Recommendations for a straight.

[Gamma]

Using paste on a fire hose strop kills the point of getting the hose strop in the first place. Assuming the hose is flax linen, you are no longer really stropping on linen. The linen is there but it's clogged with wax, oil, greasy binders, and embedded abrasive powder. All the characteristics of the flax fibers are muted or shut down, only the compound stands out. The flax linen does best when left alone, not forced to 'break in', not washed to death, and kept reasonably clean.

You don't get 'more' out of the compound by putting it on firehose. And with razors tuned up on chromium oxide, less is usually better anyway. A slight dusting on a soft cotton strop is way more than enough. If it isn't, that means honing is in order, not more aggressive stropping on compound.

Crox can be applied to almost anything and it'll still be capable of sharpening stuff, so it's not a matter of "it won't work" if you put it on substrate A, B, or C. It's more a matter of being able to realize the true potential of an investment in the shaving system.

 

[Saloogie]

I think you should just jump in and start honing yourself. I know it sounds difficult and sometimes it seems so involved that you might think it's impossible, or it's not for you, but it's not. Remember, at one time, every man shaved with a SE, and they weren't all experts on stones and strops.

Just buy some basic stones, such as an 8,10 & 12K, lay the razor down and start moving it back and forth. Buy some sort of magnification so you can see how the blade is shaping up or where it's lacking. Then strop. Even if you mess it up, you can always re-hone the blade again. A good stropping is where that shave ready edge is made. Watch a few vids, take some tips from the forum and just do it. I think you'll find it rewarding.

And if it matters, I'm pretty new at this whole thing, but I felt if I was going to master the SE shave, I had to just jump in and make my mistakes and push through it.

 

[Wid]

A good stropping is where that shave ready edge is made.

While learning to strop is very important the shave ready razor must start with a perfect bevel. If you don’t nail the bevel you will never get it to shave ready status.

 

[Saloogie]

While learning to strop is very important the shave ready razor must start with a perfect bevel. If you don’t nail the bevel you will never get it to shave ready status.

Yeah, no doubt the bevel has to be right.

I just figured the bevel would be good since he sent the razors out to be honed, presumably by a pro.