Tractor versus pusher

[mischievous]

Having done some shaves now with my DOVO, I've noticed a difference in how the blade works. While my DE is pulled across the beard, a str8 can be either pushed or pulled. I bring this up because my neck area is difficult to shave. I seem to have thick hairs and the blade doesn't want to glide over these areas. Going WTG is no problem and repeated passes don't seem to improve the closeness. Going ATG and the blade stops along with my pulse! My DE will glide right through these areas with no skin stretching needed. I'm using a Feather Blade with great results. No nicks, cuts, or scrapes with the DE unlike lots of guys who advise caution due to extreme sharpness. Lynn sharpened my DOVO and I'm careful to follow his guidelines closely. I don't think it's a sharpness issue. So, in summary, my DE seems to glide and my str8 catches. Does anyone have similar issues with a thick beard, if so how do you manage these areas?

[Quick Orange]

You might try changing the angle of attack. Sometimes you don't go in steep enough (which really isn't that steep) and the razor gets stuck on your skin.

You also might be experiencing a lather issue. I've noticed that with certain soaps and their lather, some can be quite sticky. Add some water to your lather and whip it good- see if that helps. If possible, switch to a different soap or creme and see if that changes anything.

[Kyle76]

You might also try less pressure and shorter strokes. When I encounter resistance, I make a number of short strokes until I get some beard reduction in the area.

[PuFFaH]

Try stretching the skin across the grain so to speak. You are possibly pulling the skin down on the neck when you shave which for most will do OK, but it can improve the comfort and closeness if the skin is stretched from adams apple to ear as well as down. You test the grain of the beard but you should also test the the way you stretch the skin also. That lumpy and creased skin at the base of the neck can be a b*****. Try different stretch techniques in those areas to see what makes the skin feel the smoothest before you shave.

PuFF

[cabo_sailor]

I admit to having the same problem on a couple of patches on my neck. WTG no problem, ATG I can hear it scraping but it is still leaving stubble. With the DE no problem.

I always figured it was because the blade wasn't quite as sharp as it could be in combo with technique.

I've got some new blades coming from e-Bay that I will send off for a good sharpening and see what I shall see when they get back.

[jnich67]

It could also be that you simply need more practice wielding the razor. It took me a number of months to make a "confident" stroke against the grain. A tentative stroke is more likely to get hung up.

Jordan

[mischievous]

I admit to having the same problem on a couple of patches on my neck. WTG no problem, ATG I can hear it scraping but it is still leaving stubble. With the DE no problem.

I always figured it was because the blade wasn't quite as sharp as it could be in combo with technique.

I've got some new blades coming from e-Bay that I will send off for a good sharpening and see what I shall see when they get back.

That's exactly what I was wondering! Did I strop the wrong way? Did I dull the blade? This is the newbie's curse I'm sure.