I been shaving w/ straights for a while, but I think I just finally learned what honing and sharp really means.
I had put aside a TI due to fear of overhoning, the bevel was getting uneven after I spent some time with it. Turns out that was a good thing, the bevel that was factory-set wasn't anything close to the Spine-to-edge angle bevel I formed. Once I got that wider bevel spread across the length of the edge and felt it consistently biting into the hone, I moved to a finer barber hone then green pasted strop.
Holy crap. I thought I had a couple blades in good shape, but my TI just gave me the most amazingly smooth shave I've ever felt in my life. My chin didn't even give me that resistance it usually gives. Even a slantbar with a feather blade is a bit challenged by the chin hairs, so I just did not KNOW a straight can get THIS sharp.
Just as exciting as the best shave of my life, is the fact that I got the blade there, set the bevel and everything, on my own. And such an amazing feeling blade finishing with green paste...diamond and red, here I come. I've set an edge/bevel, honed to sharp and all before...just not this good.
I'll be up late tonight. I think I learned another lesson, I thought my Duble Duck and Wapi in their current form were about as good as it gets.
Though I won't be touching those filarmonicas. :nono: