I've strayed, but now I'm back

[mbrossar]

Have you ever made a change in the way you do things in life, and when you notice things aren't going well, you just can't seem to pin it back to that change? I just did that with my shaves, but I am happy to report that thanks to LarryAndro, Joel and this forum as a whole, I'm back on track.

For some reason, I'm not sure why, my blade angle has been shallowing. I think it started with illustrations like this and with my ATG passes, but I started shallowing my WTG and XTG passes too. I noticed the quality of my shaves were deteriorating, but I wasn't pinning it back to my technique. Actually, I was focusing on the sharpness of my blades. I am after all relatively new to sharpening my own blades, so of course, that had to be the problem. Well, a comment by LarryAndro got me re-examining my technique, re-reading straight shaving guides and videos. I noticed two things. My blade angle had been shallowing and my strokes had been getting longer. Getting back to basics, taking the advice already available on this forum, I steepened my angle and shortened my strokes. The difference is night and day. In fact, it's so much better, I've eliminated the need to clean up with my DE, nearly eliminated the need for a third pass (which I may be able to eliminate based on some sharpness issues that Bart is helping me with) and cut my straight razor shave time in half.

So, I'd like to say a special thanks to LarryAndro for getting me to re-examine my technique, Joel for all his work on training material and Bart for setting good sharpness and sharpening expectations. I'd also like to say a general thanks to everyone on this forum who supports everyone else and helps each of us to improve. What a great resource!

 

[mbrossar]

Oops, meant to include this picture.

 

[Seraphim]

Hmmm, interesting....


It is always good to try different techniques, instead of getting stuck in a rut. But change is hard too!

 

[joshmpdx]

Nice Mike!

 

[coyotewhisper]

I have just started, quickly realized the angle is important. I did it give to much thought with the first few shaves. Now I developing my technique, each shave gets better.

 

[Oglethorpe]

Mike- Interesting you should bring this up....

I've also, in day-to-day practice made some changes to my routine based on my technique getting better. I was an every-other-day WTG/XTG/ATG shaver, but in the last two months or so I've gotten my WTG and XTG so refined that I don't even need to bother with ATG. My shaves are so close with two passes and I attribute it to paying very close attention to my technique.

I reserve ATG passes for special days like weddings, meetings, or other formal situations. It's still nice to get all-the-way BBS on occasion, but with it being so close it's almost overkill.

G

 

[Seraphim]

Mike- Interesting you should bring this up....

I've also, in day-to-day practice made some changes to my routine based on my technique getting better. I was an every-other-day WTG/XTG/ATG shaver, but in the last two months or so I've gotten my WTG and XTG so refined that I don't even need to bother with ATG. My shaves are so close with two passes and I attribute it to paying very close attention to my technique.

I reserve ATG passes for special days like weddings, meetings, or other formal situations. It's still nice to get all-the-way BBS on occasion, but with it being so close it's almost overkill.

G

OK, so elaborate, if you'd be so kind?

Do you also find an increased angle on the WTG/XTG to be the key?

 

[mouscacha]

This is sound advice. I think I'm going to watch more videos to brush up on my technique. I agree that as I progress, the stroke became longer. I also wasn't playing with blade angle as much. Bad habits can become learned!

 

[schatz]

This post was a nice refresher to remember the basics. Thanks.