[OLD_SCHOOL]

Originally Posted by dave5225

Hey O_S , maybe you're not stropping enough . I have a Jemico strop with linen on one side , and leather on the other . Before each shave I give the razors 40-50 laps on the linen , and 80-100 on the leather . I hold the strop taught , use a heel to toe " X " pattern , and only use enough pressure on the blade to keep the edge and spine in contact with the strop .

If I try do an X pattern I am there forever and a day, so I angle the blade so that the whole thing gets stropped at once, it kinda works.
I only have a starter strop so no linen, I will be getting a proper one soon. But I noticed lits of in nicks in the side of my starter one, and it puzzles me how anyone can nick or cut their stop when the razor is going backward on it.

[jnich67]

You are correct, you are not shaving enough. How on earth can you go a week or two without shaving! If I could shave twice a day I would. I love shaving!

Technique deterioration may be an issue. I've noticed that since I don't use my DE anymore, my technique sucks. I can barely get a decent shave with it. I used to use it for back up - when I needed a quick shave, but now I can get a better faster shave in one pass with the straight.

I've enjoyed your thread here.

Jordan

[OLD_SCHOOL]

I have no idea, all my life, the most I would not shave is maybe one day. Change to straights and then....... I guess part of it is, I like to hurry with everything, so making a lather, hot towelling the face, stropping the straight... 1/2hr or more is just too much for me. Though sometimes I can really be in the mood or whatever and then I don't mind.

Sometimes I think I should try a DE because I never used one, but then I think nah if I'm going to use a DE I may as well just use the M3.

Originally Posted by jnich67

You are correct, you are not shaving enough. How on earth can you go a week or two without shaving! If I could shave twice a day I would. I love shaving!

Technique deterioration may be an issue. I've noticed that since I don't use my DE anymore, my technique sucks. I can barely get a decent shave with it. I used to use it for back up - when I needed a quick shave, but now I can get a better faster shave in one pass with the straight.

I've enjoyed your thread here.

Jordan

[jnich67]

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I have no idea, all my life, the most I would not shave is maybe one day. Change to straights and then....... I guess part of it is, I like to hurry with everything, so making a lather, hot towelling the face, stropping the straight... 1/2hr or more is just too much for me. Though sometimes I can really be in the mood or whatever and then I don't mind.

Sometimes I think I should try a DE because I never used one, but then I think nah if I'm going to use a DE I may as well just use the M3.

They really are different. A DE is not a Mach 3.

My suggestion would be to shave every other day with a traditional straight. I've found, if you make it an endeavor for its own sake, you get better really fast. I also try to go for a comfy shave first. Closeness kind of comes by itself. Be gentle with yourself. Just my opinions here

Jordan

[dave5225]

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

If I try do an X pattern I am there forever and a day, so I angle the blade so that the whole thing gets stropped at once, it kinda works.
I only have a starter strop so no linen, I will be getting a proper one soon. But I noticed lits of in nicks in the side of my starter one, and it puzzles me how anyone can nick or cut their stop when the razor is going backward on it.

The X pattern should not take any more time to strop the razor . If you're putting nicks in your strop , you are not doing something right . When I first started stropping , I was putting tiny nicks on each end of my strop . I discoverd it was because I was starting and finishing each stroke with the edge of the razor still on the strop . Once I begain starting and finishing each stroke with only the spine of the razor touching the strop , the nicks stopped happening . It will take some practice to learn to strop with the X pattern , but it is well worth the effort . It only takes me arournd 2 minutes to strop a razor , now that I've been doing it for over a year .

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Originally Posted by dave5225

T. When I first started stropping , I was putting tiny nicks on each end of my strop . I discoverd it was because I was starting and finishing each stroke with the edge of the razor still on the strop . Once I begain starting and finishing each stroke with only the spine of the razor touching the strop , the nicks stopped happening.

Hmm that sounds logical. I will have to try and be more careful.

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Forgot to update this the other day but now is a good of time as any.

I rehoned my Crown and Eagle straight, I guess I buggered up Josh's nice edge with my sloppy stropping. I didn't have a lot of time on my hands so only touched it up with my 8K, stropped then shaved. I did post a thread about the worrying start with my new 8k.

The shave was wasn't too comfortable which is to be expected from an 8k I guess, but it did however get very close to BBS and there was little razor burn.

I think I got my stropping down a little better now thanks Dave.

[OLD_SCHOOL]

I honed the Crown and Eagle with a green Escher today, I forgot to double the number of passes since its a small hone.

