Quote Originally Posted by MJC View Post
It's kind of Shave-Geeky but I found keeping some kind of notes helpful.
A spreadsheet with every shave and a short note (Razor in one column) and a general note - soap, brush - and how it went.
Mine is Shave#/Date/Razor/Note (Soap, Brush, special prep is any, # of passes and a short result (BBS, DFS, Bloody mess etc.)) and comments about the edge is warranted.
If I write "I think this might be dragging, try another soap" a couple of times its time for a tune up.
Separat tab I track "honing" but it is really any time I do anything other than strop.
Date, razor what I did and how the shave test went, tape, no tape etc. (shave test is also in the shaving notes)
Side benefit is you keep track of how many shaves between honing/touch up.

I have a rotation of nice razors but without the notes I would not realize that I was favoring one or two over the others.
This is also how I figured out how long the different Feather style blades would last.

And you might try fewer passes on the .5 Diamond but don't wait so long.
Keep notes on your new razor and read some of the great threads about maintaining with pastes.
gssixgun had a fantastic long term test that I used as a starting point with great success.

Smooth Shaving...
Interesting that you keep a spreadsheet. I do also and it is very helpful to go back and look at results. I am at 321 shaves with the sr now and have tons of info to look back on