Gus's Shave diary

**Luc** · 10-10-2010, 02:00 PM

I usually don't strop them because I know where the razor came from and it's pre-stropped. If I don't know or it's the first time that I use a particular honemeister, I will strop it.

**Gustav** · 10-11-2010, 09:49 PM

Shave #63

Again I used the "Made in Solingen" 6/8 full hollow round point from post 67 after stropping it 40 laps on canvas and 70 on leather on my new ruprazor paladin. I then did my usual prep, lathered up with Tabac SS and started shaving. I knew immediately this was going to be another substandard shave. There was none of the comparatively effortless glide expeienced with the Erik Anton Berg, it was just a huge amount of tugging. I could barely manage a DFS, in fact on the chin and mustach area it is a definite SAS. Even the cheeks are substandard although I must admit I did not dare go ATG this time.

For now I will trust my feelings that this is a substandard razor and move on to the Tuckmar of post 76 for my next shave. I must say however, that I am very puzzled. The place I bought the "made in Solingen" in, was a bit dodgy and it was not particularly expensive, could it be that this razor is just CRAP and will not take an edge? Would going on a stropping frenzy do any good? Should I try stropping on paste? I tried the HHT after stropping and the edge was not near to catching the hair, I had to give up! On my EAB it would always catch and cut the hair after at least a few attempts. I shall look forward to your comments.

**Luc** · 10-12-2010, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by Gustav

Shave #63

Again I used the "Made in Solingen" 6/8 full hollow round point from post 67 after stropping it 40 laps on canvas and 70 on leather on my new ruprazor paladin. I then did my usual prep, lathered up with Tabac SS and started shaving. I knew immediately this was going to be another substandard shave. There was none of the comparatively effortless glide expeienced with the Erik Anton Berg, it was just a huge amount of tugging. I could barely manage a DFS, in fact on the chin and mustach area it is a definite SAS. Even the cheeks are substandard although I must admit I did not dare go ATG this time.

For now I will trust my feelings that this is a substandard razor and move on to the Tuckmar of post 76 for my next shave. I must say however, that I am very puzzled. The place I bought the "made in Solingen" in, was a bit dodgy and it was not particularly expensive, could it be that this razor is just CRAP and will not take an edge? Would going on a stropping frenzy do any good? Should I try stropping on paste? I tried the HHT after stropping and the edge was not near to catching the hair, I had to give up! On my EAB it would always catch and cut the hair after at least a few attempts. I shall look forward to your comments.

I had the same type of experience at one stage where I had one favourite and 2-3 others that I didn't use much because I couldn't get shaves as good. I'm thinking, you could either send it somewhere to have it honed/touch up or wait a bit and try again. However, with the number of shaves that you have, you should get something a bit more consistent I would think and not fight the DFS...

**Gustav** · 10-13-2010, 09:42 PM

Shave #64

Well that is more like it! I decided to quit shaving with the "made in Solingen" and used the Tuckmar from post 76 instead. This razor mowed down my stubble in a jiffy. I got a DFS after three passes and some touch-ups without having to strain myself. I cut myself once due to the deceptively long tip of this razor. It also has more heft than the EAB which seems to be an advantageous since it seems to "stick" to the skin better. All this is mostly speculative but I will keep shaving with it for a while and see if my findings are confirmed.

**Ru4scuba?** · 10-14-2010, 04:48 PM

Id give the paste a go and see if that is enough touch up to get it to standard. If not, you could always send it out for a touch up!

Best of luck!

**Luc** · 10-14-2010, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Gustav

Shave #64

Well that is more like it! I decided to quit shaving with the "made in Solingen" and used the Tuckmar from post 76 instead. This razor mowed down my stubble in a jiffy. I got a DFS after three passes and some touch-ups without having to strain myself. I cut myself once due to the deceptively long tip of this razor. It also has more heft than the EAB which seems to be an advantageous since it seems to "stick" to the skin better. All this is mostly speculative but I will keep shaving with it for a while and see if my findings are confirmed.

I would offer to touch it up for you but I think I might be a bit too far for that...

Good work on shave 64!

