Aggression - the pinch affect

[2bits]

In addition to the size of the blade-to-safety-bar gap the "curving" of the skin into the gap space will change the aggression.

Larger gaps and more pressure will increase this affect.

The pinching will alter the cutting angle and the amount of blade contact.

Image 1 - the pinch is the flesh in the centre below the black line.

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=12726

Even very slight pressure will show some pinching affect as can be seen here on "finger flesh" which is (for most of us) less pliable than
"face flesh". :biggrin:

Images 2 & 3 - Pinching with open-comb safety bars


http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=12727

The shadow in Image 2 indicates the curved shape of the skin.

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=12728

Razors with open-comb style safety bars (eg Gillette NEW with spaces 3 to 4 times the blade gap size) add a further pinching affect as the skin "pillows" in the gaps as it meets the cutting edge.

[This might explain why some users report a Gillette NEW seems more aggressive than a Gillette TECH with almost identical blade gap sizes.]

The variation due to pressure the user applies makes the pinch affect difficult to quantify.

It might be correct to say

- the open-comb safety bar designs are less "tolerant" of pressure variations than solid safety bar designs.

[Radar O\'Reilly]

Seems like a lot of pressure being applied. Most people advise letting the weight of the razor be the total pressure, and to just use the handle to guide it.

[gabeyb]

+ 1...

I actually used a NEW this morning. I found it to be slightly more aggressive than my tech that is the same save for the guard. I'm into more aggressive shaves recently, and was happy to discover this.

Side note: I always apply pressure with no irritation. I think the "no pressure" rule is good for newbies because pressure with a DE isn't even in the same ballpark as the pressure one applies with a cartridge. But yes, applying cartridge-like pressure with a DE would be blood shed. As always, YMMV.

[mozart]

Nice work. Could you do us a favor and reshoot the images with a blade present? :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Seriously, though, that would be most useful, provided there is a way you won't cut yourself in the process.

Thanks so much.

Best - MM

[MikeLip]

Seems like a lot of pressure being applied. Most people advise letting the weight of the razor be the total pressure, and to just use the handle to guide it.

You always apply pressure. Unless you are standing on your head, you have to apply pressure to get under the jaw and anywhere the cutting edge is pointing upwards. Unless you have your own 1-G gravitational field.

[2bits]

Seems like a lot of pressure being applied. Most people advise letting the weight of the razor be the total pressure, and to just use the handle to guide it.

If no pressure at all - there is no curve of the skin.

As soon as you apply enough pressure to remove just the lather you will not have the skin perfectly straight.

The stretching of the skin can reduce the pinch effect but between stretch and pressure the "aggression" factor is going to vary with the technique of the user.

The geometry of the razor is not the whole story making up the users experience of aggression. But feature like the open-comb can (and do) make a difference.

[MotoMike]

Fine work 2bits!

I love it when you talk razor...
You found a way to see what I thought could not be seen. I think there is definite merit to this additional factor in aggressiveness.

No pressure is not really what we do. When switching from a cartridge to a DE, No pressure is what you strive for because it defies your previous experience. At first it seems unreal just how little pressure is used with a DE. But in fact you do use a bit of pressure. Don't know how much it takes to force this bulge into the gap, but the more the pressure the more the bulge and the more aggressive the shave. In addition to the blade being pushed into the skin more, the angle between the blade and the skin becomes steeper with more pressure.

Great job.

[2bits]

For the blood thirsty ... :eek:

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=12729

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=12730

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=12731

[mozart]

Great thanks. As you can see, with the blade present, the "pinching" effect is a lot smaller, because the blade effectively reduces the gap. Nevertheless, the effect is real and contributes to the increased aggressiveness of razors with wider blade gaps (e.g. adjustables).

Best - MM

[Shave Cat]

The pinch effect demostrates why I prefer razors with smaller blade gaps. As the years have progressed, my skin is not as tight as it once was. I have a tendency to nick myself when using a razor with a larger gap. Thanks 2bits!

-Clarke