Thread: "Pulling" Explained

Can straight ever get sharp enough to the point to compete with Double Edge blades for sharpness and smooth "no pulling", like those from Personna Med Prep or some of the Russian blades? I have a shavette holder and have tried 1/2 of a DE blade in there and there is no doubt that it simpy blows away anything I've shaved with in the realm of straights, including such razors I have as Revisor, Wacker, Wade & Butcher, Dovo....

Originally Posted by Gibbs

Can straight ever get sharp enough to the point to compete with Double Edge blades for sharpness and smooth "no pulling", like those from Personna Med Prep or some of the Russian blades? I have a shavette holder and have tried 1/2 of a DE blade in there and there is no doubt that it simpy blows away anything I've shaved with in the realm of straights, including such razors I have as Revisor, Wacker, Wade & Butcher, Dovo....

Vern, You have approached honing from some rather unorthodox paths, so it is hard to answer for you...
There are razors with steel that will hold unto an edge to rival a DE edge easily when honed correctly..

Just an example: Most any Little Valley NY Full Hollow Grind razor honed with care on the Shapton System will have the sharpness but will still keep the smoothness... Keep in mind that pushing a SR edge too far doesn't always get the results you are after, often it just results in a harsh shave from a mis-honed edge...

Originally Posted by Gibbs

Can straight ever get sharp enough to the point to compete with Double Edge blades for sharpness and smooth "no pulling", like those from Personna Med Prep or some of the Russian blades? I have a shavette holder and have tried 1/2 of a DE blade in there and there is no doubt that it simpy blows away anything I've shaved with in the realm of straights, including such razors I have as Revisor, Wacker, Wade & Butcher, Dovo....

It's not so much about the straight getting sharp & smooth enough. That is definitely achievable but of course, the individual razor, honing & shave technique do play a big part.
Honing is completely removed from the equation with DE's & the system itself is very different but easier to master than an open blade. That ease of use may give the illusion of superior sharpness & smoothness but it is an illusion.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

It's not so much about the straight getting sharp & smooth enough. That is definitely achievable but of course, the individual razor, honing & shave technique do play a big part.
Honing is completely removed from the equation with DE's & the system itself is very different but easier to master than an open blade. That ease of use may give the illusion of superior sharpness & smoothness but it is an illusion.

I shave with both DEs and straights. I have experienced both good and bad shaves with each. I agree that each has its own technique and that the technique for a straight is harder to learn (let alone master). With all that said, I would disagree with the idea that the perception of greater sharpness from a shavette or DE is an illusion.

The replaceable blade edge starts with a thickness that only the finest craftsmen can obtain and maintain on a straight. The thinness of the metal the edge is ground on is a fraction of the thickness of a full hollow razor before the bevel and edge are created. This thinness and the fact that the blade is replaced and not maintained are reasons, that for us average maintainers of straight edges, the replaceable blade is in fact sharper.

Also, the perception of sharpness is multi-facited. It depends on the heaviness and coarseness of the beard, the geography of the face, the quality of the prep and the technical skill of the shaver. The DE in particular gives the average person an easier to use and, on average, sharper tool to handle a wide variety of shaving situations. Can a master of the maintenance and use of straight razors get as close and smooth a shave as with a DE? I do not doubt it. Can the average shaver do the same? I doubt it.

Some straight razor users will get all they need when shaving with a straight. For others, shaves will get better over time as skill increases. I can get an acceptable shave with a straight without using another razor to clean up. Are these shaves as smooth and comfortable as with my DEs? No. Will they ever be? Again, I doubt it for the reasons stated above. One may ask, as an average shaver why should I shave with a straight? My personal reason is they are a tool that is fun to use and care for and I like tools. They are a constant challenge that I look forward to every day.