TECH Tuesday

[Zeppelinkarte]

Perfect 2 pass shave with neck and jawline touch ups. The Tech really gets it done. Used a Feather and hardly noticed the razor working to remove stubble. A heavier handle helps me and this morning used the Tech head with a Bob's Razorworks fluted handle. Very smooth combination. Face still tingling from the shave. The Tech is as good or better than anything else. As Turbo Tom noted above....love the simplicity and thin enough to get everywhere.

[mdevine]

I pulled out a Merkur blade for the first time in over a year. I picked up a pack of ten more than two years ago and have used only half of them. I had never had a really good shave with one and they are probably my least favorite blade. I decided to really challenge my Tech and to use it with the Merkur blade. I loaded up my Semogue 2011 LE FB1 with some Cella and went to town with my Fat-handled Tech. Even with my least favorite blade, I ended up with a speedy and bloodless BBS shave. I can get a BBS shave with my other razors, but none can do it as effortlessly as the Tech.

Mike

[DougieB]

Total agreement Mike, but I'm afraid I'll never know if the Fat Handle TECH handles the Merkur blade well. I donated all I had left (9 out of a 10 pack) to the B&B blade exchange for other's to 'appreciate'.

I donated other blades as well.

[jonty]

havnt had a chance for pics guys but will post my setup soon.

1977 british tech, tesco blade.
proraso pre/post
palmolive cream.
generic pure badger
witchhazel

[cryhavoc]

Today's Tech Shave

Fat Handle Tech
Super Max Platinum
Cella
Bestshave #7 Horse Hair
Witchhazel
Old Spice AS

[Touchy]

Total agreement Mike, but I'm afraid I'll never know if the Fat Handle TECH handles the Merkur blade well. I donated all I had left (9 out of a 10 pack) to the B&B blade exchange for other's to 'appreciate'.

I donated other blades as well.

I pulled out a Merkur blade for the first time in over a year. I picked up a pack of ten more than two years ago and have used only half of them. I had never had a really good shave with one and they are probably my least favorite blade. I decided to really challenge my Tech and to use it with the Merkur blade. I loaded up my Semogue 2011 LE FB1 with some Cella and went to town with my Fat-handled Tech. Even with my least favorite blade, I ended up with a speedy and bloodless BBS shave. I can get a BBS shave with my other razors, but none can do it as effortlessly as the Tech.

Mike

I've only been using my fat handle Tech for a bit over a week, mostly with Feather, but just happened to load it with a Merkur a couple of days ago with excellent results. I've only been using a DE for a couple of months and Merkurs came with my first razor - a 23C. I originally found them sharp but not smooth. So my current results have to be seen in light of my limited experience. I just tried an OC (20's Old Type) for the 1st time today and got a great shave for being my first, and I'll continue to gain experience with it and maybe another (NEW) down the line - but I can't imagine abandoning my Tech. My guess is the Tech can take about any kind of blade, but I don't see using Merkurs that much due to cost. Now I'll just have to remember to get on board with Tech Tuesdays.

[mctmatt]

Used my 1938 Fat Handle Tech with Gillette Seven O'Clock Yellow Blade. I used PREP Pre & Post Shave Cream then used a Shea Butter Shave Soap that I purchased while I was in Ruidoso, New Mexico last summer. I got a BBS shave that I followed up with some refrigerated Osage Rub, followed by PREP cream as an aftershave balm.

[OkieStubble]

Getting ready to go work the graveyard shift tonight. Just finished up my Tech Tuesday shave with:

Fat Handled Tech w/Astra SP blade
Omega Mighty Midget mixed hair brush
Arko
Vintage Avon Everest AS

Pretty Awesome!

[Krona Kruiser]

Getting ready to go work the graveyard shift tonight. Just finished up my Tech Tuesday shave with:

Fat Handled Tech w/Astra SP blade
Omega Mighty Midget mixed hair brush
Arko
Vintage Avon Everest AS

Pretty Awesome!

