You get a star added to your man card! Now you just need to mammoth paint and you'll really be on your way
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An Unexpected Journey: A Newbie's Walk In Wet Shaving
- Thread starter Blade-meister
- Start date
You get a star added to your man card! Now you just need to mammoth paint and you'll really be on your way
I got that double bitted axe stripped and the edge re-profiled. The chips weren't too bad. I chose to use an angle grinder to do all the edge profiling. I can control the heat production better to guard the temper of the blades. If your steel turns blue or even straw colored you'd just changed the temper of the blade. I avoided any color change at all, but boy is this steel hard. Cleaning it up revealed it was in deed hand forged. Double bitted axes have two different edge profiles. One bit has a lean razor edge while the other has a more beveled and steeper angle so that you can use that for heavy work or for knots. I'll be putting these profiles in with files if it will bite, if it's too hard for files I will use the angle grinder and stones to get sharpen it. I need to buy a new handle for it, but I need to wait a bit to save up the $10 to order it from House Handles. I want to put a new handle on it before I sharpen it so that I'm not handling / dropping a deadly sharp axe head. Man this thing is a big axe! Can't wait to show it off when done. I preserved the nice chocolate patina.
GearNoir
“The Disney Princess’s Apprentice”
Awww where’s the fun in that?!
Awww where’s the fun in that?!
There's only room for one member here at TSC with part of his finger missing @ShawnF
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Ditto
Me too! once i a while i will add a splash of milk just to mix things up. @Blade-meister have you ever had fresh roasted coffee? Makes a HUGE difference and is much better.
Actually, I think there are two of us. @The Monkey is missing a bit of one if I remember correctly.There's only room for one member here at TSC with part of his finger missing @ShawnF
Just an old rumor. I can still easily count to ten.
Oh great. So I'm still alone......Just an old rumor. I can still easily count to ten.
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Just an old rumor. I can still easily count to ten.
Never tried real roasted coffee. Sounds like I may like it.
This morning I was in a hurry and decided to do a quick shave in the shower. Wild West Billy the Kid soap and off I went. The first thing I noticed was how soft and easy the stubble was compared to cold water shaving outside the shower. Man, I got smooth in just 2 passes. I'd say SAS in some places, but DFS in most areas. I might have to revisit this by trying my normal shave just do it in the shower to see how it comes out.
So I've been promising pictures of my axe collection and finally just snapped a few. Mind you, this collection is used to work with and I don't polish them and display them. My goal is to get proficient enough to build things old style with post and beam. I'll start out small by building a post and beam wood shed out at the cabin.
Above left to right: This is my hewing hatchet I just put a new hickory handle on that I made octagon 2/3 of the length, then is my adze sitting way in the back, the middle shows my newest addition double bit axe given to me by my Dad, all the way in the back is my trusty tomahawk that is my throwing hawk and my trail overall belt hawk that I carry with me in the woods most of the time, the last on on the right is a great single bit axe that is light weight and is going to be great for clearing trails and light work in the woods and she got a new hickory handle as well. I hung both the hewing hatchet and the trail axe. Hanging an axe is the proper term for putting a new handle on it. The old saying "I just can't get the hang of it" comes from the process of hanging an axe.
Above is a closer look at this big boy double bit axe. It's definitely hand forged and is an older one for sure. It had two significant chips out of the blade on each side, but I was able to get them out without losing very much good steel. The remnants of the last visible parts of the chip on the left side will be removed when I start the filing process of sharpening it. To sharpen an axe right you must use a file, then hit it with the stones, then hone it, then stropping.....sound familiar? Axes should be sharp enough to trim hair off the back of your hand. This one obviously needs a new handle and I will be getting one probably in December and hang it shortly thereafter. I can't wait to put this manly axe back to work hewing some timber.
So I've been promising pictures of my axe collection and finally just snapped a few. Mind you, this collection is used to work with and I don't polish them and display them. My goal is to get proficient enough to build things old style with post and beam. I'll start out small by building a post and beam wood shed out at the cabin.
Above left to right: This is my hewing hatchet I just put a new hickory handle on that I made octagon 2/3 of the length, then is my adze sitting way in the back, the middle shows my newest addition double bit axe given to me by my Dad, all the way in the back is my trusty tomahawk that is my throwing hawk and my trail overall belt hawk that I carry with me in the woods most of the time, the last on on the right is a great single bit axe that is light weight and is going to be great for clearing trails and light work in the woods and she got a new hickory handle as well. I hung both the hewing hatchet and the trail axe. Hanging an axe is the proper term for putting a new handle on it. The old saying "I just can't get the hang of it" comes from the process of hanging an axe.
Above is a closer look at this big boy double bit axe. It's definitely hand forged and is an older one for sure. It had two significant chips out of the blade on each side, but I was able to get them out without losing very much good steel. The remnants of the last visible parts of the chip on the left side will be removed when I start the filing process of sharpening it. To sharpen an axe right you must use a file, then hit it with the stones, then hone it, then stropping.....sound familiar? Axes should be sharp enough to trim hair off the back of your hand. This one obviously needs a new handle and I will be getting one probably in December and hang it shortly thereafter. I can't wait to put this manly axe back to work hewing some timber.
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
OOoooooh EEEErrrrriccc @Smattayu Aisle 3
So this morning I decided to do the full shave in the shower. I must say, maybe I'm missing the boat cold shaving. I got the best shave I've had in a long time. All the usual irritation problem areas saw no issues at all. The upper lip hasn't felt this good ever and daily I struggle with irritation cold shaving. I decided to use the Wild West Billy The Kid again so that I'm comparing the same set-up. The dolphin was caught this morning for sure. I've had to tweak my post shave routine to leaving my face wet and then a cold water splash immediately. Next comes the WH, another cold water rinse, and then a light application of shaving soap to just sit on my face while I clean everything up. Another cold water rinse and some AS lotion and I'm good to go.
What I think is happening is that the cold water shaves are (duh!) making my stubble stand-up straight and become harder somehow. This causes more tugging, blade deflection, etc. One other factor is that I haven't ever tried shower shaving with the Variant. I've been using it for a while now and I've mostly mastered the no pressure thing. It allows for effortless, super comfortable shaving in the shower. I'll keep it going and see how a week of shower shaves pans out. I used to shower shave with carts for years.
What I think is happening is that the cold water shaves are (duh!) making my stubble stand-up straight and become harder somehow. This causes more tugging, blade deflection, etc. One other factor is that I haven't ever tried shower shaving with the Variant. I've been using it for a while now and I've mostly mastered the no pressure thing. It allows for effortless, super comfortable shaving in the shower. I'll keep it going and see how a week of shower shaves pans out. I used to shower shave with carts for years.
Mike, your journal makes such interesting reading. Great pictures, too.
Thanks Bruce! I love the fact that TSC allows journals to be what the writer wants them to be. Nobody here abuses that and it gives us each a way to know each other a little bit better beyond the shaving aspects.
Well, you just have to jump right in! Of course this would end shave videos for a number of guys here so I suspect that's the resistance
It's why no video has surfaced so far on mammoth painting. @NurseDave I suspect would not approve
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Yes. It makes for ways for friendships to form.