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Thread: Hitting a wall....
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02-18-2009, 11:45 PM #1
I think that you are experiencing something rather common. Many people report that their shaves worsen somehow after they start shaving with the straight. Besides overconfidence and the fact that you may have exfoliated your skin some in the previous shaves making it a bit more sensitive, most of these problems have their root in the stropping technique. From your comment: "I noticed some leather had accumulated some on the spin of the razor after stropping 100 times today...", I gather that stropping may be part of the problem. There is a very good thread going on the subject (see link below). Perhaps monitoring your stropping technique, may lead to better shaves:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...ustration.html
In addition to the links that I included in my post in that thread, I will suggest checking out the stropping videos in the general section or watching Lynn's dvd. The wiki also has a section on stropping, here is one:
Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Theory of stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Tthe chin is very hard, even for experienced people. Try to go in steps and not set your expectations too high initially, there are a lot of threads about "incremental" shaving ;-). This is: tart in your cheeks, using only one pass with the grain with short strokes, and when you develop confidence, extend the area and do more passes. Also, pay attention to the angle you are using, it is very hard to change it a bit and change the entire shaving dynamics. Good luck and definitely let us know how it goes.
Al raz.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Alraz For This Useful Post:
winterkid (02-19-2009)
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02-18-2009, 11:49 PM #2
when you strop are your balde AND spine touching the strop? and are you rolling the razor on its spine ? imprpoer angle while stropping can dull your edge in a hurry
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02-19-2009, 07:50 AM #3
I've only had leather on my spine once and that was when I dinged my Dorko..I had to take a very carefull look at the edge to notice the reflection was a bit different.
Getting a second razor is always a good idea.. maybe even a third, fourth or more... I've got six now
Good luck!
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02-19-2009, 11:16 AM #4
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Thanked: 1262Thanks everyone.
Yeah, this is the first time i have had leather build up on the spine. i dont know if i was applying pressure or what.
as lather goes... I usually use either Tabac soap or Proraso cream, sometimes both.
I usually do 60 laps on the leather, but i have been doing extra because the blade just has not felt as sharp to me.
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02-19-2009, 11:23 AM #5
Slartibartfast, you're futher along than me so I can't speak so much about technique. However, I dinged my Wapi the 2nd time and had to return it for a touch up. It was then I found the vaule in a second blade. I picked up a cheap sahve ready Double Arrow from KenRup. Its not as smooth as my Wapi was, but it works just fine while my other one is getting a tune up. So, I've learned early on that back-up is a good idea.
Let us know how it goes...I want to learn as much as I can from others on this road.
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02-19-2009, 11:31 AM #6
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Thanked: 19+1 for stropping technique. Its very important. I found after about a month in I was getting razor burn, where before I didn't. It seems to be pretty common. So I made sure I was paying very close attention to my stropping technique, and I noticed an improvement on my shaves immediately.
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02-19-2009, 05:09 PM #7
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Thanked: 1262Thanks again everyone. Going to try and hit up radioshack after work and grab one of the $12 microscopes to get up close and personal with the straight.
/I have read that these are starting to dissapear from the shack? anyone(other than online) sell them?
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02-20-2009, 12:30 AM #8
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Thanked: 1262
Just ordered a razor from the classifieds : "Barber's Pet",N 421, Simmons HDWE.Co., USA. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
Tried looking at my current razor under the microscope, wasnt sure what i was seeing.
I did a little bit of stropping earlier to night and ended up with tiny specks of leather on the blade, not on the edge though.