In terms of all the tests you're hearing about here, dont do any of them! These tests (HHT, TPT, TNT and so on..) are all used to gauge the progression of an edge during the honing process, not as a final assessment of the edge.

The ONLY real test for a shave ready edge is to... wait for it... shave with it! If you do a TNT on a shave ready edge, you'll dull the blade. The TPT could result in a dull blade, a sliced thumb or both and the HHT is only any good once its been calibrated for your hair. And the only way to do that is through experience, so picking up a razor for the first time and doing the HHT will tell you nothing.

If you go through old threads there are loads of new guys saying "I've got this razor and it wont pass the HHT and it pulls when I use it, so I honed it/ used a pasted strop/ both (delete as applicable!) and now it wont shave anything at all, what do I do?"

Its a very common problem! What it comes down to is that you're not used to the razor and your shaving technique is not up to scratch yet. It wont be the razor if you got it from SRD, and the CF lime is a great cream. One of the best in fact! What you need to do now is learn how to use them.

Try upping the stropping strokes. I do 30 material and 60 leather before each shave and this works great!

You say this was your first time lathering? Try making some lather to practice. Just go whip some up and see how it comes out. Is it thick? Too thin? Is it a lather or just a cup full of light foam? Start lathering with almost no water and add it drop by drop until you get the right consistency.

Watch your angles of the razor on your skin! Less angle is definately better than more, so make your angles shallower. Hopefully this will make the razor pull less and also make it less likely that you cut yourself.

Good luck and keep us posted!