Thread: getting best shaves of my life.....aas long as I use the M3 instead of straight

Holding the razor flat along your face is probably one of the mistakes. You know 30 Degrees is said to be the ideal angle, which is my experience too. The next mistake is probably too much pressure. I've been through that one too. During my first straight razor shaves I used too much pressure. I think I didn't trust the razor of being sharp enough. Coming from Shavettes I knew the razor would not be as sharp and wanted to force the razor to cut my beard by using more pressure. After similar unsatisfactory results to yours I later just barely scraped the lather off, like I would with a shavette. That was an eyeopener!

You have the best of equipment. All the hones, razors honed by honemeisters here in the forum. Sorry to say that most likely you are the problem. Then again you can make the change. Your equipment is best.

Good Luck to you.
OldSalt

When you say you shave slowly, what exactly do you mean?

I'd suggest, if you are not doing it already, that you make sure you stretch well and use shorter, slightly faster strokes. Also try experimenting with the angle as you shave to find what works best for you (this will probably vary with different parts of the face).

Sometimes going too slowly can cause the razor to hang a little and might induce a feeling of tugging even in a well honed razor. A 1 or two inch quicker stroke might help. Worth a try at least.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

When you say you shave slowly, what exactly do you mean?

Perhaps deliberately would be a better description. I don't put the blade to face until skin stretched, then I don't start the stroke until I have the angle approximately correct. I do use strokes that are short, one to two inches on cheeks, 1/2" to one inch near corners of mouth. About the same speed of travel for the razor as I use for the M3. I do use a light pressure for the razor against face. I don't find 30 degrees to be best on my face, needs to be a shallower angle to cut whiskers. I'm pretty sure that I am the problem, but identifying precisely what I am doing wrong that is the symptom of the problem has me puzzled. Going upstairs to shave now, so I try your suggestions while they are fresh in my mind. Thanks for the help, Jimbo and OldSalt.

Denver in July?? What goes

Originally Posted by cubancigar2000

Denver in July?? What goes

gssixgun will be there to help us with honing and whatever. will be either the weekend before or the weekend after july 17.

Is it some kind of shaving get together. Where does he do this? I used to live in Colo Sprgs and worked out of Denver so I have a lot of friends there. If there is something going on I could attend, I may?

here is as much as I know. send him a pm and see if he has fixed the date, time and place.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/get-t...-colorado.html

Originally Posted by DryFly

Perhaps deliberately would be a better description. I don't put the blade to face until skin stretched, then I don't start the stroke until I have the angle approximately correct.

I'm reluctant to post this for fear of being misunderstood but ........ if you visualize slicing a tomato, as opposed to just pushing the edge into it as if to chop it ........ a slicing stroke, some call it the guillotine stroke, some refer to it as scything ...... it is a very efficient stroke but must be done with care when learning. After you get the hang of it the stroke becomes second nature. A very efficient stroke for shaving whiskers.

Originally Posted by cubancigar2000

Is it some kind of shaving get together. Where does he do this? I used to live in Colo Sprgs and worked out of Denver so I have a lot of friends there. If there is something going on I could attend, I may?

You know we have one in Yakima WA next weekend and either Spokane or Seattle in the Fall

Hey Dry Fly. I just guessing here, but at age 72, your beard is probably just a tad tougher than it was back in college. Keep at it, and I'm sure it'll get better. With a handle like Dry Fry, and being in CO, post some big browns & rainbows for me, please!