Spike's DE Blade Search, &c.

[Esox]

I begin to wonder if I'm genuinely crazy or just old . . . or
senile . . .

When you're crazy, you dont know it. When you're old, you dont care. When you're senile, it doesnt matter.

The design of this razor, with virtually no blade gap and fine little teeth, is truly brilliant. I think with any amount of experience, you would have to go far out of your way to cut yourself with this thing.

Some call them unforgiving, but short of sliding it sideways I'd find it difficult to cut myself with one. They really are great razors. Truly great. Anyone thats become familiar with using a DE would have no issues at all in using one. Easy, simple, efficient enough. When will the DE world come full circle so we can have a modern CNC copy. An exact copy. Preferably a Single and/or Double Ring.

So now I'm contemplating whether to PIF this Old Type on, or donate it to the Saint Sue auction (maybe after replating it?) . . . I'm open to suggestions.

Either would good of you Spike. You're sharing a great shaving experience either way.

Personally I get bored using the same razor and blade every shave. To shave with the same razor for the rest of my days I think I'd end up back where I was with my Mach 3. Trudging through a tedious chore, broken up perhaps by a differently scented soap, but still becoming a chore.

Or maybe, I've gone senile and it doesnt really matter which one I pick up. They all shave about the same anyway haha.

 

[AimlessWanderer]

Spike, I get it, I really do. I'll occasionally use one of my other DEs, but it's always nice to "come home" to the Jagger.

I am comfortable having a few extras at the moment though, as they all have their role to play. The Wilko Classic is in a travel washbag, the Merkur 985 can get dropped in a jacket pocket with a toothbrush if I'm overnighting without any real need to pack, plus comes in handy attached to the Jagger handle for removing more than just stubble, like it has been doing this week. The Parker 22 makes use of blades too mild to work well in the Jagger, and then there's the birth year razor.

Before you part with the old type, be sure it doesn't have a role to play there - even if that role is to be handed to a friend or family member with a pack of blades and some sage advice, when they start moaning about the price of replacement cartridges in the shops

 

[rabidus]

from day to day, I'd still rather be using my SE1 (SE2?) with the Prolines.

Somehow I'm not surprised!!!

 

[Tokyospike]

When will the DE world come full circle so we can have a modern CNC copy. An exact copy. Preferably a Single and/or Double Ring.

That’s a great idea. Don’t you and Jim have a machine tool purchase in the works? Also, wouldn’t you consider the Fatips to be modern versions of this basic design, with improvements? I think I would consider the additional weight an improvement . . .

Before you part with the old type, be sure it doesn't have a role to play there

Thanks, Al. I am pondering how to work it into my travel kit? Certainly smaller and lighter than the big guy, and easier to find blades for. Seems a shame to not have it where it’s better appreciated than that, though . . .

Somehow I'm not surprised!!!

I am very grateful you came to this conclusion before me. Otherwise, I would feel so alone wandering the streets declaring, “This is the best s**t!”

But I think it is.

 

[Esox]

That’s a great idea. Don’t you and Jim have a machine tool purchase in the works? Also, wouldn’t you consider the Fatips to be modern versions of this basic design, with improvements? I think I would consider the additional weight an improvement . . .

I wish I knew someone with a CNC mill! lol

A modern version yes, but of a design not as closely related as one may think. They're very different razors. Fatips may be an improvement as far as efficiency goes, but if I could improve them further it would be having the blades edge closer to the comb, but keeping the exposure the same.

I might agree with rabidus too, but I havent yet used an SE1. I came to this forum because of his insight and I seem to be following along directly in his footsteps. NEW SC, Tech, Fatip (mk.1 for him) early TTO, MMOC and now the Old Types for me. Some people have a very good grasp on understanding what works and why, and not only for themselves either, rabidus is one of those that do.

