"Island of Misfit Toys" Theme Week - December 3 - 9, 2012

Well, gentlemen, the last month of the year is upon us. I've always been a huge fan of what we in the U.S. consider classic Christmas movies. Among them is the Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. As the holiday season approaches, we are honoring those "misfit toys" among our dens. For me, that starts with this Aiku for Barbers straight. It came to be for a song, but had a pretty noticeable frown. So it spent a long time waiting for someone to make it right. Well, it gets its chance to take a spin a round the face tomorrow, and I hope that will leave it in a permanent part of the rotation! And what better to kick off the holiday season than a little Pine & Cedar?

"I'm Enders, the razor that blades are no longer available for. Who wants to find, clean, sanitize and strop used blades?"




Cleaned, sanitized and stropped a blade. Cuts paper like it isn't there. Will try it in the morning!

Derek

Monday 3 December 2012

Another cold water shave today

Shave Prep: Brush soaked in cold water, face & neck washed with cold water for 3 minutes
Pre-Shave: Proraso green tea & oatmeal pre-shave
Razor: British Popular #47 TTO -first shave with this classic razor
Blade: Gillette 7'O Clock Super Stainless green pack from Russia (1st shave)
Brush: Frank shaving finest custom brush
Cream: Biotique Bio Palmyra shaving cream
Lathering On: Face
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, alum block, witch hazel & rose water toner
Aftershave: Biotique Biograss aftershave gel

Shaving Outcome: DFS with minor irritation. The #47 is a fine shaver. Will hopefully continue with it for a while!

Merkur Futur 700
Astra SP (4)
Simpsons PJ 2
La Toja SC
Tüff Unscented Herbal AS
GFT Spanish Leather EdT

Monday:

Simpson Special pure
Tabac soap
Merkur 11C
Elios
P+50 ASB
Booster Oriental Spice ***

Preshave: MRGLO
Brush: Frank Shaving 24mm Finest Butterscotch
Cream: KMF Lime
Razor: Schick Adjustable
Blade: Chinese Schick (3)
Post: Brut Splash and USB

Monday evening:

Razor: Superspeed
Blade: Gillette Nacet (3)
Cream: JM Fraser Oriental Spice
Brush: TGN Silvertip
A/S: Old Spice Whitewater
ASB: Natio ASB

Wee Scot
Speick SS
Weber Bulldog ARC razor/ Feather
Speick ASL
Chanel pour Monsieur Concentratee

EJ89L
Dorco ST-301
Vintage Blades 2-band
TOBS Shave Shop (sample)
Witch Hazel
Ivy Club Spice

Monday

Brush: Simpson Chubby 2 Best
Soap: Williams
Razor: '72 Black Handle Adjustable
Blade: Lord Super Stainless
A/S: None
Cologne: None

Mike

Monday

Merkur 39C
Red IP
Moss Scuttle
Semogue 620
VDH soap
Alum block
Witch hazel
Master Bay Rum

• Prep: Brush soaking in hot water, face washed with Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish Cleanser, luke warm shower
• Razor: Merkur 500 Progress
• Blade: Perma-Sharp Super Stainless
• Brush: Semogue SOC Cherrywood Boar
• Soap: Proraso Menthol and Eucalyptus with added Menthol
• AS: Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue with added Menthol
• Post: Cold Water Rinse, Double Splash of Aftershave

I nicked myself good on my Adam's apple, and on the first pass, enough where I had to use a styptic powder. Normally I have about a pot of coffee in me before attempting to shave but for whatever reason I decided to jump into the shower as soon a I woke up. Note to self: never do this again. I had to avoid the area I cut, so I have a DFS with a a little stubble remaining on my neck.

I have so much menthol today that my finger are frozen from the aftershave that went between them. Even after washing my hands twice it feels like I just applied some form of sports balm.

Planbee said:

"I'm Enders, the razor that blades are no longer available for. Who wants to find, clean, sanitize and strop used blades?"


View attachment 290101View attachment 290102

Cleaned, sanitized and stropped a blade. Cuts paper like it isn't there. Will try it in the morning!

Derek

Click to expand...

Hey, that went pretty well!

Razor: Enders Dollar razor
Blade: Old, used Enders Blade. cleaned, sanitized and stropped (canvas & leather)
Soap: Arko face lathered
Brush: Unknown Badger

I had a bit of trial & error figuring out the angle. The blade probably isn't quite sharp enough, but it removed whiskers without any nicks or burn.
WTG, XTG, ATG. ATG was kind of uncomfortable, but left no razor burn.

Had to do a final ATG with a Krona & Perma Sharp, but I would call this a success, given the blade was salvage.

It looks to me that with a metal nipper and a grinder, I could modify a Gem blade - the notches line up nicely. I would just have to remove some width & length.

Derek

Kent T4
Creed Original Vetiver SS
Filarmonica 13 DT, black
Roger & Gallet L'Homme ASB
Amouage Epic Man

I guess the misfit in my shave would be the Rolls Razor. Considering the length of time that they were manufactured, I'm surprised you don't see more of them in SOTD pictures. Mine gave me yet another nice shave today.