Another Shaving Journal....

[global_dev]

nice, i think a lot of us have that medium size hollow ground, i'll have to dig mine out... and take a pic. it's a great shaver..

[Grips]

Nice job on the restoration CF. Looks great.

[cameraflier]

#84

I had a little hone-fest last night. It was long overdue. It started with refreshing some older edges, then I went back to the newly restored W&B from Sunday's shave. I hit it with 5 micron film for a good ten minutes, before progressing down the films and finishing on CrOx-balsa. I stropped it 50/100 laps on wool felt/leather, and put it front and center on my bathroom shelf.

The shave: Today’s effort with the W&B “medium size hollow ground” was much better. I think the edge can still be improved, but today was nice. The weight is interesting, and I wonder if the heavy grind contributes to a stiffness in the blade. It’s curious. I got a good DFS, bit it felt a bit warm at the end. I got a minor weeper on between my nose and lip, but that was user error. I was buffing the ATG a little too aggressively. The WH sealed it up quickly.

Also honed last night: a 5/8 square Genco “Fluid Steel”, and a 5/8 round point pre-‘England’ Jos Rodgers. Both are restored junk shop finds. The next few weeks will be fun as I explore the new toys and critique my honing skills.

I’m continually fascinated by the subtle, and not-so-subtle, differences between straights. Seemingly similar razors with different weights, different grinds, the shape of a point, or this mysterious stiffness some edges seem to have..... I’m both excited by my progress, and humbled by the immensity of what I don’t know.

[cameraflier]

#85

Another shave with the W&B medium/hollow introduced a few days ago.

The shave was fine, but my face was a bit warm at the end. One weeper on my lip, but nothing tragic. I had a touch more burn than yesterday. I'm trying to troubleshoot the cause….

It's hard to tell if this is user error, with me getting comfortable handling a heavier less hollow blade, or a combined exfoliation from two days on an imperfect edge. I'm guessing it's some of each. Yesterday I admitted the honing felt less than ideal. It wasn't catchy, but it wasn't frictionless either. Today it’s the same. I wonder if all that rust damage I sanded off has left some imperfections on the edge that I've yet to hone through. The first re-hone was an improvement. Maybe I'm just not 'there' yet. Someday I'll buy a loupe.

Plans are to shelve it for now, re-hone and revisit another day. I might go DE tomorrow, just to give my face a day off for recovery. With more new restores to try, I want to start them on a good healthy face. (I've said this before, but the usually end up grabbing a straight anyway. Yup…. I'm a junkie.)


[insert very pleasant and mild DE shave]


#86

I broke out another new-to-me edge today, a Genco ‘Fluid Steel.’

For starters, this was the easiest honing job yet. I painted the edge with a sharpie, and it was entirely clean after two laps on 1000 grit. The full bevel, heel to toe, was spotless. In twenty more laps it was popping HHTs down the full length. I polished it down the film progression, then stropped on CrOx-balsa, felt, then leather. It was easily a 15 minute process, including my relative newbie fumbling.

The shave: I got a few weepers, but it was entirely my fault. Wow. This thing is sharp. This is probably the sharpest razor I’ve used yet. (Possible exception was the loaner Feather from Global_dev) As I sit here facestrubating, I find a few very minor not-quite-BBS spots remain. I’m a tough critic. This was a really good shave.

I still wish it was a round point, and a tad larger. I’m developing a soft spot for big round blades. But I think I’ll keep this one, at least for now…

Photo’s below. It was a junkshop find. I tore it down, cleaned, polished, and re-pinned. The wedge is original. I got lucky and managed not to break this one when I pulled the end pin. There are a couple scuff marks inside the scales. I probably should have sanded those out... oh well.

[global_dev]

nice, looks great...

perhaps just mute the point to get you closer to the feel of a round?

[Beatnik]

nice, looks great...

perhaps just mute the point to get you closer to the feel of a round?

+1

Great restore ...nice looking blade!

[noahpictures]

#84
....I’m continually fascinated by the subtle, and not-so-subtle, differences between straights. Seemingly similar razors with different weights, different grinds, the shape of a point, or this mysterious stiffness some edges seem to have..... I’m both excited by my progress, and humbled by the immensity of what I don’t know.

+1

Well said. Great job on the Genco resto.

[cameraflier]

...perhaps just mute the point to get you closer to the feel of a round?

good idea. I should learn how to do that.


#87

I took a a few days off from work. By Sunday morning I had a nice scruff built up, and I was anxious to shave. I enjoy knocking down multi-day growth. Using the Genco, it was fun.

It's hard to nail down precisely why I like this razor, but I do. It's not really pretty. No etching, gold wash, or inlay. No jimps, worked spine, or fancy point. It's totally unadorned, but it shaves well.

I wonder how long I can keep this edge going....


#88

I was in a rush today. Given my crush on this razor, i got bold with it. I tried again to eliminate a pass from my usual routine. It was ok. I got a very SAS. Nothing to get excited about. It got me out the door, and that was the goal.

Odd observation: we've been sleeping with the windows open, and it's been drizzly at night. Is it just me, or has this humidity added some draw to my strop? Maybe this is simply the break-in process. I'm curious.




