Thread: Chatter and Grab

Well i dropped the use of the pre shave oil and made a slightly wetter lather and did a lot better at getting a much closer pass. I also used a much finer angle. So i am not quite sure what the answer to my problem of chattering was, but i get the feeling it was mainly my angle of the blade with a little bit of help from the oil. Now i just need to learn to navigate around my face without cutting and nicking myself, i dare say i am still using too much pressure and pushing to hard and my ability to stretch probably needs work, but i am now seeing just how sharp these razors are. I feel like i have a long way to go before i get a shave as comfortable and close as my DE, but it will come, just not as easily as i thought it would

Thank you all for your input and advice

Well if you are seeing improvement thats great, you can always reintroduce the oil if you really want to, i would be more inclined not to, it is just another thing to have to buy. You can play around with lather consistency too, i find that if it is looking a bit wet some additional whisking sorts it out, or in the worst cases, add some extra soap or start again (never had to do the latter).
And you can also experement with angles too, different parts of my face get slightly different blade angles.
Keep us updated SB

I'm pretty new so just notes from another experimenter on the pre-shave oil . . . I've been face lathering with and without the pre-shave oil and the results have been a bit inconsistent on the quality of the lather I get. I had basically decided that it probably was my technique on face lathering and until that was consistent, I'm not sure I can judge the pre-shave oil. Well, that might be true, but I picked up a mug yesterday (from Starbucks, ceramic - clearance - $3.99) and decided to try lathering the soap in the mug. After loading the brush, I worked up a great lather in the bowl and used it on top of my pre-shave oil. Worked pretty well. Going to try again tomorrow or Saturday without the oil and see if I notice a difference, but I think maybe the oil was making my face-lathering a bit more complex than I am ready for yet. Just my two cents . . .

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Just to re-confirm a raised angle will not only degrade the edge over time but can also cause the chattering you describe as the action will scrape rather than cut the hair. The rule of thumb many quote is 30º but don't forget the razors inbuilt angle is already near 16º lying flat.

This advice right here helped me out so much, I had a rough guess of what 30 degrees was but always thought I was too flat on my face for 30. Makes my shave so much closer and cleaner!

Before I got to Oz's post blade angle was one of the things I was thinking. Sounds like you're getting better results now that you've addressed that. Takes some practice and don't forget stretching the skin. One of the most important aspects IME.

I actually rub some of my wife's conditioner into my beard during my shower. ;-) Then I just leave it in and lather on top of the conditioner. Makes for a nice shave. :-)

Well I'm ecstatic guys!!!!

Two days ago i murdered my face with nicks and slices, i was dejected and ready to put my gear on ebay and go back to the safety of my DE razor, but tonight with courage i picked up the Ralp Aust again because I'm not one to easily quit!

What can i say except for WOW!!!

Now i can see why this can become a joy and an obsession

I gotta say dropping the oil may be part of it, a wetter thinner lather may be part of it.

BUT

The angle is everything!!! Once oz pointed out in his above post that the angle of the blade is naturally already at 16 deg i adjusted my angle to almost flat and i mean 1/2 a spine from flat, the blade seemed to just come to life under my hand. (the right feeling and sound)

It felt effortless and easy. It became obvious immediately that my angle had been wrong the minute i found the right one!

So much so that i was able to complete a full face shave (with only one Weeper and no sting from the alum block apart from it, anywhere). The trick was pulling different faces and staying constantly aware of BLADE ANGLE! I can see now it takes many aspects to be right in order to navigate the terrain. Angle first!!! head tilt, and definitely stretching along with a healthy dose of patience.

Speed is also important too, and more importantly a slow speed compared to that of of DE shaving was key for me.

What can i say but

I am hooked!!!

It is a special feeling to achieve a close smooth shave with a straight. It is comparable to getting behind a steering wheel for the first time, Effing scary but at the same time exhilarating when it goes smoothly.

The love affair begins

Thank you to oz, edhewitt and those who gave their advice at this crucial point! Indebted!!!!

And to top it all off i have a second razor (my grandfathers) on its way back from Oz after a restore and rehone.

If you can't tell i'm one happy man (even if it was only one full face WTG shave)

Love a happy beginning, congratulations on succeeding.

Bob

Congrats! No trip to the ER and less whiskers . . . sounds like a successful day!

Well thats great to hear, much as we may have guided you to a greater or lesser degree, you were the one who did it.
Keep focused and dont become complacent and you will be fine, once you feel comfortable with where you are at, then look at the subtleties of the shave and you will find more pleasure and reward
I have just started trying to introduce my right hand into my routine, its like starting again to a degree, particularly in regard to translating what i am seeing in the mirror to what my hand is actually doing.