Still Confused

I am still confused on what I may be doing wrong. First of all, I have been a DE shaver for the past 6-7 years and received very fine shaves each day. About 6 months ago, I purchased my first SR from SRD and tried my hand at this new method. The first shave did not produce much, but I limited the shaving to just the sideburns and cheek. There was pulling of the wiskers. I tried to alter my angle and stretch the skin, but that did not help much. The next few days I stropped the razor gently and repeated the same. Still, the shave did little and started to hurt.

I sent the razor back to SRD for my free honing and tried to shave with it, but the results were the same. Thinking my technique could possibly be at fault, I purchased the Shavette. My first shave with it was fantastic. My second shave with it was also great.

My question is why am I having trouble shaving with a professionally hones Dovo Black Star razor and have no trouble at all with a cheap Shavette? Does the fact the Dovo have a carbon steel blade and the Shavette a stainless steel blade?

My beard preparation is good as I have been shaving successfully with a DE for years.

Please help. Thanks in advance.

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Originally Posted by vikingfan

My question is why am I having trouble shaving with a professionally hones Dovo Black Star razor and have no trouble at all with a cheap Shavette?

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Because you're just learning to use the tool. Keep practicing - it takes time to get a handle on all the variables. The shavette is very different from a true straight razor

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Originally Posted by vikingfan

Does the fact the Dovo have a carbon steel blade and the Shavette a stainless steel blade?

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no

Since I've never used a shavette, my input falls into the category of guesswork as opposed to educated opinion. However, despite the fact that the razor itself seems to be the only independent variable, I would bet there is something different about your technique when you switch from one to the other. Having used a DE for so long, you're undoubtedly more comfortable with a disposable blade than the fine precision tool we call a straight razor. Are you applying the same pressure (should be very light) with both razors? Do you find the longer straight blade more cumbersome than the relatively small blade in the shavette? Do you find you are more anxious holding the Dovo? Small things like these can subtley influency your habits without you realising it. I'm also wondering about your stropping. Did you strop the razor before your first shave? If so, that is probably the culprit.

str8's n shavettes are far n between each other..a str8 razor is a thicker piece of steel..a shavette is a long version of an SE/DE...still needing 2 be replaced..alot of mentors here say it takes a year or so b4 you get the technique down..im halfway there ;-)

pcdad

Just guessing off of your username "vikingfan"... Are you located in Minnesota?
There are several members that you might be able to meet with that could offer some help.

It is true. 15 years later and I am still learning.

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Originally Posted by pcdad

str8's n shavettes are far n between each other..a str8 razor is a thicker piece of steel..a shavette is a long version of an SE/DE...still needing 2 be replaced..alot of mentors here say it takes a year or so b4 you get the technique down..im halfway there ;-)

pcdad

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I wonder, did you strop the straight before you used it?

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Originally Posted by leadduck

Since I've never used a shavette, my input falls into the category of guesswork as opposed to educated opinion. However, despite the fact that the razor itself seems to be the only independent variable, I would bet there is something different about your technique when you switch from one to the other. Having used a DE for so long, you're undoubtedly more comfortable with a disposable blade than the fine precision tool we call a straight razor. Are you applying the same pressure (should be very light) with both razors? Do you find the longer straight blade more cumbersome than the relatively small blade in the shavette? Do you find you are more anxious holding the Dovo? Small things like these can subtley influency your habits without you realising it. I'm also wondering about your stropping. Did you strop the razor before your first shave? If so, that is probably the culprit.

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I use the long blade set-up with the Shavette, which is suppose to mimick a SR. The two times I used the SR, I did not strop it. I did with subsequent uses. My stropping technique needs work, for sure. When I use the SR, I apply more pressure than with the Shavette, otherwise, no wiskers will be removed.

Thanks for the advise, I'll keep on trying.

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Originally Posted by HNSB

Just guessing off of your username "vikingfan"... Are you located in Minnesota?
There are several members that you might be able to meet with that could offer some help.

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Actually, I live in New York. Never been to Minnesota.

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Originally Posted by gregs656

I wonder, did you strop the straight before you used it?

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I did not strop it after first receiving it. Only stropped on subsequent uses.

I'm a SR n00b as well, so take it with a grain of salt, but...

I used a $12 Parker shavette clone with 1/2 of a DE blade for a month before buying my first straights, and at first I was disappointed with the shave I was getting. I'm going on a month and a half with a straight and I am finally getting the kind of shaves I thought I should have.
to be honest, those first few shaves mad me regret spending that kind of money, but i'm really happy now.

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Originally Posted by Nightfall

I'm a SR n00b as well, so take it with a grain of salt, but...

