Which way to go and how long to take?

[mkevenson]

I have 8 str8s that are shave ready. I have one DE, a Merkur futur. I have been shaving 5 or 6 x a week with the str8s since end of Dec. I know the learning curve is long and I want to stick it out for as long as I can. I REALLY love the whole str8 shaving experience. The problem is I get a better shave with the DE. I don't cut myself with the DE. I really want to get to the place where my srt8 shaves are as good or better than my DE shaves. AND, I insist on doing my own honing. What do you all think? Have any of you been here before and left the str8 for the DE cause you got a better,cleaner,non-bluddy shaves? Did you feel like you gave up too early? Oh what a dilema? To even have these thoughts at all. I am so ashamed.

 

[Synack]

I find it amusing that I've gotten FAR less cuts and nicks with a real straight, versus a DE. If you are just starting out sub-par shaves will probably be the norm for some time. Personally I found it to be a much steeper learning curve than DE. Just keep practicing and read the stickies here. I'm sure you'll be at DFS level fairly quick.

Also, don't be tempted to switch back to a DE mid-shave. Just keep at it and make sure you give yourself plenty of time.

 

[leighton]

I definitely don't have that problem. I find DEs harsh and not as elegant. Also find the shaves are better with the straight, closer and more comfortable.

Could be the sharpness/polish level of your straight. If you like, I'd be willing to evaluate the edge for you.

Have you tried all the different grinds/sizes?

 

[pmast]

Have you tried the scorched earth method? Loan your DEs to a friend/family member so they can get hooked and that will leave you no other option, but to make the straights work. Seriously, you have the rest of your life to learn if you want to. Relax, its not a race or contest, just enjoy what works for you and explore what picks your interest at your liesure.

 

[Luc]

I'm still working with the straights. I don't have as many shaves as you but I'm working on it, slowly. I love shaving with a straight. I think I figured out how to do my passes properly to remove a maximum of stubble. I'm starting to get that chin and throat shaved properly!

I would love to hone my own razors but I'm not there yet. I prefer focusing on the strop and shave for now. I want to learn how to use a hone one day but I know that I'm not there right now.

I get better shaves with my DE at the moment but I won't deny that I love straight razors. As I get good shaves with the DE, I use that experience to get better shaves with the straights. If I get a BBS with a DE doing my passes a certain way, I should get the same with a straight.

I think you need to stick to it, however, if you prefer a DE, there's no shame.

 

[mkevenson]

if you prefer a DE, there's no shame.

No I don't. I do get better shaves tho with the DE, not to say I don't get "good" shaves with the str8, just not as good and more blood, not every day but at least once a week I got TP on my face. Think that I will take Leighton up on his offer to look at a few of my blades. Maybe my honing is too far off? Oh and Oh Yah, I do have the rest of my life, tho not as many years as many of you here, at 58yrs young.

 

[spanx]

Well after approx 180 shaves it probably isn't your tecnique.Have leighton evaluate your razors. Also evaluate yor stropping.Might I suggest getting a paddle strop.They help in preventing a convex edge.Just in case that is happening.

 

[professorchaos]

Quit using the DE.

 

[gugi]

do you know where your honing needs to be?
if you don't know what your goal is getting there may prove rather difficult.

i find it a bit odd that you insist on doing your own honing, but you don't insist on making your DE blades

 

[mkevenson]

do you know where your honing needs to be?
if you don't know what your goal is getting there may prove rather difficult.

i find it a bit odd that you insist on doing your own honing, but you don't insist on making your DE blades

Quite a different situation. I can not afford to have my str8s professionally honed and I want to do it myself. So I guess I just have to learn myself.

 

[alexo]

Assuming your str8s are sharp and your prep is good, you might want to consider watching these videos on youtube and match with your own technique. I watched again and again until I got the idea of how much pressure (I was too light), the correct angle (I was too rigid and too high) and specific techniques for difficult areas like the mouth corners.

