Thread: Leading With the Point

I'll also chime in. I mostly use heel leading strokes. Leading with the point scares me as well. That is what lead to my face looking like a cat used it as a scratching post.

Also, the "Buffing", with the heel, described in the Wiki works quite well for any place that might require point leading (atleast that's what works for me.)

Originally Posted by Big Red

I too now dread the spike point going forward. I do the scything motion sometimes, and probably heel lead if I think about it, I think I toe lead on my upper lip.

interestingly, I use the first 30% of my razor a lot, the rest less, just because I don't have a lot of flats where I can lay the whole blade on the skin. I was noticing that this morning.

Red

I've often wondered if that justifies the X-pattern honing (at least on a large stone). We probably all use the first 3rd of the blade more, so it probably dulls faster, no?

Jordan

Originally Posted by jnich67

I've often wondered if that justifies the X-pattern honing (at least on a large stone). We probably all use the first 3rd of the blade more, so it probably dulls faster, no?

I suppose you could check rather easily during your next shave which part of the razor is sharpest

Hmmm,

Now that I think about it I do lead with the heal and the toe depending on what hand I am using....

Very interesting, I never realised what I was doing? I am still learning without a doubt.

OK, I tried leading with the toe this morning. It seemed to go well at first. Then oops. Bad cut. No more experimenting with that for me. (Unless I'm shaving a manequin )

QUOTE
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Originally Posted by Big Red
I too now dread the spike point going forward. I do the scything motion sometimes, and probably heel lead if I think about it, I think I toe lead on my upper lip.
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If you are getting nicked or outright cut from your spikepoint or squarepoint, here's a tip to eliminate that problem. The old time barbers would often drag that point along the side of one of their hones to remove the actual point, making it safer to use on their customers.

I was given two hones by my barber in the 1960's and the coarse hone had two very noticeable linear gouges along the side of the stone where the barber dragged the point to remove it.

I would recommend removing the point before you hone the edge for obvious reasons...... JERRY

Also if your getting nicked with the toe lead, remember it should be higher than the heel as you make the pass. I always round of points and have no problems with this pass. Again, the importance of a good smile on the blade IMHO can not be overstated. Th only time I ever found trouble with any methods have been with straight blades. I would imagine a frowning blade with scything strokes either way would require hospitol treatment afterwards.
Mike