To assist with funding, would it be possible for SRP to put up a banner ad with a paypal donate link for the project? I don't have any equipment to offer, and I'm no where near close enough to physically assist, but if the SRP community was able to make small donations, perhaps larger, more ambitious goals could be attained.
I think it is a great idea, and I don't see a reason why several experiments can be devised and takes on, one at a time, over the next while.
Just a suggestion for an order:
1. Razors sharpened using different grit progressions to a "hone finished" state (ie, 4k/8k norton only, European naturals, Japanese naturals, shaptons, DMTs)
2. effects of time on razor edges in different atmospheres, (effects of corrosion carbon v. stainless
3. Effects of stropping post hone, (take 8k norton honed blades as common control, and use a different strop on each to the same "mileage"
4 Effects of shaving, basic (several "typical" blades honed and stropped the same, regardless of performance, then shaved with, before and after pics. a control needs to be found to remove angle and blade shape variables

5. Effects of shaving, advanced (same blades used and stropped for several days photos before and after, to see if blade "rests" or changes in other ways. variables to remove: atmosphere, personal technique, etc.) this will show how the blade "ages"

6 effects of hone interactions ( pics of different hone combos with expected outcomes, photos at each stage, observation of what each stage is doing, ie what is the Cro or coticule doing to the edge. also extreme stropping, various strops from a control point, photod every x "miles of stropping" to see what the point of diminishing returns is.


Yes these goals are ambitious, but if SRP can get a good start, perhaps corporate backing for the project can be attained more easily?