Professor Flanders's Journal of Nerdy Observations and silly camaraderie

[helicopter]

How many did you get, did you call and ask how many they had left?

I admit that it took some restraint not to buy everything they had left in that colour. But their wallets have never appealed to me.

I just got one razor. I glanced at the wallet and key thing, but neither looked like a thing I would use.

 

[Flanders]

I just got one razor. I glanced at the wallet and key thing, but neither looked like a thing I would use.

Sorry, I got you mixed up with Mark! He is the one who would call and ask how many they have left and buy them all.

Glad you got one to try, I think you already have blades... I should go check your sharpness thread again... I have the Feathers.

 

[helicopter]

Sorry, I got you mixed up with Mark! He is the one who would call and ask how many they have left and buy them all.

Glad you got one to try, I think you already have blades... I should go check your sharpness thread again... I have the Feathers.

I have some Feathers. I sent my Carbons to Mark to try, but I can pick up some more if I like the razor.

 

[BigAlVista]

Sorry, I got you mixed up with Mark! He is the one who would call and ask how many they have left and buy them all.

Glad you got one to try, I think you already have blades... I should go check your sharpness thread again... I have the Feather

I'm so transparent.

 

[Flanders]

I'm so transparent.

I hope you don’t take that wrong, it was funnier when I thought I was replying to you originally.

 

[BigAlVista]

I'm so transparent.

On that point...Just received my 2nd Polo 14. 31mm of tingly face goodness. The Delphi and Chubby 2 for context. It's interesting how things come into and out of fashion. When I bought my first nice brush back in the '90s, everyone was saying "you need a 3-band silvertip because blah, blah, blah". More recently, upscale 2-bands have been the vogue because backbone, blah, blah, blah. Then along came Wald with those beautiful synthetic knots and handles. "Everyone needs to try a Wald because, well, you know...blah, blah, blah".

Guess what? I like them all, but...a big beautiful dense Silvertip still has a sweet spot for me ever since I bought that first Nickel-handled Art of Shaving brush (below)

 

[BigAlVista]

I hope you don’t take that wrong, it was funnier when I thought I was replying to you originally.

All good, Aaron. Self knowledge and acceptance is a beautiful thing.

 

[Flanders]

Guess what? I like them all, but...a big beautiful dense Silvertip still has a sweet spot for me ever since I bought that first Nickel-handled Art of Shaving brush (below)

I really like that brush. My sweet spot is a three band that has a sort of modern setting like my 26mm VieLong Super Badger. But objectively, the Walds are the complete package, I want many more of them! Then I feel greedy, like buying two Oneblade razors because they were on clearance. When I already have two other razors coming…

 

[BigAlVista]

I really like that brush. My sweet spot is a three band that has a sort of modern setting like my 26mm VieLong Super Badger. But objectively, the Walds are the complete package, I want many more of them! Then I feel greedy, like buying two Oneblade razors because they were on clearance. When I already have two other razors coming…

Have you tried an Oumo Emperor or Tyrant? I think they are Magnificent- soft, with a touch if scritch (more scritch with the Tyrant), densely packed and I really love the Exceed-1 handles. Here are one of each, in Ti (though pretty, they are a bit heavy):

The left is a 27mm Tyrant fan, the right, a 29mm Emperor bulb:

 

[Flanders]

Have you tried an Oumo Emperor or Tyrant?

No, but I am very aware of them. I almost bought one when I got the ST-1.

I was so close to buying an ST-2 the last sale which is what I really want to try. Strangely enough, I haven’t bought any badgers from them because I know I will love them therefore no thrill of the unknown.

That and the cost, obviously, keep them on the long term wishlist. I know we are supposed to be on a pre-tariff buying spree, but I have missed out on a lot of stuff over the years and that’s probably for the better.

 

[BigAlVista]

Between the ST2 and the Wald, the Wald gets the win, but that ST2 is really nice.

 

[Flanders]

Weird shave with the medium Henson today.

I haven't used this one in a long time, I always just use the aggressive(since I have two). I know very well where it is lacking from past experience, but I had hoped that my technique would produce a different result after so much time. On the other hand, the Proof razor is impressing me more and more and I needed to see how much the Henson exceeds it in capability. Spoiler: it's better than the Henson!

So let's get this out of the way, I spent plenty of time on facial prep and got a very nice lather for this shave. I even watered it down more than I would normally so the Henson wouldn't lather plane as Thom calls. I used a blade from the exact same pack of Schicks which work nicely in the aggressive version even. The shave was uneventful, and not worth detailing much, and pretty fast. I stuck with my new routine of WTG, XTG/ATG and final half pass on the jaw corners. I am 100% certain that I didn't get exuberant and apply pressure, I treated it like I was using the aggressive.

