Thread: Help!

I have been shaving with a straight for about 2 months now and have gotten to the point where I get pretty good shaves every day. I have used a rotation of 3 razors, all 5/8. Recently, I got a 6/8 TI Le Grelot, honed by Lynn. I have used it 3 times now and don't seem to be able to get a decent shave with it. I am certain that the problem is not with the honing, but with my technique. Alas, I can't figure out what's wrong. I have tried reducing the angle and increasing the angle, and anything else I can think of, but even after 4 passes last night, there's still quite a lot of stubble. I did not strop before the first two shaves, but before the third I did 50X on leather. My beard is a bit coarse, but not unusually so. Any thoughts?

A second question: I recently bought a new strop with felt, rather than linen. Is there a significant difference in the manner/amount of stropping recommended?

Thanks for any advice.

Phil

Occasionally, I run into razors that get sharp but just don't keep their edge well. For example, I had a Spike that I loved. But, I learned from experience that I had to strop it once in the middle of a shave. If I didn't, it was too dull by the end of the shave.

This is not typical. But, a possibility in your instance.

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

Occasionally, I run into razors that get sharp but just don't keep their edge well. For example, I had a Spike that I loved. But, I learned from experience that I had to strop it once in the middle of a shave. If I didn't, it was too dull by the end of the shave.

This is not typical. But, a possibility in your instance.

Thanks, Larry. I'll give that a try.

Iv noticed with my le grelots that I require a bit of a different angle. Sometimes it's more steep sometimes more shallow depending on the area.

Try some different angles and see how it works out.

Sometimes a razor just takes a little getting used to before it is dialled in correctly. This can mean a slight change in technique, both in shaving and stropping. Those of us who have been at this for a while will make these changes without even thinking about it; when you're new it may take a bit more concious effort.

Failing that, perhaps it was one of those rare razors that "slipped through the cracks"?

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Sometimes a razor just takes a little getting used to before it is dialled in correctly. This can mean a slight change in technique, both in shaving and stropping. Those of us who have been at this for a while will make these changes without even thinking about it; when you're new it may take a bit more concious effort.

Failing that, perhaps it was one of those rare razors that "slipped through the cracks"?

I have been obsessing about this all day, so I decided to throw metallurgical and skin care caution to the wind and shave for the second time today (about 12 hr between). 100 passes on leather. I was very careful to reduce pressure as much as possible (I guess "light touch" means light touch, huh?). I got a much better shave. A few weepers and a bit of razor burn, but I attribute that to the fact that it is my second shave of the day. Pretty close to BBS where I dared to go ATG, and the rest is quite acceptable. I'll get this thing figured out. But not tomorrow. I need a rest.