Thread: Help me SRP, you're my only hope. Discouraged Shaver :(

I received an older blade from the family which was in great condition (Otto Duetsch's Hans). I cleaned it up a bit and had it honed at SRD. My first couple shaves seemed pretty good. I chalked up any and all missed spots etc. to my lack of skill, but now it seems my razor isn't doing it's part. After those first couple partial shaves it just doesn't want to cut closer than stubble. I have not cut my self at all, and I do have a goatee, so i don't have to deal with the difficult areas around my chin and upper lip. I keep the spine close to my skin which seems to be a cutting angle of 10 degrees, and I've even tried propping it up a little to a 30 degree angle too. I have made several passes with the WTG, XTG, and ATG, but there is still stubble and hairs not getting cut.

My stropping skills seem to be pretty good. I've only nicked the strop a couple times in my first attempts. I strop with a steady pace. Not too fast; not too slow. I've prepped with a hot shower, followed by a hot rag on my face. I use warm lather. I started with the cheap VDH soap and also used TOB shave cream.

Last night I decided to just target one area with stubble, and went over it more than a few times in every direction I could just to see if it was me or the blade. I'm just not cutting the hairs, and I'm left with random stubble. I don't have a lot of tug or pulling while shaving and it does cut, but I can't seem to get a close shave.

Have I dulled my blade on my strop already? I started doing 80 laps leather 30 felt, and last night in an attempt to get it sharp i did 125 laps leather, 40 felt. The sharpness of my blade seemed to be a problem since my second or third shave, but I've just been thinking it was my fault due to lack of knowledge and experience. It's been honed properly, so what could I have done to my poor sweet razor soon quickly?

Thanks for all and any help.