My favorite:
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuuuvuOzB7U[/YOUTUBE]

This one has the best closeups:
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrP2T8phbwM[/YOUTUBE]

 

[mkevenson]

Thanks for the videos. I have watched the 1st a couple times and had not seen the 2nd. I have sent my blades out for eval and I guess maybe I will make a video of myself and try to get it to post here. That will be a major problem, I bet since I have never used you tube to post. Oh well I'll give her a try. All the videos look pretty familiar to what I am doing, but then again, who knows for sure?

 

[gugi]

Quite a different situation. I can not afford to have my str8s professionally honed and I want to do it myself. So I guess I just have to learn myself.

If that is the case you can send me one of them, but I am not a pro. But even if I cannot provide a benchmark I can make it as good as I can and I can also tell you whether it were too dull. I sometimes get to see what members on this forum consider 'shave ready' and it can be really bad.

 

[gugi]

I have sent my blades out for eval

ah, ok. nevermind my previous post.

 

[alexo]

Thanks for the videos. I have watched the 1st a couple times and had not seen the 2nd. I have sent my blades out for eval and I guess maybe I will make a video of myself and try to get it to post here. That will be a major problem, I bet since I have never used you tube to post. Oh well I'll give her a try. All the videos look pretty familiar to what I am doing, but then again, who knows for sure?

The second video with its closeups is more into the details of how much pressure and how to adjust the angle to the curve.

I saw a video on Youtube, showing how to train working with a str8 and balloon. You inflate the balloon to about half of the volume, put some lather on it and then shave it with the str8. If the balloon pops, you'll get a nice lather explosion everywhere so it's not the most forgiving way to learn but better than blood and nicks for sure.

 

[mkevenson]

The second video with its closeups is more into the details of how much pressure and how to adjust the angle to the curve.

I saw a video on Youtube, showing how to train working with a str8 and balloon. You inflate the balloon to about half of the volume, put some lather on it and then shave it with the str8. If the balloon pops, you'll get a nice lather explosion everywhere so it's not the most forgiving way to learn but better than blood and nicks for sure.

I bet if your face exploded like the baloon you would sure learn fast!!!!!

 

[Seraphim]

My incidence of cuts went way down after my blade angle also went way down. keep the razor almost flat against your face. Stretch your skin as taut as you can, and shave away! You also should check that the end of the cutting edge is somehoe blunted a tiny bit. even aon a roundpoint there can be arather sharpish point where the cutting edge meets up with the upward sweep of the point. If comfort is what you are after, have that last tip blunted ever so slightly.

 

[mkevenson]

My incidence of cuts went way down after my blade angle also went way down. keep the razor almost flat against your face. Stretch your skin as taut as you can, and shave away! You also should check that the end of the cutting edge is somehoe blunted a tiny bit. even aon a roundpoint there can be arather sharpish point where the cutting edge meets up with the upward sweep of the point. If comfort is what you are after, have that last tip blunted ever so slightly.[/QUOT

Thanks, I am comfortable shaving with a straight, the blood isn't very often but more than with the DE. The main thing is the closeness of the shave, and it isn't bad just not as good.

 

[Seraphim]

My incidence of cuts went way down after my blade angle also went way down. keep the razor almost flat against your face. Stretch your skin as taut as you can, and shave away! You also should check that the end of the cutting edge is somehoe blunted a tiny bit. even aon a roundpoint there can be arather sharpish point where the cutting edge meets up with the upward sweep of the point. If comfort is what you are after, have that last tip blunted ever so slightly.[/QUOT

Thanks, I am comfortable shaving with a straight, the blood isn't very often but more than with the DE. The main thing is the closeness of the shave, and it isn't bad just not as good.

Sharpness may then indeed be the culprit.

 

[mkevenson]

Just wanted to update the group. I sent 4 str8s out to Leighton for evaluation. He offered and I accepted. He gave me a good evaluation and went even further and honed my blades to SR status. I have shaved with 2 of the blades 2 times each and once on the third. I think that at this point I can eliminate the sharpness issue. I have come to the conclusion that my str8 razor shaving technique is still wanting. I will concentrate on getting better shave technique and may in fact make a video for critique. My sincere thanks to all who have advised and especially to Leighton for his help with my blades.

Mark