The efficiency of a Fatip OC with the comfort of an Old Type. If I could have a razor that has both qualities, I'd own one. An SE1 may find its way into my fingers yet but I think I'm giving up on the ATT Calypso SE1. My Single Ring I find light, very light, at 59grams. My Grande is 68.6. The ATT Calypso is only 39.

When it comes to weight;

 

[rabidus]

I am very grateful you came to this conclusion before me. Otherwise, I would feel so alone wandering the streets declaring, “This is the best s**t!”

But I think it is.

Out of all the AC razors I've tried, the SE1 is on top, with a Proline of course...

Other AC razors are either too much or not enough...

Old Types for me.

I like the Old Type, but I like the NEW SC better. The blade gap is what I like about the SC over the Old Type. I don't like having to fiddle with the Old Type to get the blade to align.

 

[Esox]

I like the Old Type, but I like the NEW SC better. The blade gap is what I like about the SC over the Old Type. I don't like having to fiddle with the Old Type to get the blade to align.

I prefer the Old Type because of the lack of gap. Both my NEW SC and Single Ring are equally efficient but the Single Ring is the more comfortable shaver. My Old Types arent all the same though.

My Brit clone is the most comfortable, but the least efficient.

My Single Ring is right there with it in comfort, but its a lot more efficient.

The Canadian Old Type is not as comfortable as my Single Ring and the efficiency of it falls between the Brit clone and the Single Ring. The Canadian also has the least gap of any razor I've seen.

Brit clone left, Canadian center, Single Ring right.



Used directly ATG first pass the NEW SC and Single Ring both give me the same shave. BBS in 2 1/2 passes, but the Single Ring shaves me a bit closer while being easier on my skin. It has less gap so I can use more pressure for a deeper cut and I use it very steep, the SC I dont.

I'll put the Tech cap on the SC today with the Fat Tech handle and see what I think.

 

[Tokyospike]

Hardware Update

I have had 20 shaves with the SE2 now. I'm sure at some point I will return to the SE1. But I don't know when.

My nearly two years of this kind of shaving have clearly been building to this. I always wanted to be able to shave with a straight. That was not to be. But shaving with this thing is as close as you can get with a safety razor. I am more than content.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Esox]

I have had 20 shaves with the SE2 now. I'm sure at some point I will return to the SE1. But I don't know when.

With that handle on it Spike, you make Thor himself proud lol.

 

[Rusty Blade]

Hardware Update

View attachment 896408

I have had 20 shaves with the SE2 now. I'm sure at some point I will return to the SE1. But I don't know when.

My nearly two years of this kind of shaving have clearly been building to this. I always wanted to be able to shave with a straight. That was not to be. But shaving with this thing is as close as you can get with a safety razor. I am more than content.

Thanks for reading.

Nice looking set up.

 

[rabidus]

I have had 20 shaves with the SE2 now. I'm sure at some point I will return to the SE1. But I don't know when.

Big boy razors!

 

[rabidus]

I always wanted to be able to shave with a straight.

My thoughts on str8 razors...hmm... They only go str8 up and str8 down... I have to shave E-W, W-E to BBS my neck.

I don't want to be that guy that uses a str8 and cleans up with a SE for BBS, when I can simply use a SE or DE for BBS on their own...

 

[AimlessWanderer]

My thoughts on str8 razors...hmm... They only go str8 up and str8 down... I have to shave E-W, W-E to BBS my neck.

I don't want to be that guy that uses a str8 and cleans up with a SE for BBS, when I can simply use a SE or DE for BBS on their own...

They're certainly easier going vertically, but I have to go in other directions too, Anthony. on my cheeks, my beard grows almost downwards, but at the jawline and below, it all pretty much goes from the left ear round to the right ear.

I've only had around half a dozen straight shaves, but have already had a BBS shave with a Dovo shavette (half a DE blade type). The jawline wasn't too tricky, and below that, I managed to get the approach sufficiently diagonally, and/or use a guillotine approach, to get everything else stubble free. It's not easy, but it is possible.

