Thread: To Scythe or not to scythe...

Can you get BBS with one pass WTG scything motion? My Mentors Sham and Kelly have guided me in this direction. So I have been pursuing WTG single pass shaves. Using the correct, properly honed razor AND technique, it can be done. I have found that a razor with some curvature, (smile) works the best to perform the scythe motion. At least for me. I currently only have two razors that fit that description a vintage Joseph Rogers with a huge smile and an Alex Jacques custom with a smile.
I have tried the scything motion with straight edge razors such as a Dovo SS, Diamond Hayashi, Kabeso spike, Japanese western and kamisori style (Iwasaki, Kanatake and Tosuke, the PURIST..love it ) even a Le Jaguar recently acquired and have noticed that the straighter the edge of the blade, the less of a scythe motion could be attained. You can make the scythe motion however without the curvature (smile) of the blade you are not quite getting the slice effect against the whisker.
This has been my experience and I am not trying to speak for anyone else. There are variables involved. I have noticed I can not maintain the same consistent hold on the left side of my cheek as I can on the right side. Some guys prefer to become ambidextrous at this point, is that totally necessary? This is where my nicks have occurred performing the scythe motion. On the left cheek jaw line WTG.
I still go back and shave ATG to get that luxurious BBS feeling. Wouldn’t it be great to get that with a one pass WTG? More experience and practice is required, let me check my calendar, yes I have the time. I am trying to talk myself into another one of Phiadelph’s big smileys. Poppa needs a brand new blade. What are some other views regarding the scything motion? How about the guillotine motion?

In SRP Wiki section:
The scything motion


The easiest way to move a razor over the skin, is to guide it in a direction, perpendicular to the edge. As a result the razor “chops” the hairs, much like an axe chops a young branch off a tree, with one blow. Out of a physical viewpoint this way of severing something requires the most force and is the hardest on the cutting edge. By adding a slight slicing motion to the blade, the cutting action becomes more effective. For ages, farmers have been harvesting wheat with this very effective style of cutting with a tool called scythe. Adding a little scything style to the razor will allow a smoother cut, helps the longevity of the edge, prevents pull, helps to prevent the blade form being stopped by stubborn whiskers, and might do more for your shaves’ closeness than boosting the actual keenness of the blade. A word of caution. Scything in combination with a too steep cutting angle, is a perfect recipe for slicing into the skin. It takes only the least bit of sideways motion to lend scything its effectiveness.

Originally Posted by MODINE

It takes only the least bit of sideways motion to lend scything its effectiveness.

I'm going to remove that part from the wiki - a sideways motion is dangerous, even in the least bit (it's just mis-worded )

Shaving with the heel or the point leading the razor down the stroke can lend to a much more effective shaving experience with more efficient results. I can't prove it, but I would bet some casino cash that it helps keep the shaving edge longer as well

Originally Posted by MODINE

The easiest way to move a razor over the skin, is to guide it in a direction, perpendicular to the edge. As a result the razor “chops” the hairs, much like an axe chops a young branch off a tree, with one blow.

I've never seen that part before. The analogy is flawed in that an axe stroke cuts straight into a tree and it does not correspond with the cutting angle of a scything stroke.

IT took me a couple of years to get to scything fore, aft ..... whatever. I do it slick as a whistle now and more often than not can and do get one pass + touchup with that stroke. I don't post about it because I consider it a very advanced method. If the blade angle and pressure ain't right you can cut yourself in a hurry. The thing is that the razor isn't scraping the whiskers off as if you were removing ice from your windshield. Rather you're skimming over the skin cutting/slicing the whiskers. Just IMHO.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I've never seen that part before. The analogy is flawed in that an axe stroke cuts straight into a tree and it does not correspond with the cutting angle of a scything stroke.

the article is describing the straight-down stroke there to contrast with the forthcoming description of the scything stroke. I think it's a little confusing. Since we don't use the wiki-talk pages, I suppose a rewrite could be discussed here

I'm in the scything camp. There are some strokes I need to make that just would not be possible without it. I don't think I have ever tried had the goal of using scything to reduce my shave to one pass. I will give that some experimentation. But I can tell you if you have the dexterity to comfortably and safely pull it off, scything is a great tool to have in your bag of tricks - JMHO also.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I've never seen that part before. The analogy is flawed in that an axe stroke cuts straight into a tree and it does not correspond with the cutting angle of a scything stroke.

Hmmm - I don't think I, or anybody I have seen, chop straight into a tree. It is always at an angle to create a wedge shaped cut.

Jimmy; That's exactly how I got my nick, blade angle and not paying attention. Everything going along smooth, zap. Got a little scar to remind me now. Oh well, it adds character. I'll make up some macho story about how I got it.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

the article is describing the straight-down stroke there to contrast with the forthcoming description of the scything stroke. I think it's a little confusing. Since we don't use the wiki-talk pages, I suppose a rewrite could be discussed here

Sorry, I mis-read (mis-thought) that and didn't notice that is was a contrast not a comparison.

Originally Posted by Alembic

Hmmm - I don't think I, or anybody I have seen, chop straight into a tree. It is always at an angle to create a wedge shaped cut.

This is the problem with describing the scything stroke. It's difficult to make clear which axis of the 3D plane is being described. Yes the axe hit is at alternating angles to produce a wedge cut, but no slicing motion is done. That was the "straight" chop that I meant.