Looked for a while

So I looked around for about 30 minutes and even did a few web searches (all of which brought me back here to the same stuff) so here we go. I started SR about 4 months ago. I currently am up to 2 awesome razors but my budget is tight so I can't really expand right now (as much as I want to while drooling over the classifieds). Anyway i have gotten both razors off of the classfied's here and both came amazingly sharp. I like sharp things so I was naturally ridiculously impressed. After about 2 very tenuous shaves I decided I'd give stropping a go. I watched all the videos and read the forums and did alright. So I continued to strop and my biggest mistake was that I would roll the razor before stopping full motion so a little TINY nick. Then there was a day that my rhythm was off and I took a good quarter sized nick out of the strop and I feared I ruined it but it was far enough towards the top that I can just change direction before that. However I tried to repair it and as per the forum sanded the strop to evenness. All of this is to say that my last few shaves it has been evident that my razors are no longer as sharp as they once were. Have I ruined my strop? Am I just stropping like an idiot? Do I need to use a pasted strop? Is there a simple solution? Does it need to be honed? Answers to any and all questions are welcomed. PM is acceptable if that makes you more comfortable.

There is a simple solution, it's practice, and lots of it. And add to that, just stick with the basics and don't give up.

Four months off two edges, that's 60 shaves off of each. That's a reasonable number before you get them honed, I think. Maybe it's time to send them off, or learn the job yourself.

The slower and more carefully you strop the fewer mistakes will be made.

I agree with mdarnton. I've only got one blade & 2 months in it needed honing so 4 months for 2 blades doesn't seem too far out.

I doubt you've ruined your strop. I nicked the hell out of mine & it still works. If there's a big flap you can glue it with rubber cement, then sand it with some high grit sandpaper to even off any rough bits (if needed). Lastly, if you sanded it, you'll probably want to treat it with some neatsfoot oil. I haven't got this so I used the Dovo leatherbalm that came with my starter kit. The one thing you might notice is that sanding &/or treating with oil/balm could change the amount of draw you get. I now get zero draw on my strop & it annoys the hell out of me but shouldn't stop the strop doing it's job. I'm hoping it comes back a bit after more treatment & use.

I'd say it's time to either send your straights off to a professional or grab yourself a stone. I opted for the stone & got myself a Norton 4K/8K but that's just because I'm a Yorkshireman & there's some rumour going around about deep pockets & short arms. In the long run it was cheaper to get the stone but you're taking things into your "hone" hands - sorry...I'll get my coat.

I'm a newb also and got my first two razors from here. Send your razors to someone here in the venders services. You will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the razors will be sharp when you get them back. I wouldnt learn to hone yet, i jumped to that and its a whole new game to learn. But it is fun and will save you money, eventually :)

Have you been stropping before each shave? Or did you just try stropping after 4 months of shaving?

To me it depends on how much you have shaved with these razors. After 4 months I'm guessing that they need honing.

Michael