Thread: Scything questions

I'm with Tonsor, the guillotine stroke is easy, pretty safe compared to the other two, and works just about as well as scything and slicing. Once you put the blade at a slight angle off the horizontal, it's easy to just stroke straight down (or adjust as needed for strokes that are not vertical). Except for starting with either the toe or the heel higher than the other end by a few degrees, it's pretty much the same as a plain stroke.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

A scything motion is not the same thing as a slicing motion. A scything motion is nothing more that a curved stroke. The easiest way to explain the mechanics, at least for me, that as you move the blade linearly (for example down your the side of your face) you also pivot the razor about the point where the blade and scales intersect. I use my wrist to do this, while I use my arm for the linear motion.

Unfortunately there are two different methods that are called scything - the one you describe, and this one:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...tml#post313829

The image on the left is what most of us (and the old barber texts) mean by scything. On the right you see the guillotine method.

And if you look closely you will see they are the same diagram! The two methods are one and the same. However, I believe it is safer to think of it as a guillotine action, you only need to think about movement in one dimension and you are less likely to mess up as a result of thinking about a sideways motion.

a safe way to start learning is to lead with the heel

it is closest to your hand and you have lots of control

I have 2 or more inches of lateral motion on every pass, very similar to the 45 used when honing

in other words, the toe ends up where the heel started

Thanks Joe, that was exactly what I was after - just wanted to know if I should be learning this technique from the get-go or holding off on it.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

A scything motion is not the same thing as a slicing motion. A scything motion is nothing more that a curved stroke. The easiest way to explain the mechanics, at least for me, that as you move the blade linearly (for example down your the side of your face) you also pivot the razor about the point where the blade and scales intersect. I use my wrist to do this, while I use my arm for the linear motion.

But scything has an element of slicing in it as you can read here (quoted from the SRP wiki):

The scything motion

The easiest way to move a razor over the skin, is to guide it in a direction, perpendicular to the edge. As a result the razor “chops” the hairs, much like an axe chops a young branch off a tree, with one blow. Out of a physical viewpoint this way of severing something requires the most force and is the hardest on the cutting edge. By adding a slight slicing motion to the blade, the cutting action becomes more effective.

For most of my shaves I have to wear contacts to be able to see my face in the mirror. On the times when I wear my glasses instead I have to start the stroke with a guillotine type stroke just to get around my glasses. I say just give it a go. The worst you will do is give yourself a nasty nick or slice and have to stop shaving for a day or two. Its not like your chin will fall off into the sink.

Originally Posted by Kees

But scything has an element of slicing in it as you can read here (quoted from the SRP wiki):

Granted, is slices through the hair shafts, but it does not slice across the face. To me, a slicing motion (across the face) would involve moving the razor sideways (parallel to the blade edge) or diagonally (at an angle that is not normal to the blade edge). With the scything motion, the direction of travel is always normal to the edge.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

Granted, is slices through the hair shafts, but it does not slice across the face. To me, a slicing motion (across the face) would involve moving the razor sideways (parallel to the blade edge) or diagonally (at an angle that is not normal to the blade edge). With the scything motion, the direction of travel is always normal to the edge.

Chaps, would you please review Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki, and adapt it accordingly?

Props and kudos to TexasBob and Puffah for the images and additional text.

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Unfortunately there are two different methods that are called scything - the one you describe, and this one:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...tml#post313829

The image on the left is what most of us (and the old barber texts) mean by scything. On the right you see the guillotine method.

And if you look closely you will see they are the same diagram! The two methods are one and the same. However, I believe it is safer to think of it as a guillotine action, you only need to think about movement in one dimension and you are less likely to mess up as a result of thinking about a sideways motion.

Well, they do not look the same to me since the vectors indicating the path of the blade are totally different, and neither shows a proper scything motion.