Thread: The angle....

The way a lot of the old instructions word it is to keep the blade "virtually flat". Much easier than thinking how high or how many spine widths IMHO.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

The way a lot of the old instructions word it is to keep the blade "virtually flat". Much easier than thinking how high or how many spine widths IMHO.

You will know when you are too flat when the blade sticks to your face. Don't ask.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

You will know when you are too flat when the blade sticks to your face. Don't ask.

Bob

This is totally true. When you get too flat it almost feels like a suction onto your face. Not sure how to explain it better than that.

Originally Posted by apamburn

This is totally true. When you get too flat it almost feels like a suction onto your face. Not sure how to explain it better than that.

Yup, suction just about describes it.

Bob

Hollows won't stick as much as wedges but a slicker lather will reduce the sticking.

Originally Posted by apamburn

OK I have to get something off my chest. Every time I see someone shaving on YouTube I notice the wide angle of the blade against the skin. The blade is closer to perpendicular to the skin than parallel with it. Let's call it a >45* angle.

When I shave my blade rarely breaks 45*, if ever. Frankly I'm usually less than 30*.

Am I doing this wrong? If so it has been yielding good results for 10 years or so...

If you are getting great shaves, your angle is just right! One great thing about mastering straight shaving is that it is all learned behavior. When I started I concentrated on blade angle and other things, and often got cut because I distracted myself. Right now I think I use a 30 degree angle, but really couldn't tell you for sure. I just do it.

I also have a question. I try to set the angle between 1 and 2 spine thickness. How about wide blade. For example 8/8, would the spine thicness apply? It seem to me the gap at 30 degree will be less with a 5/8 and wider with a 8/8?

Originally Posted by apamburn

OK I have to get something off my chest. Every time I see someone shaving on YouTube I notice the wide angle of the blade against the skin. The blade is closer to perpendicular to the skin than parallel with it. Let's call it a >45* angle.

When I shave my blade rarely breaks 45*, if ever. Frankly I'm usually less than 30*.

Am I doing this wrong? If so it has been yielding good results for 10 years or so...

No I'd say not, but you know every razor has it's own characteristics to the angle, at least I find this to be true with my shaving. Keep up the good work !

Originally Posted by yaguarete79

IMHO that's the wrong angle. I've watched videos in which they analyze the razor's edge under a microscope and if you think about it, in a magnified or zoomed scenario it would be similar to a mowlawner: the more vertical the blade, the less it will be able to cut. Besides, a perpendicular blade in your skin is risky as hell. A wrong move and you'll be needing stitches. In fact any shaving implies risks, but the sole image of a perpendicular blade gives me the creeps. But I'm not claiming to be an authority myself on this. I've been straight shaving for 1 year and a half now, so I still have a lot to learn. But in my experience I keep the things that work for me. That doesn't mean it wouldn't work for other people.

How can you do a coup de maitre without going perpendicular to start?

Originally Posted by apamburn

OK I have to get something off my chest. Every time I see someone shaving on YouTube I notice the wide angle of the blade against the skin. The blade is closer to perpendicular to the skin than parallel with it. Let's call it a >45* angle.

When I shave my blade rarely breaks 45*, if ever. Frankly I'm usually less than 30*.

Am I doing this wrong? If so it has been yielding good results for 10 years or so...

If you have been getting great shaves, with less angle this is good, there's an old saying "if it works don't - - - k with it !