Scratch like marks?

Alright, I feel like I've embraced the less pressure and skin stretching advice.

I've gotten no cuts or nicks in the last week plus and the only blood has been a couple weepers, probably attributable to pimples.

However, I have been getting these scratch like marks that hang around for as long as a week or so. I feel no pain or skipping while shaving, just notice them when I'm done or later in the day.

Is my razor dull? Is there some better prep I can do? Right now I shave after showering and use some DR Harris aftershave milk. I also use alum bloc after every shave.

Are there any scratch like marks on your strop?

No, I haven't noticed any difference in my strop, or in the "feel" of stropping.

Should I do a 100 passes or so on the balsa that came with my poor mans strop kit?

Get an eye loupe or a microscope and check for micro chips.

Are you using a square point razor? If so, you may be digging in with the toe as you shave just a bit; it can leave marks like you described.

The only similar I have ever seen is when you dig in you get marks like that usually red streaks but depending on your skin and the pressure you use they may not be red. They usually last a couple days then fade. I imagine they are either irritation or maybe some trivial damage to some capillaries under the skin. Spike points can really do that to you like Dylan says.

Also make sure that you are not "resting" the edge of the razor on your skin at any point during the shave. That will often leave marks similar to what you are describing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Are you using a square point razor? If so, you may be digging in with the toe as you shave just a bit; it can leave marks like you described.

---

No, for the time being, square points scare me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Get an eye loupe or a microscope and check for micro chips.

---

Any preferred spot to get a loupe or a microscope? What is an appropriate magnification factor?

If you could post a picture it would help us help you...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JoeSomebody

If you could post a picture it would help us help you...

---

Will do, won't be able to do this till later though...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kedlb53

Any preferred spot to get a loupe or a microscope? What is an appropriate magnification factor?

---

I have a 30x loupe that does the job just fine for me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Theseus

I have a 30x loupe that does the job just fine for me.

---

Are there good brands, bad brands? Is there a primer on loupes?

Didn't shave today so the scratch marks weren't very visible, if I shave tomorrow I'll take a picture.

Would a 20x Bolemo Loupe be good? They are about $30, but seem to have better reviews.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kedlb53

Didn't shave today so the scratch marks weren't very visible, if I shave tomorrow I'll take a picture. Would a 20x Bolemo Loupe be good? They are about $30, but seem to have better reviews.

---

That loupe should work just fine. I can't remember the name brand, but there was one loupe that sells on ebay for fairly cheap that gets pretty high recommendations here. My 30x loupe came in a Tasco science kit that I got for Christmas when I was 8.

Any micro chips should be visible with the unaided eye. Hold the blade edge up under a bright light. Micro chips will appear as glints of light. A good edge reflects no light.

I got my 30x loupe for like $5 had a built I light

Picture of my face


http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/35409b63.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kedlb53

Picture of my face


http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...3/35409b63.jpg

---

To me that looks like you may be putting to much pressure at the tip and digging the spike point in a little thus causing the scratch mark

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BenjamanBarker

To me that looks like you may be putting to much pressure at the tip and digging the spike point in a little thus causing the scratch mark

---

I'm not using a spike point, just the point in general?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kedlb53

I'm not using a spike point, just the point in general?

---

Sorry I missed your post about spike point scaring you....I haven't noticed it with my round points but it seems it would still be possible to be using to much pressure at either the toe OR heal and cause these scratches.

Even try catching a light reflection along the bevel. If you look carefully, you might be able to see a chip in the edge.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jdto

Even try catching a light reflection along the bevel. If you look carefully, you might be able to see a chip in the edge.

---

it would be possible but i feel like this begs the question....wouldn't a chip big enough to cause the scratch marks in the pictures be big enough to see with out having to really hunt for it?

but yes jdto method has proved very good in determining small chips without the need of a loupe.

Sometimes they can be tricky SOBs. I found a chip near the point of my TI the other day. No idea how it got there, but there it was...I just saw it when looking at the edge under the light, then double-checked with the loupe.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jdto

Sometimes they can be tricky SOBs. I found a chip near the point of my TI the other day. No idea how it got there, but there it was...I just saw it when looking at the edge under the light, then double-checked with the loupe.

---

Oh I agree they can be and ARE SoBs!! Im just unsure if that type of chip would leave the mark on your face as prominent as in the picture. Physically speaking the mark left should be the same width across as the chip that left it....does that make sense?

That would depend on the stroke, though. I mean, how you drag the chip down your face could vary with the motion of the blade. (Are we splitting hairs yet? :beer1:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jdto

That would depend on the stroke, though. I mean, how you drag the chip down your face could vary with the motion of the blade. (Are we splitting hairs yet? :beer1:)

---

Well if the chip is .25mm and you use a..........yeah you're probably right!!!! ;) :beer1:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kedlb53

Are there good brands, bad brands? Is there a primer on loupes?

---

Here's a link to the one I use, and it's the same one that gssixgun uses. He provided the link. It works very well and is inexpensive. Widget Supply 25mm 30x Chrome Teardrop Jewelers Loupe, Illuminated

Regards,

Howard