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Thread: What A Drag

  1. #1
    Junior Member VanHelsing's Avatar
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    Default What A Drag

    Hello Guys,

    Now I've moved on from using my straight in small increments onto a half pass of my face, the razor is really dragging when I use it. The pass that I do is no where near perfect and not particularly close but that's to be expected. I'm just worried about this dragging.

    The razor I've got is a used wapi but was shave ready when I bought it and I've only used it four times. I'm hoping this is my veeeery bad technique or could it be possible that my clumsy stropping has dulled it already?

    Before I send it off to be rehoned, any ideas or tips?

    Many thanks!

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    Member Edgeof40's Avatar
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    Hi,
    The dragging you feel could be your angle and/or pressure. If your stropping is "clumsy" as you put it this could also be a factor. Do you have a paddle or hanging strop? If its a hanger then you can try laying it flat on a book or table and this will take the "keeping the strop taut" part out of the equation. Regarding the angle and pressure try carefully laying the blade flat to the skin and just raise the spine of the razor to between a spines width or two. As for the pressure, it needs to be as light as possible. There is a lot to learn but as you've found SRP you're on the right track.

    These videos may help also.
    http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...beginners.html
    Last edited by Edgeof40; 05-16-2011 at 06:13 PM.

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    Junior Member VanHelsing's Avatar
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    I'm using a paddle strop at the minute, so no excuse for me there. Thanks for those vids and I'll keep a closer eye on my angle and pressure.

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    Super Shaver xman's Avatar
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    I find using a paddle strop a lot more finicky than a hanging strop so you might want to try changing that or at the least take a very careful approach to stropping.

    Also, of course, ensure you have great beard prep and use the proper 30) shaving angle and cutting angle.

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    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
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    My tip is, if you do send it off for honing, ask whoever does it to look at the razor under magnification for you . That way it is possible to assess your stropping. He will also be able to assess the razor by its behaviour on the hones & his shave test.
    If you do focus on 30º for a shaving angle bear in mind the razors bevel is maybe 17º or so, of that total, so if you see any of the old time instructions that say keep the razor virtually flat on the face you know why. Don't be afraid if more than the edge contacts your face . Some curved or hollow areas may even feel the spine at times.
    Obie likes this.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

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    VanHelsing (05-17-2011)

  9. #6
    Junior Member VanHelsing's Avatar
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    Thank so much for the help and advice gentlemen. Plenty to try out and think about there. I know now for a fact that my angle was wrong

    What a great forum. Very happy to be here.

  10. #7
    Some kind of Zombie BigJim's Avatar
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    Glad SRP could be of help to you. Drag of the skin is ALWAYS a result of angle and/or pressure problems...though other issues might be misdiagnosed as dragging. A sharp blade will usually tell you if your angle and/or pressure is too great by leaving red lines on your face! But I am evidence that isn't always the case.

    Now that you know your angle was off, and possibly your pressure too (Poor Angle --> Poor Shaving --> Frustration --> Pressure 90% of the time) you may have prematurely dulled your razor in the process. Don't be surprised if it doesn't shave wonderfully with a proper angle...it may need some corrective stropping (see AF Davis posts and vids --search) or even a re-honing. +1 to Oni's tip.

    Peace,

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    Senior Member pmburk's Avatar
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    Interesting and excellent advice about having the edge evaluated under a microscope.

    I always touch the spine to my straight razor before making my first shave stroke; it's become a habit that I have which have led to me to some great nick and irritation free shaves.

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    zib
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    I don't know. I recently bought a razor that was sold as shave ready, and it dragged across my face. I know it wasn't my angle or technique. The blade needed a touch up, which I did, and now it's fine. We tend to blame poor angle and technique when it's a new guy. Sometimes it is, Sometimes it isn't. I've honed blades for new members, some actually had chips in the bevel when I got them. Really bad shape... I wouldn't rule out that the blade needs some touching up. As previously mentioned, You can start by laying the spine flat on your face, and then tilting outwards. We recommend a 30 degree angle.
    Some razors require less. Tweak your angle a bit, see if it helps. We have plenty of members near you that will help...
    We have assumed control !

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    Senior Member pmburk's Avatar
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    I have read repeatedly in this forum that because a razor is shave ready, it doesn't always mean it's shave ready, some stropping is needed before the shave.

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