HHT-sharp not sharp enough?

If a razor passes the hanging hair test like a dream is it likely that it will still pull when shaving?

My current shaver was honed by AFDavis and it cuts hanging hairs effortlessly all along the blade.

But it still pulls a lot around my chin. I'm unable to complete a smooth with-the-grain stroke. As soon as I touch the razor to my skin it hangs up, and I would have to force it to get it to cut.

It works pretty well on my cheeks, but right now I'm having to use my DE on my chin.

I'm thinking it's probably a technique or prep problem, but I wanted to seek advice as I work through it.

Cool thing is I'm getting my cheeks smoother with the straight in three passes than I've been able to do with my DE in four. I also have less irritation because I'm less tempted to take multiple strokes over the same area after I've shaved off the lather...

Thanks,
Josh

I personnally think the chin is the hardest area to shave. It took me a while before I was comfortable and got a clean shave there.

Since your cheeks are shaving so well, it's likely that it's an angle issue -- this is a real trick on the chin, and the reason that the chin is usually one of the last places guys finally master shaving.

You could always grow a goatee... :D

I'll say the chin can be tricky to get a good stretch on. You can also cut a little closer by using a pronounced, but safe cutting angle. That's where you lead with the tip and trail the heel, like you would do if you were cutting bread with a bread knife. Just don't start sawing back the other way or you won't have to worry about shaving your chin ever again. :eek:

X

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Originally Posted by xman

I'll say the chin can be tricky to get a good stretch on. You can also cut a little closer by using a pronounced, but safe cutting angle. That's where you lead with the tip and trail the heel, like you would do if you were cutting bread with a bread knife. Just don't start sawing back the other way or you won't have to worry about shaving your chin ever again. :eek:

X

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Ohhhh I can feel that.....

It may need that last little umph of sharpness or smoothness updated on the edge to get the chin area effortlessly. A few passes on .5 paste or 8k with a very light touch may be needed.

You can also strop on linen appropriately then return to leather with just a touch more pressure than usual. Extra tad of pressure on both linen and leather, then go back to very light pressure on the leather.

Ofcourse you can also send it back if you need to.

You've shaved a few times on the same edge?

Wooops! I forgot to answer your question Josh. In my house the HHT is the lower end of sharp. It can easily need to be sharper after passing the HHT.

Alan,

I'm not complaining--that razor doesn't have the best steel, and you got it slicing even the thinnest hair effortlessly. (I haven't shaved many times with it since you honed it for me; I took a sidetrail into learning to DE shave over the last month and a half.)

I just hear about razors that wipe the lather off like a squeegie, and I wonder how much of that is sharpness and how much is due to good technique. Given that I'm just now getting the hang of my chin with a DE, I think it's my technique that's mostly at fault.

I'm thinking it would be good for me to get a paddle strop and some pastes while I continue to work on my honing. I can get razors to pass the HHT off the hone, but my edges are still a little uneven.

Josh

A lot of straight shaving is bound up in technique. I can't see what you're doing but a steeper angle maybe required. Straights can be made to be extremely sharp so you maybe able to get it sharper. They shouldn't pull either but you may feel the blade resistance of your beard. All razors encounter resistance it's just the mechanics of the straight magnify it, safety razors have their geometry to brace them therefore the resistance is transfered to the safety bar and the user does not perceive it. So you may want to try a steeper angle and a little pressure. Go slow, very slow and learn. Hope this helps.

Regards,
EL

Sounds like technique to me and BTW - I don't worry about the hanging hair test too much- I've got razors that were honed by Joe and Bill and they won't pass on my hair although they shave like magic.

Must have wimpy hair or sumpim:D

The paddle and pastes are a good option for maintaining an edge and getting it just a little sharper. I think also, there is a need for a little smoothness on the bevels to get that squeegie effect which can be reapplied with paddles and pastes. Additionally, they can improve stropping.

Sounds like your honing is going great too. I think if you curl your pinky under the scale you'll be able to push up slightly on the scales and get the edges even along the entire edge of your other razors. You can attack the razor I honed anytime and return it if you need to. If it were me I'd push it lightly over 8 or 12 K a few passes, I bet it starts to improve for you. Just go slow, use a light touch, and keep the blade flat. At the same time . . .

. . . your probably still in that area where technique has a lot to do with it.

I think most beginners go through a stage where they do well on their cheeks and need practice on the goatee area (or finish with a DE).

You can complain all you want, its a forum. And I don't view it as complaining. We are here entirely to support you. If we don't hear from you we assume everything is ok.

This morning I got about 90 percent of my shave done with a razor I honed myself on my Norton 4/8K. It's especially satisfying because this eBay special had about six HUGE nicks in it--almost as deep as the bevel. I worked them out with a course Arkansas stone and honed it up on my Norton.

I can't get my edges even yet. It's funny how I have different problems with different razors. This one gets terrifyingly sharp on the toe and sharp on the heel, but the middle won't quite pass the HHT. Another razor that has a slight smile gets sharp in the middle but won't cut on the toe and heel. My X patterns still aren't even, I guess.

I'm thinking next month I'm going to get a paddle strop and some pastes to help me get to the next level while I work on my honing. It sounds like I should get the .5 and .25 pastes. Are those good to start with?

My face feels great this morning. I'm actually finding that learning the straight is easier than learning my DEs. I think all that knowledge I picked up from DE shaving--direction of beard growth, prep, making lather--is helping with the straight.

Thanks for all the help,
Josh

your razors could have slightly curved or bent spines. i had one like this i couldn't figure out for a while why it would get sharp in the middle and not the ends. i couldn't tell it was bent until i removed the scales and then it became obvious.

by the way, using an X pattern while you hone should allow you the pressure/angle differencial to compensate for this. i have 3inch wide hones so i could hone straight, however i now always use an X pattern as my results are consistant and complete.

~J