Thread: scything motion

Is there a slight scooping action? I've seen these graphics before but wasn't sure about the scooping action. Thank you Josh.

The only scooping-type action that I'm aware of is the coup de maitre, which is a scooping action under your nose to catch the hairs at the corner of your nose and upper lip. Gotta be really careful with that one though...

I'm talking about a very slight scooping action --I believe this is in line with scything -- i.e., using a real scythe.

Kinda like a shearing action?? Your approaching the whisker with forward motion, but slicing through it with a little lateral movement too? I guess this helps for a smoother feeling pass with the razor, as your not attacking the growth in just one direction?

I'm new to this pea but I suppose you're correct ---instead of pushing through the hair , by using this motion you are slicing as well as pushing ---all I know is on the against the grain pass, the results were dramatic for me. Usually when I try the third pass, the razor skips, bumps, and digs in if I use a straight push through ---but with the scything motion and pivoting slightly around the tang/scale pin, the razor seems more stable (maybe being anchored around the pivot point) and I was successful and --well --encouraged.

Nice one, i'm glad your making good progress. I'm hoping my new norton 4k/8k will sort me out a bit!!

Good luck pea -- I haven't got into the honing thing yet --- those nortons can set you back a few quids, dollars or even meals!!

I hope we all understand that the Cutting Angle displayed by Josh and the Scything motion which started the thread are two different things. I've never really had a need for the scything thing because the Cutting Angle works so well. It simply cuts easier. think of trying to cut a loaf of bread with a stright down push vs. a forward sawing action.

X

The bread analogy works in function, but the theory doesn't fit our example. The forward motion engages the serations that make cutting bread so much easier.

Advancing the blade during the stroke is more akin to skewing a hand plane when using it. That skew (or addition of forward motion during the down motion per the example) effectively reduces the cutting angle of the blade, making a blade ground at X-degrees act like a razor ground at less than X degrees.

Just think of it as a abbreviated "slicing" motion, and you'll realize BOTH why it works, AND why the potential danger of "sliced" skin is higher.