Thread: How sharp is shave ready?

As the original poster (and newbie) I declare that last post totally valid!

Answers?

What video?

The 2nd part of Jockeys videos in the wiki HERE

Originally Posted by tat2Ralfy

This may be slightly off topic so sorry in advance if it is, it is not intentional, I recently started honing and am very happy with the results, however the area either side of my wind pipe has always been a problem to get bbs, no matter how smooth the blade shaves.

I wonder if you could elaborate on the blade approaches and stretching techniques Jimmy?

I have watched Jockeys shaving video until I can almost lip sinc it! and He covers the diagonal technique very well IMO, but still find that if I am going to get any burn or rash, or an area thats not quite bbs, its going to be either side of the windpipe under my jawline

Thanks Guys Ralfy

Ralfy,
I don't want to butt in on Jimmy here, but I think one thing that will help you would be to stand in front of a mirror and figure out how to twist, move your jaw and stretch your neck with the hand you are not holding the shaver with, before doing it with a razor. That helped me while learning.

I keep tract of how many shaves since the last time I cut myself and it has been 227, as of today. Still, I am very cautious when it comes to the same areas you are asking about. I don't seem to have much problems with the left side of my windpipe, but the right side is always troublesome, always. Don't ask me why, it just is.

When you have many more shaves under your belt, I suspect you will still be a bit hesitant. So what? Always error on the side of caution when it comes to straight razor shaving.

Good luck,

Ray

[QUOTE=gssixgun;457099]Those are my test spots too, ATG right from the get go, with soso prep, on the neck, is my shave ready test before they head home to you guys....

Now not to bust out anyone, but I just read over at B&B about a guy who gets the razor back from being honed, and the first thing he does is all sorts of tests on the thing then after all that, he shaves.. I have always said these Tests are for those people that hone razors, not for people that use razors, the Shave test is the only test that counts....[/QUOTE]


Glenn,
It is interesting that you bring this up. I have found that no matter what you advise people NOT to do, it doesn't matter. Seems like when someone gets anything sharp in their hand, a razor - pocket knife - a kitchen knife - even an axe, they are going to test it to see how sharp it is, especially if it has just been sharpened or honed.

I have learned to advise and then get over it.

You have given great advice about tests though, leave them to the people that do the honing.

Thanks,

Ray

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Now not to bust out anyone, but I just read over at B&B about a guy who gets the razor back from being honed, and the first thing he does is all sorts of tests on the thing then after all that, he shaves.. I have always said these Tests are for those people that hone razors, not for people that use razors, the Shave test is the only test that counts....

(Some) tests are very useful if the honemeister's edge is one's benchmark. Not to test the honemeister's skills but to acquire them when learning to hone.

Originally Posted by tat2Ralfy

This may be slightly off topic so sorry in advance if it is, it is not intentional, I recently started honing and am very happy with the results, however the area either side of my wind pipe has always been a problem to get bbs, no matter how smooth the blade shaves.

I wonder if you could elaborate on the blade approaches and stretching techniques Jimmy?

Thanks Guys Ralfy

Hi Ralfy, just saw this post. To follow up on Ray's excellent observations, I once read a post by Lynn on 'mapping' your beard. I take my fingertips when I've got some stubble and figure out what direction is ATG, WTG on that weird growing neck hair.

Like Ray and I guess most all of us turning the head and tilting it back to help stretch is one thing, I have just experimented with pulling the skin in different directions to find the one that worked for a specific area.

Since our whiskers may grow in a different direction what works for me may not work for someone else. We each have to find our own way to stretch. I also had to figure out which direction to approach those whiskers on either side of the pipe. for me I do a WTG for the first pass but on the second pass I come at them with a modified ATG. Its not South to North but more southwest to northeast.

I also learned a stroke that I've seen referred to as a 'swoop'. If you've seen birds playing chicken with cars on the expressway that is the move I mean. Or maybe a falcon swooping down to pick up a field mouse.

I use a swooping stroke with the blade on some areas that works real well for me.

I know exactly what you mean by the swoop. It's the method I use to get the tricky weird growing spots in the corners where my jaw bone ends and my neck starts.

Thanks Ray and Jimmy, I will try that out for sure :-)

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO THE ORIGINAL POST QUERY.

I consider myself a new shaver, but I've gotten comfortable with the blade and have the rare nick. I had Lynn hone it before I first started a year ago and have just tried to hone it myself since then.

The question is, I lent it to a friend who uses safety razors exclusively. He said he did not strop (using newspaper, as I suggested) and experienced a fair amount of tugging on his beard. He wasn't used to this as DE razors don't do this. I told him since Lynn honed it so long ago I don't remember if I originally had the same "tugging" experience. Now I'm having my doubts.

Should shave ready mean the blade glides through hairs like a DE would?