jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
Thanks, Chris! Hers a good buddy!
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Natterings of a Nasal Barbarian
- Thread starter jgreenepa
- Start date
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD 03/07/20
Pretty good shave today with a new brush from Evan (@MrEE) and a new soap, Imperial Glycerin soap. The new brush performed beautifully and whipped up what at first glance appeared to be thick lather. When I shave I lather up both face and noggin, and start my first WTG pass on my face and then proceed to the dome.
My problem was that by the time I finished the first pass on my face, the lather on my dome had pretty much faded away, requiring me to lather up the dome again. Once freshly lathered, the first dome pass required me to keep lathering. After finishing the sides, I noticed that the lather on the back of my head had faded, and required a fresh coat. Thus I finished that first pass, and liked the soap’s slickness and glide when freshly applied but the need to continue relathering was annoying.
For my second pass, I thought that I should devote more time to the actual lather generation. So I spent a few minutes lathering away. Unfortunately, I had the same experience with the second XTG pass on the dome again. The face shave was relatively uneventful, but it was the noggin scrape which was the problem again.
For my final ATG pass I decided to wait to lather the dome until after completing my face. But again, even with lathering the dome shortly before that third pass experienced lather fade on the back of my head. I will say that when the lather was fresh the glide and slickness was fine.
The continual need to keep reapplying lather on the dome was annoying. The shave itself ended up as a very good DFS+. The post shave feel was good, but I guess I’m spoiled. I just love my MWF. I’ll give this soap one more swing tomorrow with the first pass, but I’ll make sure my MWF is handy if I reexperience the lathering issue. The new Badger/boar brush is excellent! I feel clean, smooth and refreshed.
RAZOR: Rex Ambassador (5,3,3)
BLADE: Vintage Polish Wizamet Super Iridium (1)
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: MrEE #007 Badger/Boar
SOAP: Imperial Glycerin
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with Florida Water AS/Cologne Splash
Pretty good shave today with a new brush from Evan (@MrEE) and a new soap, Imperial Glycerin soap. The new brush performed beautifully and whipped up what at first glance appeared to be thick lather. When I shave I lather up both face and noggin, and start my first WTG pass on my face and then proceed to the dome.
My problem was that by the time I finished the first pass on my face, the lather on my dome had pretty much faded away, requiring me to lather up the dome again. Once freshly lathered, the first dome pass required me to keep lathering. After finishing the sides, I noticed that the lather on the back of my head had faded, and required a fresh coat. Thus I finished that first pass, and liked the soap’s slickness and glide when freshly applied but the need to continue relathering was annoying.
For my second pass, I thought that I should devote more time to the actual lather generation. So I spent a few minutes lathering away. Unfortunately, I had the same experience with the second XTG pass on the dome again. The face shave was relatively uneventful, but it was the noggin scrape which was the problem again.
For my final ATG pass I decided to wait to lather the dome until after completing my face. But again, even with lathering the dome shortly before that third pass experienced lather fade on the back of my head. I will say that when the lather was fresh the glide and slickness was fine.
The continual need to keep reapplying lather on the dome was annoying. The shave itself ended up as a very good DFS+. The post shave feel was good, but I guess I’m spoiled. I just love my MWF. I’ll give this soap one more swing tomorrow with the first pass, but I’ll make sure my MWF is handy if I reexperience the lathering issue. The new Badger/boar brush is excellent! I feel clean, smooth and refreshed.
RAZOR: Rex Ambassador (5,3,3)
BLADE: Vintage Polish Wizamet Super Iridium (1)
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: MrEE #007 Badger/Boar
SOAP: Imperial Glycerin
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with Florida Water AS/Cologne Splash
Sounds as though that soap made you work for a good shave. Your persistence paid off.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
It may be my water! A friend of mine from Alabama swears by it.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD 3/8/2020
Excellent shave this morning. Tried starting with the Imperial, but it was a no go with the same issues as yesterday. It must be my well water. I spent 5 minutes attempting a bowl lather, but the result was a thin wispy lather that kept fading away. I even attempted using my MWF face and head lathering technique, but couldn’t build up a thick enough paste. So out came the MWF, and the new brush from Evan (@MrEE), which by the way worked fantastically well with the the MWF.
I grabbed my Colonial Silversmith which has been sadly neglected and loaded a Vintage Polish Wizamet Super Iridium Blade. Then a brisk cold water rinse followed by a thick, yogurty lather applied with my new hybrid Badger/boar brush. This razor never ceases to amaze me with its seeming mildness coupled with such high efficiency.
That first WTG pass left me at the DFS+ level, and the second ATG pass was all that was necessary for a lovely, bloodless BBS shave. I feel clean, smooth, refreshed and ready for church. I wish everyone an amazing day!
