Twist-To-Open Exploration

[eSteve]

Open Comb Exploration Four

Fourth shave for me with this GEM Junior but my first time without a shim.

I have looked closely at these two 1912 razors compared to my four Micromatics, especially the blade clamping. Clearly the Micromatics have much more blade pushing, and clamping. The Open Combs seem very good in this regard. Comparing the 1912s, the Ever-Ready seems somewhat better than the Junior. How this affects smoothness I could not say.

OC Ex Shave of the Day
(SE SOTD)

Cup: plastic picnic

Bowl: outlaw pottery

Lather: Fendrihan Robusto

Brush: Omega 05 boar

Razor: GEM Junior (no shim, shim)

Blade: Personna SS PTFE (5)

Passes: WTG, plus

After: Clubman Classic

I allowed a second day of growth. The GEM Junior didn't do as well on this fourth shave. I started without the shim, it didn't feel any smoother. So, installed the shim half way through first pass. Didn't seem any different. Feels mostly close but didn't do as well ATG on my neck.

It's a pretty razor. My first unplated brass razor along with the next Micromatic 1st gen Open Comb. This GEM Junior may become art in my collection because the Ever-Ready 1912 works so much better.

 

[eSteve]

Personal Exploration

No shaving post today. I'm opening up a bit because I've been reading many good things on here. I read a post about aging and hair growing everywhere except on one's head.

I've been on sabbatical. It's been good and not so good. I've enjoyed feeling unshorn.

I've been trying more to reintegrate and return to good action; healthy patterns. I often combine tasks or intentions so they support each other. This has been effective for me, and efficient; along with my failures.

I used to attend Sunday mass very regularly, I haven't been there for many months. I miss it very much. I live in a very affluent district but I'm just a regular guy; but my church parish benefits. There is a very talented musical family that does the early mass. I want to say world-class. A bit of Greek, some Latin; it always takes me there. It's absolutely beautiful and amazing. I've been working my way back.

Even though I'm half-past 60, my first activity is still endurance trail running. But my good habit has been waning and, like mass, I'm trying to keep my foot in the game. And I had the idea. I could drag my sorry self to weekday mass, in the interim, and run. So, about six weeks ago, I started trotting down the way a couple-few times a week. I've been favoured with some very-nice-weather days. But even when it seems cold and dark out there, and it's drizzling rain and I feel like staying warm at home, I pull on the tights with a smile; because I desire to return and I want that impactful activity. Without fail, it feels great every outing, as soon as I start to swing my arms. I extend the return route to pass 20 minutes, to build cardiovascular strength. And I've enjoyed getting reacquainted with my parish friends.

And my son was coming to visit, and maybe he could attend Sunday mass too, maybe his first; another layer of support. But I couldn't attend the wonderful event looking like I did. Here is what happened on Friday last. It was nice seeing that I still had some colour. But it's been very refreshing and freeing to have it gone.

Anyway, the event was hugely successful and many other things too.

 

[Guido75]

Do you are pulling yourself out of the rut by the proverbial hair!

Thank you for sharing that and I think it’s awesome you do! Emotion is created by motion so you moving again gets the system going again. One step at a time. I applaud you.

Keep it up!

Guido

 

[eSteve]

Do you are pulling yourself out of the rut by the proverbial hair!

Thank you for sharing that and I think it’s awesome you do! Emotion is created by motion so you moving again gets the system going again. One step at a time. I applaud you.

Keep it up!

Guido

Thanks Guido. Trying to have fun with it all.

 

[eSteve]

Open Comb Exploration Six

My first use of this Micromatic Open Comb 1st gen. It's "bumpless" so I will be using a shim. It's younger brother, the 2nd gen Open Comb, worked very well for me on it's first use, with a 10th-shave blade. So I have high hopes for this shave.

