I did this with a finish on the coticule with the kutter and a finish on the chinese with the tadross, and it still wasn't sharp enough to shave. It pops hair but doesn't cut close enough. I am quite sure it is not my technique while shaving as I have shaved with straights just fine before. I tried the kutter without stropping to see if perhaps I was messing up in that area but it did not do any better then tadross.