Evening folks, firstly i'm very much enjoying the wonderful forum and information here. I have only been shaving with a straight razor for a few weeks. I first bought a Sheffield "repeat", which was near shave ready. I stropped it on the strop I use for my knife making/finishing. Its only about 1.5mm leather course side up to take polishing compound. Followed by smooth leather. From my limited experience it seemed to shave smoothly. I bought another razor a bigger 6/8 in half hollow. It came shave ready from Invisible Edge and I like it allot, I think its a touch sharper than the repeat, but shaves no smoother, could be me though getting used to it.
I just bought my 3rd razor, opps am I getting carried away? A "gong" razor, its in good nick but quite blunt, as advertised. The bevel looked even but with some chipping in places through a x10 Loupe. I re-honed the bevel on my cheap 1K, about 50 circles on each side. Then strokes with slurry until the chips were gone and bevel even and nice looking, then very light strokes on water. Through the x10 Loupe I can see the 1K scratch marks, its sharp but no where near shaving sharp, comparing to my others on the thumb and on hair.
After about 150 laps on the paddle course side with blue compound, I can still see some scratches, but the very edge is polished. So I went to the smooth leather. I can feel no real difference in sharpness now to my other 2, it pops the tops off hairs, and sticks in the thumb nicely. I'm making do with what I all ready have, but it seems to me like it would all ready deliver a smooth shave. Or is this just something I will look back and have a good laugh at myself later when I have been doing this a bit longer?
Thoughts appreciated
Will