Thread: Analysis of the Scythe and Guillotine Cuts. Spoiler: they are the same thing.

There is a lot of work in that original post. We always appreciate those with a pssion for this stuff.

I have seen so many arguments about guillotine or scything motions and each has been described differently by different people.

In my opinion a video with the motions correctly described and demonstrated will help anyone reading the wiki. That way there won't be anymore confusion and arguments about the motions.

Originally Posted by basil

I have seen so many arguments about guillotine or scything motions and each has been described differently by different people.

In my opinion a video with the motions correctly described and demonstrated will help anyone reading the wiki. That way there won't be anymore confusion and arguments about the motions.

That can never really happen... There is always going to be a bit of give and take on the correct motion because the correct motion follows the direction of the hair in the beard and is done by feel... So if I do a video, and say this is correct, it is for me, and anyone else whose beard follows mine, BUT if your beard has a different growth pattern, the motion is going to be slightly different to cut your hair better...

IE:

If I were to demonstrate a simple WTG pass on my face I have to use three different directions for this demonstration in regards to N-S-E-W

Originally Posted by gssixgun

That can never really happen... There is always going to be a bit of give and take on the correct motion because the correct motion follows the direction of the hair in the beard and is done by feel... So if I do a video, and say this is correct, it is for me, and anyone else whose beard follows mine, BUT if your beard has a different growth pattern, the motion is going to be slightly different to cut your hair better...

Cmon Glen. You and I both know there is only one "true way" and that is a closely guarded secret among the SRP elite

Originally Posted by JMS

Cmon Glen. You and I both know there is only one "true way" and that is a closely guarded secret among the SRP elite

As closly guarded as "The List"

The super secert list of the best shaving razors ever...

True I forgot about that.
But it still could be helpful for newbies to see and then adjust to suit their needs.

Originally Posted by basil

I have seen so many arguments about guillotine or scything motions and each has been described differently by different people.

In my opinion a video with the motions correctly described and demonstrated will help anyone reading the wiki. That way there won't be anymore confusion and arguments about the motions.

I agree entirely. This post was an attempt at movement in that direction. It may come to pass that some definitions are simply more functional than others.

As I said, I will discuss the rotating scythe cut at another time. I haven't worked anything out yet, but the sketch I have in my head suggests that the rotational scythe cut is actually less of an ideal stroke than the scythe stroke here (specifically because a razor is straight, and not curved like a scythe). However, I can't say for certain until I actually play with the mathematical model.

Again, I have no bias, I am just doing some math. Truth be told, knowing all this I still use a straight cut a fair portion of the time!

Now tell me more about this list...

Originally Posted by ixtapalapaquetl

As I said, I will discuss the rotating scythe cut at another time. I haven't worked anything out yet, but the sketch I have in my head suggests that the rotational scythe cut is actually less of an ideal stroke than the scythe stroke here (specifically because a razor is straight, and not curved like a scythe). However, I can't say for certain until I actually play with the mathematical model.

Again, I have no bias, I am just doing some math. Truth be told, knowing all this I still use a straight cut a fair portion of the time!

Now tell me more about this list...

Those are hints at something your missing

That just has to do with what you are not taking into account with blade dynamics let alone when you throw it the fact that many of us hone and strop a special way just to always keep the striations on the edge the same for a more efficient cutting edge

.

Thanks for the post. I don't know what it is called but I have found that holding the blade at a slight angle with the point above horizontal in some instances, below horizontal in others, and doing a stroke that advances, or retracts, the blade, depending on the spot, is a very effective way to shave. Slices rather than chops the whiskers. Took me a couple of years to begin to do this and there are some areas that I haven't tried it on. Definitely uses more of the length of the blade by the very nature of the stroke. Call it what you will, I consider it an advanced shaving technique, at least it was for me, so use caution if you're trying it for the first time.