Thread: Newbie needs help,, in Red Deer Alberta

I have two straight razors. I jus received my new Thiers Issard full hollow ground from the honemeister last week. It is superb. The HHT passes with flying colors. (Don't flame me. I know the HHT is highly subjective but I still like to know my razor passes the test.)

It has shaved perfectly for about a week. Now it is not shaving so good.

I have a Thiers Issard double sided wide edge leather paddle strop that I use. I have been very, very careful to make sure that I strop the blade flat as per what I have read and the videos I have watched.

I strop at least sixty times on the courser leather and then 60 - 80 times on the fine leather. Now my razor feels dull. Is there such a thing as over-stropping? Can you strop a razor too much? How do I check and or repair any damage? Should I be stropping much less strokes? Should I only be using the fine leather side and not the course leather side of the strop?
How long should I wait before sending it out to be re-sharpened or touched up by a professional sharpener?

All comments appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

Chris in Red Deer, Alberta