#89

I've noticed my routine is becoming more fixed, and a little more practiced. Little shortcuts here and there so I don't switch hands as often, or wipe lather off the blade as frequently. My strokes are slowly getting longer and I'm using more of the blade's width. Less stuttering motion, less overlapping of choppy strokes, and less hesitancy as I shift from quadrant to quadrant across my face.

For the last week or so, I've been watching the clock. I'm not trying to rush things, but I'd like to update my shave time estimate. It used to take me an hour to shower and shave. Surely I'm faster now. With nearly 90 shaves, it must be better. All these little efficiencies must add up.

Today: I'm down to 35 minutes for a casual shower and shave. That includes 3.5 passes (no 4th on my neck), and 50/100 laps stropping.

I'm ok with that. It's supposed to be a relaxing shave. I don't want to rush. This is my time. I'll save the hurry for later.

[Grips]

That Genco is a beautiful looking blade. Great job. If you ever get tired of it let me know, I'd buy it.

[cameraflier]

#92

This was shave #6 on the Genco. It’s holding up well. I could keep using it. The shaves are fine, but it has lost the magical sharpness. If I remember I’ll HHT it, just to see what happens. I’ll probably shelve it soon, and wait for a refresh. There is another restore I’m anxious to try, and an old favorite that’s been neglected.

Stropping: I’m not being as delicate as before, but I am being focused and diligent. It’s 25 laps prior, and 50/100 post. I’m keeping a taught strop hanging from a hook high on the door. I don’t hear a slap when I flip the blade. I focus on very firm contact with the spine, and a light torque on the edge. I’d call my speed “moderate.” The Star Shaving “Big Daddy” has definitely evolved. This is my second strop from them. (I wrecked the first one.) In both cases they arrived with an almost shiny hard slick surface. This one has been around for about 60 shaves. It’s very different now. I’ve oiled it twice, soon after unboxing it. Now it seems to develop more draw every day. Much of the hard shine as faded. I wonder if this is contributing to better edge longevity.

Shave #100 is coming. I’ve not made plans, but I’m getting anxious. I wonder what hardware I’ll use. If I’m crafty, I can make it a weekend shave.

That Genco is a beautiful looking blade. Great job. If you ever get tired of it let me know, I'd buy it.

Thanks.

Be patient. It could happen, and I’ll keep you in mind. I have a backlog of restores to complete. I've been working my way through the less expensive and less reputable blades first. The Genco and W&B are the first with any pedigree. As I gain skills restoring, and get better steel cleaned-up, I’m sure to let the earlier efforts go.

[cameraflier]

A story of rust:

It's a Saturday, with no big morning plans. I was all prepped for a leisurely shave. It was derailed when I pulled down the Genco and saw a brownish haze across the blade. Panic erupted. I grabbed the blade, and everything else in the cabinet, and went to the basement. The rust haze polished off easily. No other razors were effected, though the W&B had a few traces. A few days unattended, and it might have been next.

I know rust from other projects. I know it can happen in hours or less with old steel. For that reason, I had stopped keeping my brush in the cabinet with the razors. I figured a damp brush would only act as a humidifier. ... Still, the recent rains, high humidity, and sleeping with the windows open, beat my efforts.

All the razors got a light film of mineral oil. Lesson learned.

[cleanshaved]

well saved. Rust never sleeps.
may I recomend the treated cotton sleeves that The Superior Shave sells.
good for your daily shaver without having to oil, just make sure it is dry before putting in it. I still oil any of my razors that is not up for a next morning shave just to be sure.
I store my razors in my bedroom on the dresser in the cotton sleeve, so far no problems.

[Grips]

Nice catch. I use the sleeves from TSS. No rust and I haven't olied the blade once. The sleeves work great.

[cameraflier]

#93

I had a brilliant shave this morning. A day off from shaving, followed by a freshly honed edge, has to be one of life's simpler pleasures.

Today was shave #1 on a freshly restored Joseph Rodgers & Sons. It's not that big of a blade. At 5/8, the round point is a bit asymmetric. The pictures don't show it very well. I can't decide if it's tired, or if it was simply made this way. The cut angle at the shoulder makes me think it was made like this at teh factory. I'm not sure though. Regardless, it shaves well. I did 3.5 passes, for a DFS++. The comfort level was stellar. Zero burn.


The restore was interesting. It was a bit of a mess, like a typical junk shop find. I pulled both pins, but the scales still wouldn't separate. Even with some pressure, they wouldn't budge apart. I wimped out and left them alone, for fear of breaking them. That's why the inside is a little cruddy. I gingerly tried to clean off the big stuff, but I didn't bother with trying to dig in there with sandpaper or polish. These pictures really make me regret not giving the insides more attention. I also went for bigger washers to better hide other damage. Oh well... I'm learning.


The next restore... Do you know silver steel? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...y-silver-steel

[noahpictures]

^ I have had a few vintage silver steel razors and all of them have been above average and very easy to hone. Kayser Ellison steel is well known; Sta Sharps and other highly respected brands share the same steel. Some will say that "silver steel" (vintage razors) was a marketing gimmick and nothing else. I disagree.