That's a nice shave! That Mighty Midge is one of my favorites right now and I've been looking for some vintage Everest AS. Those vintage Avon aftershaves are great. I've got a Wild Country from 1974 in a Keg decanter and it smells great. The essence of the scent is similar to the modern balm version but it's got a better kick due to the alcohol and maybe it's age.

[OkieStubble]

Don't wanna mug the thread. :) PM sent about the avon. But yeah, the Mighty Midget is really breaking in nicely and is becoming alot more popular in the rotation. :)

[turbo tom]

Although I got good results yesterday on Tech Tuesday, I realized I need some practice with this mild/low profile razor. Of course my expectation was that this morning all would be perfect, but alas I had the same odd results.

For some reason, my first WTG pass did almost nothing and the subsequent XTG left what I typically get from the first WTG. Normally, I stop there (one WTG, one XTG) but I added an additional opposite XTG and pretty much ended up with a very comfortable fine shave. All I ever really need or want.

But here's the weird part...my mustache area had stubble left. I didn't even notice it until later while brushing my teeth, probably because that's the part of my face that never has an issue. Two WTG passes ALWAYS leaves it perfect!

I, Turbo Tom, do hereby declare that I will now bow out of Tech Tuesday. Instead I am imposing a Tech Two Weeks on myself, upon the completion of which I will either be the master of the Tech... or not.

[DougieB]

Wow Turbo Tom, That's commitment. I hope the results are good over the next two weeks.

I myself have recently traded for some yellow pack FEATHER's. I loaded one in yesterday and it bit me a little. It bit me a little this AM as well. My technique with the TECH has been a low angle with some pressure technique. The Personnas seem to lend themselves well to this technique. With a more traditional blade angle the Astra's have been very comfortable. With the Feather's I have used a hybrid of the angles and been bit. I also notice that I have been able to shave at considerably higher a speed with the TECH with little fear of irritation or nicks. The Feather's have made me reconsider this. The shave is great, but at the pace and blade angle... when the feather bite's me it bites me. I haven't had to use a stiptic pencil in a while. I did this AM and should have yesterday.

I too will work this combo till I get it right. Tomorrow shorter strokes. More of a blade buffing approach.


The next order of business:

Does anyone know how to set up a vote thread. I would like to set up voting for the name of the TECH Tuesday Crowd. It's currently under TECH'y and I'd like to floor some votes.

[mdevine]

Although I got good results yesterday on Tech Tuesday, I realized I need some practice with this mild/low profile razor. Of course my expectation was that this morning all would be perfect, but alas I had the same odd results.

For some reason, my first WTG pass did almost nothing and the subsequent XTG left what I typically get from the first WTG. Normally, I stop there (one WTG, one XTG) but I added an additional opposite XTG and pretty much ended up with a very comfortable fine shave. All I ever really need or want.

But here's the weird part...my mustache area had stubble left. I didn't even notice it until later while brushing my teeth, probably because that's the part of my face that never has an issue. Two WTG passes ALWAYS leaves it perfect!

I, Turbo Tom, do hereby declare that I will now bow out of Tech Tuesday. Instead I am imposing a Tech Two Weeks on myself, upon the completion of which I will either be the master of the Tech... or not.

I suspect that blade angle may be your problem. One of the benefits I received from using open comb razors (I have a New, New Standard, Senator, Tuckaway and #15) was that they make finding the correct blade angle very easy. If it is too shallow, the tooth marks are visible in the lather. After using an OC for a while, I found my shaves with safety bar razors, like the Tech, much better. My takeaway being, if you still have trouble getting a close shave with the Tech, you may want to try an OC for a while. But don't give up on the Tech. Come back to it after a while and it may surprise you with how much better it performs.

Mike

[cxg231]

Hi! A tech-head here just finding this thread now. I have 8 techs, all different and they are my go-to workday razor. My favorite by a hair is my black handle contract tech. Here are a few of them with one of their cousins.

