Thread: New Member

Hi All. I have been wet shaving for 3 years, but I am new to straights. My first is a Zartina Cutlery that is in pretty good shape, but it has a tendancy to pull the Whisked instead of cutting them. I have tried adjusting blade angle, but I don't know if the razor is that dull or if my Beard is that tough.

Any thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated.

Heya, and welcome to SRP.
A little more info would be needed to asnwer your question. Did you get the straight razor professionally sharpened? How long ago did you get it, and how many shaves has it seen since it was sharpened? And finally, are you using a strop before and after every shave?
Many newcomers think they have exeptionally tough beards - I have yet to see any evidence of that. A properly sharpened straight razor will plow through it in any instance, so for now I'm guessing it is either a matter of blade sharpness, or technique.

As str8fencer says, it's hard to tell from the information provided.

I will say this though, if you are able to shave with a DE or a cartridge, a straight would work as well.

My guess, as str8fence's, would be lack of sharpness, lack of technique, or maybe a combination of both.

As far as technique goes I reach over my head and pull the skin tight, and my blade angle is about 30 degrees. From what you gentlemen have told me it sounds like a sharpness issue more than anything. I prep and lather before every shave. I use an AOS pre shave oil, Bigelow lathered in my bowl with pre soaked brush, and I lather up and let it sit for at least 2 minuets. I have not had the razor very long. I was told it was shave ready, but pulling is not shaving in my book. I have a double sided strop that is all leather, no linen. which side do I start on, and how long do I need to strop.

If you need any further info please let me know and I will do my best to provide it.

Thanks!

Jon

+1 on the advice offered by str8fencer and Birnando. You have a good quality vintage straight razor.

If you are having problems shaving with it, then the problem must either be blade sharpness or technique.

Check the SRP Classifieds for members near you who offer honing services. That will eliminate one possible variable. Then you can focus on technique.

As for stropping...I usually strop 50 on fabric and 55-60 strokes on leather. After shaving, I usually strop 15X each on the fabric and leather of my strop to remove any gunk that has accumulated on my razor during shaving.

Take care--and smooth shaving.

Welcome to SRP! You're certainly in the right place to figure things out. It does sound like your razor's not up to snuff. I have the kind of growth that kills cartridges within a couple shaves, and I can take off a week's growth without batting an eye with my trusty straight. If you didn't get your blade from a reputable vendor, or a member here, then it was likely NOT shave ready when you started. Also, if you stropped it improperly you may have taken a good edge and dulled it.

When you get a truly shave ready blade you shouldn't strop it before the first shave, that way you have the best blade edge possible for starting out.

I strop 30-35x on linen and 45-50x on leather before each shave. Several guys also strop after shaves to remove moisture, soap, stubble, etc. I set the spine on a towel and pinch the blade between my thumb and index finger to wipe the blade dry. I also apply 3-in-1 oil via q-tip after my shaves to prevent degredation of the edge between shaves.

Note: you don't have to strop on linen, but it works for me, and several guys use the linen to hold pastes/sprays for more aggressive stropping.

Peace,