okay folks - so I reckon I am still a newbie here I thought I was making good process but apparently I was attempting to put the cart ahead of the horses again. Well I got two straight razors for Christmas and one of them is dull as a coffee cup and the other one seems to be sharp enough for the HHT. I have put together a homemade strop out of an old leather belt with rubbing compound applied to the strips as instructed from I believe a reliable friend. I have examined the blade itself and do not see any blunting on it and have stropped it as best I can, keeping it flat on the strop, very little pressure applied and 5 complete passes of the razor. However I always end up going back to my shavette because the edge does not seem to be holding on the straight razor at all. What am I doing wrong here????