Thread: Close, but not comfortable

I didn't read the whole thread but if your searching for solutions it lies with your point 1, unless you were getting good shaves at the beginning and they have erroded, then point 1 and 2 are suspect. Your blade is probably fine.

The key to stropping is not thinking its as simple as just moving the blade up and down the strop. Its more complicated than that, sorry to say.

First, try adding a touch of pressure on the leather. You need to draw out the edge a little. You can spend forever polishing and aligning, but if the edge isn't drawn out to begin with your wasting your time.

Also, consider a little linen/canvas added to the process of stropping, assuming your linen/canvas isn't really, really rough. If its generally soft and smooth (yet bumpy) you can use a touch of pressure, if not keep in light at first and see how that goes.

Remember, never allow the strop to sag, keep it taut and tight. Hard, like a board. Think of the strop as a "Sticky Hone".

So begin by using a touch of pressure, say on linen, not much, just a touch, then move to the leather, again with a touch of pressure, back to linen and again back to leather. Go SLOW, STEADY, EASY, SMOOTH. Make certain you use an X pattern and hit the entire edge with each individual stroke.

This is drawing out the edge and aligning it along the length of the edge.

Then, finish with leather using NO pressure. This is polishing the edge that you've drawn out. If your comfortable use a little speed, not much, just a little.

This should help your situation quite a bit. If not, the blade needs honing.

Next, use your wrist a little when your shaving. A little rounded motion is the easiest way for a beginner to develop a non-perpendicular stroke, which will help with the pulling sensation.

Those two techniques are where you should start.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.