Thread: Help with term "flatten out"

As I've been studying on this site, and learning as I go, one missunderstanding is causing me problems. I see cautions, especially about chin shaving, saying we have a tendancy to "flatten out" the blade angle, thus causing irritation. In my mind "flattening out" conjures up images of laying the blade flat on the face (spine and edge touching) but I get the feeling that you are saying the opposite (lifting the spine as far off the face as possible) Could someone set me straight on terminology once and for all. Thanks.

As far as my understanding flattening out should mean back of the blade close to the face-- reducing the Angle.

I would direct us to a post. Flattening out the angle, if it means lessening the angle, shouldn't cause irritation.

I know I'm the last person to get difficult about things but the angle should be 30 degrees. Less is wrong, and more is wrong. 30 degrees is the right angle with maximum cutting efficiency and minimum irritation, balanced.

One thing you should watch out for is a discussion about what works well for one person. These are just "discussion" for the sake of discussion. We all learn a bit, and think about the odd variations that cause this to work for one person. Think of it as not working for 13,464 other members first, before jumping on the bandwagon.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I know I'm the last person to get difficult about things but the angle should be 30 degrees. Less is wrong, and more is wrong. 30 degrees is the right angle with maximum cutting efficiency and minimum irritation, balanced.

I beg to differ. I subscribe to the flatter-every-pass theory:

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

30 degrees is the right angle

Alan, I was taught that right angle is 90 degrees or pi/2 radians
<ducks 'n covers>

good advice

Originally Posted by gugi

Alan, I was taught that right angle is 90 degrees or pi/2 radians
<ducks 'n covers>

good advice

Lol. I'll have to remember that one.

Flattening out the angle when shaving the chin has usually meant that the razor angle is being increased to the 90 degree area which cause the razor to scrape the whisker vs. cutting it.

Tis confusing........

Lynn

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

I beg to differ. I subscribe to the flatter-every-pass theory:

I'm cool with that, as long as were talking about WTG vs XTG vs ATG.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I'm cool with that, as long as were talking about WTG vs XTG vs ATG.

We are most certainly.