Need help interpreting a shave test
Background: I've been shaving with a straight for..let's call it a year (took some time off at one point). I recently got a cheap razor from ebay, a T. Noonan & Sons square point, so I'd have a razor to practice on. Did a quick clean up and honed it last night. Using tape, for the first time ever, I set the bevel with a couple sets of moderately heavy circles and a couple sets of lighter circles on the 4k norton with slurry, diluting as I went. Then a bunch of heel-forward x strokes, getting lighter and lighter. Rinsed razor and hone, then did more just water x strokes on the 4k. Passed TNT as I understand it and would cut arm hair at skin level. Then to 8k with slurry, then without slurry, then to PHIG (with slurry, then without). Edge looked good under a 40x loupe (From a novice's point of view). Changed the tape a bunch, figuring more often is better than not enough. Stropped a bunch, I time instead of count, 4 min on fabric, 5 on leather.
So, to the shave test. I did a complete shave, one WTG and one XTG. Learned what the square point means with a small slice in my ear. Not as clear cut as I had hoped. My neck area didn't seem to get quite as close as usual, BUT I've always had issues with closeness on my neck. The shave was comfortable, maybe a tiny bit more irritation than usual, but it didn't seem as sharp as my go-to razor. But then I got to my cheeks (yes, I shave my neck first for fresh lather and fresh edge). The WTG and XTG went really well. Then, as an experiment, I did a ATG pass on one sideburn and cheek, gently buffing with a careful slicing motion, spine touching my face. Felt good. Then I felt my sideburn, completely BBS. I couldn't believe it. Not sure I've gotten that level of closeness before (maybe once or twice on accident on random parts of my face).
So, I'm a little confused. If I had to just by just the neck, I'd say I should go back to the 8k, then test off the 8k and when my neck says so, smooth it out on the PHIG. If I had to go by my sideburn, I'd say it's shave-ready. Then throw in the fact that this is my first shave with this razor.
Any advice or suggestions? Thanks for reading this wordy post!
Ken