Stropping is Making Razor Progressively Duller
My new Dovo 6/8 half-hollow razor came barely shave ready though it passed the HHT with some coaxing. Stropping between shaves did not maintain the sharpness I had originally. Recently I used CR2O3 on newsprint wrapped around my 8k Norton stone to touch up using 20 laps. I had huge improvement and the razor became scary sharp, for this newbie anyway. Again stropping between shaves dulled the edge so I again used newsprint plus Cr2O3, 50 laps this time. HHT showed that it is sharper than it has ever been.
I am certain that stropping can achieve much more when I learn to do it right. Meanwhile I have a few questions. Is a linen stropping surface essential? I have been improvising with a well washed jeans wrapped around a paddle. It does remove the debris from the edge as seen with a 60X magnifier. I have a paddle with relatively soft burgundy leather which does have a draw. The other is harder black leather with no draw. I also have a balsa paddle with Cr2O3 on it and a hard felt paddle with 0.5 micron diamond slurry on it. Finally, for honing which I will eventually be doing, I have Norton 1k 4k and 8k, nothing finer. Will I be needing something like Naniwa 12k ? I aim to eventually experience shaving with an edge that effortlessly removes the stubble as it glides over the skin surface.