Brotherhood of the Open Comb

**bluesbishop** · 04-08-2012, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mooshi Kin

Hehe I just love being sneeky!

Originally Posted by alex2363

SSSHHH, but Ken doesnt, if he catches you he will shave your legs w bent tooth open comb razor.

I'm pretty sneaky....

And regarding Ralph.... you have to be careful with Ralph...last time a female took a liking to him....well let's say have you ever heard of goatboy? Just saying.....I mean he is a GOAT..

**bluesbishop** · 04-08-2012, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by alex2363

Ken, tell him about killer Spot, and how he loves razor pics

I wouldn't mess with spot...the dog is even crazier than Ralph... He get's madder than a pitbull with.....wait...I'm starting to sound Alaskan...

**latetolathering** · 04-08-2012, 11:43 PM

Hi, I have an OC question and this seems like a good place to ask. I'm planning on buying a NEW but I'm undecided on long or short comb, can somebody outline the differences.
Is one more aggressive? Better technique required for one? Or is it all looks?

Thanks

**Heespharm** · 04-09-2012, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by latetolathering

Hi, I have an OC question and this seems like a good place to ask. I'm planning on buying a NEW but I'm undecided on long or short comb, can somebody outline the differences.
Is one more aggressive? Better technique required for one? Or is it all looks?

Thanks

they are about the same but i think that the long comb is more comfortable

**alex2363** · 04-09-2012, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by latetolathering

Hi, I have an OC question and this seems like a good place to ask. I'm planning on buying a NEW but I'm undecided on long or short comb, can somebody outline the differences.
Is one more aggressive? Better technique required for one? Or is it all looks?

Thanks

as you can see, both have same measurements but your skin will like both or the other, its up to you.....for me the long comb is bit more aggressive

short comb exposure

long comb exposure

**Snargle** · 04-09-2012, 05:50 AM

I tried a new combination this morning (not a NEW combination!); a Gillette Old Type head paired with my new Tradere handle. I used a Feather blade (with one use on it). I could have quit after the first pass and still would have had an acceptable shave! It's pretty aggressive, but smooth...no tugging or pulling, just cleanly slicing the whiskers off. I got one tiny weeper on my neck, but that was my fault for not keeping the razor moving while in contact with my face. A cold water rinse took care of that.

So far, the Tradere has worked great with both the long comb NEW head and the Old Type. I plan on soon giving it a try with a short comb NEW and also with a NEW Improved head. Although not an open comb, I'll also see what it does with my EJ DE89 head.

I have very high hopes for the new Tradere razor head coming out next month. Even if it's not great, I know that the handle seems to perform well with everything I've thrown at it.

**jbradley** · 04-09-2012, 06:22 AM

I prefer the LC. It really is a YMMV thing. I love my LC NEW, but an not a real fan of the LC NEW Improved.

**chongo gordo** · 04-09-2012, 08:20 AM

I was just goig to post on the subject. I just won an OC on the 'bay. I thought I had bid on a long comb, but I noticed the side of the head that I think it's a short comb. Is this model known simply as an "Open Comb New Bar Handle or is it a Bostonian or something? Are these rarer than the long tooth?

**Snargle** · 04-09-2012, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by chongo gordo

I was just goig to post on the subject. I just won an OC on the 'bay. I thought I had bid on a long comb, but I noticed the side of the head that I think it's a short comb. Is this model known simply as an "Open Comb New Bar Handle or is it a Bostonian or something? Are these rarer than the long tooth?

Pretty sure it's a short tooth comb NEW (with the Bar Handle), but hard to tell from the photo angle. It should be a good shaver...I've never noticed a big difference between the short and the long...YMMV. As far as rarity, I see about equal numbers of shorts and longs.

**chongo gordo** · 04-09-2012, 08:38 AM

Also, what about the "Gold" tone? Of my other Gillettes, one is nickel plated and the other, well if it was plated there's no sign of that now. From what I've seen, the gold-tone plating never looks so great even if in good condition. Do people tend to strip them down to the base metal?

**Krona Kruiser** · 04-09-2012, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by chongo gordo

Also, what about the "Gold" tone? Of my other Gillettes, one is nickel plated and the other, well if it was plated there's no sign of that now. From what I've seen, the gold-tone plating never looks so great even if in good condition. Do people tend to strip them down to the base metal?

