Thread: Horrible Shaving Experience

Racer might try again or maybe not. I took up the straight when my dad died in the mid 80's The reason I did is because it reminded me of him. I had his Razor, strop, mug, a half a dozen cheep after shaves ect. I never did pay attention to how he did it, or how he kept his razor sharp. I spent two or three years cutting my face two or three, sometimes more each shave. I didit use an electric, or double edge to finish up the crapy job I left on my face. I just had memories of how shinny and smooth his face looked. His face looked like something out of a early 1940's black and whit movie.

i tried to hone my razor with plate glass, A tri hone, the old chipped hone he had. I tried a dozen other ways. I didn't have this fantastic StRazor Place to gleen information, or any friends that used one.

The point is after almost 23 years I can shave with the best, almost! I still bleed, but not so much. and not so often. My face now shines like his did. i've colected a couple of dozen razors over the years that shave some good and some better, but I still go back to my father's simple black Shumate that was his fathers.

If racer is reading this I can only say winners never quit, and quitters never win. DS

Originally Posted by JMS

Unless your razors are the same thickness at the spine as they are at the cutting edge two spine widths puts the cutting edge at about 30 to 40 degrees!

I must be a one spine width guy. I just grabbed a Waterville razor that was laying next to my laptop (it's sick, I have razors laying around on every level of my home) and looked at the shaving angles I typically use. 40 degrees is really pushing it for me. I'm more of a 30 degree max guy.

Chris L

I started back in April this year and had just horrendous experiences myself.
I used a DE for a month or so along with swapping in and out of the straight until my technique improved enough to stop with the DE. I own the same setup you got from Jim and I agree with the others, those guys are top rate. Technique with a straight along with proper prep is absolutely everything.
Some simple points.
1. Proper lather- make absolutely sure you have a properly lathered face re-lather over and over again if it dries up, and if you have a drying lather issue consult how to make a proper moisture balance.
2. Properly honed and stropped blade - Do not under any circumstances use any pressure while
stropping, and make sure you do about 50 strokes on the leather side.
4. Slow it down - I mean really take your time.
5. Angle of approach - remember that the straight is 100% adjustable, if you come across any resistance while shaving flatten the blade back on your face and slowly come up with the angle.
6. Take very, very short strokes with no pressure- the blade should be able to cut those little bastards and if it doesn't do one of two things, change your angle and or change your shaving direction.
7. Do not try going ATG until you are competent with the WTG and XTG process.
8. Also always keep a keen focus on your attention as to where the blade is located at all times.

Again don't give up and keep asking questions here, all the answers are available.

Sean

Hi, I don't know if you still come on here but i had exactly the same expereince with a Dovo from VB honed by Lynn.

Actually my first razor had a bent blade and Jim replaced and paid $30 to ship it back to me in time before I flew out of the US. Both of those razors gave me the same expereince you had, although there is a chance i incorrectly stropped the first one.

Jim was as helpful as it is possible to be and Lynn actually set up this website, or at least helped. I don't know either of them personally but it seems to me that they know exactly what they are doing and are both very decent and professional people.

Why did we both get crap shaves from a supposedly perfect razor? Man I have NO idea, but things are getting better with practice, learning to use the Norton4/8k hone, doign 50 strops on linen then 50 on leather right before each shave helps, sometimes I have to re strop mid shave.

I reckon there are no rules and no garuntees here but I am glad to hear that it wasn't just me who had this experience to begin with.

I'm still tuggin hairs but much less so and I can now get a reasonable shave but nowhere ner as good as the DE does.

I would love to know why we had that experience when MOST people on here say that a razor honed by Lynn is too sharp and they prefer it after a few shaves of settling down.

Keep on keeping on!