Straight Shaver Interview - global_dev

[Luc]

I would like to thank Jon for his time to do this interview. As always, all interviews are available in Wiki


Who are you? / Where are you located?
Jon, currently in No. VA.

my beard after 2-3 days
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How do you take your coffee?
Earlier, light & sweet from local LI deli. In Africa, chai. in Russian Far East, instant w/ sugar cube and black tea. Once back in the states, really enjoying vacpot brew w/ light cream. a warm guinness suffices for coffee at times.

What happened that made you seek a better shave, or if the chicken came before the egg, how did you find B&B?
I stole my brothers sensor excel. In Russia, used Nivea products that weren't available in the US. had typical slight redness on neck/jaw. bought a Braun foil, revolutionary self cleaning..

last year, my bro and i were talking about shaving. Surprisingly, my bro up and bought a 38C, brush, and cream, in Roosevelt Field AOS. intrigued i debated and couldn't decide, finally stumbling on the Shea Moisture brush. Lurking here and there and i was trying to understand reviews and what mattered. I decided, I would get what i really wanted, it would be my only razor. Feather AS.

I chose B&B b/c the color scheme appealed to me! and noticed a bit more traffic.

then visions of a straight. A straight journal? too personal! others reading my daily shaves, acquisitions, and thoughts?

What was it that held your interest?
The Feather, lather, brushes felt totally different... feels, scents, basic function got trumped. I wanted to try everything.

If i remember from your posts, you started with DE's before switching to straights; What did you start with?
That Feather AS, my first real brush - Vulfix 41, no one could have convinced me about vintage. it took a bit to really reconsider/accept. I can enjoy a DE/SE, but the feel of a straight is just **there.

Shave Cream & Soaps? what did you find that worked well from those initial trials?
VDH worked fine, Foamy OK with conair warmer. G5 scuttles were so cool, but not right for me. I really like soaps in wooden bowls, I appreciate a great cream. I haven't tried MWF, or DR.H, or TOBS or T&H either. that almost sounds heretical ... slick and dense lather, that's were it's at!

Where did you get your first straight razor? was it shave ready?
first straight was a "fixed" GD108, followed by a Seraphim GD, both shave ready, poorly stropped the GD, Seraphim's came as a reference... pretty darn sharp...

Determination is key with shaving with a straight, how did you push through the Month + of sub par shaves? did you know there was a light at the end of the tunnel??
it hadn't dawned on me how much was really going on with straights. reading, watching, re-reading, re-watching to see the nuances. shaves got better, it was enjoyable regardless of the fine red lines. i don't know that machismo wasn't involved, but i had nothing to prove.

Now my favorite question... if you were stranded on a desert island and could only choose:
3 razors:

Jose Pou Monserrat 14 - Flamenco
Palmera 14
Hart square point


2 brushes:

Simpsons CH3
Big Plisson plexi


3 soaps:

AOS - neutral, mild scent
Tabac - rich, masculine floral.
C&E Nomad - exotic grassy smell


2 creams:

Acqua di Parma - fresh, refined
DC1913 - dark, not too dark


3 colognes:

Terre d' Hermes Parfum
Tom Ford - Italian Cypress & Tuscan Leather


3 Aftershaves:

Terre d' Hermes
Witch hazel
Acqua di Parma



What is your strop preference and what is your stropping regime?
My Kanayamas. leather so sweet...
40/60 before
10/15 after
w/ the 90K tri-strop + 30 before

What is your honing set up for eBay specials?
DMT C-F-E-la nouvelle coticule unicot...
playing w/ odd thuri, nakayama kiita w/ nashiji. shapton 2K/5K, j-synth 8K., some other coti bouts, C12K, suehiro 1.2K

How often and what's your method for touching up your straights? favorite finish?
don't touch-up that often, probably need to... the la nouvelle, jnat, and thuri give sweet edges.

Are you currently reading a book? or perhaps even better; what book will you be reading next?
Just finished King Arthur and Knights of the Roundtable..way different than expected. lots of riding, smoting and taking of women. typically ends up being disney stories for my girls...

Favorite Movie or two?
Seven Samurai - my favorite for about a decade now... Babe - "Christmas means carnage!"

What has been the best advice you've gotten from a member at B&B?
it's not so much advice, but the enthusiasm.... "have at it & keep at it".

If you could give one piece of advice to someone new at this, what would it be?
don't take anything personally about taste in kit...

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=120302&stc=1&d=1282929395

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[kg4ghn]

Another great interview, I enjoy reading these!