Gold plating varies on Gillettes. On some models (especially the Goodwill) they were "gold washed" rather than "gold plated." I've also noticed that their deluxe version of razors had better plating. If you're lucky you can find very nice specimens with the gold plating semi intact. These razors are over 60+ years and had a lot of use. Also, the gold plating was extremely thin.
If you strip it down, you might encounter a nickel coat or go directly down to the brass or copper base (many NEW's have copper head caps). You can polish them and have a pretty neat 2 tone look but when you use them often the metal (from direct exposure) begins to tarnish and feels rough. You can use Maas or Blue Magic to polish because they leave a thin coat that protects the surface but it doesn't last very long. However, NEW's are great candidates for replate.

**Azarius** · 04-09-2012, 09:06 AM

That is a NEW short comb, common bar handle. That will strip down to a copper/brass finish. This is what my brothers Long and Short Combs NEW's look like after clean-up

**Krona Kruiser** · 04-09-2012, 09:07 AM

Did you use Brasso to strip, buff., and polish the surface?

**April Dawn** · 04-09-2012, 09:09 AM

Here is the one I picked up and cleaned up the Two Tones look pretty nice actually

Originally Posted by Krona Kruiser

Gold plating varies on Gillettes. On some models (especially the Goodwill) they were "gold washed" rather than "gold plated." I've also noticed that their deluxe version of razors had better plating. If you're lucky you can find very nice specimens with the gold plating semi intact. These razors are over 60+ years and had a lot of use. Also, the gold plating was extremely thin.
If you strip it down, you might encounter a nickel coat or go directly down to the brass or copper base (many NEW's have copper head caps). You can polish them and have a pretty neat 2 tone look but when you use them often the metal (from direct exposure) begins to tarnish and feels rough. You can use Maas or Blue Magic to polish because they leave a thin coat that protects the surface but it doesn't last very long. However, NEW's are great candidates for replate.

**April Dawn** · 04-09-2012, 09:11 AM

Sneaky?? I thought more Snarky
HAHA noo!!!

Originally Posted by bluesbishop

I'm pretty sneaky....

And regarding Ralph.... you have to be careful with Ralph...last time a female took a liking to him....well let's say have you ever heard of goatboy? Just saying.....I mean he is a GOAT..

**Moondancer** · 04-09-2012, 10:51 AM

Just received my 3rd OC, a short comb NEW. The gold plating is pretty much intact, as compared to my LC NEW.
And, Alex, I will try to get pics put up of it. I'll clean it up in the next couple days (gently, of course) and post pics then. The cap has what appears to be water spots on it. There's a couple spots on the handle that could be verdigris as they are definitely green.

**alex2363** · 04-09-2012, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Moondancer

Just received my 3rd OC, a short comb NEW. The gold plating is pretty much intact, as compared to my LC NEW.
And, Alex, I will try to get pics put up of it. I'll clean it up in the next couple days (gently, of course) and post pics then. The cap has what appears to be water spots on it. There's a couple spots on the handle that could be verdigris as they are definitely green.

Ok,great. Tale your time and clean her up gently. They are beauties once cleaned and shined up.

**jbradley** · 04-09-2012, 12:47 PM

Has anyone tried spraying a clear laquer on the NEW's after they polished them up? I read that somewhere, but have been scared to try it. If it works, you could polish it, spray it, and keep the shine.

**bluesbishop** · 04-09-2012, 01:02 PM

Haven't tried it...I'm sure it would work..

**Touchy** · 04-09-2012, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Snargle

I don't know Rudy's brush break-in method, but after a couple of years fooling around with over a dozen badger brushes, I haven't found any brushes that had any significant change after the first few uses. Once the badger stink is gone and it's been lathered a few times, that's pretty much what you get. Boars, on the other hand are a different story. With use, the boar bristles will develop split ends that make the overall brush softer and allow it to retain more water.

Originally Posted by bluesbishop

Rudy Vey's method is pretty simple:

* soak your brush knot for a few minutes in warm (!) water
* lather up with soap/cream etc in your hand
* rinse the lather out
* repeat a couple of times

Here are some threads on cleaning brush: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...t-The-Funk-Out

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...ng!?highlight=

They will break in and have a different bloom. How much depends on the type of badger hair, loft, etc in that brush.
And yes, here in the BOTOC we help out our brothers on anything they want to discuss...even Goats....LOL!

You guys & women are the best! This is the sense I have about how to break-in and care for brushes. I'll just paint with the painters and face lather with the face latherers.

I've got the new Old Type cleaned and shiny. Some Oxi and warm water followed by a good toothbrushing with Crest did the job. As for the silver case, I'll simply use a jeweler's cloth for the least side effects on lining, etc. Maiden voyage tomorrow loaded with a Big Ben blade since the view seems to be to avoid really sharp blades to begin with. I'll report and load pics when available!