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Happy Thanksgiving to all! Got a question for the group: I've been shaving with a SR since early October, and in general it's going quite well and is fun. One problem: when I go ATG, the razor "skips" as it goes across my skin. I've attached a picture that shows the lines in the lather produced by the skipping. Any ideas what I'm going wrong? Thanks!
I've also had this happen, very frustrating.
I find stretching and shorter strokes are really important on ATG passes.
I think the hair directs the blade down and it bogs as it digs into the dermis, then it snaps loose and that is a skip.
I've never seen this. I use as long a stroke as I can, sometimes from the neck all the way to the top of the cheek. When I'm shaving with a truly sharp razor, the whiskers just get cut and the stroke, no matter how long, continues just fine.
It never happens on my neck either. Generally only on my cheeks and only when I am not stretching adequately.Quote:
Originally Posted by ace
may need to try a steeper blade angle.I use about 30 degs with the grain and upwards of 40ish ATG scything
I'm still new at all of this too and the same thing happens to me. However I'm finding it's getting much better every week.
If the blade is not sharp enough or needing a touch-up it wont cut the whisker and the forward motion will make the razor skip.
Watch that skip------ it can BITE!!!
Very Best, John
Any of the above answers or combination thereof are possibly correct.
If you know the blade to be sharp that's one less variable. Try a stroke with the blade flat, spine & edge in contact then slightly raise it & try again. Your angle may simply be too obtuse.
Concur that the blade is dull. It is pulling and your hold makes it let loose, skip and grab again. Touch up the edge.
You need to have good lather, not too runny or there will be skipping of the razor.
You need to lower the angle as Oz said, try keep the razor flat to the face.
You need a truly sharp razor to be able to do the ATG with success
Thanks to everyone for the advice! I honed the razor tonight to make sure it's as sharp as I can get it, and I'll try to make sure that my skin is taught when I shave in the morning. I'll play with the angle too. Thank you everyone!
Totally agree with Oz and mainaman. Very low angle, and if you're comfortable with it a little toe leading (cant) stroke on that AGT on the cheeks. Not too much, or you risk a slice, but a little to give the razor a better cutting angle on the whisker. It helps to eliminate that catching and skipping also. Better lather!
Good shaves!!
Regards,
Howard :)
Seems SirStropalot is a time traveler who commented on this in 1969. Impressive!Quote:
Originally Posted by SirStropalot
I used to have that problem, where the razor would drag, hop off the face, and come in for a crash land.Quote:
Originally Posted by medicineball
For me my lather wasn't slick (wet) enough. Your lather looks thin to me. I suggest you add more water and lather your face more generously.
This is what my lather looks like:
Attachment 112897
I always found that a lighter touch and short buffering strokes while going atg alleviate any skipping.
The skipping you describe looks scary. I agree with those who have posted that your lather looks thin.
I like this thread. I have experienced this skipping at times and am interested in the responses.
I can verify that my razors are plenty sharp, but now that you mention lather....I will start paying more attention to the conditions that exist when the skipping happens...it may well be with one of the products I occasionally use that seems to result in thinner lather.
I also know that stretching (or lack of) has been the cause in the past for me. My fat face rolls up like an area rug and things get bad quick...its pretty easy to identify and eliminate that problem ;)
I have had this problem. What has been working out for me is:
-keeping my lather wetter,
-better skin stretching,
-using a lower angle of attack (spine closer to the skin),
-lighter razor skin pressure,
-changing the direction of attack. On my cheeks, cutting from my nose towards my ear is especially prone to stick and skip which can lead to a sudden slice. I cut my face vertically three times this way on different occassions. For awhile, I thought that I was going to bear a Heidelburg scar, but it soon dissapeared. Now I minimize or avoid cutting from nose toward my ear on the cheeks and will do so only after major beard reduction, and if the stars all seem to be aligned for me during that shave.
-switching to a sharper razor or restropping/honing. Skipping is more apt to happen when blade sharpness of a bit off,
-letting my attension wander for an instant while foolishly thinking that I really have achieved control of the razor/shave is when I usually get nicked, especially if my skin pressure, angle, and skin stretching is off. Fortunately, I have not been sliced for a while and my Str8s probably nick me less frequently than my DEs. All the above factors are somewhat interrelated and improving any of them can help compensate for minor deficiencies in other areas.
If the str8 shave is not going well on any given day despite quick fixes, I will finish my shave with a DE.
I have had the same problem. I have tried different solutions, but after some soreness and a cut two days ago I think going against the grain is just not for my skin. I can get a good shave going with the growth and then across.
This has happened to me as well. Almost everytime it skips, I have got bit. I chalked it up to my angle being too steep, but there are probably other factors at play too. Hasn't happened in a long time.
About the lather... There are soaps and creams out there that help by being extra slick. T&H rose comes to mind as being "extra" slick. There are others out there that are slicker than others. Make sure you are using a very slick lather with plenty of cushion. That picture of your lather seems to be really thin and it looks a little dry also.
1. Slick lather with lots of cushion
2. Very sharp edge
3. Technique, technique,technique.
Relax and know that it will happen, don't sweat it! :)
