Thread: Mythical Shave Captured

TBH, I enjoy a shave too much to go just one pass(Bi-directional, of course).

However, it might be an interesting and educating experience, I think.
Seems time-saving as well.

I try to get a clean close shave in one multi pass from time to time, mostly for the challenge. I have yet to get it all crammed into one pass, perhaps over time. I do enjoy the shave. I also really like stropping as long s the pivot is tight, so I strop quite a few passes too, and I probably touch up my blade and play around with the edges more than I need to also. Just having fun and passing some time doing little things that I like.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I try to get a clean close shave in one multi pass from time to time, mostly for the challenge. I have yet to get it all crammed into one pass, perhaps over time. I do enjoy the shave. I also really like stropping as long s the pivot is tight, so I strop quite a few passes too, and I probably touch up my blade and play around with the edges more than I need to also. Just having fun and passing some time doing little things that I like.

Those are my sentiments, exactly, Shaun.

I take it the pearl has loosened even more on the Henckels? Send it down. I shall fix that.

Uh, nope, the Henckels is fine. I have two others that i tend to not enjoy stropping with due to loose scales. One set is vintage ivory with the tiniest hairline crack at the pivot, those need to be taken apart and a G-10 liner put on them, and the other is a set of black mother of pearl that I am afraid to tighten any further, that I think needs a new wedge and some your Babar collars. All in good time. My honey do list grows to a finish very soon and then it is back to razors.

Whew! That's a relief! I am here (mostly) anytime.

Originally Posted by Steel

Short Story-

The shave I have been chasing since starting this hobby, an almost mythical shave happened the other day with a razor that was honed on Arkansas stones. This was not the first time or last time (see long stories below) that it has happened but it has always been from honing on Arkansas stones. This particular time it was a Mappin & Webb razor and it was a multi directional one pass shave. From the first stroke to the last there was absolutely no resistance, skipping, or tugging. The only thing that told me hair was being cut was the sound of the blade singing away. When done with one pass I was completely BBS all over my face and neck. I used rubbing alcohol to see how irritation-free the shave actually was and it was like putting WATER on my face and neck. NO BURN AT ALL. I can't even imagine how the edge could get any sharper or smoother than this. Have you experienced this ultimate shave before?

Long Story-

The next day, the same results.

Extremely Long Story-

This morning, the same results!

This is a fascinating topic, for I am also trying to have that so called "ultimate" shave. Right now, I think I am on the right track, and my shave is as comfy as never before.....but is it that "ultimate" shave? Right now, I think it is, but I have no idea for how long I have this view?

Alright, here's what stones I use. They're all natural stones, I came to the realization that the synthetic stones are OK, but not that good, I used to be a Shapton Pro guy, but now I only use them to sharpen kitchen knives. I use the Arky stones the soft, the hard, the hard black, and the translucent.....followed by the coticule, Escher thuringian, the ILR (Imperia laRochia), followed by the Okudo white suita, and the Ozuku Asagi.
These are the stones, but I came to the opinion that this is not the real reason the shaves are so comfortable, although they help quite a bit.....the real reason is that after the coticule I use edge trailing strokes exclusively, but even on the coticule I like the 2:1, or even the 3:1 ratio....like 5 edge leading, followed by 10-15 edge trailing strokes.

This is something I try to understand, and honestly I have no conclusive answer. But there is definitely a process, where the edge trailing strokes even out the edge better than the edge leading strokes. Or, maybe is just me, but the edge shaves more comfortably, if edge trailing strokes are used, especially on the higher grit stones...8000 grit and up. Before, I used edge leading strokes, and I had marginal results...

I purchased a Boker, and a Dovo straight razors, and they were both factory sharpened....heck the Dovo even came with instructions...not to strop it, it was factory stropped and I have to say they produced the most comfortable shave. But I recognized the stones both straight razors were sharpened with.....I have the same stones, as I can reproduce the same comfy shave with my stones as well.

And I need to add something here. I use a barber's hone (Franz Swaty) after every shave.I like to do 5 edge leading, followed by 10 edge trailing strokes. I have a great respect for these barber hones, they maintain the exact same edge like it was right after I finished sharpening the razor, every bit as comfortable as the very first time I shaved with it.

I am curious of your take on this subject, I do apologize for my intrusion, but this is my first post on this site.

Once i get a blade to that legendary state, I lightly, lightly strop it up and then put it away and leave it be until the Stars align
Then I start on the next one or two.....

There is nothing like an amazing edge

Originally Posted by ksst

This is a fascinating topic, for I am also trying to have that so called "ultimate" shave. Right now, I think I am on the right track, and my shave is as comfy as never before.....but is it that "ultimate" shave? Right now, I think it is, but I have no idea for how long I have this view?

Alright, here's what stones I use. They're all natural stones, I came to the realization that the synthetic stones are OK, but not that good, I used to be a Shapton Pro guy, but now I only use them to sharpen kitchen knives. I use the Arky stones the soft, the hard, the hard black, and the translucent.....followed by the coticule, Escher thuringian, the ILR (Imperia laRochia), followed by the Okudo white suita, and the Ozuku Asagi.
These are the stones, but I came to the opinion that this is not the real reason the shaves are so comfortable, although they help quite a bit.....the real reason is that after the coticule I use edge trailing strokes exclusively, but even on the coticule I like the 2:1, or even the 3:1 ratio....like 5 edge leading, followed by 10-15 edge trailing strokes.

This is something I try to understand, and honestly I have no conclusive answer. But there is definitely a process, where the edge trailing strokes even out the edge better than the edge leading strokes. Or, maybe is just me, but the edge shaves more comfortably, if edge trailing strokes are used, especially on the higher grit stones...8000 grit and up. Before, I used edge leading strokes, and I had marginal results...

I purchased a Boker, and a Dovo straight razors, and they were both factory sharpened....heck the Dovo even came with instructions...not to strop it, it was factory stropped and I have to say they produced the most comfortable shave. But I recognized the stones both straight razors were sharpened with.....I have the same stones, as I can reproduce the same comfy shave with my stones as well.

And I need to add something here. I use a barber's hone (Franz Swaty) after every shave.I like to do 5 edge leading, followed by 10 edge trailing strokes. I have a great respect for these barber hones, they maintain the exact same edge like it was right after I finished sharpening the razor, every bit as comfortable as the very first time I shaved with it.

I am curious of your take on this subject, I do apologize for my intrusion, but this is my first post on this site.

That is a lot of information there. If it works for you - stick with it! You are not the first person to prefer natural edges. I sold all my synthetics and only use Arkansas stones now.

I guess I'm still chasing this mythical shave of which you speak. But here is what I have experienced in just over a year of srs: I am getting BBS shaves, my razors are sharp and holding their edges. In one case for nearly 9 months. Angle and pressure are key elements. When all goes right I notice my blade just glides over my face, both WTG and ATG.