Thread: Missed (a perfect shave) by that much!

Just don't get any of that alum on the carbon steel blade or it will tarnish faster than you can say. "what the heck?" I use a small thin towellete or tiny piece of chamois to stretch the skin...

Hey moo, glad you're getting it, I recently got to that point too, with some help from MickR. Its a good feeling hey.
Still don't get a perfect neck, still get the odd nick and weeper, but I don't get razor burn etc. And I can get my face down to my jawline smooth, yay

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

And yet another epiphany... I read many veterans here are vigilant about keeping their razors (other than the blade) and hand(s) dry. I have really enjoyed swishing a razor clean in the sink but, as of today, no mas. I have joined the SRP Dry Hands Club. Phew... what was I thinking about with soap and water on the shank? Madness.

Another thing about keeping your hands dry... Your attention isn't diverted from the razor by reaching for a towel come skin stretching time. It's hard to hold a razor AND stretch yo face with wet (soapy) hands. Phew. Better technique ahead.

You are onto 'something'! hehehe I can't shave with a straight if my hands are wet! I also can't shave if my 'stass' is wet! It just bothers the Hell out of me!! If I can't concentrate on the shave, I'll more than likely have an 'AWSHET"!

Anything you can eliminate to keep you from concentrating on the shave will be to your advantage!

I'm not really concerned with getting the blade in the scales wet! With that said, I usually don't get the pivot area wet! I also thoroughly dry and use a blow dryer set on 'low heat' to finish after drying the blade with a towel and I 'think' that the forced air works to remove the remaining moister on the blade and in the pivot or on the inside of the scales!!

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Hey moo, glad you're getting it, I recently got to that point too, with some help from MickR. Its a good feeling hey.
Still don't get a perfect neck, still get the odd nick and weeper, but I don't get razor burn etc. And I can get my face down to my jawline smooth, yay

Hoi. Simple minds and simple pleasures. Never thought shaving could be such a hoot.

I executed the not-recommended and seldom discussed "4th Pass" this morning. Mostly cruising for leftover low hanging branches. Got everything from the jawline right up to the earlobes and eyeballs feeling just right in four directions. The neck, not so much, yet even this is a matter of degree. It's nearly as good as I ever managed with a Schick or an electric - perfect in three directions and just a tad scruffy feeling ATG - but! and this is a big but, and I admire a big but sometimes, no redness or irritation at all.

Advice in this thread and elsewhere continues to be helpful, esp. the dry hands, dry shank and towelette approach to razor grip and stretching technique. The scythe + guillotine as a single multidimensional move is the white whale now. I am after it at all costs.

Eagles or Dockers?

Neither, I am not really what you would describe as a sports fan. How did thr belt making go?

Originally Posted by edhewitt

How did thr belt making go?

Not seen a copperhead (yet) all summer. I know they're around 'cause I haven't seen a mouse, either.

I feel like the pursuit of the perfect shave is winding down. Having gotten more razor consciousness (by buying more razors - ) I am snarfing out the finer shaving points of wedges, semi-hollows and full hollows. And, fair to say, stropping technique is offering much sharper blades and easier shaves. I've brought back some spent razors with a 4/8 Norton, a few good honing strops, some oxides and a home made finishing strop; they ping armhair like crazy and shave equal to to my professionally finished razors.

I've nailed down the cheeks, chin, jawline, around the ears and, really, everything except a small area on each side of my neck. A perfect shave is quickly becoming incidental because it may be the perfect shave isn't out there. I'll let a year of experience decide that - back to this topic in 2014. This leaves me a year to explore lather, brush and preshave variations, improved honing and better, faster stropping. I can work on faster shaves. I can work on slower shaves. I can work on shaves where I can talk to Mrs. Moo at the same time - or maybe not. I cannot, however, work on the upper lip. I will never know the fool's pass or the pleasure of a fresh breeze under my nose....



The thin and narrow Bismarck was hard to handle a month ago but I am getting rewards by sticking with it. It does a close shave with, what all of you have told me, light pressure and good technique. I am enjoying this process immensely. Who knew how nice shaving would be? Thanks for all your kind advice here. On to reporting other things until next summer.

Now you are just making me feel inadequate . Glad your enjoying it, and its nice to put a face to a name.
Regards ed.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

... its nice to put a face to a name.
Regards ed.

I wanted to offer something that would counter your avatar.

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

I wanted to offer something that would counter your avatar.

Ha-ha, tricked ya, 't ain't me.
Though I was kind of Hoping people would think it was .
I looked a bit like that when I was about 20kg lighter.