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  1. #1
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    Default Good HHT poor shaver

    Hi Guys,

    Today was my 5th shave with the straight, a new Dovo carbon steel (their cheapest most simple model). I am getting very confident and the blade dances across my face every time with more style and grace. But the shaves are getting worse. What I really don’t understand is that the razor just came from Lynn and I have a TM strop. Now I will be the first to admit that at first I may have put too much pressure on the stropping and totally spoiled Lynn’s honing, but I am very good at it now. I do 25 laps on the cotton (which has a little white Dovo paste) 30 laps on the Latigo and 25 on the horse leather. I am also doing 10 laps cotton and 10 Latigo after every shave. Am I over doing it? The funny thing is that it will pass the HHT with no problem, cutting even the smallest of hairs as soon as they touch the blade. The first pass is OK but nothing spectacular and during the second pass ATG it pulls on my hairs so it hurts (mind you I have thick black hair). The easy parts such as my cheeks & sideburns will end BBS (after 3 passes!) But my upper lip, lower lip, neck and chin I must confess I have to finish with the Mach3 to get the desired effect which is not the purpose of the exercise!! Is it time to take it to the Chromium Oxide? Or am I using the incorrect angle/pressure in the difficult parts and thus not getting the right results?

    I have heard that many people don’t believe in the HHT and say the only test is to shave. Unfortunately I am getting good at shaving now and was not very good at it when the razor came fresh from Lynn so it’s hard to compare. When it first came I was scared of it now I swing it from hand to hand and upward and side way shaves are part of the routine…I wish I had a second Lynn razor now….



  2. #2
    Coticule researcher
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    Let's look at it this way.

    Your razor cuts unsupported "hanging" hairs effortlessly. We can safely assume that it's not some overhoning issue, since: A. Lynn honed it and B. you can restore this performance with avid stropping.
    So why would such an edge not be able to provide you with a good shave, that only requires the cutting of hairs at skin level?

    I think the issue is completely related to shaving technique.

    The first thing that comes to mind is the shaving angle. Depending on how close your whiskers lean to your skin, it can make a big difference to use a shallower angle ATG than WTG.
    It may help to put a very watery lather (or lathery water) on your face for the ATG pass. It allows smooth action and good visibility at the same time. Shave ATG with short slightly overlapping strokes and observe closely how the stubble is cut at zero level.

    Best regards,
    Bart.

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  4. #3
    Senior Member dward's Avatar
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    The only true test of a razor is the shave. If you only had a few shaves with it, there is no need for the HHT. Lynn has honed all 5 of mine and I have never done the HHT to test them, no reason to do so. Continue to work on your technique.

  5. #4
    Connoisseur of steel Hawkeye5's Avatar
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    With a grand total of 5 shaves under your belt you are at the beginning of a steep learning curve.
    My guess is blade angle. Use a more shallow angle for ATG than WTG, and a lower angle yet for ATG.

  6. #5
    what Dad calls me nun2sharp's Avatar
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    Barts got you covered.
    It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled. Twain

  7. #6
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
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    The razor is obviously sharp & smoothly honed: Passes HHT and gets you BBS in most areas without irritation so pressure seems good too.

    As Bart advised the painful tugging would likely be too high an angle.

    Lay that razor down flat on your skin then slightly ease the spine up till it cuts hair. The higher you raise the spine the more pulling & resistance to cutting you will feel.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

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  9. #7
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
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    All of the above and preparation might be an issue too. I wash my face twice vigorously with hot water and soap before the shave. Most of the time I shave following a hot shower. One way or the other prep and lathering are an important part of it especially if you have a tough beard. I don't and it is important to my shave. Skin stretching is very important to the quality of my shaves as well. You need to work on figuring out how to stretch the various parts of your face and neck. There are videos here that might be a help and the SRP Wiki has tutorials here that also may be a help to read.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

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  11. #8
    I Bleed Slurry Disburden's Avatar
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    I just wanted to say that really toothy edges that grab and cut hanging hairs usually are brutal for me to shave with. I have a heavy beard and the smooth edge of a coticule works great for me but the smoothness caused by the coticule hardly passes the HHT.


    My point is, sometimes really sharp toothy keen edges can be hard for some guys to shave with without getting bad tugging and irritation. How is your beard growth? Is it heavy? If not then adjust your angle to a more flat approach and work from there.
    Last edited by Disburden; 04-11-2009 at 09:40 PM.

  12. #9
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Disburden View Post
    I just wanted to say that really toothy edges that grab and cut hanging hairs usually are brutal for me to shave with. I have a heavy beard and the smooth edge of a coticule works great for me but the smoothness caused by the coticule hardly passes the HHT.


    My point is, sometimes really sharp toothy keen edges can be hard for some guys to shave with without getting bad tugging and irritation. How is your beard growth? Is it heavy? If not then adjust your angle to a more flat approach and work from there.
    I wonder if your coticule might be a fast cutter. ??
    The razors I like to finish on my coticule always pass the HHT after stropping.
    Takes 100 passes before I see any swarf on mine.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

  13. #10
    Steel crazy after all these years RayG's Avatar
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    Assuming your prep is good and consistent, I agree that it is likely technique, whether angle or pressure. Whereas you tolerated it initially, now with 5 days of such, your skin where the beard is coarsest and the shaving most requiring of good technique is now sore and you are starting to feel the effect of it.

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