The shave was rather uncomfortable and I had to finish with the feather again. (so much for retiring it eh)
The very worst part of the shave was when I tried to shave my neck with the C+E it felt like I was putting a red hot piece of steel to my skin.

For my next shave though I am going to try something new. I am going to only lather one patch on my face at a time and shave. The reason? Because my facial hair grows in all directions and it is extremely hard to do a WTG, XTG and ATG shave with lather covering the whiskers, I can't see their direction. I'm not sure this will work because the patches where the hair changes direction is not very big, perhaps a CM at the largest. You saw the pics.

[jnich67]

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I honed the Crown and Eagle with a green Escher today, I forgot to double the number of passes since its a small hone.

The shave was rather uncomfortable and I had to finish with the feather again. (so much for retiring it eh)
The very worst part of the shave was when I tried to shave my neck with the C+E it felt like I was putting a red hot piece of steel to my skin.

For my next shave though I am going to try something new. I am going to only lather one patch on my face at a time and shave. The reason? Because my facial hair grows in all directions and it is extremely hard to do a WTG, XTG and ATG shave with lather covering the whiskers, I can't see their direction. I'm not sure this will work because the patches where the hair changes direction is not very big, perhaps a CM at the largest. You saw the pics.

If you ever place an order with QED, try one his shave sticks. You can apply the soap and shave without lathering it. This might help you see what you are doing. Just an idea. Keep at it!

Jordan

[dave5225]

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I think I got my stropping down a little better now thanks Dave.

Happy I could help a little . BTW , with all of the fine hones you have , why are you shaving off an 8k edge , when you have the means to do better ?

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Originally Posted by dave5225

Happy I could help a little . BTW , with all of the fine hones you have , why are you shaving off an 8k edge , when you have the means to do better ?

I was pressed for time so couldn't run it across a Japanese hone. I needed to shave but had no sharp straights, and didn't want to use the feather coz I always end up with a bloody patch somewhere.

[OLD_SCHOOL]

OOOOhhhhhh hell yeah.

OK you know I have tried to hone razors using the wrong progression and what have you. Well today I honed a razor from scratch. Set the bevel and went 1,5,8k then to Karasu.
Man talk about shave ready, no irritation or nicks or anything. BBS skin. Man wow.

I'm rather speechless, I am surprised how well it went.

I know, I know, you want to know the brand of straight I used yea? Well I cannot tell you as its a mystery straight. Its a 1/2 or full hollow, spike with no other markings whatsoever. I got one similar, which was hollow ground in sheffeild but no other info. So easy to hone. Such a nice shave.

I think I will stick with my boar brush to balance things out, you know, luxury of silky shaves from natural Japanese hones, gotta have some roughness somewhere.

Oh yea, and I decided I will post the razor to a hone meister to get approval of my honing ability. Hopefully he won't shoot me down. Mind you, if he has followed this journal, he should know, if it shaved my beard it will shave anyones. Unless mine is so whorey it buggered the edge after just one shave, LOL. Yea right, no I am absolutely positive, I will get a great response.

Well I am pleased with the result. So.... where should I go from here....?

[gugi]

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Well I am pleased with the result. So.... where should I go from here....?

Well, hone more razors would be the obvious direction

[dave5225]

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

OOOOhhhhhh hell yeah.

OK you know I have tried to hone razors using the wrong progression and what have you. Well today I honed a razor from scratch. Set the bevel and went 1,5,8k then to Karasu.
Man talk about shave ready, no irritation or nicks or anything. BBS skin. Man wow.

I'm rather speechless, I am surprised how well it went.

That's what I'm , talkin' about !

Well I am pleased with the result. So.... where should I go from here....?

Hone your Tosuke , give it a go

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Well I am not sure what was wrong with today's shave, as there were a number of variables. I hadn't shaved in about 2 weeks, I didn't have a shower before the shave like normal, and it was a freshly honed blade, that I deviated away from my progression, with. Whatever it was, caused me great pain, even after a nice ice towel (seems to be the fashion now, I use them due to the heat) my face still burns. I didn't even attempt doing anymore passes, just the one to make myself presentable-ish. I actually ended up switching razors, I was using a 6/8 Gotta #120 but it struggled a lot. So I broke out the Kummel, which also struggled somewhat. I will blame lack of prep and deviating from my honing schedule as the cause of today's bad shave. A few honemeisters here can verify, I can hone without a problem, when I use my personalised progression, therefore we shant call into question, my honing skills.

Still lots of trial and errors even after 11mths.

[hoglahoo]

lack of normally sufficient hair preparation with a tough beard will result in pain