OC Ex Shaves of the Day
(SE SOTD)

Cup: plastic picnic

Bowl: outlaw pottery

Lather: Fendrihan Robusto

Brush: Omega 05 boar

Razor: MMOC gen 1 (shim)

Blade: Personna SS PTFE (6, 7)

Passes: WTG, plus

After: Clubman Classic

Shave One: I allowed a second day of growth. It didn't go as well as hoped. Similar to my previous shaves with the GEM Junior, this 1st gen Open Comb was just a little rough. This surprised me because I had such a good time with the 2nd gen OC. I struggled a bit with tough areas under jaw. Still a close, 2-day shave, like many GEM shaves.

I've thought about it. I've been face-lathering more with my regular boar again, because I like it. This may be increasing sensitivity or irritation. I may have struggled with this in the recent past. Perhaps this has been affecting these last few shaves. I'll take action.



It was dark this morning, first run with the headlamp. I only had to use it in a few sections at 7:50am. A cold light rain but mild, mid single digits C. And a little wind, my least favourite condition but not why you may think. So, cool but trying to be cold. Started swinging my arms and breathing. Awesome. The conditions deteriorated for the way back. A more insistent rain and more biting wind. My first layer of defense is an old, light, running jacket; a permeable windbreaker. The water that gets through becomes part of body temperature modulation, at these temperatures. Trying to be balmy at 7C. Also awesome.

Shave Two: I allowed a second day of growth so a chance for my skin to rest. Same stuff but no face-lathering this time, just painting. It worked. It was a more comfortable shave. Still rather single-edgey. I'm not trying to lay blame but I've been wondering about the sharpness of this blade. These are early days for me, just my second GEM blade. But I was having close and comfortable shaves up to 10 and 11 with the other, with three razors. And I've been struggling with this one; and I like these razors. Yeah, not too comfortable. And not terribly close in tough areas, so too many strokes. I need to revisit these two razors with another blade, it's going to have to wait. I've been working with single edge for more than two months, it's been great, I'm starting to feel mired.

Four more open comb razors in this Exploration, all first shaves of course; but double edge. I've been sitting on these razors for a long time, true classics: stoked.

 

[eSteve]

Personal Exploration

I’ve been feeling small knee discomfort, alternating above and below patella. Maybe tight. I’ve been watching it. I got up this morning, larger pain inside same knee, twingey. Was around, getting ready to go. It was ok. Cool out, trying to rain, 4C. Felt knee a couple times coming back. It was ok, but I was thinking about it. I know about it. I know what to do.

Basic strength and stretching (mobility) exercises at home have been good but not consistent, mostly associated with running. Must be daily again: structure. I have to get to those last strength exercises in the regimen, for my knee: the side-weighted knee-drops from a step.

The other thing. My weekday trots down the way have been great but almost entirely hard surfaces: road. Not forgiving, very linear movement: not good. I must return to trail; surfaces giving back, varied terrain and elevation. Lots of lateral movement, more whole-body. It’s just a better choice, more beneficial in just about every aspect. And I miss it. I have the idea. I can drive down the way, dressed, and drive to the trailhead after. My favourite local loops, for goodness sake. Done.

 

[eSteve]

Open Comb Exploration Seven

Jazzed to be having my first shave with this silver 1920s Gillette Old Type, thick cap. It's my first DE open comb razor.

Looking back, I was using two modern DE razors in the weeks after I abandoned disposable / plastic / cartridge razors, about seven months ago. And this Old was one of my first purchases after that, about six months ago. I continued to build a good, solid collection rather quickly, mostly vintage. But my learning and testing of the razors has been very structured. So yes, just having my first shaves with this Gillette Old now; a good deal of anticipation. Stoked!

This Old has the ball-end handle, with the brass tube that wants to split. Mine wasn't too bad but still warranted replacement. I immediately made a replacement tube from a pen I had laying around. It was nice, a little glossy but an ok match. But I wanted something more austere. I had an old fireplace tool set, made with brass tube. The brass was a little beat up and had lots of patina. I found a small section I liked and hacked it off.

