Thread: Shaving with a Japanese Straight

I have tried this twice now with my heavy 55mm. Using skin/omote style makes for much easier handling. That's really all I can say. Perhaps I need more practice with the angle, which as it's now working is rather steep. The ura I can lay down against the skin. Both sides shaving equally as near as I can tell.

Even after two re-finishings the edge is not what it should be from either side. I think I will drop back to 4 or 5k and try to sort that out before trying again.

I definately take my hat off to all you who get your best shaves from the assymetrical devils.
Cheers and good luck

Pic of the tip of a Tosuke.

Kanji side is to the right.

Just to add to the discussion for anyone not familiar with what these look like.

Also my diagram of the difference in cutting angle between Japanese and western styale razors.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Also my diagram of the difference in cutting angle between Japanese and western styale razors.

Forgive my amateur observations, but, including the bevel on the JSR, isn't the cutting angle exactly the same as the wedge? If you were to turn the diagram of the JSR so that the dotted line was perfectly horizontal, I believe you would have the exact same angle as you do on the wedge.

Of course, if that's just the picture and not the blade itself then I'll stand corrected. I might be getting one of those Tosukes really soon.

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

Forgive my amateur observations, but, including the bevel on the JSR, isn't the cutting angle exactly the same as the wedge? If you were to turn the diagram of the JSR so that the dotted line was perfectly horizontal, I believe you would have the exact same angle as you do on the wedge.

Of course, if that's just the picture and not the blade itself then I'll stand corrected. I might be getting one of those Tosukes really soon.

Yes, in the end a cutting edge is a triangle, no matter how you slice it.

But, there is a difference between a knife edge and a chisel, is there not? To me, a western style razor is equivalent to a knife (symetric orientation to major axis of handle/blade), the Japanese style is similar to a chisel in edge geometry (asymetric orientation to major axis of handle/blade). If you have ever used a chisel, you will know that you get different types of cuts depending on which side you use.

I had a Tosuke briefly. It took a wicked edge, and gave a close shave, but I just did noy groove with the asymetry thing.

Cool.. I get what you're saying. Also, I imagine it has something to do with the direction in which the force is applied. It creates a moving angle at a different degree than a "knife" shaped bevel.