Thread: Need some experienced advice - does this need honing?

Had my straight since December, & as my experience shaving with it has increased I find that I can get closer with multiple passes than ever before but also that it feels like it's tugging more, especially round the chin. It doesn't feel like it's tugging when I do my sideburns & cheeks, but I do tend to use the toe end of the blade for that (due to having ears probably) & use the central part of the blade more for the rest of my face. I really don't know if it's my technique, a blade that's not as sharp is at was when new, or a combination of the two. It is after all a distinct possibility that I've blunted the blade with my amateur stropping & shaving technique.

I've got myself a Norton 4K/8K & a jewellers loupe. The norton is lapped, & the edges are rounded so I've got the basic equipment to hone, but lack the experience. I can't afford additional 1k or 12K hones just yet, so if/when I do this it's going to be just with the Norton for now. My issue is due to lack of experience, I'm looking through the loupe & can't really tell what I'm looking at, so I did the only decent thing I could think of & took some pictures. The yellow background is the Norton, & the silver thing at the bottom is the zippo I'm resting the loupe on.

The 1st 4 pictures are from the toe to the heel of the left hand side. To my distinctly amateur eyes this side doesn't look that bad, but what do I know?






The following are from the toe to the heel of the right hand side. I could be completely off base, but the bevel in the middle doesn't look as deep or as clean as the other side. Again, what do I know?








I appreciate that these photos from a mobile phone won't be anywhere near as helpful as actually seeing the razor in the flesh & you might not be able to tell me much from these alone, but any advice is appreciated. I really don't know if I just just soldier on with improving my technique, or if it does need honing? The straight was bought from The Invisible Edge which came recommened on SRP, so I can be quite sure it was shave ready when I received it.

Thanks for any help.