Quote Originally Posted by dannywonderful View Post
I simply wasn't confident that I wouldn't dull the edge with my newbie stropping skills when I got my razors from Invisible Edge. It taught me how a razor is supposed to feel.
Exactly, this is what i was going to say. Im still very new to straight shaving, but the most important thing i have learned so far is what a sharp razor SHOULD feel like. Keep an eye out for HLBUDs classified postings. He puts some very reasonably priced razors out, and they come very sharp.

Once you get your new razor, you now know how a decently honed razor should feel. Use whatever test you want...personally i actually drag my thumb pad across the blade to feel it along my fingerprint.

Now that you know how a sharp razor should feel, you should slowly progress into a stropping routine. I knew that i was stropping correctly because my blade felt restored after 50-60 passes.

Now after i get a new blade, i shave once and strop with confidence ony my next shave because i know im not rolling over edges to my blades.