Thread: shave guidance

Matt,

I'm in the minority here, but I vote for trying the razor without stropping. Lynn almost certainly stropped it before he test-shaved with it, and that'll give you an idea of how your razor should feel. (Lynn may not do a complete shave for the test, so in that case you'll have a partially stropped razor.)

If it shaves, great. If it pulls, don't get too frustrated because it will improve with a good stropping.

In some ways the paddle is better for a beginner, because you don't have to worry about how taut to hold the strop. If the blade has a pronounced curve to it, you will have to make some adjustments as you go through the stroke. Just do it really slow and keep the spine and blade flat and you'll do fine.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

I'm in the minority here, but I vote for trying the razor without stropping.

+1

I did the same thing with the both of my razors when I got them from Josh and Lynn respectively for fear of causing problems with my stropping technique. Sure enough, within 2 shaves I had to go to the pasted sides of the paddle on the razor from Josh but at least I knew what the minimum I had to get back to (assuming that if I had stropped it correctly it might have been a little better). For me that helped as I tried to recover that sharpness.

I started with the 4-sided paddle too and one thing I had a problem with early on was that it was a little too narrow and I would end up lifting one end (heel or toe) of the razor off the strop accidentally during my stroke which seemed to be the cause of my problems. Speeding up just a little actually helped me with having a smoother stroke but ultimately you just gotta find what works best for you I guess.

Ant

Just a quick comment:

In your first post you mention the angle when stropping on the paddle. How are you angling the blade? The blade should be flat on the paddle. There really isn't much of an angle... just the "X" motion to get the entire blade edge in contact with the paddle. I hope that's what you meant. You shouldn't be lifting the back of the razor off the paddle at all.

Well I did an okay job on my cheeks where there is not much hair but the neck did not shave well at all. I pretty much said screw it and went to the Trac II. I did strop it during the middle of the shave but had no success. When I strop the blade is always kept flat but held at an angle against the strop to accomodate the x pattern. That is, the blade is not extended straight out from the handle, but is pointing at slight angle to the left of the handle. Does that make sense?

I am going to try a strop and shave tomorrow and hopefully I will see my luck change.

>When I strop the blade is always kept flat but held at an angle against
> the strop to accomodate the x pattern. That is, the blade is not
> extended straight out from the handle, but is pointing at slight angle to
> the left of the handle. Does that make sense?


Yes, that makes sense. I usually have the scales straight out and don't really touch them while stropping, but whatever is most comfortable for you.

It might also help if you get a slightly longer hanging strop, that way you won't be concentrating on getting the whole blade across the strop because there's plenty of room to do it. You already have enough to concentrate on while stropping. It was without question the most difficult thing for me to figure out so don't worry if you have to try out a couple different techniques.

I shaved again with a straight and I did ok on my cheeks. I am having problem stropping on the small paddle strop though. I want to try a larger haning strop and a larger 1/2 or 1/4 hollow blade. My neck is not getting shaved at all with a straight at this point in time.

howdy matt

I think I have a similar problem. But even if you get a "Lynn Abram's" honed razor still be careful. I bought a Dovo razor that I had no clue it needed to be honed or stropped and it made my face raw as hell. I decided, because of time constraints to get a pre honed razor by Lynn Abrams but when I got it, even though i was told it would be shave ready, it did not do a good job. So I stropped it and still no good shave. So now everyone here is telling me I messed up my blade when it was not cutting to my expectations in the first place.

I do not know what kind of test Mr. Abrams does to the blade but I shave closer with my disposable staight edge razor. But I have invested in these blades so I am gonna stick to it--even if I have to buy another $100+ razor pre-honed by someone else lol

As for prep I am doing the same thing you are doing and I am still in the same boat as you.

BTW this thread is really great--I have only been registered for a day or two but now I do not feel as alone as I did before with my razor dilema

goodluck man

Somehow I managed to make the toe of my razor to shapr or jagged. Every pass on the strop it leaves a scrape exactly in the same spot. What do i do??

Matt,

I'd be willing to take a look at your razor and fix it--no charge. I have a feeling it may need some work by now. PM me if you're interested.

Josh

Originally Posted by matt

Somehow I managed to make the toe of my razor to shapr or jagged. Every pass on the strop it leaves a scrape exactly in the same spot. What do i do??

That means you dinged it on something somehow. It needs to visit a hone.