Originally Posted by
MJC
The Wise ones may also weigh in...
And I have to tell you I've talked through the Conventional to Feather transition many times, but this is the first time I've done it the other way.
For me the problem solving matrix is:
Edge - No brainer with the Feather, you pop a new one in. With your Hart I don't have any way of knowing the condition (this is also when we start suggesting that you avail yourself of a Mentor - you would be a very quick study I suspect)
My post strop check (if I do it) is to "tree-top" the hair on my arm. It's not a shave test, but if I can't do this the shave is generally not going to go to well..
Skin Tension A lot of time that "tugging" that the new shaver feels is too much slack in his skin. For me the Feather enforced skin tension practice with Drill Sargent directness - but I'm aware that I use a different process between the two and I'm at a loss as to how to explain it.
I do pay more attention to the direction of the stretch, trying to pull the hair upright by pulling opposite of the direction of growth. From my learning how to shave with a Kamisori days I picked up buffing in between the out-streached thumb and forefinger, one pins the other pulls.
Angle/Pressure For me lower on both with the Feather
Pass Pattern My Feather pattern is a very simple N to S and then S to N - the only creative stuff is the chin (Mo, no upper lip work to do) For the Straight I have actually adapted to part of the Feather 2 pass but I touch up the jaw and side of the Adams apple for a "1/2 pass". I also use more interesting strokes (heel forward, heel trailing, windshield wiper, buffing and chevron) and I do this on auto-pilot.
I suspect that this will "click" for you at some point in the near future and you will understand both the limits and the advantages with the Hart.
When most try to transition to the Feather they have trouble dialing down the pressure and angle (weepers) and they get cuts from either "landing errors" (first contact with the skin) or pattern errors (moving that edge parallel and slicing)
From your posts you are at the other end - having to adapt to the Harts "different kind of sharp"
Understand what you are going through, sorry but I don't have a magic hack for this one....
Smooth Shaving..