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Shay,

Glad to hear it. :)

If the toe is dull, there's a chance it wasn't getting stropped as much as the rest of the blade. You have to keep your strokes slow and very even. (Or it could have...

Shay,

I'd say try that sequence a couple of times at least. Beyond that we might start creating a wire edge, which would be bad to say the least. :)

Try doing some regular stropping before you...

Shay,

I'd vote for trying the pasted paddle first. You're less likely to harm the edge that way; once you start messing around on the hones it could be a long way back to where you are now.
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Shay,

I would start with five laps on the 1 micron and 15 on the chromium oxide. I haven't yet used the chromium yet--my bench hone has its first application, and I'm waiting to apply the...

If you were able to get a decent shave from your DE, that eliminates prep and lather as potential problems.

That leaves us with stropping, sharpness and shave technique. If the razor was pulling...