Thread: Smiling vs straight blade

I like both styles but a curved blade seems to work better under the jaw for me. I had a funny thought; Why aren't power lawn mower blades curved? There would be more cutting surface and less resistance.

Heck of an idea. I am off to my garage to start pounding out blades for my lawn mower. Actually it is a very good question.

I use smiling razors almost exclusively now. The only time I use a straight edge is when I take a vintage beater in my dopp kit while traveling or camping.

Just practice a scything cut, with a straight edged razor, where you are moving slightly diagonally as the edge is moving forward. You don’t need an exaggerated lateral movement to get the effect. Make sure your blade is moving forward the whole time, or you will cut yourself.

A smiling razor, does the same thing, only not to the same extent. The more smile/curve, the more the scything effect, where the edge is contacting the beard hair, at an angle. The snowplow is a good analogy.

A smiling razor can be, a bit more challenging to hone, as you must use a rolling X stroke, and pay attention to your pressure, but with a little practice and some sharpie ink, you can easily get the hang of it.

Originally Posted by MisterClean

I like both styles but a curved blade seems to work better under the jaw for me. I had a funny thought; Why aren't power lawn mower blades curved? There would be more cutting surface and less resistance.

Lift

The straight blade with the angle in it is designed to lift and move the grass to the outside

That is my understanding of it anyway

But yes the older Scythes and hand powered Sickles were curved

Just another thought is that the straight blades are actually moving in a circular motion, so maybe it works the same way a scything stroke works for us with a straight edge

Originally Posted by MisterClean

I like both styles but a curved blade seems to work better under the jaw for me. I had a funny thought; Why aren't power lawn mower blades curved? There would be more cutting surface and less resistance.

Actually the old rotary/reel mowers, were.

Rotary mowers were known for their fine, clean cut, and were used for manicuring putting greens. Don’t know if they still are.

With a special jig, with a motorized wheel, they were easily and precisely, sharpened.

There is one problem with smiling blades, that is when cutting your side burns , you can't get a straight line.....

I can find the negative in anything :/

Picked up a 5/8 Shumate Tungsteel a couple of years back. Plain Jane swayback, but I would rank it in my top 5 as far as shaves go. Been a few on Ebay lately that have gone for a fair price, would be a good start point for anyone wanting to try a smiler. If you still have sideburns from the '70s use the toe of the razor, it can be done...

Originally Posted by MisterClean

I like both styles but a curved blade seems to work better under the jaw for me. I had a funny thought; Why aren't power lawn mower blades curved? There would be more cutting surface and less resistance.

Maybe they took the resharpening of the hypothetical curved lawn mower blade into account. I can see Joe six pack having a hell of a time trying to sharpen one of those in his garage. I'm thinking they are easier and cheaper to make straight for the manufacturer. Then again a 5 hp motor can make up for a lot of deficiency. Hey push lawnmowers had curved blades lol.

One of my concerns was the honing a smiling razor. The John Cockhill wasn't to difficult because it doesn't have that big smile. The Jerry Stark I thought was going to be a real problem. Watched video's and asked a experienced honemeister and it actually isn't that difficult. In fact, I started using the rolling X stroke on my regular razors and it does a very nice job. On regular razors it is more x then rolling.