Why is my angle different from yours? Or is it?

[luvmysuper]

I started with the str8 a little over 2 months ago. With the exception of a very few, my shaves have all been with a straight. I get a close comfortable shave in a reasonable amount of time, I'm not getting up earlier anymore.

There is an advantage, I think, to being a bit older and being able to stretch a given part of your facial skin over to another easier to shave plane,

I keep reading here all of the advice to noobs about keeping as steep of an angle as possible, with the razor almost flat against the face.

I can't get results that way, I mean I just don't get a good shave.

I do get good results, and I don't feel tugging or pulling, but the spine is a pretty good distance from the surface it is shaving, a good 1/4 to 3/8 inch from the surface to be precise.

I don't have a complaint about the quality or comfort of my shaves, but it just doesn't seem to fit with what I read here frequently.

I have read that a greater angle is typically used when people have a razor that is not as sharp as it could be, but I use the same technique with 4 different razors, all with the same results.

Do the pros / experts have some input here? I really would like to hear your take on this.

 

[Leche]

Could be an indication to need a freshening Phil. I don't think it is a hard and fast rule though to have it say a spine width off of the skin. I use more angle for WTG, less for a XTG, and even less on ATG. My guess is your fine.

 

[mparker762]

What angle do you use with a Feather AC?

 

[luvmysuper]

What angle do you use with a Feather AC?

I've never used a shavette, so I can't answer this question.

 

[Governor11201]

The Feather is a bit like a wedge straight, and designed to lay nearly flat against the skin. Raise it up to be a bit more aggressive WTG, but trust to the design to keep you largely in the correct angle when shaving with the flat of the blade holder against your face.

A bit different from a shavette actually.

With a hollow edge straight, do what feels right for your face. You are holding the world's most adjustable razor ever designed, flexible and fast. As long as you are getting a close swathe without irritation, trust the results.

 

[kwigibocity]

I wouldn't worry about the angle of incidence which you use from one razor to the next, nor about the same used by others.

All that really matters is that you develop that sense for the right angle for whatever blade's in your hand, which will change with successive passes and across different areas of your face.

Buy into the zen notion, listen and feel the blade, and the information you'll learn from that will tell you all you need to know.

 

[danjared]

I'm curious about this too, especially since I've read that using a higher angle can cause the edge to dull faster. Is that simply an unavoidable tradeoff if one prefers a higher angle? (Or is it just a matter of building experience?)

 

[Ookla The Mok]

angle-schmangle.

If you are getting a close comfortable shave in a reasonable amount of time, that's the end of the lesson. I have a very steep approach on my cheeks and super shallow on my neck. It's just developed over time and works for me. Do what works for you, not what works for others. We all have different beards.

 

[Luc]

I don't know if your angle is off or not. I agree with Erick, if you got a good shave, even with a big angle, it's all right.

Those 4 straights were honed by the same honer?

 

[falkor27]

I've noticed the same thing. I tried keeping it flat and got bad shaves and irritated skin. Then I just started doing what felt right and everything fell into place. I think i have about a thirty-five degree angle, on my face. On my neck, interestingly enough, I need to use a much more acute one — about fifteen degrees.

 

[huracan]

Can I have your Feather then if you decide to give up?...lol, I joke. That played funnier in my head after reading the tangent the thread was taking.


Positioning the blade relatively flat against the skin, together with short strokes, helps compensate for natural errors and tendencies when first trying to shave with a straight (too much pressure, too tight grip, etc). It is a good point of reference when you don't know what's going on.

Once you start to get a feel for it and by the sound of it, you already are, technique will adapt to each particular razor.

 

[luvmysuper]

I thank you gentlemen for the input. I think I'll just keep on keeping on then and not worry about it.

I don't know if your angle is off or not. I agree with Erick, if you got a good shave, even with a big angle, it's all right.

Those 4 straights were honed by the same honer?

2 by one honer, and the other two by different folks - so three different honers for the 4 razors.

 

[Seraphim]

Make a measurement by holding your razor with one hand, stretch the skin with your other hand, and hold a protractor with....oh wait a second.....


Yeah, just do what feels best for you!

 

[danjared]

Make a measurement by holding your razor with one hand, stretch the skin with your other hand, and hold a protractor with....oh wait a second.....


Yeah, just do what feels best for you!

So you're saying that I should machine a guide that clips onto your blade and zaps you when you have the angle wrong? I bet it'll sell like hotcakes.

I'll call it "Clippy".

 

[Thebigspendur]

We usually tell people starting out to use a shallow angle initially but as you shave more and more you adjust to adapt to your own situation. So, however you do it if you get a good comfortable shave I wouldn't fret about it.

 

[Seraphim]

So you're saying that I should machine a guide that clips onto your blade and zaps you when you have the angle wrong? I bet it'll sell like hotcakes.

I'll call it "Clippy".

How about some sort of plastic enclosure that kept the blades at a particular angle to the face? Boy, if someone would invent one of those, they'd make millions!

 

[huracan]

How about some sort of plastic enclosure that kept the blades at a particular angle to the face? Boy, if someone would invent one of those, they'd make millions!

I tried those blades, but once I got used to the angle and tought I could start using them without the plastic enclosure crutch, it became hard to keep a good hold on them, hard to strop and thus the shaves suffered. I gave up on them

 

[mark3d]

this thread made me examine my blade angle and it looks like i was trying to use too aggressive an angle all over. I have worked out that a low angle (spine 45 degrees from face) on the first pass clears a lot of stubble allowing a nice aggressive angle (spine close to face, although varied according to face region) on the second pass. it has made a huge difference.

.

 

[Luc]

I thank you gentlemen for the input. I think I'll just keep on keeping on then and not worry about it.



2 by one honer, and the other two by different folks - so three different honers for the 4 razors.

Mate, I guess you're on the right path. Please, post your progress!

Re-reading your OP, I assume that you are doing an average of 60 laps on your strop?

 

[luvmysuper]

Mate, I guess you're on the right path. Please, post your progress!

Re-reading your OP, I assume that you are doing an average of 60 laps on your strop?

I strop a LOT. It's kind of relaxing actually.
I'll strop before shaving about 75 times, but I also just strop sometimes when I'm in there for no particular reason at all.

I don't really seem to be having any real problems, I just wanted to check to make sure that I was at least in theory doing what most others do, and it sounds as if I am.

I've not had any issue with sharpness, so I believe that the stropping and blade angle is at least sufficient to avoid driving the edge to dull, so that's a good thing.

I do appreciate the advice, this is a great forum and there are some great people here.