First DE shave in the books!

I did some research and decided on picking up a DE. I chose a razor here in the classified's, a Fat Boy...shoe kinda fits. I gave it a first dance today and found the shave interesting, yet disconnected. I did a three pass shave like usual and the alum block told me I either had the setting wrong for me, used too much pressure, or both as I got a bit of tingle/light burn all over. I look forward to more shaves, different blades as I learn this contraption. Hoping to have a "go to" for when I am doing a "splash & dash" shower and shave, nicked myself twice in the last two weeks due to being in a hurry. Funny being a noob again...

Shooter,
One step at a time, my friend. Most of the straight razor rules apply to the double edge razor: low pressure, proper angle, and so on. Another important point is to refrain from excessive strokes on the same spot. Be economical and more strategic with your strokes. The reason for the nicks is probably because, somewhere in the shave, you change the angle, and you add more pressure without realizing it. Keep your wrist locked as you shave to maintain the same angle. Yes, one step at a time. At least you're starting out with a fine razor. That's something. Stay with it.

I am using a Fat Boy also with Astra blades and slowly worked up to the point where a setting of 6 is about right. Going to 7 was too much. Lucked out on the blades as I did not try any varieties. That razor gives me a fine smooth shave. I'd sure go along with what Obie has said.

Bob

Are you using the Astra Platinum (Green) or the Astra Stainless (Blue)? Before I crossed to the bad side of the playground with the Str8 Gang they had been two of my favorite blades - with the Blue Stainless slightly in front of the Platinum. Both great.

Luckily, with a DE the learning curve is much shallower and faster. You should be getting perfect shaves in short order. The most complicated thing I found with a DE was matching the razor with the right blade.

That would be the Platinum green box.

Bob

Send me your mailing address and when I get back home next week I will send you some of the "Blues" to try...and a few others....let me know if there is anything you don't want to get...

Mark

I didn't nick myself with the DE, I did with a straight when in a hurry. The weird part for me was that I couldn't necessarily "feel" the blade on my face, that's what I meant about feeling disconnected. I could only feel the natural weight of the razor's guide bar. Tyler included Schick (sp?), Derby Extra, and Wilkenson Sword blades with the razor, my first blade to use was a Schick. My being a total noob at this, I didn't even know which one to start with. My friend Obie recommended a few blades, so I'll order some up here in the next day or so.

Good show, my friend. Stay with it. The DE can be a sweet shave.

Second shave in the books. I backed the razor down to setting #5 and did a three pass shave. Shave was as good as an average straight shave, however much faster. This is what I was looking for & I'm only in my second DE shave. I am very pleased with the results & most appreciative of the advice. The DE will not replace my favor of the straight now, but as the years pass and my hands give more problems...the future has yet to be seen.

with my fat boy I use #9 for the WTG, #3 XTG, and #1 ATG. I use my fatboy more than any of my other DE's. Great first DE there shooter :)

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Originally Posted by alb1981

with my fat boy I use #9 for the WTG, #3 XTG, and #1 ATG. I use my fatboy more than any of my other DE's. Great first DE there shooter :)

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I too have recently acquired a Super Adjustable DE but until I read this post had not considered changing the settings after the first pass - it's so obvious when you think about it.

Found myself bidding (and winning) an Aristocrat last week because it's so beautiful - looks like DE RAD could be raising its head.

I can see some point in changing the settings depending on which pass you are on, we use different angles with a straight. It might be just easier for a beginner to find one setting that works for all 3 passes with the brand of blade in use as that one setting may change when the brand of blade changes. Too many variables to deal with at first. I have also read that it is easier on the adjustable razor to open the doors fully first, then make the adjustment and then fully close the doors. Personally I will stick to using one setting for all three passes as the idea for me in using a DE is for a quick convenient shave with the minimum of steps involved.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

I can see some point in changing the settings depending on which pass you are on, we use different angles with a straight. It might be just easier for a beginner to find one setting that works for all 3 passes with the brand of blade in use as that one setting may change when the brand of blade changes. Too many variables to deal with at first. I have also read that it is easier on the adjustable razor to open the doors fully first, then make the adjustment and then fully close the doors. Personally I will stick to using one setting for all three passes as the idea for me in using a DE is for a quick convenient shave with the minimum of steps involved.

Bob

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Thats the beauty of the adjustable razor, its your choice! :) find what works for you and enjoy the ride :)

Maybe the subtle difference is that with a straight you automatically reduce the angle after the first pass because you see so much more of the blade. In the very few times so far that I've used the DE, I noticed that I don't have the same feel for the angle, therefore it makes sense to turn it down a notch or two via the adjuster - I guess this doesn't really add much to the overall shaving time. The point I was trying to make originally is that a very simple idea had not occured to me before.

Edit - this was intended as a response to BobH above.

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Originally Posted by UKRob

Maybe the subtle difference is that with a straight you automatically reduce the angle after the first pass because you see so much more of the blade. In the very few times so far that I've used the DE, I noticed that I don't have the same feel for the angle, therefore it makes sense to turn it down a notch or two via the adjuster - I guess this doesn't really add much to the overall shaving time. The point I was trying to make originally is that a very simple idea had not occured to me before.

Edit - this was intended as a response to BobH above.

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Like I said before, I can see some point to it. I had not thought of that before either nor heard of anyone doing so. I am just of a mind that while learning the least amount of variables the better. Anyway. not a big deal, each to their own.

Bob

Ya, we sometimes get complacent with DE's, as they do offer some protection. I get reminded to slow down quite often!:gl: