I was finally able to get a decent shave off the Hart. Initially, I tried to hone the Hart using tape, but never got a decent bevel. I then removed the tape, killed the edge and went through the entire honing process from 1K all the way up to 12K on Naniwa superstones. I stropped on clean cloth to remove any honing abrasives, then on green CrOX on Balsa, 0.5 micron CBN on Balsa, 0.25 micron CBN on basswood and finally on clean cloth to remove any remaining compound. I then finished on Tony Miller bridle leather. With that process, I was able to get a decent shave, but still not as comfortable as with my "singing" razors.

In my collection I have vintage Wostenholm and Shumate blades, a few Gold Dollars that I purchased to develop honing skills, a Ralph Aust, Boker silver steel, Dovo Bismark, Razoir Sabre Le Grelot, and now the Hart.

I get great shaves using every straight except two. One is a vintage Shumate 5/8 Irish point. The other is the 6/8 Hart square point. Both of those blades were made in the USA; one is vintage, one is modern. Other than the country of origin, the other trait that these two blades share is that neither give significant audible feedback. All my other razors, including the Gold Dollars are "singing" blades, although the 6/8 Boker silver steel extra hollow and the 7/8 Le Grelot give the most feedback.

As a lifelong musician, perhaps I am relying on the audible feedback from a "singing" razor as an integral part of the shaving process for me. I know some have said they do not like the "noise" from a singing razor, but for me, it is music in my ears.

Does anyone else have problems with razors that give little auditory feedback?