I'm still very much learning, and I did give myself a bit of irritation in the process, which was entirely operator error. In time, I hope to be able to get as good a shave with the straight, the shavette, and the "hoe handle" hollow ground SEs, as I do with the DE.

 

[Esox]

My thoughts on str8 razors...hmm... They only go str8 up and str8 down...

Tell that to Woody Allen lol.

 

[rabidus]

They're certainly easier going vertically, but I have to go in other directions too, Anthony. on my cheeks, my beard grows almost downwards, but at the jawline and below, it all pretty much goes from the left ear round to the right ear.

I've only had around half a dozen straight shaves, but have already had a BBS shave with a Dovo shavette (half a DE blade type). The jawline wasn't too tricky, and below that, I managed to get the approach sufficiently diagonally, and/or use a guillotine approach, to get everything else stubble free. It's not easy, but it is possible.

I'm still very much learning, and I did give myself a bit of irritation in the process, which was entirely operator error. In time, I hope to be able to get as good a shave with the straight, the shavette, and the "hoe handle" hollow ground SEs, as I do with the DE.

Takes a lot to get my neck smooth...

Tell that to Woody Allen lol.

I didn't see E-W, W-E on his neck, which is where I need those directions... Above my jawline, N-S, S-N works great...

 

[Tokyospike]

Software "Update"?
Don't get excited . . . it's just samples I haven't tried . . .

When I bought my brush from Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements back in April, they sent me a sample of their 'aftershave cologne' in a flavor called Organism 46b. This stuff was interesting. The skin properties and the amount of menthol were both right on the money. I thought it smelled a bit like chocolate and orange . . . very nice, actually, just not really my style. I went to the PAA site and if you know anything about Doug, you won't be surprised to learn that the Organism 46b page contained not only a dedication ("In Memory of Art Bell 1945-2018") and a definition ("a big scary monster living at the bottom of a 25 million year old lake in Antarctica"), but an entire freaking sci-fi novella.

What I was more interested in were the scent notes: burnt sugar - bitter orange - brandy - Hedione - tobacco absolute - benzoin resin - ambergris. So . . . interesting . . .

I discovered last week that I am about to run out of my second bottle of the Captain's Cat O' Nine Tails. Before I grab another, I thought it might be worthwhile to look into some possible substitutes with a hit of menthol - a little less menthol than the Floid Vigoroso already in the shaving theatre.

So I navigated back to PAA and perused their offerings, and sprung for five samples:

Cold Spices: "A throwback with a twist." Theoretically, this could be exactly what I'm looking for.

Sacre Bleu: Well, it's theoretically Ice Blue Aqua Velva with better ingredients . . . I haven't even smelled Aqua Velva in decades, so, what the heck.

Miami Libre: Sweet Cuban cigar and mint mojito (is there some other kind of mojito?). Sure, why not?

High Jump 47: Another one with a story. Named after the 1947 Operation High Jump expedition to the Antarctic (Doug's really got something for Antarctica) led by Admiral Byrd. It's scent is from the sap of the breu branco tree in the Brazilian jungle. Intriguing. And then there's the Navy connection - the bottle has a picture of Admirable Byrd right on it!

Planet 9: OK . . . this one's not mentholated. Yes, there's a whole back story, but mostly I am interested because it is a super neroli fragrance. Neroli is the flower of the bitter orange. I generally don't go for florals (somehow I don't think of lavender as a floral . . . ?). "Pungent, energizing and intoxicating, containing delicate floral notes with a whiff of citrus, honey and green/spicy facets. Comforting yet exotic with a slight element of mystery." Based on my experience with Organism 46b, I was just really curious about this.

So I have taken a whiff of each in its vial, but that tells me exactly nothing, except that none of them actually smell bad. I get to bat around with these for the next couple of weeks . . .

Of course the problem with PAA and it's sister brand, Crown King, is that where other private labels generally sell 4 oz bottles for $20, PAA sells 3.5 oz bottles for $25. Okaaaay . . . that's not a deal breaker for the right stuff. We will see if they've got it.

