I have 2 razors prepped by highly thought of honemeisters from this forum (they will remain unnamed as I do not wish impugn their names with something that is likely my lack of experience), and I cannot describe my experience with them as smooth. However, my frame of reference is a DE with Merkur or Israeli blades. In comparison, the str8 seems to tug considerably, and leaves me with some irritation (though it always passes within a few hours). I have a very course tough beard, and I have read that cutting dry beard hair is just as damaging to an edge as the same diameter copper wire, I could believe it with mine.

I have put extra effort into my prep. For example, I gave up on my chin on one shave and picked up the DE, and the DE went through the beard like a hot knife through warm butter. I have also experimented with angles, and I can't get much flatter to my face without touching the spine down, but adding any additional angle seems to make the tugging worse.

Additionally, I get a scraping sound as I am shaving that I am not used to with a DE or cartridge.

So I guess what I need is for someone with more experience than I have to help me set my expectations, and provide some comparisons of the differences they experience between a DE and a str8.

Thanks gents!