my paddle strop. I checked the edge after 7 laps and kept at it until I could see a nice even edge.
I then stropped the razor, paying more careful attention to pressure and as some have advised, the sound of the razor as it is drawn across the strop. Shaved with it today and all is well once again.
Some things learned :
1. The paddle helps minimize errors but doesn't banish them altogether.
2. Guidance only goes so far. It seems that straights , like jazz, require one to develop a really good feel for everything that goes on.
3. In this case at least, a degraded straight edge does not feel as harsh or bad as bum DE blade. This is probably both a blessing and a curse.
Miles to go before I sleep, but I'm loving every minute of learning.
