I'm struggling to get a good shave from my first 4/8 blade (my previous two SRs are both 5/8). It's shave-ready from Larry at Whipped Dog, who has a very strong reputation, so I think it's more likely a learning-curve issue on my part, rather than that Larry goofed one.

Background: I used shave-ready blades from Lynn a number of years back, so I have that benchmark. And I succeed (with occasional setbacks) at maintaining my edges, shaving off the Norton 8k (and, more recently, from the Chinese Guangxi), and even patiently re-bevelling up from the Norton 4k. I can normally manage a DFS on two passes, and when my honing mojo is humming, a BBS on three passes and a touch-up pass.

Shave 01: Received the 4/8 shave-ready, did _not_ strop it, prepped as usual, with a somewhat-thick 2.5-day beard. Felt what seemed like a _lot_ of tugging on the first stroke, sideburn-to-jawline: if it were my own honing job, I would think that I had botched it. I bailed out, finishing with my self-honed Wester Bros 5/8. I cleaned the new shave-ready 4/8, stropped it 20/20 (linen/leather) and set it aside.

Shave 02: Wondering if I just have to get used to the lighter heft and greater flex of a 4/8, I decided to tackle a lighter beard: one day's growth (I usually shave every second day). Stropped with special care 20/60 (linen/leather). Paying attention to grip and angles, I got a fair 2-pass shave (N-S, S-N), even managing the Fool's Pass…but the jawline and lower cheeks were uneven, and my chin was hopeless. Even with 3rd and 4th XTG passes, lots of prominant stubble there, almost as if the chin hadn't been touched. My chin growth is wiry, but I don't flatter myself that I'm sprouting oak trees there.

I know Larry is great about exchanges, but I'm happy to take the time to get to know a new razor before giving up. Can the above be attributed to my being unfamiliar with the 4/8? Pic:

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