I used a $12 Parker shavette clone with 1/2 of a DE blade for a month before buying my first straights, and at first I was disappointed with the shave I was getting. I'm going on a month and a half with a straight and I am finally getting the kind of shaves I thought I should have.
to be honest, those first few shaves mad me regret spending that kind of money, but i'm really happy now.

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Thanks for your input. That gives me some hope. What did you do differently with the SR that made it work?

I'd guess that this is an angle problem, and the way to solve it is experimentation. The geometry of a DE blade is radically different to that of a straight razor - the included angle of the former is about half that of the latter, making it seem subjectively sharper. What works with a Shavette therefore will not necessarily be optimal with an open razor.

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Originally Posted by vikingfan

Actually, I live in New York. Never been to Minnesota.

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where in NY are u from...im from Pa....if we are close maybe i can help

Practice, first and foremost.

Chances are the transition between the two shaving methods has started to round out the edge a little.

Strop diligently. Tighten up the strop. Try 200 passes with a touch of pressure followed by 200 passes with no pressure. Focus on using the same pressure on both sides, equally, and use a light touch overall. Your not trying to force the edge into compliance, your trying to gently erode the problem away.

When you shave, search for and diligently use the correct angle. Improper shaving angle combined with pressure will destroy a well honed edge.

Maybe the honer at SRD used paste to finish. I find paste-honed razors to be quite painful, and quickly send them to Sham, who finishes with natural stones. The difference, to me, is night and day: a miserable experience turns into an act of beauty. I think his userid is hi_bud_gl

He almost always has something for sale in the classifieds, often for $65. He usually quarantees you will like the blade or your money back. So either send him your straight or buy a used one from him. Trust me, you will soon see why straight shaving is awesome.

Jeff

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Originally Posted by jpm7676

where in NY are u from...im from Pa....if we are close maybe i can help

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Long Island.

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Originally Posted by Arrowhead

I'd guess that this is an angle problem, and the way to solve it is experimentation. The geometry of a DE blade is radically different to that of a straight razor - the included angle of the former is about half that of the latter, making it seem subjectively sharper. What works with a Shavette therefore will not necessarily be optimal with an open razor.

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Thanks. I will vary my angle and keep stretching my skin.

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Originally Posted by jeffus

Maybe the honer at SRD used paste to finish. I find paste-honed razors to be quite painful, and quickly send them to Sham, who finishes with natural stones. The difference, to me, is night and day: a miserable experience turns into an act of beauty. I think his userid is hi_bud_gl

He almost always has something for sale in the classifieds, often for $65. He usually quarantees you will like the blade or your money back. So either send him your straight or buy a used one from him. Trust me, you will soon see why straight shaving is awesome.

Jeff

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Thank you. I will look him up.

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Originally Posted by vikingfan

Thanks for your input. That gives me some hope. What did you do differently with the SR that made it work?

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Just keep at it, experiment with the angles, and don't give up. With my Parker, I had to stick with the standard 30 degrees. With the real straights, it goes between 10 and 40 depending on the pass, area I'm shaving (Ialso use it on my head), etc.

Also read, reread, and go back for another look at everything in the wiki. It really helped me.

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Originally Posted by jeffus

Maybe the honer at SRD used paste to finish. I find paste-honed razors to be quite painful, and quickly send them to Sham, who finishes with natural stones. The difference, to me, is night and day: a miserable experience turns into an act of beauty. I think his userid is hi_bud_gl

He almost always has something for sale in the classifieds, often for $65. He usually quarantees you will like the blade or your money back. So either send him your straight or buy a used one from him. Trust me, you will soon see why straight shaving is awesome.

Jeff

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Wow! I want to avoid being rude, but I don't think you know what you are talking about.
First, "the honer at SRD" knows exactly what he is doing. His use of pastes, if you want to call the diamond sprays and/or chromium oxide that he uses, are limited to a few strokes as a final polish.
Second, the difference between the use and non-use of those items is subtle. It is not "night and day."
If you want to recommend Hi_bud_gl, that's fine. So do I; but to imply that "the honer at SRD" is responsible for a "miserable experience" is just plain wrong.

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Originally Posted by Nightfall

Just keep at it, experiment with the angles, and don't give up. With my Parker, I had to stick with the standard 30 degrees. With the real straights, it goes between 10 and 40 depending on the pass, area I'm shaving (Ialso use it on my head), etc.

Also read, reread, and go back for another look at everything in the wiki. It really helped me.

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I'm finding if I use short, quick, multiple strokes over the same area, the shave is getting closer. It seems like the long, smooth strokes remove very little and causes some discomfort. I did a wtg shave yesterday and was fairly happy. Tomorrow, I will try it again and also do a atg pass with the short, quick, multiple strokes with the hope I get a reasonablly close shave.

Thanks, I think I'm getting a technique that is starting to wrok.