It’s shiny and we love shiny Mark. A very good looking assembly. I remember when I was ten years old the local barber felt I was old enough to finish the haircut with hot lather and a razor trim. I felt so grown up and thought I died and went to heaven. Hot lather is certainly a luxury and treat. I quit using scuttles and bowls in favour of puck loading and face lathering. It streamlined and sped up the process. Interestingly my experience when I used cold water for a time. By the time I got to lathering my head there was a noticeable increase in the lather temperature. Globally hot towels and hot lather have been used effectively in increasing desired results with sublime luxury. I still continue to use a towel face mask & hot face towels draped over the scull. I loved cold water shaving but it didn’t reach the luxury that heat adds to a shave.
A newbie’s journey into DE shaving
- Thread starter Guido75
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #5,422
| Date | 03.04.2025 |
| 365 daily shaves | 093/365 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Gillette ABC Pocket Edition Gillette NEW RFB | Vintage Wizamet Iridium (4) | Razorock 400 Alu |
| Pre | Soap/Method | Postshave |
| Cold splash Mastro Miche preshave | Tabarko (105) Face lathered | Cold splash Aftershave Balm |
| Effectiveness | Facial Impact Score FIS™ |
| 8.75/10 (BBS) | 9.5/10 (GlideFest) |
| Notes: |
So far, Vintage April has given immensely satisfying shaves. Today is a continuation of that journey. The RFB is still an in between razor in terms of effectiveness for me. Today, one side felt too mild, while the other side was right in the money. As if the blade wasn’t aligned properly. I did not bother to check or change as the ABC was right there to help with any remaining stubble. The blades felt smooth again - with still that slightly increase in aftershave feedback. I am curious to feel if that will remain the same once I bring the Techs out to play.
Face lathered Tabarko and of course in combination with this brush tons and tons of lather again. I have a faint idea that in this Frankensoap I have currently hit a layer that is more Tabac than Arko; at least scent wise. Very potent smell noticeable when I enter the bathroom in the morning (I lay out my gear the evening before). All good and a really wonderful slick lather.
Technique still that good old - or modern actually - CBCurve Pattern Style bringing both joy and home the bacon. I can be more effective on the jaw line. Especially that area just below my ears.
Enjoy your shave today!
- Thread starter
- #5,423
That’s me. I am a cold shaver all the way. Face and head. I have done the occasional warm head shaves which I will admit felt very luxurious indeed and something I do want to repeat in the future. But I have been so accustomed to cold shaving that I either forget or cannot be bothered to go the extra mile for a warm or hot shave.
Great to see you are still using that towel mask you got last year John!
- Thread starter
- #5,424
There has to be a way to make that work with the pans holding ears? If those were just a little more flat I think they can serve as brush rests. And there is two of them even, so you could use it to the full extent!
I looked up pans that let you cook au Bain Marie - this looks like a winner to me (well…it’s 20cm or 8” Haha!)
Oldenhof au bain-marie-inzet met standaard ø 20 cm
De Oldenhof au bain-marie inzet is vervaardigd uit roestvrij staal, heeft een diameter van 20 cm en een hoogte van 16 cm. Gebruik de inzet voor het au bain-marie smelten van chocolade boven een kookpan. De kom is tevens te gebruiken als mengkom, door de handige bijgeleverde standaard blijft deze...
www.kookwinkel.nl
In Florida we can't cold shave. The tap water comes out warm!
- Thread starter
- #5,426
Sounds similar to the way we call snow in the Netherlands: rain.In Florida we can't cold shave. The tap water comes out warm!
That may be too big...you'll want to check before you buyThere has to be a way to make that work with the pans holding ears? If those were just a little more flat I think they can serve as brush rests. And there is two of them even, so you could use it to the full extent!
I looked up pans that let you cook au Bain Marie - this looks like a winner to me (well…it’s 20cm or 8” Haha!)
Oldenhof au bain-marie-inzet met standaard ø 20 cm
De Oldenhof au bain-marie inzet is vervaardigd uit roestvrij staal, heeft een diameter van 20 cm en een hoogte van 16 cm. Gebruik de inzet voor het au bain-marie smelten van chocolade boven een kookpan. De kom is tevens te gebruiken als mengkom, door de handige bijgeleverde standaard blijft deze...
Probably, I just use my CaYuen for loading and holding my brush.There has to be a way to make that work with the pans holding ears? If those were just a little more flat I think they can serve as brush rests. And there is two of them even, so you could use it to the full extent!
My cold water shaves were to aid in my skin irritation earlier on my journey to better skin health. The cold water was more soothing. Once my technique improved and my selection of pre and post shave products eliminated my skin irritation. I went back to warm water shaving. I did enjoy the cold water shaves but warm water is much more comfortable. I very much enjoy hot towels in my shave. I haven’t had that many barber shaves but they all used hot towels and lather.
