jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
Quietly??
what is this “enable” you speak of??
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Natterings of a Nasal Barbarian
- Thread starter jgreenepa
- Start date
what is this “enable” you speak of??
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2020
One of the issues with having too many great-shaving safety razors is deciding which razor to shave with each day. I've had some incredible shaves with my Auto Strop razors this month. My VB2 display model delivered an incredible shave, but the VC4, the last and only model with a safety bar, delivered one of the closest shaves I’ve ever had from any safety razor, modern or vintage, which I reported on last week. A FB shave brother from nearby Delaware, and Auto Strop collector of many years, contacted me on messenger. He asked for my mailing address, as he wanted me to try a shave with the model he felt was the best, the VC1
The nickel plated VC1 arrived two days ago and was an extra from a lot he’d recently purchased on EBay. He’d examined it and pronounced it mechanically sound, but neglected (read ‘dirty’). After a good scrub with Dawn, whitening toothpaste, and an aluminum foil boiling water baking soda soak, it cleaned up nicely. Following an overnight Barbicide soak, it was ready for a shave this morning. According to the Waits Compendium, the VC1 was released in 1922, a year after the VB1 and continued to be produced through 1929. It was the last true Auto Strop model before Gaisman acquired Gillette and blade protection measures became a regular part of the Auto Strop models that followed under Gillette auspices (VB2, VC2, VC3, VC4).
My benefactor insisted on the use of a despined Gem blade. Thanks to an excellent video by Jim Roe of Jayaruh Shaving (@Jayaruh), preparing the Gem blade for use in the Auto Strop VC1 was easy. After an early morning shower and cold water rinse, I lathered up with the Jayaruh Custom Boar #374 and Nancy Boy Signature shave cream enhanced with the usual 6 drops of M-Bomb. The razor is about 5 grams lighter than my VB2 and VC4, which made no appreciable difference in the shave which was very good, although not quite as close as my VC4 shave. It was still an excellent BBS, but fell a bit shy of the velveteen level. I’m not sure whether to attribute it to the blade. I’ve noticed that the first shave with a Feather FHS-10 was always closer than subsequent shaves, which is also true for their DE blades. Two passes (WTG, ATG) produced a very acceptable mug and noggin BBS. Tomorrow I’ll repeat the shave with a Feather blade. But today I do feel clean, smooth, cool and refreshed. Alum revealed very slight heat around the Adam’s Apple.
RAZOR: Valet Auto Strop (Model VC1)
BLADE: Despined Pella PTFE Gem
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: Jayaruh Custom Boar #374
CREAM: Nancy Boy Signature
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Nancy Boy Signature Scent Cooling After-Shave Gel.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2020
Well, Tim, my shave today was excellent, and I will admit that it must be the blade. I am fast becoming a Valet Auto Strop booster! I now own three of them. Two proprietary - they can only use Feather FHS and FAS blades or Valet Original (VB2, VC4), and one non proprietary (VC1). This was my second shave with the VC1.
In my first shave I used a modified Gem blade, but this shave featured a Feather FHS-10 blade. The shaves were identical with the exception of the blade used. Now don’t misunderstand what I’m about to say. I love Gem razors. I own several and get great shaves from them. It’s just that in this case the Feather blade outperformed yesterday’s modified Gem.
The Gem wasn’t faulty. It was only the 4th shave on that blade, and I routinely get 7 - 10. It was a new Feather blade, as I rarely get more than 4 shaves from this type blade. In any case today’s shave like yesterday’s was a one and 1/2 pass (WTG, ATG) BBS, but it moved into the velveteen (VBBS) arena on the dome. Now in fairness a fresh Gem might perform equivalently, but I’m going to quit while I’m ahead. I feel cool, clean, velveteen smooth and refreshed.
RAZOR: Valet Auto Strop Model VC1
BLADE: Feather FHS-10
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: Kent Infinity Synthetic
CREAM: Nancy Boy Signature enhanced w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb.
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Nancy Boy Signature Scent Cooling After-Shave Gel.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020
The weighted forearm gig continues to work well, despite SWMBO’s conviction that she will hear a thump and rush in to discover my decapitated noggin on the floor! SWMBO learned the tale of the Tybee Island face slashing almost 5 yrs ago from my daughter-in-law who treated me that morning. Let’s just say she’s not a fan of my straight shaving pursuits.
Despite all that, the first WTG mug pass with the Dovo Special was a success, and did take a little less time than yesterday. The Valet Auto Strop VC4 with the standard M-Bombed Nancy Boy accompaniment performed in its usual exemplary manor to complete the shave and bloodlessly deliver your happy narrator to velveteen BBS land in short order. I feel cool, clean, and velveteen!
