Hey Folks thought I'd report in -
Last night was my third straight shave with my new Old West Dovo.
This time I first stropped about 30 times on the linen side of my Illinois strop and then about double that on the leather side. For lack of a better place, my strop hangs from an eye-level robe hook, so when stropping I'm literally going up & down at an angle, rather than at waist level; I mention this b/c I don't know if that might be what caused the problem.
While I did not get nicked, shaving was definitely less comfortable this time - I just bulled ahead rather than going back to the strop, as I prob should have. The razor was still cutting, but not as smoothly as in earlier shaves. Attempts to get the mustache area and chin were abandoned - I knew I'd just end up cutting myself - but the whole thing left me frustrated (yes Spar, I had to finish with the DE again).
After watching Jockeys video (light touch), I realize that the blade was not near as sharp as it should have been, not as sharp as it had been. So, what did I do wrong? Could the edge have been dulled by incorrect stropping?
I thought I had been developing a good technique, taking it slow, keeping the razor flat on a taut strop, etc. but I'm afraid that perhaps the angle might have meant that I've done more harm than good. If the edge has been dulled, can it be brought back only by going back to the strop (linen first, then leather)?
I've ordered some TI white strop paste and had planned to apply it to my paddle (two-sided, one smooth other rougher, as yet no paste applied), but perhaps the flip side of the linen would be better?
Thanks for your input; I realize that all this is just going to take time as well. Martin