Thread: Not quite shave ready but close. What's wrong?

I've recently wondered about straights after tiring of disposables plugging so I figured I'd try it. I bought an old Wade and Butcher 5/8" Straight and a leather (rough side and smooth side) strop. I'm familiar with sharpening as a wood worker but shaving takes it a level higher. And so far I don't think I'm to that higher level!

I sharpened this old blade using my Surgical Black Arkansas oil stone and refined it with the strop. I'm getting it to shave arm hairs bald but it takes a couple passes and doesn't do the mid air slicing thing. So I'm pretty close. It drags on my face when shaving (using heated in warm water Gillete Shave Gel) like a dull disposable razor. Needless to say I'm not getting a good shave and can't go ATG like I can with a disposable.

When I strop, I roll it on the spine just like I've seen in videos.

I went directly from the Black Surgical Oil Stone to the Leather Strop. Do I need an intermediate step?