RAZOR: Colonial Silversmith
BLADE: Vintage Polish Wizamet Super Iridium
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: MrEE 007 Badger/Boar
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with A&E Post-Shave Serum
Excellent shave this morning. Tried starting with the Imperial, but it was a no go with the same issues as yesterday. It must be my well water. I spent 5 minutes attempting a bowl lather, but the result was a thin wispy lather that kept fading away. I even attempted using my MWF face and head lathering technique, but couldn’t build up a thick enough paste. So out came the MWF, and the new brush from Evan (@MrEE), which by the way worked fantastically well with the the MWF.
I grabbed my Colonial Silversmith which has been sadly neglected and loaded a Vintage Polish Wizamet Super Iridium Blade. Then a brisk cold water rinse followed by a thick, yogurty lather applied with my new hybrid Badger/boar brush. This razor never ceases to amaze me with its seeming mildness coupled with such high efficiency.
That first WTG pass left me at the DFS+ level, and the second ATG pass was all that was necessary for a lovely, bloodless BBS shave. I feel clean, smooth, refreshed and ready for church. I wish everyone an amazing day!
RAZOR: Colonial Silversmith
BLADE: Vintage Polish Wizamet Super Iridium
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: MrEE 007 Badger/Boar
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with A&E Post-Shave Serum
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
Thanks, Chris! Right back atcha!
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD 03/09/20
I really enjoyed the use of Evan’s (@MrEE) Badger/Boar hybrid brush in yesterday’s shave. It is a well-balanced brush with beautiful knurling and performed superbly yesterday. For today’s shave I decided to use Alpha Shaving’s T-400 Rubberset tribute brush. The uniqueness of this brush is that it allows for the use of different knots with the same handle. I own four ferrules, two 24mm and two 26mm. Each ferrule accommodates a single knot. I’ve already mated a synthetic knot and a hybrid 70/30 to the two 24mm ferrules. I’ve ordered a Badger knot and a Boar knot for the two new 26mm ferrules. The beauty of this brush is that it is now effectively four brushes in one. As soon as the two new knots arrive, I will epoxy each to an empty ferrule and be in business.
For today’s shave I selected the 24mm ferrule mated to a 70/30 Badger/Boar hybrid knot. After yesterday’s delightful shave, I again selected the Colonial Silversmith loaded with the same vintage Polish Wizamet Super Iridium blade. I began the shave with my regular cold water rinse following my shower. The brush, which had been soaking in warm water, generated a nice thick MWF paste for the face and head lather to follow. After completing a very leisurely, but vigorous face and head lather, I was left with a glistening, thick protective covering for both shave surfaces.
The Silversmith is such an incredible shaver, I’m always surprised that it isn’t better known. It’s so smooth that the efficiency of the shave always seems a surprise. The first WTG pass felt as though I was just brushing the lather away, until a check revealed the incredibly close shave (DFS+) delivered. I could have quit this morning after that first pass, but I guess I’ve become addicted to the velveteen smoothness of a true BBS. And that second ATG pass put the baby to bed, as my Atlanta CPA shave mentor is wont to say. I finished the shave by painting the MWF back over the newly shaved surfaces and leaving it there as I disassembled and cleaned both the brush and the razor. The result was a post-shave feel that is amazing. I feel clean, smooooth, refreshed and ready to take on this warm, sunny Philadelphia day. I wish all of you reading this an outstanding day! God bless you all!
RAZOR: Colonial Silversmith
BLADE: Vintage Polish Wizamet Super Iridium (2)
PREP: Cold Water rinse
BRUSH: Alpha Shaving T400 Rubberset Homage Badger/Boar Knot
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with A&E Post-Shave Serum
That is a great looking razor!
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
Thanks! For some reason, some people don’t like the handle. I like it! Go figure!
That handle is exquisite looking. How does it feel in your hand? Looks like it'd be comfortable and easy to use.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD 03/10/20
After two great shaves with the Silversmith, it was time to break out my Grail razor, the LaResche 51. This open comb wonder delivers every bit as good a shave as the Silversmith. My LaResche dates to the very end of production and is NOS. I was fortunate to source this razor in France from the estate of a French collector. Unfortunately, I lost the L’Essor Supreme Adjustable in that same collection when it went for five times what I had budgeted for it.
Needless to say, the razor was an absolute pleasure to use. Without any reservations, my two favorite DE razors are this razor and the Silversmith. Following my usual cold water rinse and a luxurious MWF face and head lather, it swept through my whiskers like Patton through Italy. I took my time and really enjoyed this two pass (WTG, ATG) BBS. I feel clean, smooth and refreshed. Enjoy your day!
RAZOR: LaResche 51
BLADE: Vintage Polish Wizamet Super Iridium
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: Viking Silvertip Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with Lisa’s NaturalsTobacco & Bay Post Shave Elixir
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD 04/01/20
It’s great to be back! This morning I finally had the opportunity to put my new Colonial General V2 to the test. I really enjoy using AC razors. I’ve owned three prior to the arrival of this razor - Classic Shaving’s Oren, a RR Hawk, and a Blackland Vector.
The Oren was just too unacceptably bulky and unwieldy. I sold it. The Hawk delivers an shave, but my Vector with a Schick Proline blade is a great shaver, and, after the arrival of my new General, now have another great SE razor available. After reading some posts on a variety of dedicated shave forums, I loaded it up with a Feather Super and had at it.
