Thread: Happy Shave Day :D

Today was by far the best straight razor shave I've ever had!! I'm convinced it has something to do with the heavier blade on the Wade & Butcher. I don't know why, but I find the lighter blades, especially my stainless Dovo, to be more difficult to control...they are just too darn light. Anyway, I was shaving with my newly honed W&B when I realized I was working the razor like I had been shaving with it for months...It felt natural...and then I started thinking about how I was doing it and proceeded to cut myself 3 times in succession. Decided it was a sign from the Almighty to put down the cut-throat and finish with something a bit tamer...

I figured that I couldn't screw up the blade too badly, so I decided to take a chance and try my hand at honing it up. I was pretty surprised at how much more natural it felt using the rolling X pattern than a traditional X pattern. I got the blade pretty darn sharp off the 4000/8000 Norton and a 12k chinese waterstone (slurry first then water).
This heavy razor also doesn't seem to provide the same auditory queues when stropping that a lighter blade gives off letting you know it's sharp. I didn't hear the same high pitched rasp that my Lynn-honed Dovo gives off when I strop it. Are there any other queues that I can watch for/listen for on a heavier blade?

O well...it was a happy shave day
Now if I could just cut down on the blood-letting...

Chuck

those big heavy razors (wedge- like) are nearly always silent. and on the face they "melt" the hair away... almost never a sound.

Chuck, I have found the heftier blades do a better job on my whiskers, also. The lighter ones seem to just skip along the top of the whiskers unless I put more pressure to keep it against my face. That usually ends up with razor burn and knicks. The heavier ones plow through them with much less effort. However, others like the lighter baldes. To each his own...

The great shave day ...

awesome feeling isent it ?

congrats

Awesome for being so new! We've all gone through what you describe though - the moment you think "hey, I've finally got the hang of it!" is the moment you experience your worst cut to date! I had a three inch slice on my cheek from that very thought!

The heavier blades, I find, are easier to use because the weight of the blade provides the pressure, rather than you having to control it. At any rate, you know you're now in for a lifetime of great shaves! Congrats!

Mark