Thread: Bouncing razor

I have not use a DE much since I was a kid and never did more than one pass. I am having great success except for the ATG pass on my chin.

I do not apply pressure and am careful not to have a steep angle; however, the blade always seems to want to bite, dig in, and bounce.

What am I doing wrong? This was a second shave with a feather blade in a Merkur Futur, set to 2.5. The blade is not dull. Perhaps I should crank it down for this pass? My beard is light, but my skin is not overly sensitive.

I think it just might be an angle issue. Try placing the top cap flat on your face with the handle parallel to the floor and rotate the handle downward till you just feel the blade on your skin. That works for WTG and going ATG just rotate the handle upward instead.

Bob

I think I did that, but I'm shaving vertically on the last pass, so I raised the handle and it just seems to instantly bite.

It's likely the texture of your skin in that area. I have a similar issue on the bottom of my chin. I have a scar on the point of my chin and two small wrinkles on the bottom of my chin. I have to change angle and re-apply lather a couple times to prevent damage. Stretch your skin with your other hand/fingers and make sure you have sufficient lather on your skin. You'll probably have to play with the razor angle and find what works. You might try shaving at an angle (across the grain) instead of vertical in that particular spot.

It does feel like texture and thought the face would become conditioned to it. I might forgo the ATG pass on the chin. I have no problems WTG or XTG.

How is the slickness of your soap?
I have noticed that if I shave with a soap that lacks slickness( a lot of creams do this to me) my razor tends to do this, particularly ATG.

I was using Haslinger Meersalgen yesterday. I use several Haslingers, Proraso, or Tabac. They work well in every direction elsewhere. It's just shaving upwards coming off the bottom of my chin.

Originally Posted by ScottChapin

I was using Haslinger Meersalgen yesterday. I use several Haslingers, Proraso, or Tabac. They work well in every direction elsewhere. It's just shaving upwards coming off the bottom of my chin.

That is a tricky area to shave for anyone going ATG. You have to keep adjusting the angle coming off the throat to the jaw line and then again up around the chin.

The only other area that may cause skipping is the lather being a bit too dry. The soaps you are using should have enough slickness, especially the Haslingers and Tabac. You might want to try experimenting with the amount of water in your lather and see what happens.

All other parts of the face seem to be more forgiving about lather and angle than the area around and under the chin. Besides having all those different angles to contend with it also has the toughest beard growth and everything has to be spot on.

Hope you get it figured out.

Bob

Thanks Bob,

I believe you are right and that it's an angle issue, but felt my initial angle was not aggressive. Maybe that keeps it from cutting.

I'm thinking about starting the pass well below the trouble spot and getting a running start before it gets to the tougher spot. Maybe momentum would be in my favor.

I went real slow and easy this morning without incident.

Originally Posted by ScottChapin

I might forgo the ATG pass on the chin. I have no problems WTG or XTG.

Me: "Dr., it hurts when I do that."

Dr.: "Don't do that."