Thread: Blade pulling....

Well yesterday I had my second straight shave and I am getting pretty sure that the blade is not sharp enough...yesterday the irritation was INSANE! For about an hour after the shave my face looked unbelievably bad, no cuts or blood, just irritation. I literally would try to get every possible angle with different amounts of pressure but the blade did not want to slice like it should.


Now I know you are all saying that I do not yet know what a sharp razor is but after one use, this freshly honed blade should cleanly slice through hairs, correct? Although my angle is not perfect, I am confident that this is not due just to my technique.


I ordered a Wapi 5/8 shave ready from someone here but I do not know when it is comming....My question at this point is do you think I should try my hand with this on the pasted strop, wait to get the Wapi and compare the two, or send the razor back for re-honing today?


Thanks!

Originally Posted by ps49556n

Well yesterday I had my second straight shave and I am getting pretty sure that the blade is not sharp enough...yesterday the irritation was INSANE! For about an hour after the shave my face looked unbelievably bad, no cuts or blood, just irritation. I literally would try to get every possible angle with different amounts of pressure but the blade did not want to slice like it should.

I can almost guarantee that the pressure you've mentioned is the culprit. Even a sharp razor won't slice through hair if it's not at the correct angle, and extra pressure won't make up the difference. I had the same problem before I figured it out and still have it on occasion when I get sloppy. There's only one correct amount of pressure and that's none. You won't get a smooth face on one pass, and if you try by pressing too hard, your face will feel like it's on fire afterward (as you've discovered). Sweeping strokes with the blade just barely touching your skin is what you need. At this point, you also need to let your face heal for at least a day if not three before you try again. If you're still having trouble with irritation, an alum block may help, it worked for me.

You might want to take a fews days off from the straight and give your skin a chance to recover. Then when you start again, try doing just your cheek WTG as Lynn suggests. That way you can dial in your angle on the most forgiving part of your face.

Hang in there. It's worth it.

Through my first couple shaves, I also had a problem with irritation. However, I shaved two days in a row. After the second, my face was on fire. I've started waiting 2-3 days between, and have no problem with skin irritation. Plus, I barely have a shadow between shaves, because of the closeness of the straight.

It does get better, I can vouch for that!

I think (although I'm still new) it would be a good idea to get your Wapi and compare the two. Then you will be sure as to whether it's technique or the blade.

+1 on what Lynn said. Honemeisters won't send back an edge which is not 100% satisfactory to their own standards. Most of them test shave aswell.

You'll find it more the other variables which are the cause and not the edge at all. Prep, Strop, Technique need to be good before any complaints re the edge are fed back (esp in a thread)

Out of the honemeisters I know, their edges are all A1. The problem lies when the razor is sent back and not used in a day or two and the recipient shaves without a stropping, then complains that the razor is pulling etc.. Else they ruin the edge with poor strop technique.

A honemeisters work is never done lol

Great thread.. has given me a few things to think about with my technique.

I'm echoing some of whats already been stated, but it really can't be stressed enough. I though the same thing about my blade, come to find out it was me. I ended up feeling like a jerk afterwards.

Preperation + Technique=Great Shave. Try a slicker cream, shave after a shower, apply a hot towel for prep, try a pre shave oil, add some other things to your routine to see if its you or the blade. Spend some extra time on your prep. As far as technique make sure your stretching your skin and find the angle. I'm still new at it and take my time, so I relather areas I haven't shaved yet if they dry up a bit.

I'm no pro, but I did learn a few quick lessons with the help of this board and a fellow member here.

It has been said before, but I will say it again. ANGLE if your angle is to steep(spine to far away from your skin) it will pull hair and irritate the skin. Spine should be one maybe two spine widths above the skin. when first starting it is better to err on the side of being to shallow then to steep.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Lynn,
If you do make a sticky along these lines, I nominate Shaun's post to be a part of it. I think he summed it up perfectly.

+1, but I''d like to change the if to when for full agreement.

If you'd rather not have it stickied under your name let me know I'll make a post and you can sticky that.

Just completed my third straight shave and what a difference. While the shave was great (more on that later), I carelessly bumped my razor on the faucet so now I will have to send the razor out to be fixed. Besides that, the shave was great. After one pass I could have rinsed and walked away but I went for two passes and got a great shave. I decided to use my paddle strop (only 1 micron, .5 micron sides) and did 30 passes on the latigo before the first and second passes.

Just to make sure I wasn't at fault, I used some canned gel which actually worked very well. Don't get me wrong I love making lather from soaps and creams but in an effort to eliminate as many variables as possible I decided to try the gel. I will say that a few things helped me out specifically this time around...


-Really being conscious about the pressure.
-I seem to have locked into the correct angle....seems before I was not lifting the spine enough off the face.
-I find that using the scything motion really helps me get the correct feel and allows me to slice hairs smoothly.
-My stropping skills are really improving


Other than the dinged blade (which really frustrates me), I am very satisfied with today and would like to thank all of you for the advice. I look forward to improving.

One quick question...when using the pasted strop, a fair amount of the actual pastes would be scraped off by the spine....this does not seem normal....should I just buy some more paste and reapply or is this normal?


Thanks!