Thread: 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...

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.

X

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.

X

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