[dakotaev]

Great read, nice gear!

[Zephyr]

Thanks for another great interview.

[le_paulo]

Agreed - his journal is one of the best out there and his RAD and photos have certainly allowed the rest of us to indulge in some vicarious pleasure over the last couple of months. Thanks guys!

[Obiwan]

Great interview and very nice gear there.

[joshmpdx]

Nice!

[Gamma]

good read, nice nice gear too...

[closer]

I found myself drooling over that AdP setup!

[Antique Hoosier]

Nice glimpse into Jon's world, a Gentleman who clearly enjoys the finer things indeed.

[Blix]

Great interview! I found myself drooling over the AdP's too.

But seriously, only three brushes? :hand:

[taffy]

Its nice to know a bit more about the folks on here ;)

[onimaru55]

Good read... +1 for Kurosawa !

[global_dev]

Great interview! I found myself drooling over the AdP's too.

But seriously, only three brushes? :hand:

3 brushes was after a a couple months from beginning wetshaving w/ brushes. that was a pic from thanksgiving2010. I must be up to something like 15-17 depending on the week and what i give away to friends in PIFs.

[Blix]

3 brushes was after a a couple months from beginning wetshaving w/ brushes. that was a pic from thanksgiving2010. I must be up to something like 15-17 depending on the week and what i give away to friends in PIFs.


Ah good, you had me worried there for a second. :001_tongu

[global_dev]

whatever happened to more of these interviews?

[Kentos]

I did a few but ran out of guys to interview. Might be time to start it up again.

[Giant Kiwi]

Warm Guinness????????????????
Now that's heretical not having tried MWF is personal choice but warm guinness <shaking head>
Arthur will be turning in his grave

[global_dev]

Warm Guinness????????????????
Now that's heretical not having tried MWF is personal choice but warm guinness <shaking head>
Arthur will be turning in his grave

Not warmed, room temp is what i was going for.:blush:

[ladykate]

Not warmed, room temp is what i was going for.:blush:

Yes, it loses its taste if you chill it. Chilling is for carbonated sugar water and lawnmower beer.

Good interview. I'm afraid I'm not nearly as sophisticated. I have found that basic tools used correctly give me a lot of pleasure.

[rockviper]

Room temp or basement temp Guinness is where's it's at, for sure.
Ya know, I think I'm beginning to like you guys :tongue_sm

[global_dev]

i think it's a good time to take another "family" portrait. i'll update it soon. it' nice to see progression over time.

[Giant Kiwi]

It's o.k. Jon I'm only ribbing ya.
Most bars serve it cold here.
Guinness has a bit of tradition and standing to the locals, most famous export after all.

[global_dev]

The Guinness brewery in Nairobi serves it room temp and that's where I learned to love it.

[wherndon]

nice post.
I used to drink my PBR at room temp. Now it's strickly Jim Beam, straight up, room temp.

[Doc226]

Great interview.

Jon, you must send me he hardware for proper disposal.

[global_dev]

Great interview.

Jon, you must send me he hardware for proper disposal.

Absolutely, once the blank check clears the bank, it will be hand delivered to RI, right?!?

[oakeshott]

The Guinness brewery in Nairobi serves it room temp and that's where I learned to love it.

I met my wife while playing darts and drinking Guinness. Love on sight. Was it the Guinness? We will never know.

[global_dev]

I met my wife while playing darts and drinking Guinness. Love on sight. Was it the Guinness? We will never know.

No joke, I actually met my wife playing darts, but drinking Murphy's, since they didn't have Guinness on tap..

[Doc226]

Absolutely, once the blank check clears the bank, it will be hand delivered to RI, right?!?
Great, the check is in the mail.


I am from the government, I am here to help.

[cleanshaved]

Guinness. hmmm a meal in a glass.
different beers taste better warmer to others as some flavours can not be tasted if too cold.
your home fridge is about between 35 and 38 degrees F (1.7 to 3.3 degrees C).
Ideal Guinness temp to drink Guinness 42 to 44 degrees F (6 to 7 degrees C). I know, I know YMMV
room temp varies a lot, so there are a few options at hand. you can the pull Guinness out of the fridge a hour or so before consuming or have half you beer in the fridge and the other half not. mix cold/room beer when pouring.
just food for thought. Cheers.
PS these interviews are great.

[Luc]

Warm Guinness????????????????
Now that's heretical not having tried MWF is personal choice but warm guinness <shaking head>
Arthur will be turning in his grave

I also drink mine room temperature in winter. Ice cold in the summer. It's a complete different drink.