Hate to post this on Micromatic Monday but had another tough shave with a Damaskeen. I know there have been posts in the past on this topic...having trouble finding them but would love your thoughts.
I picked up a Damaskeen earlier in 2020 and honestly have not had a great shave on it. I got a 4 blade sample pack from tryablade and have used GEM PTFE, stainless and PAL Blue Carbon (today's blade). I've hand stropped each blade 20 or so strokes before each shave. The razor seems to be in good shape-good spring and the blade is secure and straight (pics attached)
My technique might be partially to blame. I think I've got the angle figured out but since I mainly use a DE, I've got to readjust each time I use the SE. Each shave just feels like I'm using a broken bottle. Lots of tugging and it barely seems I've done anything after the first pass in comparison to a first pass with the DE. Today I did one pass with the GEM and could feel irritation so I finished with the DE on the XTG pass and clean up. I'm using the same preshave prep (hot shower, wet face) and soaps that perform well otherwise and serve me very well on my DE shaves. The variables are the blades and any kinks in my technique.
I think now I've kind of psyched myself out as I go into these shaves with low expectations but hoping for something different---that may lead to pressure and angle fiddling which probably doesn't help. Still multiple shaves, different blades, same unpleasant results. This was a low investment endeavor so dropping it would not be the end of the world. But...I don't like giving up! I'm wondering if I should give another GEM model a shot though. Thoughts? Recommendations?
I picked up a Damaskeen earlier in 2020 and honestly have not had a great shave on it. I got a 4 blade sample pack from tryablade and have used GEM PTFE, stainless and PAL Blue Carbon (today's blade). I've hand stropped each blade 20 or so strokes before each shave. The razor seems to be in good shape-good spring and the blade is secure and straight (pics attached)
My technique might be partially to blame. I think I've got the angle figured out but since I mainly use a DE, I've got to readjust each time I use the SE. Each shave just feels like I'm using a broken bottle. Lots of tugging and it barely seems I've done anything after the first pass in comparison to a first pass with the DE. Today I did one pass with the GEM and could feel irritation so I finished with the DE on the XTG pass and clean up. I'm using the same preshave prep (hot shower, wet face) and soaps that perform well otherwise and serve me very well on my DE shaves. The variables are the blades and any kinks in my technique.
I think now I've kind of psyched myself out as I go into these shaves with low expectations but hoping for something different---that may lead to pressure and angle fiddling which probably doesn't help. Still multiple shaves, different blades, same unpleasant results. This was a low investment endeavor so dropping it would not be the end of the world. But...I don't like giving up! I'm wondering if I should give another GEM model a shot though. Thoughts? Recommendations?