Just got home from work Neil and Wow! Really got under your skin! Sorry if your self-esteem took a hit. I would like to touch on just a few points. First, as much as a layman, i.e., myself, can grasp Plastic Flow Theory, I had it explained to me by a friend who is a tenured Professor at a local University. What does he teach - metallurgy, at the graduate level. Second, my "friend", as you referred to the author of the article I mentioned, is not my friend, probably would be if I ever met him, but I haven't. He performs metallurgy research/experiments at a university. Neil, do you really believe that you have anything to offer him about methodology? Tell him your Groucho joke instead. At least you'll make him laugh and it won't be at your expense. Your crack about the machinists; not good Neil. Why does a machinist need to know the science of metallurgy to be a great machinist? He knows, because he was educated to do so, that waiting 24 hrs. is the correct way to do it. He doesn't need to be able to explain the science behind it. Cheap shot Neil. Really dumb question. I imagine in your mind you're smarter than the professor teaching graduate level classes in metallurgy, and the other fellow who is a university research fellow that wrote the article I referred to above; that's okay with me as long as you're happy. Oh one other thing - it doesn't matter whether you can "feel" the difference, it is whether the science behind it is correct and whether stropping before and after the shave is beneficial to the edge. Just remember Neil, this straight razor thing is just a hobby for most of us. I think for you it's a bit more. I did enjoy reading your post. Cheers, Joe P.S. The alien insult thing, that one has been way overused. I'll give you the last word.