Thanks for reading.

 

[MilkCrate]

Software "Update"?
Don't get excited . . . it's just samples I haven't tried . . .

When I bought my brush from Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements back in April, they sent me a sample of their 'aftershave cologne' in a flavor called Organism 46b. This stuff was interesting. The skin properties and the amount of menthol were both right on the money. I thought it smelled a bit like chocolate and orange . . . very nice, actually, just not really my style. I went to the PAA site and if you know anything about Doug, you won't be surprised to learn that the Organism 46b page contained not only a dedication ("In Memory of Art Bell 1945-2018") and a definition ("a big scary monster living at the bottom of a 25 million year old lake in Antarctica"), but an entire freaking sci-fi novella.

What I was more interested in were the scent notes: burnt sugar - bitter orange - brandy - Hedione - tobacco absolute - benzoin resin - ambergris. So . . . interesting . . .

I discovered last week that I am about to run out of my second bottle of the Captain's Cat O' Nine Tails. Before I grab another, I thought it might be worthwhile to look into some possible substitutes with a hit of menthol - a little less menthol than the Floid Vigoroso already in the shaving theatre.

So I navigated back to PAA and perused their offerings, and sprung for five samples:

View attachment 896635

Cold Spices: "A throwback with a twist." Theoretically, this could be exactly what I'm looking for.

Sacre Bleu: Well, it's theoretically Ice Blue Aqua Velva with better ingredients . . . I haven't even smelled Aqua Velva in decades, so, what the heck.

Miami Libre: Sweet Cuban cigar and mint mojito (is there some other kind of mojito?). Sure, why not?

High Jump 47: Another one with a story. Named after the 1947 Operation High Jump expedition to the Antarctic (Doug's really got something for Antarctica) led by Admiral Byrd. It's scent is from the sap of the breu branco tree in the Brazilian jungle. Intriguing. And then there's the Navy connection - the bottle has a picture of Admirable Byrd right on it!

Planet 9: OK . . . this one's not mentholated. Yes, there's a whole back story, but mostly I am interested because it is a super neroli fragrance. Neroli is the flower of the bitter orange. I generally don't go for florals (somehow I don't think of lavender as a floral . . . ?). "Pungent, energizing and intoxicating, containing delicate floral notes with a whiff of citrus, honey and green/spicy facets. Comforting yet exotic with a slight element of mystery." Based on my experience with Organism 46b, I was just really curious about this.

So I have taken a whiff of each in its vial, but that tells me exactly nothing, except that none of them actually smell bad. I get to bat around with these for the next couple of weeks . . .

Of course the problem with PAA and it's sister brand, Crown King, is that where other private labels generally sell 4 oz bottles for $20, PAA sells 3.5 oz bottles for $25. Okaaaay . . . that's not a deal breaker for the right stuff. We will see if they've got it.

Thanks for reading.

Have you tried the Atomic Age Bay Rum?

 

[Tokyospike]

Have you tried the Atomic Age Bay Rum?

Uhhhh . . . no. Seems a bit foolish now. In the Bay Rum contest, I’m pretty sold on the darkness of CO9T . . . or else St. John’s. But I should try it.

You like?

 

[MilkCrate]

I may have to try those two. I tried Stirling and it actually burned until washed off. I tried with and without AS and same result. I also tried CC Bay Rum, but to my nose the scent faded fast.

I do like the AA Bay Rum. It is not clove heavy and it has a long lasting cologne type scent. But for my budget, the price is high.

 

[Tokyospike]

But for my budget, the price is high.

I know what you mean. The face feel is going to have to be outstanding and the scent exceptionally long-lasting for this to be worth it. But that’s their claim. Also, I buy one bottle of summer AS splash a year (or less) so . . . we’ll see. I might have to stop shaving with the SE2 so that my beard grows faster - impatient to be able to try these out.