Originally Posted by
Maxi
Michael,
If I may, I'll be quite frank:
1. Put the hones away, don't touch them until your shaving is going well
2. Send the razors to a person who will be able to hone them properly. Take the sharpness variable out of your equation
3. Practice your stropping, with a butter knife if need be, or a dull razor. Keep the strop taught and the spine of the razor on the leather.
4. Build a good lather. I have nicked myself on occasion when my lather has dried out, because the razor trudges and bumps its way through. Good lather will help with a smooth shave.
When you're getting fairly decent shaves, and you'd like to learn how to touch up a razor, pull out your highest grit stone. It will do the least damage.
If you want to go from the bevel - up, pull out an almost dead razor and sharpen it.
It is a long learning process, as many will admit, however....successful learning comes from manageable tasks, not insurmountable ones. Learning to hone, strop, and shave in the same time frame would be considered quite difficult. Give yourself a break, and some time to relax and enjoy this. Hobbies are supposed to be just that, enjoyable. Learn one thing at a time.