HD Slant: Fear and Loathing in the bathroom . . . .

**strat1117** · 06-06-2009, 08:38 PM

My RAD ratcheted itself up a notch in intensity this week and, on a whim, I ordered a gold HD Slant from WCS, which arrived this afternoon.

This thing is downright scary looking!

I have already loaded it with an RPIP for tomorrow morning's shave but, while I am fairly adept with my SS's and my Barberpole, I am embarrassed to admit that I find myself just a little anxious about using the Slant.

Do I need to do anything drastically different to avoid permanent disfigurement with this monster, or am I obsessing over nothing?

Thanks.

**erudolph** · 06-06-2009, 08:44 PM

Ditto. I loaded a blade into an old Hoffritz Slant, took a look at the blade gap, removed the blade from the razor and put the razor back in its box.

**mmack66** · 06-06-2009, 08:56 PM

You are obsessing over nothing. After your excellent shave, you will wonder what all the Slant horror stories are about.

**pcb01** · 06-06-2009, 08:58 PM

...but it's a little more aggressive than I like. My go to is a Futur on 3. This feels like a Futur on 4. You will be disappointed, I think, at just how normal this monster feels on you face.

**highball** · 06-06-2009, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by mmack66

You are obsessing over nothing. After your excellent shave, you will wonder what all the Slant horror stories are about.

+1
I don't think you will notice much of a difference from your Barberpole. Thats why I sold my slants

**jakespoppy** · 06-06-2009, 09:02 PM

It's scary looking....but in a beautiful way! If you can handle that Red Tip that's peeking out in the corner of your pic, you won't have a problem with the Slant. Just hold it like your other razors, and enjoy the shave. Nice pic!

**wundergussy** · 06-06-2009, 09:05 PM

Strat, I used a slant after three weeks of DE shaving and had no problems. You have all the technique you need. If anything, the best advice is to not over-think it. Just do what you normally do. Use the top of the razor (not the slanted guard) as your guide.

**highball** · 06-06-2009, 09:10 PM

Wait till you get a old type Muhle R89 , then you will need to worry

**jakespoppy** · 06-06-2009, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by wundergussy

Strat, I used a slant after three weeks of DE shaving and had no problems. You have all the technique you need. If anything, the best advice is to not over-think it. Just do what you normally do. Use the top of the razor (not the slanted guard) as your guide.

That might work, but it's very dangerous, looking up close at the top of the razor like that. I tried that with a Slant, and this is what happened...

**wundergussy** · 06-06-2009, 09:28 PM

I can't stop staring at that picture...

...must...resist...

**andy hopper** · 06-06-2009, 09:40 PM

Remember your prep and DE shaving basics. Go slow and maybe you will find it a very close and confortable shave like I did.

**jakespoppy** · 06-06-2009, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by wundergussy

I can't stop staring at that picture...

...must...resist...

Which eye are you staring with?

**Stubblefield** · 06-06-2009, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by jakespoppy

Which eye are you staring with?

What hump?

OP: Don't overthing the Slant. Oh, and a shot of Tequila before your first shave with a slant is just the ticket.

**highball** · 06-06-2009, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by Stubblefield

Oh, and a shot of Tequila before your first shave with a slant is just the ticket.

agreed, then try to follow the top of the slant

**dpm802** · 06-07-2009, 12:25 AM

I find that my Sledgehammer Slant works best when it has several days worth of stubble to harvest ... as such, I don't think of it as a daily razor.

Mine works best with a Feather blade ... 2.5 passes, and I'm BBS every time.

It does take a slightly different technique than either my HD or Futur ... I won't even try and explain it to you, you'll just have to figure out what works best for you.

Don't be afraid of it, its not as scary as you think. And there is a learning curve involved, as with all tools.

Your first shave may be so-so ... the next one will be good, the one after that will be better, and once you've gotten 5 or 6 shaves with it, it will feel like second nature, and you'll be pulling BBS most of the time.

**strat1117** · 06-07-2009, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by jakespoppy

If you can handle that Red Tip that's peeking out in the corner of your pic, you won't have a problem with the Slant.

Actually, the ~~reason~~ rationalization for getting the Slant in the first place was that I wanted to try something a little more aggressive than the Red Tip, which I don't find to be a harsh shaver at all. But the Red Tip looks like a human razor, and this looks like something out of "Brazil."

Originally Posted by Stubblefield

... a shot of Tequila before your first shave with a slant is just the ticket.

Do you mean an extra shot?

Originally Posted by dpm802

I find that my Sledgehammer Slant works best when it has several days worth of stubble to harvest ...

That's along the lines of what I was thinking -- that the Slant would enjoy having more than just a single day's worth of growth to mow down. It does look very ~~angry~~ hungry.

Seriously -- thank you for the input, boys. My trepidations are slightly lessened.

Well, except for the part about looking like Marty Feldman. Did you get stuck that way?

**jakespoppy** · 06-07-2009, 05:25 AM

[GVIDEO][/GVIDEO]

Originally Posted by strat1117

Seriously -- thank you for the input, boys. My trepidations are slightly lessened.

Well, except for the part about looking like Marty Feldman. Did you get stuck that way?:

Only for a few days - I used a GEM G-Bar to pry them back together.

**bonusmarple** · 06-07-2009, 05:37 AM

You just need to make a small offering before you shave. A rodent, bird, or young child will do.

**Brodirt** · 06-07-2009, 05:47 AM

Drop a blade in and shave. Its really that simple. There is nothing to fear. Oh, and use a Feather...its the best performer IME in the slant. Then when your done with your spectacular shave you can say I shaved with the "Devil's razor and blade." A silly description if you ask me.