Thread: A No ‘pulling and tugging’ razor?

My experience is very close to the OP's. Coarse whiskers, dense beard, tough time using a straight so far. Everyone says the blade will feel dull at first because of your technique. I completely believe that. I've been working at it a couple times a week for several months and I just can't help thinking I need a little more sharpness. I know a sharp blade will cut my whiskers pretty comfortably. I can get a good close comfortable shave with a shavette. I'm determined though. I'm going to keep trying some new things until I get where I want to be.

The comments on different grinds is interesting but all the new razors I've seen are full hollow. Is it just custom makers that offer other grinds these days?

The BST here is great to find other grinds. Here is an example of a page where you can find 1/2 hollow grinds.

7/8 razors

It is not that I am recommending them but just an example of what you can find when you get into it!

Take care,
Richard

It is often difficult to decipher the different grinds on the new straights. When I have it figured out I'll let you know. In the mean time I have just emailed suppliers and said I'm looking for a 1/2hollow what do you recommend. The customs are often heavier grinds but I'm not a big consumer of those I'm just going by what I see in the newly acquired page. There are tons of very nice 1/4 and near wedge vintage that are everywhere from mint to beat. If you are just looking for something to try that isn't pretty Whipped Dog is an option and I'm sure I'm not the only one that has a less than pretty razor you could get on loan.

Originally Posted by RezDog

It is often difficult to decipher the different grinds on the new straights. When I have it figured out I'll let you know. In the mean time I have just emailed suppliers and said I'm looking for a 1/2hollow what do you recommend. The customs are often heavier grinds but I'm not a big consumer of those I'm just going by what I see in the newly acquired page. There are tons of very nice 1/4 and near wedge vintage that are everywhere from mint to beat. If you are just looking for something to try that isn't pretty Whipped Dog is an option and I'm sure I'm not the only one that has a less than pretty razor you could get on loan.

I also have a tough beard and believed that a full hollow Joseph Rogers I have would never work on me. I twice took it back to the Belgian blue then coticule and it is fine now. I would also recommend that you strop a little more than others recommend 70/80 laps or more. I have not shaved with a shavette so can't compare (must try one) but try change technique a little at a time. Try lifting the blade a little, try slanting the blade a little (one new thing at a time) keep with it, when you get it right it is really worth the effort.

I get pulling and tugging with my brand new full hollow dovo. I don't get it with my vintage half hollow "diamond king" razor. Both honed by me, so it's not a difference in edge. If anything, the diamond king is not as sharp because it has a slightly smiling blade that I have not perfected sharpening yet. (Not that I've perfected honing on any razor)

The whole notion you need to tailor a blade to the beard is poppycock and is debunked by the fact barbers mostly used 5/8s and 6/8s hollow ground blades as their working razors and they were able to shave everyone who came into the shop. If you have issues with your beard you need more attention to your razor.

Also, you need to distinguish if a razor is just working through your beard or truly pulling. With some razors you can really feel them working.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The whole notion you need to tailor a blade to the beard is poppycock and is debunked by the fact barbers mostly used 5/8s and 6/8s hollow ground blades as their working razors and they were able to shave everyone who came into the shop. If you have issues with your beard you need more attention to your razor.

Also, you need to distinguish if a razor is just working through your beard or truly pulling. With some razors you can really feel them working.

Right. And nearly everyone in the country who shaves now uses a Gillette Fusion so no reason it shouldn't work for everyone. Man I really felt those 5 bladed carts working when I used them too

Originally Posted by bruseth

I don’t figure it’s my technique that is the cause of my problems. As I stated above, I got a great shave, with the same technique, using a cheap shavette. I’m equally sure it’s not the keenness of the blade, because I had it sharpened (my Dovo) by a true expert.

A couple of thoughts.
If you're sure of the honing quality are you sure of your stropping quality ?
If your technique works for a shavette does a straight require a different angle ?
Don't worry about better razors as Dovos can take a good enough edge. Worry about why yours isn't doing the job.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

A couple of thoughts.
If you're sure of the honing quality are you sure of your stropping quality ?
If your technique works for a shavette does a straight require a different angle ?.

These are the same two things I was thinking as I read the original post.

I started with a shavette and shaved with it for awhile. It taught me a lot. Including technique and pressure control while shaving. However the biggest thing I found when switching to a traditional straight was that I needed to change my angles. I found that I could have a much steeper angle with a shavette then with a traditional straight. I would suggest starting over on your angles and start with blade almost flat against the skin and concentrate and keeping that angle throughout the shave.

If this doesn't help I would reexamine your stropping.