Thread: Need some Advice! Help!

Originally Posted by KristofekJ

Im newer to straight razor shaving, still in the first month or 2 and i havent had a problem getting a baby smooth shave almost everywhere on my face EXCEPT straight up the middle of my neck, for some reason after my 2nd pass my skin starts to get irritated(scratchy) and i cant seem to go against the grain right up the middle, everywhere i can fine but it feels like the razor digs in to my skin or gets sticks in the whiskers instead of cutting through them like everywhere else. ANY ADVICE IS APPRECIATED.

This area often ends up raw for me as well. Here's what I've found - the general advice is to keep the spine one to 2 spine widths off your skin. BUT your neck is concave, not flat or convex. So as the blade approaches the hollow, if you have the spine lifted now you're easily in excess of 30 degrees from the plane you're shaving. Which means you're now scraping rather than shaving.

When I come up towards my chin - or down from it - the blade often rests against my skin while traversing the concave hollows. I also try to nudge the toe of the blade out as I go so that I feel the blade as minimally as possible.

I'm still dialing it in myself, but when I DO get it right I can slap the most aggressive aftershave I have on there with no burn to speak of. Seems to me like you need to change the angle and pressure. I'm thinking if it were a blade/honing issue you'd have razor burn in more than just one spot.

Thanks guys I appreciate the help! I did take it to a local razor restorer and he said the blade is mint from my honing which was nice to hear. And also helped with some shaving tips so I guess it's just the technique and lather I gotta get down thank you so much for the help!

I don't think we talked about the soap your using did we? If not there is a top tier shaving soap/cream in Soaps and Creams section you can read. Was really enlightening to me. I think for the money the general consensus is Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap. Lots and lots of good choices in there.

Originally Posted by KristofekJ

Thanks guys I appreciate the help! I did take it to a local razor restorer and he said the blade is mint from my honing which was nice to hear. And also helped with some shaving tips so I guess it's just the technique and lather I gotta get down thank you so much for the help!

What exactly does "blade is mint from my honing" mean in relation of the condition of the edge?

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

What exactly does "blade is mint from my honing" mean in relation of the condition of the edge?

Bob

Perfect like money direct from the mint.

Originally Posted by 32t

Perfect like money direct from the mint.

Yup, understand the meaning of "mint". You can have a good looking like new blade and the edge may not shave well, as in shiny bevel that is not really set. Have a brand new TI that was like that.

Bob

I'm using Taylor Of Old Bond Streets sandalwood soap.

Bob- He said the Bevel was set correctly and that there is no chips, dings or warps to the blade, i took it up to 12k on my stones, he recommended using a pasted strop if i wanted it sharper but to work more on my angle on my neck that that was most likely the issue.

Originally Posted by KristofekJ

I'm using Taylor Of Old Bond Streets sandalwood soap.

Bob- He said the Bevel was set correctly and that there is no chips, dings or warps to the blade, i took it up to 12k on my stones, he recommended using a pasted strop if i wanted it sharper but to work more on my angle on my neck that that was most likely the issue.

Thanks for the clarification on the edge condition and that the bevel is set. Some people, I do anyway, do some laps on crox post 12K finish. As a lot of posters have said, I have the spine almost touching my skin when doing my neck. TOBS is a decent soap so load lots and work up a good lather with all the water it will hold without getting thin and runny. A good lather really helps to get a good shave.

Bob

And that was one thing he did mention could be a huge factor for me. Because although the lather feels great and goes on really thick i noticed when i go to rinse it off it seems to want to stick to the blade almost as if its too dry.

Originally Posted by KristofekJ

And that was one thing he did mention could be a huge factor for me. Because although the lather feels great and goes on really thick i noticed when i go to rinse it off it seems to want to stick to the blade almost as if its too dry.

Tallow based soaps have a tendency of doing that.