My razor seems to jump.?

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03-07-2009, 04:41 AM
cessnabird

My razor seems to jump.?

Hello all, my straight "jumps" when I shave a 2-3 day growth. It doesn't really do it as much when I shave daily. What could cause this? The lighter the pressure, the more the razor seems to want to skip rather than slice. It is freshly honed "professionally" and I went back to the strop for 60 laps mid shave but it only helped a bit. It is sharp and shaves great,"smoothly", once the thick growth is out of the way. Very weird. FYI , it is a stainless dovo 5/8. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Jeremy-:shrug:
03-07-2009, 04:59 AM
Rajagra

Maybe you need a steeper angle for heavier growth?
Or more stretching?

I don't want to suggest using more pressure except as a last resort.

I normally find a couple of days growth make the shave easier, not harder. Is the problem all over or mainly certain parts of your face?
03-07-2009, 05:01 AM
JimmyHAD

If you get to like this enough you won't want to miss a day shaving. Then it won't be an issue.
03-07-2009, 05:35 AM
cessnabird

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Maybe you need a steeper angle for heavier growth?
Or more stretching?

I don't want to suggest using more pressure except as a last resort.

I normally find a couple of days growth make the shave easier, not harder. Is the problem all over or mainly certain parts of your face?

I agree with the more growth = easier shave. At least with the DE that was the case. I will try a slightly steeper angle and see if that works. Funny thing is, the worst problem area for this is my cheeks which are the easiest for me to stretch/shave. I'll be sure and study my technique more closely next time it happens.
03-07-2009, 07:22 AM
AusTexShaver

I've had that happen to me too and I think it's a combination of the way my hair grows and the prep. It normally only happens when I use a very slippery cream such as Proraso. I really like Proraso but every so often I seem to run into a patch in the tube where it's like there's more lubricant than normal or something and even on a one day growth the razor seems to just glide over everything.

My method of combating it is to either mix a little soap in with the cream or use just soap with maybe a little less water than I normally use so those hairs that are clinging to my face aren't quite so slippery. That plus concentrating on getting a good stretch on the skin seems to work.
03-07-2009, 10:45 AM
Bart

I think your whiskers grow very flat to your skin. If so, you need to increase your shaving angle WTG and decrease it ATG.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ing_angles.jpg

It will prevent skipping WTG, and pulling ATG.

Bart.
03-07-2009, 12:39 PM
Seraphim

Excellent pictorial above!!!

Your razor may not be as sharp as it could/should be. If any of my razors skip, or act up in any way, they get a touch-up, and that brings them into line.
03-07-2009, 01:22 PM
RayG

If you aren't already doing it, using a scything motion or leading with the heel or toe should help, along with good skin stretching.
03-07-2009, 01:43 PM
fccexpert

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayG

If you aren't already doing it, using a scything motion or leading with the heel or toe should help, along with good skin stretching.

Bingo, even a dull razor should not jump if handled correctly, pull yes, jump no.
03-07-2009, 03:02 PM
Bart

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Excellent pictorial above!!!

Thanks, it comes from here:
Advanced shaving techniques for the straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Bart.
03-07-2009, 03:18 PM
JMS

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayG

If you aren't already doing it, using a scything motion or leading with the heel or toe should help, along with good skin stretching.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fccexpert

Bingo, even a dull razor should not jump if handled correctly, pull yes, jump no.

....Agreed.
03-07-2009, 04:23 PM
theworldover

Just out of curiousity, what shave media do you use? I'm a cream man myself, but I find that my TOBS Avacado isn't quite as slick as my Proraso, so sometimes when I use the TOBS my razor jumps a little. Maybe switch up the cream/soap you use and see if you get different results, cause it sounds like a lather issue to me.
03-07-2009, 05:16 PM
cessnabird

Thank you all for the great advice so far guys. Very good information! Jeremy-
03-08-2009, 07:53 AM
biffdebris

I find that when I shave the "same side" of my face, I get the jumps. I'm left-handed and, when I shave the right side of my face, everything is great. But, when I switch to the left side, the blade seems to jump all over the place. It makes me want to try shaving with my right hand... what am i saying!
03-08-2009, 09:07 AM
Quick

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayG

If you aren't already doing it, using a scything motion or leading with the heel or toe should help, along with good skin stretching.

I'm going with RayG
03-09-2009, 09:40 PM
FloorPizza

Quote:

Originally Posted by theworldover

Just out of curiousity, what shave media do you use? I'm a cream man myself, but I find that my TOBS Avacado isn't quite as slick as my Proraso, so sometimes when I use the TOBS my razor jumps a little. Maybe switch up the cream/soap you use and see if you get different results, cause it sounds like a lather issue to me.

Same here. If I'm getting a skippy, jumpy shave I know it's cause either the cream I'm using sucks, or it isn't whipped up right. Or it's too dry from staying on my face too long. Adding a few drops of glycerin gives my cream/soap more "hang time" on the face before it dries out.

I absolutely can't stand the smell of Tabac, but it is so good at *not* skipping, I use it every other day.
03-09-2009, 11:40 PM
sebell

I have never experienced a razor `skipping' before... I'm
curious as to what's going on here!

- Scott
03-11-2009, 05:09 AM
cessnabird

Update:

Thanks for all the great advice guys! Here's where I am with this after reading these posts and experimented a bit...

1) Experimented with different cream to water ratios
2)Concentrating more on the most optimal skin stretching/facial manipulations
3) Stropped the poor little Dovo like it owed me money!

So far so good. Almost no more skipping. Still some but I think I've almost got it! -Jeremy
03-11-2009, 04:48 PM
miketo

Quote:

Originally Posted by cessnabird

3) Stropped the poor little Dovo like it owed me money!

You just gave me a new catchphrase I can use at work. :D
03-11-2009, 08:00 PM
dwessell

If my face is to dry, meaning I screwed up prep, the razor will jump on me.. It's a sure sign for me.

dw
03-11-2009, 08:18 PM
igitur55

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayG

If you aren't already doing it, using a scything motion or leading with the heel or toe should help, along with good skin stretching.

Yep, scything motion is definitely your friend.