Thread: angling the blade while you shave?

There is a diference in using a slant cut (still a push cut with angled blade) and using a slicing, or "scyting" motion. Scyting can be dangerous if not used correctly, and I think both motions are in advantage to the straight (90o angle) push. The barber's manuals are proposing the slanted push cut as better alternative.

Nenad

Originally Posted by PapaBull

So I speak from my own experience and I can say unquivocably that a well-honed, well-stropped razor will shave close enough that you can't feel any roughness with your fingers going any direction against the grain without having to use a slashing motion that is much more likely to result in some blood loss. Heel leading, toe leading...... either way... a slicing motion is for slicing and is much more likely to draw blood than a push-cutting motion.

The good thing about learning to shave with a slashing motion is that you can get acceptable shaves without ever learning how to hone a razor particularly well. But you'll probably bleed more often, too. Slicing tends to cut skin pretty easily, which is something that I like to avoid while shaving.

I wonder if we're talking about the same thing. I certainly agree that any kind of slashing motion is bad, but a push cut with the blade angled is still a push cut as far as the skin is concerned. It's only the hairs which slide along the slanted edge to which it looks different. They can't slide along that edge with a direct on push.

Although you probably could teach me a lot about honing, we can avoid that issue. I even shave with the blade angled with a Feather str8. I think we can agree that a regular str8 will not achieve that sharpness. I haven't experienced an problems with it. In particular, it's still a push cut and I don't see how it could be any more likely to cut you. We're not moving the edge along its length, just applying about a 15 degree tilt. I could shave with (and have shaved with) a straight push cut, but why bother if the angle cut is more comfortable? In other words even if you give a blade the best edge you can, it still cut better on an angle. Why not take advantage of it.

I'll repeat what I said in my last message. I've never seen any baber manual, article etc. that does not recommend the angle cut. If you know of one, please tell me. Otherwise it would appear that it's something they all agree on.