Thread: Shaving with a Mach 3 lately

October is when I started, and I have been shaving without cuts or irritation for about 2 months now, and almost exclusively on razors I purchased on Ebay and hone myself.

It shouldn't take 6 months to learn to do this.

It shouldn't take 6 months to learn to do this.

Entirely YMMV, everyone is different.

- Scott

Mach 3's have overly sharp blades when brand new, and quickly dull for me, so I'd either be butchering my face or pulling hairs...

I got tired of the pain and bleeding, and went straight over a year ago.

to answer your question, with the right hones and strops you can put a mach 3 to shame. Keep in mind that not all of the shave is in the "edge" There are angles, and pressure to consider. I am confident that I can get an edge as sharp as a production razor, it just takes patience and some 1/4m diamond paste... (ok it takes a bit more than that)
but a straight razor that sharp is actually uncomfortable to me. You're much better off with a not too sharp straight and good technique.

Shaun really hit the nail on the head, when you're learning, a mach 3 might seem to give better shaves, but once you've experienced a quality straight shave you'll never look at that Mach3 the same. The problem is that most people don't have the patience to learn to shave properly.
We've stopped teaching our sons to shave, and instead hand them a disposable and let them learn the hard way... convenience has replaced tradition, at the cost of comfort and quality. Instead of taking pride in our appearance, we've learned to run electric lawn mowers across our chins and accept the inadequate.

I finally convinced my best friend to try a straight, he rolled the edge on the first shave and was going to give up, so I took my hones and strops over to his house, refinished his razor, and I shaved him. He's now looking at his straight razor in a new light. and I can see he wants to get rid of his "other" razor...
(2 pass almost BBS no nicks, and no razor burn... the first time he's had a shave since his teens where he didn't get razor burn.)

Originally Posted by toolarts

October is when I started, and I have been shaving without cuts or irritation for about 2 months now, and almost exclusively on razors I purchased on Ebay and hone myself.

It shouldn't take 6 months to learn to do this.

You're absolutely correct, it doesnt take 6 months to learn how, but I promise you 6 months from now, you are going to look back at the shaves you are getting now and think "wow, I had so much to learn" Its an art, truly. Yes there is a very scientific approach and no, its not rocket science, but to truy master it, I suspect its going to take years. Thats what we're all shooting for, to be able to get perfect BBS shaves that feel as nice as the breeze on your face. I get great shaves consistantly now after 6 months, but I feel like I've only had 5-10 truly awesome shaves, the kind that make the rest of your day so much better. I still have my share of those shaves that just piss me off too. I can only assume you do to. Hell, for that matter, I would imagine that even Lynn, every once in a while, cleans his razor and thinks, "if the guys saw that nick, I'd never hear the end of it..."

But then of course Chuck Norris comes out of no where, gives him a hug and tells him every things going to be ok. And it is, because Chuck said so...