**Gustav** · 10-14-2010, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by Ru4scuba?

Id give the paste a go and see if that is enough touch up to get it to standard. If not, you could always send it out for a touch up!

Best of luck!

I think I might give that a shot once I am through trying the other razors. It is worth a try and its simple enough to do. Thanks Luc for the offer but as it happens I am toying with the idea to send the Tuckmar to Larry at whippeddog to have it restored and I might just send the "made in Solingen" along with it.

**Ru4scuba?** · 10-16-2010, 11:48 AM

I wasn't sold on pastes at first, but I bought a cheap bottle of CroOx from Jim at Vintage Blades and am very happy with the results.

Plus, if this is your first time using str8s...just FYI.

There are alot of posts talking about the benefits of using pastes on a "hard" strop (ie balsa or wood) vs a leather strop. The reason for this is because you can easily dull the blade if you dont keep your leather strop taut enough.

At first I was worried but pulled on the strop pretty hard during my first touch up and did just fine...so, bottomline...with the amount of experience you have at this point in stropping I'd say you'd be fine IMHO.

**Gustav** · 10-22-2010, 12:23 AM

Shaves #65-68

Razor Tuckmar/solingen 5/8 full hollow (see post 76)
SS: Tabac and Palmolive

I have now had 5 shaves with this razor and in comparaison to my Erik Anton Berg it is a mixed bag. The blade itself is about as big as as the EAB but the shank on this shoulderless blade is very long compared to the EAB making it difficult to maneuver in tight areas, IMO. Nonetheless I have been getting some mighty fine shaves out of this razor. Its heft seems to make it a more efficient cutter allowing you to let the razor do most of the work and ultimately I get shaves with less razor burn. Once I did not even feel the need to use ASB!

On another note, I have been using another brush. It looks as though it has been through the war, being old and cracked, it is much smaller than my Plisson and probably has boar bristle. It is an heirloom from SWMBOs gramps. This little beauty loads up lather in a jiffy without making a mess. My big plisson on the other hand takes an age to load up with a lot of pumping motions and lather flying of the edges of the bowl and quite frankly I enjoy the lather from the small brush more because it is easier to control moisture content when the lather volume is small and thus I can get it slick and almost runny which makes for a great straight shave. It is quite clear that I will have to make an in-depth on the subject of brushes very soon since it appears that bigger is not necessarily better and badger is not necessarily better than boar.

As for the disastrous "made in solingen", I have stropped it on paste (100 laps) and I will see later if it has done any good. Next I will test the Soederén frameback of post 100. I cannot wait for tomorrow's shave.

**Luc** · 10-22-2010, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Gustav

Shaves #65-68

Razor Tuckmar/solingen 5/8 full hollow (see post 76)
SS: Tabac and Palmolive

I have now had 5 shaves with this razor and in comparaison to my Erik Anton Berg it is a mixed bag. The blade itself is about as big as as the EAB but the shank on this shoulderless blade is very long compared to the EAB making it difficult to maneuver in tight areas, IMO. Nonetheless I have been getting some mighty fine shaves out of this razor. Its heft seems to make it a more efficient cutter allowing you to let the razor do most of the work and ultimately I get shaves with less razor burn. Once I did not even feel the need to use ASB!

On another note, I have been using another brush. It looks as though it has been through the war, being old and cracked, it is much smaller than my Plisson and probably has boar bristle. It is an heirloom from SWMBOs gramps. This little beauty loads up lather in a jiffy without making a mess. My big plisson on the other hand takes an age to load up with a lot of pumping motions and lather flying of the edges of the bowl and quite frankly I enjoy the lather from the small brush more because it is easier to control moisture content when the lather volume is small and thus I can get it slick and almost runny which makes for a great straight shave. It is quite clear that I will have to make an in-depth on the subject of brushes very soon since it appears that bigger is not necessarily better and badger is not necessarily better than boar.

As for the disastrous "made in solingen", I have stropped it on paste (100 laps) and I will see later if it has done any good. Next I will test the Soederén frameback of post 100. I cannot wait for tomorrow's shave.

I'd be curious to know how the paste helped... Some swear by it... However, I don't think it would do a miracle...

**Gustav** · 10-23-2010, 05:15 AM

Originally Posted by Luc

I'd be curious to know how the paste helped... Some swear by it... However, I don't think it would do a miracle...

