Thread: Smiling Blades

Doubt the style of grind, smiling or straight has anything to do with cutting yourself. If anything, a smiler would be less likely to cut you, as it is an automatic scything cut of the beard.

It is either shaving technique or more likely a chipped or rolled edge. It can take a bit of technique to properly strop a smiling razor, depending on the amount of “smile.

Yup, easier/faster/cheaper to grind a straight edge

I forgot to mention that when razors were being hand forged, a smile is a much more natural shape to forge.

Shave the lather, not the face... Probably techniques.

Originally Posted by outback

Shave the lather, not the face... Probably techniques.

Hi Mike, you're right. It is my technique.

I think I have it figured out now.

Steve

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Doubt the style of grind, smiling or straight has anything to do with cutting yourself. If anything, a smiler would be less likely to cut you, as it is an automatic scything cut of the beard.

It is either shaving technique or more likely a chipped or rolled edge. It can take a bit of technique to properly strop a smiling razor, depending on the amount of “smile.

Yup, easier/faster/cheaper to grind a straight edge

You're right of course. I used one again an hour ago, mostly because I wanted an excuse to try out my new Rocky Mountain after shave balm and beard oil

Anyway, I used it again and concentrated on how I was shaving.

It seems I tend to use the toe end most of the time because I can put it where I want it without the rest of the blade being in the way which seems to be the case if I use the centre.

I probably do the same with a straight blade to so I guess I better watch that.

So because I use the toe to shave I scratch myself, simple and pretty stupid really.

Incidentally, I got a jewellers loupe today ( 30x 60 x) and used it on all my blades to try it out. I don't think any of them are rolled but the edges are huge! Or that could be the loupe

Steve

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Doubt the style of grind, smiling or straight has anything to do with cutting yourself. If anything, a smiler would be less likely to cut you, as it is an automatic scything cut of the beard.

It is either shaving technique or more likely a chipped or rolled edge. It can take a bit of technique to properly strop a smiling razor, depending on the amount of “smile.

Yup, easier/faster/cheaper to grind a straight edge

Is stropping a smiler different than a straight blade?

IMO, as long as you are stropping with a sideways motion (x) and not straight up and down it will be fine.

i use more of a windshield washer motion when stropping a smiler , not sure if it's really necessary though.

Took me a while to figure how to strop this little smiler

Windshield washer stroke works best for this one. For most smilers a heel forward or toe forward x stroke is fine.

As mentioned with smilers a sything motion come more natural and they are great for getting into the contours of your face.

It depends on how much smile the edge has, most the smile is about an 1/8th of an inch or so and stropping in an x pattern will polish the whole blade.

If the edge is curved more like the SK1, just strop it in three passes, the toe, the middle and heel, then X strokes to blend the polish, just like you would hone it.

Some ink on the bevel then strop you will quickly see if your technique is missing any spots. WD40 or any oil, (Neetsfoot) on a paper towel, will remove the ink on the razor and strop, or practice on a piece of clean cardboard.