I've been interested in straight razor shaving for a long time, but got motivated a month ago. I picked up a razor at an antique shop and it was in pretty good condition. It had a small amount of light scratches on the hollow part of the blade, near the edge (sandpaper?), but it felt like a slightly dull knife.

I want to get into this for 1) shaving with a straight, and 2) learning a lot about sharpening. I almost ordered a shave ready razor while I learn to hone, which I think I still will do, but for now, I am intrigued with getting this one going. After much reading, I bought a Norton 4000/8000 and a cloth/leather strop. Here is what I have done.

- Reading
- Microscope examination (looked good as best I could tell...no nicks)
- Lots of 4000/8000 strokes
- Reading
- More strokes
- HHT (fail) and TPT (seemed good to me)
- Shave (not close, but not terrible. A positive achievement)
- More strokes
- HHT (fail) and TPT (seemed good to me)
- Shave (same result)
- More reading...reading...reading.
- Pyramid approach
- Shave test (same...fair shave, not good)
- Aggressive Pyramid...getting the hang of it, watching the water, more reading on the Wiki with pictures
- Edge starts to feel smooth, but maybe it's light tickling. Maybe, just maybe sharp.
- Tried HHT but fail. Using my wife's hair from a brush so I am not sure on the root end and also it is super-fine
- Arm hair test. It pops off lots of hair about 1 cm from the root. Light plink, plink, plink sound. (Excited)
- 50/50 strops on cloth/leather. Nice and slow, controlled and per reading, but not fast.
- TPT seems nice to me, but I am still learning.

Now I am ready for the shave test tomorrow. What do you think of my arm hair test. Is that how it is supposed to work? plink, plink, plink and all?

Thanks,

Steve