I do not believe in it either but it is worth a shot. On the other hand what was more or less miraculous was shave #69 with the soederén frameback of post 100. This razor is like nothing I have ever tried before, lightweight yet in no manner flimsy and a real smooth shaver to boot. I barely felt the blade on the first WTG pass. It is maneuverable and the lack of a sharp point allows you to go into the the nose and along the ear without being afraid to nick yourself. In the end I had one of those near miss BBS in three passes with touchups. This razor outshaves anything else I have tried thus far. It is absolutely stunning.

**Ru4scuba?** · 10-23-2010, 08:53 AM

Dont post stuff like this Erik...its going to make me want to go out and get a frameback!

**Gustav** · 10-23-2010, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Ru4scuba?

Dont post stuff like this Erik...its going to make me want to go out and get a frameback!

You owe it to yourself to get hold of one. Go on, give in to the urge, you know you will sooner or later anyway and nobody around here is going to tell your SWMBO that you have just got yet another razor!

**Gustav** · 10-26-2010, 10:52 PM

Shaves #70 and 71

Shave 70 was another superb one using my Soederén frameback and SIM SS. I am really liking this razor.

On shave 71, I decided to try the "Made in Solingen" again (the one that was so pully and uncomfortable, see above). I gave this razor a 100 lap tune up on a paddle covered with Thiers Issard paste followed by 60 laps on canvas and 120 on leather. It passed the HHT immediately on two separate hairs (this was completely hopeless before) and gave me quite a nice shave. It was not as comfortable as my Soederén, Tuckmar or Erik Anton Berg razors but a whole lot better than before and a lot less tugging and pulling.

Maybe I could get it to shave even better if I got a barber's hone or perhaps I should just give in to the urge and get a coticule off my father and practice honing on it. If I am successful, I can do the same on "the Flic celebrated razor" I scored in a jumble sale the past WE. Pics on that one to come later together with some other gear I have bought recently.

**honed** · 10-27-2010, 12:20 AM

Your doing great!

No wonder you get supreme shaves out of that frameback.
That particular model is divine, once you get used to the thinner shank.
They are rather common in Sweden, they seem to have been the standard model of the 1880&1890's.

And F.W Söderén is maybe one of the best kept secrets of Eskilstuna razor history

**Gustav** · 10-27-2010, 03:56 AM

Originally Posted by honed

Your doing great!

No wonder you get supreme shaves out of that frameback.
That particular model is divine, once you get used to the thinner shank.
They are rather common in Sweden, they seem to have been the standard model of the 1880&1890's.

And F.W Söderén is maybe one of the best kept secrets of Eskilstuna razor history

That is great news, hopefully I will have the opportunity to lay my hands on another few before the non swedish natives of the Straight razor forum decimate the stocks.

**Luc** · 10-27-2010, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Gustav

That is great news, hopefully I will have the opportunity to lay my hands on another few before the non swedish natives of the Straight razor forum decimate the stocks.

I already started!

**honed** · 10-28-2010, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by Luc

I already started!

HEY! Get off my lawn

**Luc** · 10-28-2010, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by honed

HEY! Get off my lawn

**Gustav** · 11-06-2010, 07:09 AM

Shaves #72-76

I have been getting fabulous shaves from my no name solingen from post 67 and especially from the Soederén faux frameback from post 100. The last shave was a disaster because I tried out a cream which was probably amongst the worst I have ever used: Alverde shave cream. Next up is the Heljestrand from post 100. In comparaison to what I have used before this appears to be a really heavy wedge owing partly to the metallic scales and I cannot wait to try it out tomorrow because it is bound to be a huge contrast to the lightweight Soederén. I include a few pictures. In the first one you will see the Soederén on the right, the Heljestrand on the left and my most recent score a "the flic celebrated razor" in the center. You will also see the Plisson badger which has been the mainstay of my wet shaving experience so far and the small sized boar that has become a recent favorite on account of the ease of water to soap ratio adjustment. In the background you will find my 3 inch Paladin strop from Ruprazor. The second picture is an attempt to show the wedge profile of the Heljestrand.
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