Ok been one week now with progress going pretty well on using the str8 with no real problems figuring out how to shave with it. However, I've had a couple shaves that it didn't seem like the razor was cutting all that well even though I strop linen 20 and leather around 50 before shaving. Thought my strop technique might be off so watched a bunch of videos of Lynn and others stropping and I don't think my stropping was diferent than what they were showing nice and taught and very little pressure on the razor going slow and trying to get technique right. Draw feels good and a nice wiper sound and not high pitched when stropping. Stropped it today and it'd take hair right off my arm like it wasn't there, and I got it from SRD so sharp shouldn't be an issue. I even hold the razor to the light to check the edge after every stropping session for burrs and any imperfections other than a clean straight shinny edge. Now my hair on my jawline and chin I compare to a wire brush so it's leading me to believe it's a prep issue. Today when I shaved with one day growth I still had some real short stubble after shaving on my chin, even after a XTG pass. I don't think the half hollow should have a problem cutting it so I'm kinda stumped. I tried cold water shaving a few times and I like it better and had less irritation. Could be that my hair when using hot water is making it too flexible and the razor isn't cutting it, but to me I'm getting too much resistance on the jawline and chin. Tomorrow I'm going to go back to cold and see if it's any better but for the most part I'm stumped. If I can't figure this out over the weekend I'm using my free honing from Lynn and sending it off monday just to eliminate the possibility of the razor. Any ideas guys?