- Thread starter
- #5,430
| Date | 04.04.2025 |
| 365 daily shaves | 094/365 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Gillette ABC Pocket Edition Eclipse Red Ring | Vintage Wizamet Iridium (5) | Razorock 400 Alu |
| Pre | Soap/Method | Postshave |
| Cold splash Mastro Miche preshave | Mudder Focker (5+6) Bowl lathered | Cold splash Aftershave Balm |
| Effectiveness | Facial Impact Score FIS™ |
| 8.75/10 (BBS) | 9.5/10 (GlideFest) |
| Notes: |
A brilliantly smooth shave today with two monoliths in the shaving world. Loved it all the way. One slight mishap post shave: the Eclipse head became detached from its handle
So back to the shed for repairs and fix-her-ups. Doesn’t affect the shave, but pains me to see!Back to the wonderful soap that is Mudder Focker. This was a very kind gift from Boris @blethenstrom at the beginning of last year. I used it together with the butterscotch 400 he also send me. That made for some excellent lather! Well today’s bowl lathering wasn’t any different! I decided to follow John’s @JoWolf lead and I used hot water for my lathering. It is indeed more luxurious in feel for sure. His technique and prep are better than mine so for the comfort of my skin I might need that cold shave a little more still. All in all a great experience.
Enjoy your shave today!
Keeping my fingers crossed that the repair goes well.the Eclipse head became detached from its handle
- Thread starter
- #5,432
Same here Mitch! Luckily I have done it before so I know what to do - execution might vary; that’s my challenge
- Thread starter
- #5,433
Ok, clamped the handle together in my vice and applied two component metallic glue to the inside. Should be harded in 4 hrs and solid after 10 hrs. So I am leaving this overnight in the shed. The barrel and handle are a tight fit, so I will see how they slide tomorrow morning. After that I need to basically do the same with the head. Hopefully I can fit that back in as these used to be pressed fit. Which is what got me into this trouble in the first place! However if it works I might have just sealed the crack in my handle better than I did the first time. Silver lining maybe - the wait begins 
Good luck GuidoOk, clamped the handle together in my vice and applied two component metallic glue to the inside. Should be harded in 4 hrs and solid after 10 hrs. So I am leaving this overnight in the shed. The barrel and handle are a tight fit, so I will see how they slide tomorrow morning. After that I need to basically do the same with the head. Hopefully I can fit that back in as these used to be pressed fit. Which is what got me into this trouble in the first place! However if it works I might have just sealed the crack in my handle better than I did the first time. Silver lining maybe - the wait begins
- Thread starter
- #5,435
- Thread starter
- #5,436
Unfortunately I was unsuccessful in gluewelding the handle back together again. I need to clean it out, because the barrel doesn’t fit any more either and it seems the crack has increased in size now that the head has separated. So for now I am going with head and barrel - when we are served lemons we make lemonade.
- Thread starter
- #5,437
| Date | 05.04.2025 |
| 365 daily shaves | 095/365 |
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Gillette ABC Pocket Edition Gillette Aristocrat SB #15 | Vintage Wizamet Iridium (6) | Razorock 400 Alu |
| Pre | Soap/Method | Postshave |
| Cold splash Mastro Miche preshave | Boris Shaving Soap #1 Face lathered | Cold splash Aftershave Balm |
| Effectiveness | Facial Impact Score FIS™ |
| 8.75/10 (BBS) | 10/10 (GlideFest) |
| Notes: |
A very fine shave today with the ninja-effectiveness of the Aristocrat creeping up for a very close and comfortable shave. One minor red spot that closed upon rinsing. No biggy. Both razors performing admirably, although honestly my mind was wondering off to the Eclipse. But alas, we have to find another way - for another day too, because that will require some additional tooling. Tried other handles on the Eclipse and the Greencult 2.0 handle is aesthetically sound to go with the head. That handle has a flat top and not a fluted design. That adds to the acceptable image. I might ask my dad to made a wooden handle of sorts. We’ll see. The shave will remain awesome so that’s not the issue.
I applied my BSS shave stick which with very shallow loading (basically one stroke on every area). Combined with a little water and the 400 brush, Mark Szorady came around the corner to yell ”Boom! Lather!). Very nice and good slickness after a couple of water additions. The scent is still amazing and so is the soap itself.
Technique was good and fairly consistent. Paid extra attention to the jaw line area right underneath my ears. Good closeness. ATG was a bit more of a buffing stroke today. Worked well, especially on the right side of my face. Three passes and a touch up using J-hooks. Nice to see my technique has increased to the level that I am now able to perform those as well.
Enjoy your shave today!
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I hope you have some sugar or honey. This is beginning to sound like a @Wombat ESQ project
- Thread starter
- #5,439
Compared to @Wombat ESQ I definitely have two left hands (that’s a saying in the Netherlands for someone who sucks at DIY)!
@Wombat ESQ is not perfect, yet? He still learning. 
and if thats the pretty gold number you are needing to fix? my hot melt metal glue only comes in silver [so far] not gold, and @Wombat ESQ can not gold plate at this point in time.
Sadly hot melt metal glue needs replating after.
and if thats the pretty gold number you are needing to fix? my hot melt metal glue only comes in silver [so far] not gold, and @Wombat ESQ can not gold plate at this point in time.
Sadly hot melt metal glue needs replating after.
