Thread: Against the Grain Problem

For the first time I attempted an against the grain pass with my straight today, with zero success. It just would not cut at all. I don't think it was that my hair was not short enough as I finished with a DE w/o a problem.

Do you think its likeley to be a problem with my technique or should I try to refresh the blade on my pasted paddle? I've used the blade four times now, is that really soon to be refreshing? Also how should I go about it? I have a four sided paddle with 3.0, 1.0, .5, .25. How many passes and on which grits? Is it possible to overhone on a pasted paddle?

Thanks.

1) You may have dulled the blade. Even with some pulling it's still supposed to cut against the grain.
2) It seems like it's too soon, you may have rolled it while stropping.
3) A sharp blade would be ok with 10, 7, 5 passes each on the 1.0, .5, .25 and skip the 3.0. If that doesn't fix it, you need to take it to the hone
4) It is possible to overhone so take my guidelines with a grain of salt

I find that most especially with the against the grain pass the beard prep has to be complete otherwise it's an exercise in razing my skin without shaving my whiskers.

Four shaves doesn't seem like enough to dull the blade unless you've got the heaviest wires imaginable growing from your face. If your prep is in order, I'd bet it's a technique thing.

It IS possible to overhone on a pasted paddle, but not quite as easy to.

X

It sounds like a technique problem to me. Give us a few more details: Was the razor sticking or skipping, or was it just gliding over your beard without doing anything? What kind of angle were you using? Was this occuring in one spot or anywhere you tried to shave?

I find that against the grain goes better if I lower the spine closer to my skin--in other words, use an angle that's less than 30 degrees.

Maybe tomorrow you could try using something to soften your beard before your final pass, like glycerine or hair conditioner. I did that while I was learning to shave with my DE, and it really helped cut down on the irritation. That would eliminate prep as the problem.

Against the grain is tricky for me because it requires me to use some awkward grips and angles.

Let us know how you're coming along.

Josh

I have to agree that it might be a technique problem as I have the same paddle as you do (Tony Miller) and I go 15-20 shaves before touch up on the paddle and I shave both with and against the grain. Are you gripping your skin tightly?

This is why I think everyone recommends that people start with a razor honed by one of the experts here. I had the same issue and the blade wasn't sharp enough. When I got my razor back from Lynn, I had absolutely no issues ATG. Once you feel how a well honed razor cuts, then you have the standard to measure things by.

Now as I try to bring a blade to shave ready status, I know what it should feel like when it's sharp. I'm at the point now where I've been able to get a blade sharp enough to cut ATG. Not quite as smooth as the ones I've had honed by experts here, but I'm getting there.

I guess what I'm saying is that you need that standard to measure against, so that you can narrow down the problem. If you can shave with a really sharp razor, and you know it's really sharp if one of the experts here hones it for you, then you'll know if your technique is bad or not (or the prep, etc.) That would narrow down the problem to the sharpness of your blade.

If your with the grain shaving is smooth and close the blade is not the problem. I would suggest that when you go against the grain pay special attention to how you stretch the skin. That maneuver is extra important against the grain.

Yep, it seems that there was a problem with technique. I shaved again today with the same razor, w/o putting the razor to the pasted paddle, and I had a much better time of it against the grain. I used a much more acute angle and paid more attention to the stretching. Thanks!

While I'm here I may as well ask what is within the range of normal for the razor to dull enough to go to the pasted paddle? Also how many passes and on what grits do you use to refresh blades?

Originally Posted by 19george

While I'm here I may as well ask what is within the range of normal for the razor to dull enough to go to the pasted paddle? Also how many passes and on what grits do you use to refresh blades?

It depends entirely on your beard and how you shave.

I prefer to do a refresh as soon as stropping fails to restore the sharpness of the edge. THen just a few swipes on a fine hone and your back in business. I use a rotation od razors, but if I were using one I estimate I would need a quick refresh about once a week. UMMV.

I play the refresh prety much by ear. I judge what I want to try on the razor based on how it feels. I also use stones primarily so I don't know how much help I can be. Re. pastes, I'd only use my 0.5µ CrO to bring an edge up that I've been honing and desn't quite get there. At this point I'd usually do about 24 laps

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