Thread: Using a razor with heavy scales?

Originally Posted by jkatzman

I have a Mastro Livi 7/8 with stag scales. When I got it my first reactions was my God this is big and heavy. After shaving with it a couple of times I realized it shaved great. Better then all my other razors. Why? BALANCE! Feels great in my hand and all I have to do is lay it on my face no pressure. Like shaving with a Mongoose. Attachment 236185

Any tips on difference in technique for a heavier-scaled blade?

If the balance is on the scale side you need to be careful because you will have to apply pressure to compensate otherwise the razor will want to torque away from you as you shave. You have to get the pressure right. Too much and it affect the shave and too little and you could wind up dropping the razor.

When you strop and hone you will really realize it. It is very easy to cut the strop or have the razor fall out of your hand depending on how unbalanced it is. With a hone keeping the razor in proper contact with the hone can be challenging.

You just need to experiment.

I find with my Livi that I am very mindful of keeping the razor as flat to my face as possible. Pressure and angle on a heavy razor are extremely important. My son in law took it out for a spin and didn't get past placing the blade on his face when he realized he had a really nice cut. As for stropping, make sure the blade is flat on the strop, I use a paddle with the weight of the blade only. I try to keep my fingers as close to the neck of the blade because it seems to be the fulcrum point on the razor. I had someone tell me to balance the razor open on my finger to see the center point. I told him he obviously never used a straight razor. Last observation, I find the 2 fingers on the Monkey tail really help in controlling the blade.

I may have found an answer Ben, Carbon Fiber, recently I was fitted for a leg brace after major back surgery, it fits in my shoe/boot and lifts my toes up to prevent tripping, well, the material is only 1/8" thick and weighs nothing, so carbon fiber is my choice, I'm 6'4" and 270, the brace is amazingly strong and paper thin under foot. A buddy with a carbon fiber printer is going to print up two pairs of backings, that is what I'll use.