Can't get a close shave

Good morning Gents,

I'm looking for a little advice or encouraging ideas if you have any for me?

I've been straight shaving now for a couple of months, and still can't get as close as my EJ double edge. Especially on and under the chin and on my neck.

I've been trying to do a better job with skin pulling, but with little effect.

The razor is definitely sharp. I'm using naniwas, 5k, 8k, 12k, and finishing on a T-I paddle strop with T-I paste applied.

Also using a very nice Tony Miller job for regular stropping.

I'm trying to remember to use a light touch. It's a temptation to use more pressure, and an increasing number of passes (3, 4, etc)...cause I'm not getting there.

Can't think of anything else to confess to , in order to give you a fuller picture of what I'm doing.

Oh, my razor is a T-I 5/8 hollow ground.

What a treat it is to wield such a beautiful thing ... I'd really like to master this.

hmm... maybe try sending the razor out to be professionally honed?

That would remove all doubt about the tool and allow you to concentrate on prep and technique.

Are you trying a ATG pass?

I know if I shave my neck WTG it gets a crappy shave. When I go ATG I get a real close shave...

Go slow and give a try. I also second the idea of sending out the razor for a Pro honing. That would eliminate the tool as the problem.

Good luck and keep us informed.

:beer2:

The way it works for me at least is that I can get BBS (better than my EJ 89) all over my cheeks with only 2 passes, but my neck feels like 100 grit sandpaper until that third pass. The angles are tricky, but I think I got it down.

Thanks for the replies, guys,

I did have it sharpened by a local hone-maniac, I'm pretty sure I've got that covered.

I've wondered about getting an even finer hone to make it that much sharper, but reallyl think my technique is flawed.

I'd say I can get a pretty satisfactory shave on the cheeks.

I've been starting out WTG, then ATG, and then doing a clean up pass or two, but not in any systematic direction relative to growth.

Perhaps I should add in an XTG pass before the ATG.

Under the chin is especially bad, as the direction of growth is directly left to right.

I think you would have better success WTG, XTG, then ATG in getting a nice BBS shave. It does take time and practice to get it right, so do not be too hard on yourself. There are a lot of small variables that go into it.

Good Luck!

Pabster

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BrentonC

Under the chin is especially bad, as the direction of growth is directly left to right.

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That is exactly the problem I have, except it grows like that all across my neck. I have to tilt my head to the side AND keep my razor at about a 45 degree angle relative to the floor. It is a pretty hard thing to do with a straight razor, but my system seems to work.

It makes for bizarre contortions trying to stretch the skin from the opposite side of the direction of growth.

And, it seems to me, placing the blade on my neck in order to try and do an HONEST WTG or XTG surely maximizes the likely hood of a personal appreciation of the term "cut throat razor."

I wish barber around who is skilled in str8 shaving, to whom I could take my own razor, and get a few lessons over a series of morning shaves.

I'll keep practicing, contorting, and post any updates. Unless of course, the update is in the form of an obituary. ;-)

Being a noob myself, I'd say take your time man. It takes some people a while to get it down. From what I am learning, the ability to get a good shaves comes from proper prep, proper blade, proper pressure, angle, and stretching of the skin just to name a few.

I am starting to get BBS with my ATG passes. And it's getting better as time passes. So take your time man, get a feel for it.

Gabe

I have on EJ T-I Le grelot imitation 6/8 and also 2k, 5k and 10 k naniwas.
Naniwas are too soft for this steel especially if you give too many passes with the higher grits. This razor is absolutely my hardest thing to get in a proper sharpness. I'm still trying.... Right now I'm close but the edge is a little too wired for my taste. I can get a good shave with it but anyway...not a favourite one.

About the neck problems.

Check out scything motion and buffing and try if they help ( maybe already did?)
LINK
Go exactly against the growing direction and do buffing with slow speed so the blade has time to do the cutting motion i.e. it won't jump/glide over the hairs

Might be better if I re-relegate the str8 to weekends, when I can really do just that with every aspect.

Brenton,

You need to master the finer point of skin stretching.
Somehow, you must grip the skin in front of the hairs (not behind) and pull in the opposite direction as they grow. The idea is that your whiskers "attend hut".

Here's a drawing that shows the idea:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...nimated%29.gif

Once you figured out how to get those hairs upright, you must finetune the cutting path of the razor. Don't try to go ATG against all odds, if that part of your face doesn't allow for it. In your neck, go South to North, instead of ATG, but do add a bit of a scything direction, that goes against the direction the whiskers grow. Or otherwise keep the blade slanted a bit.
Here's a drawing that shows it in downward motions. In your case, you need to translate it to upward motions.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ave_stroke.jpg

Finally, experiment with the angle between you skin and the blade. A low (shallow) angle is safer and less irritating, while a higher angle will shave closer, but also tends to be harder for the skin. I recommend to learn these (new?) motions at a shallow angle, and try raising the angle as you gain confidence, but no more than necessary to achieve the desired closeness. And certainly never more than 35 degrees.

On a final note, if the problem spots at your neck are a bit "hollow", a razor with a decently smiling edge will help to shave closer.

Kind regards,
Bart.

Hey Bart,

Thanks for these tips and accompanying illustrations.

Fortunate that I have a razor with a smile ... Ok, I cant wait for the weekend to try again. I think there's definitely room to be more diligent about the skin pulling when it comes to the neck. Easy on the cheek -- push sideburn up, bring razor down (for WTG, etc).

And also this Grim Reaper-esque scything you're recommending is something I haven't tried on the neck.

Good advice on the angles, because as I tried to tidy things up with increasing passes, the skin on my neck was getting irritated to the point that that electric shaving son of mine was teasing me about hacking myself up.

(The Brat!)

Alright lads,

I'm pleased to report that while far from perfect, and perhaps even worse on the cheeks, I paid careful attention to stretching, scything, guillotining, and decreasing the spine-to-skin distance with each pass on the neck, and in that area things are a tad better today than before.

I will continue to practice these things, evidence suggesting I can expect some continued improvement here.

Thanks again, one and all!