Pig Cat gets a straight!

Arrowhead said:
Having done the frivolous post, here's the serious one.

Unless it's seriously blunt a less than sharp razor will mostly manifest itself by requiring more pressure to achieve a decent result. I've certainly been guilty of pushing a bevel beyond the point where it really should be reset on quite a few occasions, but still managed to get a decent shave from it. Less than optimal stropping will result in a gradual deterioration over the course of a few shaves rather than an immediate drastic problem. I'm sure it's possible to destroy a shaving edge quickly by lifting the spine on a linen strop, but I think we all know enough to avoid that.

The term "sharp" is really unhelpful - "sharpness" cannot easily be measured after all. It's more a matter of fitness for purpose, and if you can manage a close shave without discomfort or exerting undue pressure then the razor is okay for now.

IanM: Having followed your posts on this subject for quite a long time now, I sincerely hope that the straight shaving thing comes right for you this time. It seems beastly unfair that it's causing you trouble when everything you've written suggests that you're doing it right.
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True words :D and as Ian wrote, it´s easy to have mind games going about the sharpness of the blade and most often it´s just that - mindgames.

And Max is spot on too :D
 
Alright, here's another quick update. I have concluded that my razor is definitely sharp enough because I feel my technique has improved greatly over the last few weeks. I am not gripping it so tightly any more and am getting used to the angles that work best for different parts of my face. Still not gone knowingly ATG as I don't want to push things too far. The hardest areas for me are around the jawline, especially down below my left ear (I'm right handed). Oh, and under my lip too. And my chin. That said last night I managed a very acceptable shave in two passes with no noticeable areas missed and just one small nick that didn't reappear after the aftershave.

Stropping too is becoming easier. I am trying to keep the blade flat on the strop, presumably to prevent rolling. Is this when you push the point of the blade and it bends being so thin and malleable? I do about twenty strokes before and after each shave. I also remember to dry the blade and handle before putting it away.
 
Hi PC,

Keep the blade flat and don't lift the spine off the strop, as this might cause a 'rolled' edge, i.e - the fine edge of the blade gets bent or rolled over and will need some specialist attention.

I do about 50 laps on the strop before shaving, but don't strop after I have shaved. However, I still strop my razor even on days when I don't shave with it.

Ian
 
Excellent PC! A good technique when stropping is to think that you strop the back of the blade rather than the edge (still should lay flat on the strop), but think that you strop the back and the edge will follow. I´m sorry if you allready knew this ... or think it´s rubish :lol:
 
With regards to the jaw line, my technique is as follows:
Stretch skin by pulling skin upwards at sideburn and shave down to about 1cm above jawline.
Stretch skin at cheek to bring skin from jawline to the flat cheek area and shave there
Then pull skin around different areas of neck and shave making sure the skin is flat and tight.

Hope this helps!

Whisp
 
Arrowhead said:
How are you tackling your chin, PC?
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Well at the moment I am try to do a smooth shave around the rugged angles of it (Think Desperate Dan meets Charles Hawtrey) but this is tricky so resort to a few smaller strokes at whatever angle feels most comfortable. I must admit I haven't paid too much attention to shaving vids, preferring to find my own way. The one most recommended looked good in theory but the guy just didn't seem to have any stubble whereas I have pretty dense thick stubble. Anyway, I am probably getting to another learning dead end and will need to change my technique a little to take me to the next level. I am trying to do the whole shave one-handed but should probably be giving my left hand a chance. I'm not ambidextrous but I'm not hopeless with it either.

OK another rambling post finished. Please pick up on any points you can! :D
 
Damian Murphy said:
Pig Cat said:
Arrowhead said:
How are you tackling your chin, PC?
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...to have any stubble whereas I have pretty dense thick stubble..... :D
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You forgot 'red blooded heterosexual' :lol:
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:evil: Look, everyone around here should know that I am straight as a die. But now, because Ollie starts a few completely unfounded rumours about furtive liaisons in Travelodges involving him dressed as the Archbishop of Canterbury and me as Rabbi Lionel Blue, I feel the need to emphasise my purely homoheterosexual nature now and again. :roll:
 
Damian Murphy said:
Pig Cat said:
Arrowhead said:
How are you tackling your chin, PC?
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...to have any stubble whereas I have pretty dense thick stubble..... :D
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You forgot 'red blooded heterosexual' :lol:
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:lol:
Love it
Thinking about it I only watched a few videos then just practice!
Remember not to try and catch the sharp object if you drop it.... it hurts :shock:

Whisp :p
 
...meanwhile, in a world that does not involve dressing up as senior clergy or Travelodges, I found that straight shaving with my left hand (I always shave right-handed with a DE) was surprisingly good, but I suspect that this was because I'd not tried a straight in ANY hand before, and it felt just as strange awkward in either hand!

As I read this thread, I thought "oo, I'll comment about that" and then I hit the weird stuff and forgot what I was going to say. I had to go back and read it all again :lol:

Ian
 
Well I'm now at the point where I can get a decent shave but nothing more. I'm still not great around the jawline and there's always a couple of tiny nicks, the sort that disappear quickly. I am getting a sense of satisfaction after each shave, but what I'm not really getting is enjoyment. I had to use my EJ89L this week and I loved the feeling of a quick effective shave with no hassle. Oh dear, I really want to make a go of this but I must admit to losing a bit of hope. Please, can somebody reassure or inspire me in some way?! :?
 
Pig Cat said:
Please, can somebody reassure or inspire me in some way?! :?
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I voiced a similar plea here http://www.theshavingroom.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=6241

The Good things: I am not slicing myself and not suffering any razor burn.

The Bad things: A shave takes ages, and the shaves are not really close enough.

Solution: Well, I have a couple of loan razors coming from Neil (we are not worthy!) Miller. They are different types of straight, so I'll see how things go.

I am also inventing different ways off attacking different areas of my face and neck, to see if I can get a closer shave. I already swap hands during a shave, but on my neck I might try crossing hands, i.e - shaving the right side of my neck with my left hand etc. I have also been trying different blade grips, and positioning the scales so that they don't get in the way.

What I want: A shave with a straight using WTG and XTG that is as good as the same passes with a DE. That's the goal.

People keep telling me that "it will come". I'm waiting for that eureka moment. I'm not about to throw in the towel just yet.

Ian
 
Pig Cat said:
Please, can somebody reassure or inspire me in some way?! :?
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I rather think I can, PC. Firstly, you're doing well to say that it's been less than a month since you started if memory serves, and it's not as if you've done a Picasso on yourself so far. Just now you seem to have levelled off for the time being, but if you persist several things should happen. You'll walk away un-nicked more and more often till it's the exception rather than the rule, and you'll speed up without really setting out to. The best bit is when you find that you've just had a phenomenally close shave, again without trying. Give it long enough and that will become a regular occurrence - the pay off for your perseverance.

You'll have noticed that Mikael always posts a result in his shave of the day which runs from "very clean" on a bad day to "überclean" when he's pleased with himself. I'm not in that league yet, but a straight shave is now always cleaner than with a DE (and longer lasting for some unfathomable reason), nicks are very uncommon and I'm enjoying myself.
 
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