Honing Frustration, and a question
Gents, as I posted in another thread I'm trying to 'touch up' a formerly shaving razor. I'm using what a very good JNAT...and it just ain't working for me. Most frustrating for me is that I can get a chisel to explode hair right above the skin with this very same stone--something the razor won't do.
Now, the razor improves markedly with stropping. Which raises a question of WHY stropping is necessary/useful? I've read the wiki and it explains THAT stropping is a necessity (okay, I believe it!). But, mechanically, WHY is the stropped edge better than the stoned edge? And is it? Always? necessarily?
Something odd about my razor. It's got a smile...but an odd one. If I am holding it right handed, with the blade towards me, the edge will sit absolutely flat on the stone. If I hold it right handed, edge away from me, the need for a 'rolling X' stroke is clearly visible: it will not sit flat. What is this telling about the blade geometry? Or am I subtly doing something wrong with grip/pressure/something?