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Howdy,
New to SR shaving and still working on my technique. I notice when I am shaving I feel a little tug, it isn't really uncomfortable but I was wondering what I could do to reduces that tug and to get it a little closer when I am shaving WTG. do I need to go at a steeper angle or a shallower angle. right now I try and keep it as shallow as I can. And any tips for getting around the chin and on the neck. I can seem to get that very well
Thanks & Gig 'Em
Chris
Hi, Chris! In my experience and from what I have heard others say, a little tug is not unusual. But then I don't know exactly how much tug you are feeling. Here are a few ideas that may help you. First, be sure to focus on good pre-shave prep. After a hot shower is the best time to shave. And be sure to keep your face wet throughout the various passes. Second, most will advise that the WTG pass should be done at the widest angle--about 30 degrees from your face. That's a little more than one width of the blade at the spine. Then for your XTG and ATG the angle reduces to almost flat on your face. Third, I would encourage you to remember to stretch the skin at the place where you are shaving. This is especially helpful in getting a closer and less irritating shave below the jaw line. Can't help you on shaving the chin as I have a soul patch! I hope this helps. Let us know how it's going.
Chris,
Indeed, there are few blades that have no pull at all. My first shave w/ a Williams wouldn't lop a hanging hair at all. It took some pull to initiate a stroke. The path it left behind was the cleanest WTG shave I'd ever had.
Regarding angle - I would only add that if the resistance increases as you encounter heavy timber, reduce you angle a bit.
Temno. You're an hour south of me. If I can be of help - let me know. Come try gear, if any blades need touch-up - bring 'em.
There should be no tug at all period no matter how tough or long the beard. Either your razor isn't proper sharp or your technique needs honing. Play around with your angle and watch the pressure. If that makes no difference then the blade is the issue.
Couldn't say it any better... A big plus 1 here. Though I would add that its fun playing around with angle. It's how I mastered my chin lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
safely..I hope..:D
Alright I will try all that.
And if I don't find a good angle I will take it back to the guy who restored it for me, said if within the first 3 months I think it needs to be honed he will do it for free.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
A blade that cuts doesn't "pull".
A blade that "pulls" isn't cutting.
A really sharp blade just cuts.
If a blade pulls it needs to be sharpened.
...and that's the final word! I love Ace's description: simple, succinct, and informative!Quote:
Originally Posted by ace
Take him up on it! There may also be another reason. How is stropping going? If you have a bad stropping technique, you may have rolled the edge!Quote:
Originally Posted by chris93cl
It depends on what you call "pulling" or "tugging". Coming from any other kind of shaving implement, you will notice more resistance simply because there is a larger surface area trying to get through your stubble with a 3" long straight edge. Of course that is going to feel as though it is pulling compared to say a DE.
However, I'd call that the "natural resistance" of a straight razor and you cease to notice it after a period of time. It is not the same thing as a razor that is pulling, which has been admirably dealt with above.
All I will add is that you should not forget that you have various (3) dimensions of angles to work with when it comes to straights. The typical angle people talk about is the angle made between the razor's edge and the skin, and that is the one that people recommend be around 30 degrees or so - people call this one the shave angle. However, there is also the angle in the vertical plane (eg heel higher than toe; parallel to floor; toe higher than heel...) and the angle made by only allowing certain sections of the blade to touch your face (eg, the toe half of the blade on your face; the last 1cm of heel on your face). You might, for the sake of argument, call the former the angle of direction and the latter the angle of attachment (0 degrees means the edge is completely attached to the face, increasingly +ve angles mean increasingly less of the toe half of the edge are hitting the face, and vice versa for increasingly -ve angles of attachment).
Manipulating any of these angles can and will effect your shave and in particular the shave angle and the angle of attachment will influence the amount of resistance felt when shaving. Of course, all three angles can be simultaneously adjusted and this is what, IMO, makes straight razor shaving the most flexible, and therefore potentially the best, shave available of any shaving implement. It is also the reason why straights have the steepest learning curve of any shaving implement, but is also the most rewarding when you finally crack it.
James.
Thanks for all the information. And I thought about the rolling the edge. but I don't think I've stropped it enough to roll it, but what do I know.
All it takes is one particularly bad lap on a strop to roll an edge. That's not saying you have done that, I'm just saying that rolling an edge is about quality, not quantity :D
If you have someone you can send it to, or who can check it out locally, I'd suggest you do so. The risk you run if in fact the edge is dulling is that you will use too much pressure and end up cutting yourself.
James.
Thanks I guess the next time I go home, if I haven't had better results, I'll have him take a look.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
Stropping is likely the culprit only if the "pulling" developed overtime and the razor didn't pull on the first use.
When I finally got my hands on a properly honed razor, I was amazed that the sensation was most like the feeling of wiping lather off my face. No sense of the whiskers giving up just seeing them rollup in the lather as the blade moved across them. I don't have a heavy beard tho so YMMV.
It just keeps getting better.
I have a tough beard, especially around mustache & chin area
in my case, I get no tugging from the less hollowed razor or wedges
but shaving with wedges not my favorite
until when I start using TI, I can shave with full hollow with much2 less tugging