Thread: Getting the most out of a spike point

I have a full beard and I love a Spike or a Spanish point. For me I can edge out everything better with one. Nicks have never been much of a problem but I can see that they could be for some. I learned with a spike... but I use round points too... but for me the better I can see the point the straighter I can keep my beard. I think if I was clean shaven It wouldnt be as of much use to me.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

What is the razor you posted the picture of? Looks pretty cool. Nice worked back.

That's my Sum-Extre. I actually have three of the same razor: the first one I cracked while hand sanding it, but Zeth had another, that was in great shape (this very razor), and another one that was braded differently, but is exactly the same razor.

I wasn't going to buy it due to the square point, as I have (or rather had) an aversion to them, but that worked back was just too cool! I was going to modify the tip, as I am known to do. But after getting the razor, it just seemed "wrong" to get rid of the classic square point look on this one, so I left it as-is for the most part, I just eased the tip....turns out to be a fantastic shaver!

Using the different types of grinds and sizes and end points is where all the fun is in straight shaving. You know that old saying, variety is the spice of life. if you consider yourself a true straight master you should be competent with them all no different then getting your drivers license and refusing to drive anything but a compact car with an automatic transmission. If your a driver you should be able to drive anything (within reason).

As far as true spikes go I've found as long as your aware where the point is on your face you will be fine.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

if you consider yourself a true straight master

I merely ASPIRE to be a true straight master. For now, I am but a true straight padawan grasshopper.

But seriously, I think you hit it on the nose. I could never bring myself to blunt the spike on my spikes because I like having some freakin' spikes. I used my twinworks spike with the tips above for my morning shave and it was great. Seems that the issue is that the spike part, being out there in front of the spine, can have less balance, or in any event a different balance, than the rest of the razor (because the rest of the razor has the spine above the point of contact). For my THessenBruch and C-MON and W&B true wedge, each of which are really stiff, no big deal because there is still plenty balance and heft out there at the tip. For my 9/16 twinworks, there just isn't much there there out at the tip of the spike, so I have to be really careful to keep it in the right position and not let it pinch or dig in. My Geneva spike is evil, but capable of great good when wielded with the good side of the force.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Using the different types of grinds and sizes and end points is where all the fun is in straight shaving. You know that old saying, variety is the spice of life. if you consider yourself a true straight master you should be competent with them all no different then getting your drivers license and refusing to drive anything but a compact car with an automatic transmission. If your a driver you should be able to drive anything (within reason).

As far as true spikes go I've found as long as your aware where the point is on your face you will be fine.

I was going to refrence a manual trans but didnt want to get a debate going. Im glad you said it because this is so true! And yes I learned with a clutch!

In addition, because they do tend to catch people who aren't careful -- the tips get muted quite often. As such a large intact spike point is very rare indeed. Here's my NOS 15/16 No. 86 Bartmann spike point. I've yet to see another one out there.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Bartmann-Straight-Razor-No-86-15-16-Spike-Point-SHAVE-READY-mint-/300904452500?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460f4d 9194

I like the spike point too. It seems like said earlier the most basic design.
In combination with a rounded off corner on the vertical/spine, the spike point is for me too visually the best looking.

When I started shaving with them they gave just that little extra fun when I got a BBS without gushers.
They keep you on your toes. I don’t want to lose my concentration with them. Basically you stretch and curve your cheek better. And the point touches skin only when you want it, but that’s similar with other points.

But, indeed, there’s the ear thing. Once every now and then spike point and ear make contact and have a little party. And the blood colored hangover stays for a day!
On the other hand, the two blades I have with these killer points are both F.W. Engels and they shave like a dream. So I can concentrate even more on keeping them pointing the right direction.

Paul

Here’s one of my FEWs

I like spike points, but do not want a scalpel tip on them. I very slightly dummy the tip. Just a bit.

I use a french nose style one and I find it makes shaving at the sideburns actually the easiest of all my razors and any other method, but it does require some extra caution when used away from this area.

FWIW, It might bear repeating a comment from Lynn, years back about getting more nicks from the blades w/ the longer cutting edges - don't remember his precise length. That's been true for me also. So when I ordered a blade, I specified 2.75" cutting edge length & don't seem to have that much trouble.

For guys acquiring some of the skills, I talk about having to make a change in what we pay attention to in a shave. We're really visual - and that's fine. If your shave allows you to always see the point of the edge, you're in better shape than most. I advocate switching your attention from the visual to the tactile - the feel of the edge - and particularly the point on the face. When we pay attention to 'feel' w/ a tool, we reflexively think of the feel in our hands or fingertips. Take tool. Place on material. Supply force. Here, the 'feel' is the facial skin. Its the earliest and most direct feedback you can get when a stroke starts to go south. In a normal shave, the tip rumbles over the skin as it shaves. You can feel the end of the point. If the tip suddenly goes dead, stops rumbling and you lose the feel - it's probably already started slicing but just hasn't hit a nerve or blood supply yet. Or the contours of the face have lifted the point from skin level. This can be done w/ any point, but *needs* to be done w/ the less forgiving points.

For myself, most nicks come from shaves I'm enjoying alot & get a bit of irrational exuberance forgetting to keep my strokes slow & smooth. I'm particularly careful w/ all points as the facial skin transitions to the contours of the ear and at the crook of the jawbone to the neck below the earlobe. These just seem to be my favorite places for carnage.