Hello my name is Jake and I am new to this forum as well as straight razors.

I still need a long way to go learning how to hone razors and how to get my shaving technique down.

I have a 5/8 Ralf Aust and a vintage J.A. Henckels 78 1/2 5/8 INOX razor.

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My first shave was messy. I did my best to work up a good lather using a brush and Omega shaving soap but I did get lots of cuts so I am wondering if it is just pimples along the skin or bad lathering, or perhaps bad edge? I sharpened these till they passed the arm treetop test but I didn't get as close a shave as I would have liked after going with grain, cross grain, then trying against the grain.

I am thinking of getting a coticule for experimentation purposes, but so far I have a 10,000K stone, 1 micron compound on balsa, and a leather strop but am so far unable to get either blade to pass HHT. I know that these tests are ambiguous at best but I would like the satisfaction of knowing that my sharpening and honing skills are at least up to snuff .

Anyways, nice to meet you all!
Jake