This didn't feel right, it wasn't painful, but it was very obviously scrapping my skin! It's so weird to notice how rigid a DE blade is after using a pivoting head. That's OK by itself, but again it didn't feel any less aggressive than the aggressive version. What really matters to me is the results and they are both typical and surprising when compared to the Proof razor. Remember, I have never been a cartridge shaver so the whole pivoting thing is a process of discovery for me(no bias either way). First, the results are amazingly comparable between the two; the Henson does a little better on everything but the jaw and much worse there. This is exactly how I remember it, no improvement found. Clearly, there is something to the pivot and its ability to follow curves. Still, I resisted over shaving the jaw line and stuck with the plan. I saved the weirdest part for last: this shave felt like a noticeable jump on the FIS and that sensation still hasn't let up. It's going straight to 4 and that's being generous, I have no idea how this happened even though I could feel it happening real time! Remember I rated the FIS of the Proof, down from 3, as a 2 after discovering my beard growing straight out the next day. That was a puzzling result that I was able to replicate three more times on the same blade. What is this Henson's problem/excuse? I certainly don't have an answer, I used a sharp enough blade.

I already moved the blade to the v1 aggressive for the next shave to see if it feels any different. I bet it won't and it will still deliver a closer shave. The medium only got one chance and now it's going back to being a pretty looking display item. I would have already bought the brass Proof razor, against my better judgement, but they already sold out. Maybe in the Spring they will make another batch, hopefully not(lol). I am hoping that I hate the R41GS that I ordered so I can reclaim my funds after trying it, I don't seem to be into aggressive razors right now. Maybe it will be a revelation, it certainly will be different than anything I have tried other than the Fatip Grande OC. The width across the cap on the R41 is greater so I am hopeful that it will be educational at least.

Werid shave with the medium a Henson (again) today last night.

I think I finally got a Schickt Schick. Strangely, the shave felt better with the aggressive, must have been partly the coating. Now I am going to have to throw out my result with medium and give it another chance.

Experience wise, I really enjoyed using my v1 aggressive as I usually do. I still don't know why I like it better than the v2 titanium, but I am still bitter that I missed out on a v1 titanium. Now that I am strictly doing a two pass plus touch up shave, I am not obsessing about everything while shaving and just enjoying it.

Of course, after the shave, I am going to analyse the result. And the analysis reveals that the shave, overall, may be 1 point closer than the medium, it also may not be. This points to blade being the culprit. What's really disappointing is that the jaw corners and under chin area aren't actually any closer, this can only be due to the blade not catching. The aggressive has enough exposure to grab these hairs and I did feel like I was going at them a bit too much as well. There was still less aftershave feedback than the shave with the medium, weird.

 

[spacemonkey42]

I'm liking my ST-2 as well. The 27mm fan is way bigger than the 29mm Wald A1 fan. The ST-2 is a bit floppier, but very soft.

 

[Flanders]

Between the ST2 and the Wald, the Wald gets the win, but that ST2 is really nice.

The ST-1 was a real disapointmet for me so that cooled my interest in Oumo for some time. The ST-2 sounds like what the ST-1 was supposed to be and they are having sales starting the 23rd...

Yeah, I want another Wald. Who doesn't want more and more, it's why it took me over a year to get one!

 

[spacemonkey42]

Experience wise, I really enjoyed using my v1 aggressive as I usually do. I still don't know why I like it better than the v2 titanium, but I am still bitter that I missed out on a v1 titanium.

Aaron, I have the v1 titanium aggressive. I like both the v1 and v2 equally, but if you like the v1 much better, perhaps we should talk about a swap?

 

[Flanders]

Aaron, I have the v1 titanium aggressive. I like both the v1 and v2 equally, but if you like the v1 much better, perhaps we should talk about a swap?

That's a very generous offer, but I doubt I have anything worth exchanging. I was going to keep an eye on eBay, but I am afraid that I will find one... and have to pay for it. It's not a big deal and ultimately, it may be the aluminium is what I like and not the v1 vs v2 perceived difference. I am probably going to buy a v2 aluminium to find out and because I like the colour.

 

[BigAlVista]

The ST-1 was a real disapointmet for me so that cooled my interest in Oumo for some time. The ST-2 sounds like what the ST-1 was supposed to be and they are having sales starting the 23rd...

Yeah, I want another Wald. Who doesn't want more and more, it's why it took me over a year to get one!

I hate that whole once/month or so, 1-minute "ready-set-BUY" thing, but his stuff is definitively excellent.

If I hit the lottery, I might try to get one of his Badger brushes

Never tried the ST1.

 

[spacemonkey42]

That's a very generous offer, but I doubt I have anything worth exchanging. I was going to keep an eye on eBay, but I am afraid that I will find one... and have to pay for it. It's not a big deal and ultimately, it may be the aluminium is what I like and not the v1 vs v2 perceived difference. I am probably going to buy a v2 aluminium to find out and because I like the colour.

Ahhhh, I thought you had the v2 Ti and a swap might be possible. There is no way I am getting rid of my Henson +++, they are at the top of my den!