[DougieB]

Nice!!!!!

[The Kiwi]

... The TECH is the smoothest shaver of them all.

Anyone else feel like I do and think the TECH isn't getting the respect it deserves... Especially in March?

Anyone feel like we need to do something about it?

If your favorite shaver is a TECH... Say it... I'm proud to be a TECH'y and of course post a photo of your favorite TECH.

If you have a cooler name than TECH'y... Throw it on the wall and see if it stick's.

Anyway... Here's a photo of my favorite TECH. A fat handle TECH with triangle slots!!! My $4.99 thrift store deal and favorite shaver of all time!

Among classic DEs, nothing has beaten my Slims and SA razors. I have a recently acquired SS Red Tip that pulled off an excellent shave, a really surprising, to me, easily obtained great shave. But I've gotten many of those from my trio of ancient Gillette adjustables. Among the original quartet of heirloom razors I was gifted with shortly after my 14th birthday were two TTOs and one three-piece, a Good Will. I did not get along with that Good Will (Open Comb, and short, stubby handle).

The Super Speed and the Aristocrat are also short / stubby handled razors. I was in an Antiques Mall today looking for something else, and picked up one of the ball-end Techs, a Z4, for a few dollars, along with some other non-shaving related items. It is shorter than the Good Will, but heavier. All of the plating and the sealing lacquer appear to still be intact, other than some ugly black smudge on the head.

No photo. The software with the Cannon A1200 is being problematic. I really already had enough razors . . my own squirrelled-away originals amounted to a collection, once I unearthed those easy to find, including that trio of Gillette Adjustables. I'm going to look out for a cheap Chinese DE to borrow the handle from.

[Bobtrumpet]

When I started on B&B, a member was selling 3 ball-end Techs in the BST and, as I had read enough about them to want to try one, I bought the lot (about $30). They were all in excellent condition. I have since moved on to the Muhle R89 as my regular razor. After seeing this thread, I decided to pull out one of the Techs (a nickel plated C4, my birth razor) and take it for a spin using an Israeli Personna and C. O.Bigelow SC. My, what a terrific shave!

Thanks for the thread.

[Parallax]

I'm very new to this DE thing but I've acquired a range of razors and have tried out all but the adjustables. Until today, I had one Tech which I picked up last week. Used it for the first time a few days ago and can't put it down. Each morning, I do one side of my face with one razor and the other side with the other. Among the vintage ones, the red tip had been my best until this ugly little Canadian Fat Tech, that I picked up for $2, came along. None of my other vintage razors can match the closeness of the shave I get from the Tech or its mildness.

This morning it went up against the DE89l. I figured modern technology (essentially a modern variant of the Tech) would win out. But, much to my consternation given my bias toward the pretty, shinny, English Edwin Jagger, the Tech again delivered the goods.

Today, I was out at antique stores and picked up for more Techs. Haven't identified them yet. At one store, the owner said there were no razors. Snooping around, I found two plus a nice Ever Ready best badger brush. Picked up all four for $20 ($10 for the brush, $5 for each of the razors). One of them is gold plated and in near-mint condition. At a second store, once again after being told they had nothing, I found three razors (two Techs and a Gem) all marked for $1. Of course I grabbed them all. Those two Techs are quite interesting. Have not identified them yet.

Below are photos of all five. The Canadian Fat Tech is in need of a good cleaning. The one I'm holding is the mint gold Ball Tech. The others -- let me know what they are if you know. Two of them still have $1 price tags on their heads. :0)

[kingfisher]

The one on the bottom far right looks like a Frankenrazor to me; the head of a Tech with the common bar handle of a NEW, perhaps? The one in the middle in the same picture looks like an aluminum Tech, maybe British?

[DougieB]

Great haul. Top left appears to be a fat handle TECH. Top right Ball End TECH
Second row left ?
Second row middle appears to be a ball end TECH
Second row right appears to be a Frankenrazor with... NEW handle and TECH head.

Thanks for sharing