This replacement tube has the same outside diameter as the original tube but is thinner, and so lighter. I wound the ends of the handle with painter's tape as packing, for a good friction fit. The ball end worked great but the threaded end sees more action. I added some polyurethane glue to the packing there; works great, seems solid. I filled the new handle with sand and got it to within a gram of original weight.

OC Ex Shaves of the Day
(SE SOTD)

Cup: plastic picnic

Bowl: outlaw pottery, thrift store

Lather: Nivea Men

Brush: The Jared badger

Razor: Gillette Old thick cap

Blade: Personna Platinum (1, 2)

Passes: 2

After: Clubman Classic

Shave One: I allowed a second day of growth. Yeah, this was a great shave. I'm somewhat out of practice with DE shaving but it's maybe easy to slide into that rhythm. And this razor seems to be what I've been told: a good balance of efficiency and comfort. Yeah, and a very low-profile head so very agile under the nose, etc. It was my first go so I wasn't working it too hard. I still managed to take lots off really easy. Not much left XTG on upper parts on pass two, did quite well ATG on neck. Clubman went on real easy, just a little buzz on neck. Vintage, but seems to be a great razor anyhow.

I'm using my new favourite blade, happy about that. And I'm departing from my regular lathering which has been almost entirely hard soap. I have a nice, soft badger, sort of a mystery brush that I'm going to use for a while and I'm going to use a good basic cream, maybe a little moisturizing.

Sadder, I pulled my nice hand-thrown bowl on to the floor. It hit my foot on the way down. Ouch! So it didn't break but has a crack half-way through. I may be able to salvage it, I'll have to source appropriate adhesive. I could ask my son to pilfer a replacement bowl, he's visiting with me now; the rest of the set of dishes lives at his grandparents beach house. But I won't ask him, it's dopey.




Shave Two: I allowed a second day of growth. Yep. Great shave. I dug in a little deeper this time. Very good. Close, smooth, comfortable: easy. So two full passes which I don’t usually do. All ATG on my neck, XTG on my face. Just fine. Happy with this silver Old. On to the next.

 

[eSteve]

Open Comb Exploration Eight

First use of this gold Gillette Old 102A thick cap. I used the handle I made for my previous silver Old because the handle of this gold Old has a significant crack.

I have three of these Old razors, two are complete sets. They were all incidental purchases, in lots. I’m real glad I have them; they’re very good to shave with. It’s been cool learning about them. I think they are essential to any vintage collection. Mine are all Ball End 102A (thick cap). The gold and silver ones are quite nice. The third is so horrendously crusty that it is absolutely beautiful. The blade bank is full of old blades, some wrapped in a rolling papers package. I’m not going clean it, yeah, there’s no way I’m going to shave with it like that. But it’s amazing, like a museum piece.



OC Ex Shaves of the Day

Cup: plastic picnic

Bowl: thrift store

Lather: Nivea Men

Brush: The Jared badger

Razor: Gillette Old 102A

Blade: Personna Platinum (3, 4)

Passes: 2 - WTG, combined

After: Clubman Classic

Shave One: I allowed a second day of growth. I’ve looked at the parts of these three Old razors, there is a lot of variety among them, by weight. I couldn’t tell a difference between these last two razors in use. Yep, real nice to shave with. I’ve been doing two full passes. First pass WTG, the second pass ATG on neck and XTG on face.



Shave Two: I allowed a second day of growth. It’s an agile razor. It goes around my chin and jaw real easy, and under nose and around mouth. I got the comb to like the lather. And I noticed the handle. That brass has a nice tack when wet. It got soapy once too, it was fine. Anyway, close and comfortable, a two-day razor for me.

It’s been great getting acquainted with the Gillette Old on these four shaves. I have lots more shaves to do, I wonder when I’ll shave with them again.