Ideal pressure is no pressure.......

So I received my razor back from Lynn all sharpened and ready to go. I have no doubt about it that all issues are mine to figure out.
I've tried a 30 degree Angle WTG to start with. The razor seems to just rake the hair. It cut, but not very smooth.

Here is my question thoughts... I read that when shaving the ideal pressure is no pressure. The blade does all the work.
My experience with double edge is that some pressure is necessary or it won't cut all the hair.

Can anyone give me an idea of how hard to press on this razor using an example.
This may sound dumb but say press a demonstration razor (not used for shaving) against a digital food scale with the same amount of force that you use to shave....

Edit: the spine would work agaist the scale.

I'm afraid that I'm being to cautious with my shave stroke.

Thanks

Justin

Negative pressure or being tentative is not a good thing. You do not want to press hard either because of the possibility of getting a nick or some definite razor burn. I would start with just one side of your face and work from the sideburn to the jaw using light pressure and less than a 30 degree angle. You want the razor more vertical, but not with the spine touching your face. Short little strokes and a little longer strokes to clean up. Don't shave any further until you get comfortable shaving that part of the face and then move on in small sections like the cheek next same side, then the other sideburn to jaw and cheek, then neck and chin last.

That razor is a very nice shaver.

Good luck.

With a sharp razor, only the pressure required to remove the lather from your face is all that is needed.

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Originally Posted by Lynn

Negative pressure or being tentative is not a good thing. You do not want to press hard either because of the possibility of getting a nick or some definite razor burn. I would start with just one side of your face and work from the sideburn to the jaw using light pressure and less than a 30 degree angle. You want the razor more vertical, but not with the spine touching your face. Short little strokes and a little longer strokes to clean up. Don't shave any further until you get comfortable shaving that part of the face and then move on in small sections like the cheek next same side, then the other sideburn to jaw and cheek, then neck and chin last.

That razor is a very nice shaver.

Good luck.

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Thanks Lynn! Glad you remembered it, and feel that way about the razor. Its very sharp. Scary sharp lol.

If you get some time, take a run down to Cape and I can see what you are doing and maybe help you out. I can also show you how to hone if you want to learn.

Have fun.

You will need enough pressure to keep the razors edge in contact with your skin during the entire stroke.
What I mean is do not start the stroke above the skin, touch the skin, and then pull away from the skin while the stroke is in motion.
That will get you very unsatisfactory results.
Good luck.

When I first started with an SR a few months ago I had the same problem. Skin stretching made it better, but before that I ended up trying different angles and different light pressure with about 1" long strokes. I started back by my ear with about a 30 degree angle, then moved forward at a little less angle, and forward again with a little less angle. I then went to the other side of my face and did the same thing, but increasing the angle from 30. I then ran my hand over the areas to compare how well each angle did and chose what appeared to be the optimal angle. There was still plenty of hair left so I went across the areas again with my new optimal angle and varied the pressures. I wound up with razor burn and a few small cuts, but I also had my beginners angle and pressure. From there it was just small tweaks.

Thanks! Appreciate all the helpful info from everyone. Keep it coming.
I should also note and put it in my profile that I am legally blind in my right eye. Have been since birth. So when I move the razor to the right side of my face I have to flip the razor so that the scales are toward my right ear and use my right hand. Other wise I can't see anything that I'm doing. Anyone else have similar issues?

I think it may depend on your type of beard too. I can glide a razor on my arm hair which is thin, with no pressure at all and it cuts fine.
My beard is thick and course. When I try doing a little dry test on a razor on my face - forget it, like cutting wire.
So when I lather up and shave there is a little pressure. Not bearing down, but a little pressure. You'll figure it out. Have fun!

yep ,, I only have one eye lost the other 20 years ago , I will tell you this as time goes by andyou get more acclimated to how to shave with a straight it really isn't even a problem I have more trouble with my glasses getting in the way . you will figure out the angles in the mirror trust me soon you wont even noticed any blind spots,, oh and I do use both hands good luck ,, tc by the way that's a great offer from Lynn,, one of these days I,m going up there I,m about as far away as you

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

yep ,, I only have one eye lost the other 20 years ago , I will tell you this as time goes by andyou get more acclimated to how to shave with a straight it really isn't even a problem I have more trouble with my glasses getting in the way . you will figure out the angles in the mirror trust me soon you wont even noticed any blind spots,, oh and I do use both hands good luck ,, tc by the way that's a great offer from Lynn,, one of these days I,m going up there I,m about as far away as you

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This makes me feel better. It gets frustrating trying to see what I'm doing sometimes. Especially when all my movements are opposite in the mirror. And yes Lynn's offer is great. I will be making a trip sometime. So far everyone I have encountered on this site has been helpful. Honestly Straightrazoerplace.com has been the best experience I have had on a web forum.

