Thread: Third shave not as good as the first...

Hey guys, I just worked a 12 hour night shift and decided it would be nice to lather up and shave to relax me before going to sleep. I stropped my blade, which as I learned I need some help with because I cut my strop twice. Two little cuts but nothing serious. (could be I'm tired) I just don't know if I have the right technique going down because the sound changes from stroke to stroke yet I don't see any difference or feel any? I lathered with the soap I usually use. Then I proceeded with my shave since I was fresh out of the shower. I did a WTG pass everywhere and a XTG pass just on my cheeks and chin. My face is redder then the devil. Could I have dulled the blade with poor stropping technique? I never roll over the edge ever I am just not that great at stropping because I haven't had a ton of time to practice. Could it be my shaving technique? Or is it normal for a new guy to have some irritation after his first few shaves? Let me know what you guys think.

Scott

When you cut the strop it does degrade the blade. Also, stropping technique makes a difference. If you have dulled the edge you may have to touch it up.
Stropping sound should be even if you are doing the same things in both directions. If not, take a close look at pressure, toe leading angle etc. Something you are doing is different.
I recommend you touch up the razor on a hone or a balsawood strop with CrOx and then strop again. Also, sand out any cuts on your strop so the blade doesn't catch the leather.

I have to add -when I was starting out a few months ago, I found that my shaves would be inconsistent. I'd get one or two good ones and then one horrible one. Don't worry. As you gain more shaves under your belt, your shaves will become more consistent.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

Scott,

Without knowing your routine, your technique, if you're using too much pressure, a steep angle, speeding the shave, stropping incorrectly, and a few other goodies — not knowing these I cannot make a concrete comment on the problem.

On the other hand, you're probably stropping too fast, and possibly incorrectly. You are using too much pressure shaving. Keep your angle about 20 degrees, 30 maximum in most spots.

Try these for starters and see where you go.

I agree with Obie. Blade angle when shaving is a big factor. And we're both pointing out the mistakes we all make when we start out. The key to it all is practice and analysis of what errors you make...then applying corrections and starting again. It does get better and it will get better quite quickly.

You will carve up your strop. It will happen. Start saving for a new one now. I'm on my second.

One of the better ways to practice stropping is to use a butter knife or other dull razor shaped object and do a ton of laps with it to build muscle memory, it will save your strop from practice nicks.

You might be using to much pressure or your angle is to steep, check those as well

Are you using a hanging strop? If so, then try laying it on the counter and go slowly applying just enough pressure to keep the razor in contact with the strop all the way across. I would wager that you have rolled the edge or degraded it in some way so it would not be a bad idea to send it out to be re-honed. The mistake that is most often made and exacerbated by the advent of YouTube is going to fast. When you watch someone like Lynn or Glen stropping really fast you get the notion that is the way it should be done, it's not. Go slow and build consistency, speed will come with time, lots of time.

Originally Posted by guitstik

Are you using a hanging strop? If so, then try laying it on the counter and go slowly applying just enough pressure to keep the razor in contact with the strop all the way across. I would wager that you have rolled the edge or degraded it in some way so it would not be a bad idea to send it out to be re-honed. The mistake that is most often made and exacerbated by the advent of YouTube is going to fast. When you watch someone like Lynn or Glen stropping really fast you get the notion that is the way it should be done, it's not. Go slow and build consistency, speed will come with time, lots of time.

Would anyone else suggest the laying the strop on the counter? Then how will I learn using it while hanging? Update on the irritation my face is now back to normal and I'm enjoying a BBS face on a Sunday, God bless. I think technique was the problem at work here.

Hi Scott: If you cut the strap the edge has been dulled. I strop very slow and try to make sure the entire edge of my blade is in contact with the leather. If I try to gain speed my blade edge loses contact with the leather. It may be time to visit the finishing stone for a few strokes without applying any downward pressure on the blade. Good Luck.

[QUOTE=feltspanky;1382050]Hi Scott: If you cut the strap the edge has been dulled. I strop very slow and try to make sure the entire edge of my blade is in contact with the leather. If I try to gain speed my blade edge loses contact with the leather. It may be time to visit the finishing stone for a few strokes without applying any downward pressure on the blade. Good Luck.

Even small nicks would dull the blade that much? Im worried about using the finishing stone. What would happen if I didn't even need to touch it up? As it still takes the whiskers off my face easily.

Shaving with a dull blade is like rubbing 100 grit sandpaper across your face. Do you have a finishing honing stone. If not a very fine grit of lapping film is an option. Finish up with stropping.