I'm new to wet shaving; I bought a razor, brush, soap and strop at Leavitt & Peirce in Harvard Square yesterday. This morning I tried using it for the first time, and though there were no mishaps and I felt pretty comfortable, it just didn't seem like the razor was sharp enough or cutting hair effectively.

The razor is a Dovo Astrale. Unfortunately the only one left in the shop was the display one; I did end up getting it (for a discount), but I'm not so sure about the shaving ability of the edge right now. Further cause for concern is my bad stropping technique, which I hope to improve later.

What advice do you have for making sure my razor is shave-ready? (Is there a place where I can get it honed near Boston, for instance?) I don't see the point in practicing on an ineffective blade. On the other hand, I wonder how quickly I can remove that edge with improper technique.

Thanks!