The amount of pressure I apply to the blade, varies on different areas of my face. :shrug:

I feel your pain! My experience exactly. Read my thread here, something may help. I have learned that the lower the angle to the face at the start of the stroke, the less likely it is that the razor will dig-in and cut.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...-straight.html

Whiskers provide resistance to the razor. Thin and light whiskers provide light resistance and heavier, coarse whiskers (my curse) will provide heavier resistance, even for a super sharp blade. The trick is to figure out how much force you need to cut *your* whiskers but not irritate your face. It's a fine balancing act. And as someone else has mentioned, it also varies in different areas of your face. That's one reason why beard prep is so important -- moisture softens whiskers and reduces the pressure needed for the razor to cut through the whiskers.

As Lynn and others recommended (and not the first time) it helps to get a feel for that pressure by starting with a small area first. Then you can move on to other areas. It really does take some time to get a feel for the razor, your whiskers, and the grain of your whiskers.

So I think I may have found my enemy. The soap!
The soap came from the Van Der Hagen Men's Luxury, Shave Set so the soap is Van Der Hagen.
I tried shaving my cheek and not much luck on either cheek. So I finished up with my Gillette Fusion that normally does well with shave cream in a can. Ouch!!!! Even my Gillette nicked me a few times. Not a very close shave with either. Any thought?

Sounds like you haven't got your lather dialled in yet. Too thin and not enough cushion an too thick not enough glide. Without knowing how you lather and what you are getting it is hard to give advice. Hard water will also affect lather making

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Originally Posted by coryschmidt

Whiskers provide resistance to the razor. Thin and light whiskers provide light resistance and heavier, coarse whiskers (my curse) will provide heavier resistance, even for a super sharp blade. The trick is to figure out how much force you need to cut *your* whiskers but not irritate your face. It's a fine balancing act. And as someone else has mentioned, it also varies in different areas of your face. That's one reason why beard prep is so important -- moisture softens whiskers and reduces the pressure needed for the razor to cut through the whiskers.

As Lynn and others recommended (and not the first time) it helps to get a feel for that pressure by starting with a small area first. Then you can move on to other areas. It really does take some time to get a feel for the razor, your whiskers, and the grain of your whiskers.

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This. My beard is tough. Even with a sharp razor and good angle/ pressure I have to use proper beard prep or it will be a fight.

experiment with various pressures but everything is very very gentle

You might go by a bath and body works, they carry C.O. Biggelo (sp?) cream there usually. Might give that a try. Either that or an Art of Shaving store (or Dillard's or maceys/nordstroms etc) to try some of the AoS stuff. They usually have free samples of cream and pre shave oil (opinions mixed on if this helps or not) that you can get to try using a cream instead of a soap. Might help.

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Originally Posted by JBPilot

You might go by a bath and body works, they carry C.O. Biggelo (sp?) cream there usually. Might give that a try. Either that or an Art of Shaving store (or Dillard's or maceys/nordstroms etc) to try some of the AoS stuff. They usually have free samples of cream and pre shave oil (opinions mixed on if this helps or not) that you can get to try using a cream instead of a soap. Might help.

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Looks like a very good cream to start with, and I have a Bath and Body Works in my town. Makes my life easier to pick items up from the store to learn with. Then I'll order something nicer. If need be.
The soap I currently have builds a good lather. I tried making it thinner, thicker, thinner, thicker. I fairly course hair. I really do think a cream will be much better, and maybe allow for a little more forgiveness with the blade. Learning how to use the blade is going to take a while also. I do understand this.

Jbpilot you are awesome. I went out and bought the C.O. Biggelo cream. Wow what a shave cream. That stuff felt great on the skin. Best of all I shaved my cheaks with a straight razor almost pefectly smooth for the first time wtg and atg. No burn. Problem solved.