I'm new and I realize that there is a lot I do not know. I am an experienced knife sharpener and have modified/polished quite a few blades.

Here is my latest opportunity to learn.

I honed a vintage extra hollow razor (and repaired it by honing out the rust spots and nicks along the edge). I use DMT plates to accomplish this and finished with DMT 8000/3 micron plate before taking it to a balsa strop loaded with chromium oxide, followed with a balsa strop of iron oxide (reportedly 0.1 micron) and then about 100 laps on a leather strop. If it helps, I did 50 laps on each balsa strop.

I then tested the blade with HHT (I wanted some assurance that the blade was decent before I took it to my neck). I tested 4 portions of the blade passing in both directions. It is a solid HHT3...some might call it a HHT4.

But it shaves harshly. It gives a nice close shave, but it irritates my skin more than the others I have tried (honed by Pros...perhaps finishing on much more extravagant media than I have).

If anyone can shove me in a good direction, I would appreciate it!