Glad you enjoy it! I really did get good shaves from it but I found the Parker Variant to be more to my liking as my technique improved. Really good stuff to be learned from this journal for new guys and experienced ones alike.
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An Unexpected Journey: A Newbie's Walk In Wet Shaving
- Thread starter Blade-meister
- Start date
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Good stuff Mike. The Micro touch and SS were stepping stones to this one and sounds like a winner for you.
Excellent! Sounds like you are actually having fun shaving!
Congrats on getting a razor you. I've always been leary of that one. I tried a Futur once, and set to 1, it just about ripped my face off. Wasn't a fan.
From what I read about the Futur it's quite a bit more aggressive than the QShave. One shaver said that a 1 on the Futur was like a 3 on the QShave when you compare side by side. He had both razors. That must have been a horrible shave by the sounds.
Yes, and I am so glad I worked my way up or I think the QShave would have given me lots of weepers. I very rarely get any now and I think that's because I got started with such mild razors that I learned to be careful early on. SE's will be the next step at some point.
Sounds like the Ming's are just as good. One thing about China, when they set their minds to clone something, every so often they really get it right with something like the Ming / QShave.
Probably no shave this morning. I caught the cold my kids have so I'll be just giving it a rest today. It's rainy, cold and damp here this morning so maybe this afternoon I'll feel like rolling the forge out and getting to the backed-up log of blacksmithing projects.
Mike, Take care of the cold first. smithing can come when you are well. No since in trying to finish something when you are only at half strength...that only means that you are half capable and you might end up having to do things all over again! Hope you get well soon!
Feel better soon. ?
Thanks guys. We ended up taking our girls to the walk-in Sunday morning and they have pneumonia. I practically had to twist the doc's arm to get her to prescribe an antibiotic. She initially wanted to tell me they had a virus, but I told her to listen to the rattle in their chests and tell me they don't have bronchitis at least. They eventually were convinced and my girls are on antibiotics and doing better. She wouldn't prescribe me anything, but I think I'm on the mend. Had to do some forging Saturday as I have stuff backed up that I need to get to before snow flies, one being a cane head for the cane I need build to use when my hip is too sore. I took a railroad spike and made some cool alterations to it in the forge with some decorative file work on it tonigt. I'll have to post a pic or two when done with some shaving stuff. I'll be back to shaving with the QShave tomorrow and I think some What The Puck is on deck.
Oh man! I hope the kiddies get better soon. I used to get bronchitis about once a year (haven't had it in a couple though) and I have had pneumonia before. Both are no joke...and when it's the little ones, you can't help but feel for them. Don't get me started on patient care at some of these places. I will say a little prayer for them...and you as it sounds like you are doing probably more than you should...but I understand. Just heal up quick!
And yes...you should show us picks!
And yes...you should show us picks!
Today I picked out the perfect soap for election day. I got right up out of bed even though my covers tried pull me back in bed to sleep a bit longer. Often mornings it's the shave that sees me springing out of bed. Today is a special shave as it's my official 30th shave since starting this journey.
Today's Shave: Shave #30
Razor: QShave (Merkur Futur Clone) DE
Blade: Gillette SB
Brush: Maggard Razors Synthetic
Soap: What The Puck Blue Barbershop
Bowl: Walmart Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Shower / wash with soap
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand), Cold rinse, Dry face, then immediately applied Nivea AS Balm to the face only. Mammoth painting (MP) with a bit of baby powder on the collar area of the neck.
The Blue Barbershop is from a recent DocHoliday PIF and my wife approved the scent. Having never lathered WTP from Razorock I decided to just load the wet brush until it looked right. I like the hard puck and it didn't take longer than about 40 seconds to get a good load on the brush. The lather didn't take any longer than the tallow soaps I'm used to and the lather looked really rich with shiny peaks. I of course worked the lather up before my shower so it was waiting for my prepped face when I got out of the shower. The soap painted well and worked in great. I didn't notice any difference in performance from the tallow based soaps I've been using. I could tell the shea butter and lanolin were doing a great job.
The WTG pass was nice. I love the audio feedback from the QS razor. I can find the sweet spot angle so easily and I just love the notched out groove that hold my fingers effortlessly where they need to be. This razor has really helped me eliminate any and all pressure problems I was having. The extra weight over the Gillette SS really helps this newbie not feel like I have to apply any pressure. The XTG pass felt beautiful and smooth. The ATG pass again felt like I was riding the cap because there just wasn't much there to shave off.
