Thread: Another Beginner stropping question

Hi All, For Christmas I asked for a straight Razor set up and I have a couple questions

1.
My first question is regarding finding my 'baseline' for how sharp my razor is supposed to be. I assume the razor does not need to be honed but am not really sure if that is a correct assumption.

I have had one shave that went pretty well but I am assuming the razor could be much sharper as I have not been able to cut the 'hanging hair' test.
Since this is my first razor I have no real frame of reference other than common sense. Is the hanging hair test what I should be using to reference the blade sharpness?

I live in San Francisco and work in Palo Alto if anyone knows of a good old school barber in the area I could always have a pro look at it.

2.
My Second Question is regarding the use of the kit that I got for Christmas.
I was given a Thiers Issard 7 Piece Set from classicshaving.com
Straight Razor Sets
Included is a "Luxury Two Sided Paddle Strop " and a "Tube of the Thiers Issard Stropping Paste"
One side of the strop has a normal leather surface and the other side has a suede like leather surface. I have stropped very lightly with both sides of the strop and I put a VERY small amount of the paste on the Suede side of the strop. Is this the correct side to put that on, and if so how much paste should I use?

Assuming I am doing this correctly and I am stropping very gently, how much stropping should I expect to do before I have the sharpest edge I can achieve?
The paddle strop seems small to me.

I appreciate any input, Thanks in advance



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