[huntingdan]

Sweet looking restore! One day I'll get out of the apartment living and in to a place where I can have "stuff"

[cameraflier]

#96

The Joseph Rodgers & Sons started out wonderful, but it didn’t last. Today was shave #4 on this edge, and it was a rough shave. I’ve been trying to complete a full week of shaves between honings. This one won’t make it. Today it was catchy, and left me with a few little weepers when it caught. I found myself re-shaving to get a quiet stroke. I was likely more ham fisted too. Adding pressure never seems to help in the long run. It’s four and out for Mr. Rodgers.

I’m not sure what to blame it on. Is it the old steel? Has my stropping gotten too aggressive? I got curious, and moments before leaving for work I went back to the bathroom. I HHT’d the edge. It popped cleanly down the full length. [pause for thoughtful head scratching] Was I simply heavy handed today? Maybe I’ll try a few laps on CrOx, and see what happens….

[cameraflier]

I had a little honefest. I even got the “Paris” shave ready. The next few weeks will be exciting.


#97

Today was the W&B medium/hollow (pictured in post #120 from this thread.) In my honefest I had taken this one back to 5 micron film for 100 laps or so. I polished it all the way down to 0.5 before CrOx and stropping. It the same process I’ve been using for other razors, with the same good HHT’s. This is a third attempt. It seems sharp enough, but the shave still isn’t quite there. I don’t know why. I want to like this razor. It’s old, attractive and heavy. Maybe it’s just not for me. … I’ll give it a few more tries. Maybe my bevel is imperfect. I’m still a newbie, so I’m hesitant to blame the hardware.


#98

It’s a hotel shave today. I brought the “West Point #7” with me this time. It’s a consistent performer, and not such a pretty temptation to thieves. I also brought Cella, now my favorite travel soap. Bang for the buck it’s hard to beat, and that red tub can withstand the road.

It was a good shave today. I got a DFS+ with no stress. Waking up at 5am local time, with nothing better to do, surely helped. I finished with 100 laps on my travel leather. It’s a bit harder and slicker (and cheaper) than my home strop. I’ll have to remember to oil it sometime. Once I put some draw on it, it might work better.


#99

One more hotel shave, with the same hardware and soap. This razor was a favorite for a reason. I like the big round 6/8 edge on a slightly shorter blade. It just feels nice. It makes me anxious to try a “14” someday. A kind B&B’er offered me a deal on one recently, but I passed on it. No regrets. I might wait for a holiday or a special treat to myself and reconsider.

Another DFS achieved. My neck is still imperfect. With an E-W grain on my neck, and ATG is tricky. I don’t have it figured out yet, but it’s plenty close enough for me.

I stropped another 100 laps, but I’m unsure the edge will last the week. I brought a DE as backup, but no other straight.

[cameraflier]

#100

Clouds didn’t part. There was no barbershop quartet of angels above the mirror. Shave #100 was uneventful. It occurred standing before a bathroom mirror, face lathering Cella and shaving with a generic 6/8 hollow & round blade. With shave #4 on this edge, it was a DFS-. No complaints.


#101

...was back home. I tried the heavy W&B medium/hollow again (pictured in post #120). I’ve decided to pull this one from my rotation. I’ll likely sell it in the next clean-out. We simply don’t fit. That’s unfortunate. It’s a nice old blade, with plenty of character. I’d like to like it, but the shaves just aren’t as good. I’m drifting to bigger hollow grinds.


#102

For #102 I brought out the Jos Rodgers (post 134) and some AoS sampler cream. I’ve been reluctant to wander from my routine software until I get 100 shave under my belt. I didn’t want to confuse the variables too much. Now I’ll get more playful. It was a good shave. A DFS actually. Good product + a fresh edge = a happy man.

I’ve been experimenting with shaving the back of my neck. I’ve done it twice now, a few weeks apart. It’s not that difficult. Yes, I’m shaving blind, but braille with the other hand works fine. I’ve had SWMBO double check my work each time, just in case I mohawk myself or something bizarre. Both times I got her nod of approval. Try it sometime. It’s not so difficult.

[cameraflier]

#105

It’s shave #4 on the Jos Rodgers. It’s starting to pull a little, but it’s serviceable. I think it’ll make it through the week. That’s my goal for now, one week per edge.

The highlight of today’s shave was post-shave. It was the witch hazel.

About 18 months ago I started wet shaving. I heard about WH, and picked up a bottle of generic stuff at the Walgreens nearby. Wednesday I finally emptied that bottle. But that’s ok, a few weeks ago I had purchased some back-up, Thayers Original (no scent). Today I gave it a try.

It felt slicker going on, with no sting. (curious) I let it sit while stropping. (typical process) Then I rinsed. The rinse was easy, and my face felt smoother that I expected. I applied my typical ASB. The surprise was 30 minutes later. As I readied for work, I suddenly realized that my face felt good today. I paused and tried to determine why. The edge didn’t feel that nice. The WH was the only difference.

I’ll stick with Thayers for now. Maybe I’ll explore their other WH products.