I'm thinking I might be able to turn the aggressiveness up after the first pass. Perhaps tomorrow it will be a 2.5 on the last two passes. I did get the most tiny weeper that showed its self for 2.3 seconds and then went away. This was a tactical error on my part so I don't blame the razor. Overall, BBS everywhere and I felt just a little bit better as I headed out the door with a great 30th shave. I'm still needing the cart for clean-up though and this frustrates me a little bit as I want to just get rid of using it altogether. To do that I'd have to settle for less comfort on the neck.
One thing I concentrated on today was making sure I kept the sweet spot angle in all my passes. This means I had to slow down. With the QS I could really speed through my passes if I wanted to, but I just kept telling myself that this is a game of reduction not elimination. I'm trying to reduce my beard a little bit more each pass. I think carts teach us to get shaving done and get it smooth as quick as you can.
What I Changed: I tried WTP soap for the first time and dusted a little baby powder on the neck. I'd love to find a more manly smelling powder as I think this is a component to giving me neck comfort during the day with collared shirts.
Today's Shave: Shave #30
Razor: QShave (Merkur Futur Clone) DE
Blade: Gillette SB
Brush: Maggard Razors Synthetic
Soap: What The Puck Blue Barbershop
Bowl: Walmart Salsa Bowl (plastic)
Pre Shave: Shower / wash with soap
Post Shave: Cold water rinse, Witch Hazel (Walmart Brand), Cold rinse, Dry face, then immediately applied Nivea AS Balm to the face only. Mammoth painting (MP) with a bit of baby powder on the collar area of the neck.
The Blue Barbershop is from a recent DocHoliday PIF and my wife approved the scent. Having never lathered WTP from Razorock I decided to just load the wet brush until it looked right. I like the hard puck and it didn't take longer than about 40 seconds to get a good load on the brush. The lather didn't take any longer than the tallow soaps I'm used to and the lather looked really rich with shiny peaks. I of course worked the lather up before my shower so it was waiting for my prepped face when I got out of the shower. The soap painted well and worked in great. I didn't notice any difference in performance from the tallow based soaps I've been using. I could tell the shea butter and lanolin were doing a great job.
The WTG pass was nice. I love the audio feedback from the QS razor. I can find the sweet spot angle so easily and I just love the notched out groove that hold my fingers effortlessly where they need to be. This razor has really helped me eliminate any and all pressure problems I was having. The extra weight over the Gillette SS really helps this newbie not feel like I have to apply any pressure. The XTG pass felt beautiful and smooth. The ATG pass again felt like I was riding the cap because there just wasn't much there to shave off.
I'm thinking I might be able to turn the aggressiveness up after the first pass. Perhaps tomorrow it will be a 2.5 on the last two passes. I did get the most tiny weeper that showed its self for 2.3 seconds and then went away. This was a tactical error on my part so I don't blame the razor. Overall, BBS everywhere and I felt just a little bit better as I headed out the door with a great 30th shave. I'm still needing the cart for clean-up though and this frustrates me a little bit as I want to just get rid of using it altogether. To do that I'd have to settle for less comfort on the neck.
One thing I concentrated on today was making sure I kept the sweet spot angle in all my passes. This means I had to slow down. With the QS I could really speed through my passes if I wanted to, but I just kept telling myself that this is a game of reduction not elimination. I'm trying to reduce my beard a little bit more each pass. I think carts teach us to get shaving done and get it smooth as quick as you can.
What I Changed: I tried WTP soap for the first time and dusted a little baby powder on the neck. I'd love to find a more manly smelling powder as I think this is a component to giving me neck comfort during the day with collared shirts.
Congrats on the 30th! I like you are tracking just fine and you might be shaving better 30 shaves in than most of us! As far as the baby powder goes...I think you can buy some Clubman Talcum Powder at most drug stores. I know my CVS has it in with the shaving items. It might have a scent that is more to your liking! Great shave today!
Yup. I love clubman talc. Use it all the time.
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Not on camera you don't
Yeah, about that..... it goes in places it would be inappropriate to film....
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Wellllllllllll alrighty then, we'll take a pass
