One thing that always makes me think I don't get my straight razors sharp enough is when people make comments like, "Don't ever let it touch your skin without moving, or it will cut you." For example when he was talking about finding the angle... I don't have that experience at all.
I've been thinking about starting to restore and resell razors as shave ready for as cheap as possible. I've done 5 so far, with various levels of success. Turns out I suck at re-pinning them. Either my scales end up not flush, or the pivot ends up dangerously loose. Been thinking about sending some of those duds off to some experienced straight razor enthusiasts for some feedback on my edges.
I like the denim strop idea though. I think I'm gonna try that. I have been using a paddle strop and have always wondered how having some slack in it would affect things. Seems like it would allow the apex to be radiused, but then on the other hand maybe it creates a kind of micro bevel? I remember reading an article on Science of Sharp about it long ago but don't remember which it was.
I switched back to WTG passes only for a while. I just can't seem to not nick myself on ATG passes, mostly because the grain goes side to side on my neck, and trying to move the razor in that direction is really hard. I finally got the hang of doing it without nicking myself, but there's so much left over irritation that I've never let fully heal, that it's kind of hard to tell what is new irritation and what's old.
Anyway, thanks for the link. I'm gonna check out the whole course. I could probably stand to relearn. I pretty much winged it and developed my process by trial and error, and it's uhh... Not the best.