I hadn’t shaved for a week, but began with a cold water rinse followed by a good thick application of my favorite soap, MWF. The first WTG pass took things right down to the skin line. So much so that the the second ATG pass consisted of nothing more than some selective buffing resulting in an incredibly close BBS that checked all the boxes. I feel smoooth, clean and refreshed.
RAZOR: Colonial General V2.
BLADE: Feather Super AC
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: MrEE Hybrid Badger Boar 007
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POST-SHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with A&E Post-Shave Serum
It’s great to be back! This morning I finally had the opportunity to put my new Colonial General V2 to the test. I really enjoy using AC razors. I’ve owned three prior to the arrival of this razor - Classic Shaving’s Oren, a RR Hawk, and a Blackland Vector.
The Oren was just too unacceptably bulky and unwieldy. I sold it. The Hawk delivers an shave, but my Vector with a Schick Proline blade is a great shaver, and, after the arrival of my new General, now have another great SE razor available. After reading some posts on a variety of dedicated shave forums, I loaded it up with a Feather Super and had at it.
I hadn’t shaved for a week, but began with a cold water rinse followed by a good thick application of my favorite soap, MWF. The first WTG pass took things right down to the skin line. So much so that the the second ATG pass consisted of nothing more than some selective buffing resulting in an incredibly close BBS that checked all the boxes. I feel smoooth, clean and refreshed.
RAZOR: Colonial General V2.
BLADE: Feather Super AC
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: MrEE Hybrid Badger Boar 007
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POST-SHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with A&E Post-Shave Serum
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD 04/02/20
This morning I swapped out the hybrid Badger/Boar knot I had mounted on my Alpha Shaving Rubberset 400 Tribute brush for an incredibly soft black synthetic knot with great backbone. I’m a committed face latherer and really enjoyed whipping up a thick, protective MWF lather on both face and dome with the swapped out synthetic knot. The beauty of this brush is that it is effectively four brushes in one. I own four different ferrules, each of which accommodates a different knot - a 24mm Badger/Boar Hybrid, a 24mm synthetic, a 26mm Silvertip Badger, and a 26mm Boar - all of which screw onto the same handle.
After my cold water rinse, I worked on generating a thick lather. The Colonial General V2 has some real heft to it at almost 90 grams, and is very nicely balanced. When equipped with a Feather Super AC blade it is a highly efficient shaving tool. Given the beautifully engineered balance and weight of the razor, coupled with the wide sweet spot, maintaining negative pressure was quite easy. The razor is named and dedicated to Revolutionary War General Henry Knox, Chief artillery officer of the Continental Army, and later Secretary of War. And Henry’s spirit blasted through that whisker stubble like he decimated the British at Yorktown.
A healthy spike of 6 drops of M-Bomb to my MWF soap provided a delightfully cooling highly mentholated lather. I could easily have stopped after the first ATG pass with a DFS+, but I really crave that velveteen smooth feel of a good BBS shave. My second ATG pass, or really half pass consisted of nothing more than some selective buffing, and brought the BBS baby home. I feel clean, very smoooth, and refreshed, ready for another boring day of sheltering in place.
RAZOR: Colonial General V2 316L SS
BLADE: Feather Super AC
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: Alpha Shaving Rubberset T400 Tribute
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with Lisa’s Naturals Tobacco & Bay Post Shave Elixir
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
I do! In fact, it delivered the best head shave I’ve had in years. I will admit that I took my time out of respect for the blade I was using. First time I‘ve ever started with an ATG pass.
Impressive. That's a wide blade for a curved surface.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD 04/03/2020
Welcome to Fatboy Wool Fat Friday as we shelter in place. I’ve never been a fan of Gillette Adjustables, and today’s shave certainly didn’t change my opinion. My Gibbs Adjustables provide a much better vintage shave, and there’s just no competition at all when the ultimate modern artisan adjustable, the Rex Ambassador, comes into the comparison. A good friend who is a serious collector of Gillettes with a focus on British models, has sold all his Gillette Adjustables. Gillette Adjustables are just very mediocre shavers.
The shave began with a cold water rinse. The Jayaruh Custom #343 generated a nice thick paste that was then applied to all shave surfaces and face and dome lathered into a thick, yogurty, protective lather using plenty of water. The first WTG pass didn’t compare to yesterday’s ATG first pass, even with the razor wide open. I dialed down to 7 for my second XTG and ended up with a nick on the left side along the jawline and a few weepers on the left side of the dome which required styptic intervention.
The head on the Fatboy is bulky and nowhere near as maneuverable as the slimmer heads on the Gibbs or the Rex. I just don’t like this razor. Although I needed a third pass, I quit and settled for a very unsatisfactory CCS. The only bright spot is that tomorrow I’ll be shaving with my Gibbs Adjustable.
RAZOR: Gillette Fatboy
BLADE: Feather
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: Jayaruh Custom Boar #343
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with A&E Post-Shave Serum