RAZOR: Dovo Special and Valet Auto Strop VC4
BLADE: Feather FHS-10
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by Chel Cooling Gel used as a preshave
BRUSH: Jayaruh Custom Rosewood Silvertip Badger #378
CREAM: Nancy Boy Signature w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Nancy Boy Signature ScentCooling After-Shave Gel.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD FATHER’S DAY 6/21/2020
Great shave today! Did very careful WTG and ATG passes on my mug with no mishaps. The final result before I grabbed the VAS VC4 was a CCS with some stubble patches where I couldn’t figure how to hold the Dovo and allow for the proper angle.
Part of the issue may be arthritis, but I consider it a work in progress. The VC4 sheared any remaining stubble right down to the skin line. I then did the same for the noggin! Have to keep it short today. My 2 yr old youngest grandson is coming over for a swim today on Father’s Day. In a nutshell, I feel cool, clean and velveteen!
RAZOR: Dovo Special (Face), Valet Auto Strop VC4 (Head)
BLADE: Feather FHS-10
PREP: Cold water rinse and Chel Cooling Gel as Preshave
BRUSH: Alpha T-400 w/ 26mm Boar Ferrule
CREAM: Nancy Boy Signature w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Nancy Boy Signature ScentCooling Gel
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
Thanks and right back atcha!
Lots of good stuff, all Caught up Jeff
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
Thanks, Chris! It was fun!
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
Thanks, Dave, hope you had a good Father’s Day!
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2020
Hope I’m not being blasphemous to you straight razor devotees, but stropping is a pain in the petoot! I get the whole back-to-the-roots, traditional, manly art thing, but frankly, I prefer picking up one of my many safety razors and just having at it! My Auto Strop and Streamline sets all contain strops, but it will be a cold day in Hades before I would ever use them! The argument about getting a closer shave with a straight razor is so much bushwah! My select group of 17 safety razors all deliver confident BBS shaves whenever desired.
So what’s the appeal? It must be mastering the skills to deliver a close shave while flirting with the potential danger of slicing up one’s face. The Kampfe Bro’s., King C. Gillette, and Henry Gaisman all became quite wealthy by offering men an alternative to this masochistic pursuit. So why do it? After seven decades, it’s overcoming my tremors through strapping three lb weights to each forearm. In my case, mastering this skill is something this great grandpa sees as a challenge, one both his SWMBO and neurologist are opposed to. Now all I have to do is figure out how to fit a powered polishing wheel into my den. FORTY STROKES EVERY MORNING BEFORE I BEGIN!!! PUHLEASE!!!! I HATE STROPPING!!!
Back to this morning’s shave! Two very slow, very careful mug passes (WTG, ATG) with the Dovo, left me with an almost DFS on the mug and a very minor weep under my Adam’s Apple which disappeared after the application of Humphreys WH. The SS Supply made very short work of the remaining facial stubble. In the past when shaving, I would lather up both mug and noggin for every pass. Since incorporating a straight razor into my routine lathering is done separately for mug and noggin. The Chel preshave is great stuff, and I won’t say anything more about my Nancy Boy products except to say that I'm about halfway through the shave cream. The Supply again completed my two pass noggin scrape with its usual aplomb, leaving your happy narrator clean, refreshed, cool, and velveteen! VBBS all the way!
RAZOR: Dovo Special and SS Supply Injector
BLADE: Schick B-20 Proline
PREP: Cold water rinse and Chel Cooling Gel as a Preshave
BRUSH: Omega Pro48 Boar
CREAM: Nancy Boy Signature w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Nancy Boy Signature Scent Cooling After-Shave Gel.
I've been looking at the "Chel" over at Phoenix Shaving. I may have to grab a jar..
Dave in KY
Shave Newbie
Yep, that about sums up a good defense against straights for me.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
Great stuff, Mark! Makes a great preshave and the synthetic menthol lasts a lot longer than the regular stuff!I've been looking at the "Chel" over at Phoenix Shaving. I may have to grab a jar..
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
That’s my goal, Chris! I started down this path 5 yrs ago, and just want to finish. I don’t expect I’ll ever be a regular straight razor shaver. I enjoy safety razors too much. Just want to know I have the skill set.
jgreenepa
TSC's "Velveteen Shaver"
SOTD TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020
Well here we are at straight razor shave #4 or about #7 if we take into account the debacle of 5 yrs or so ago. One thing remains clear, “I STILL HATE STROPPING!”, it seems like too much trouble when I can just pick up one of my 17 chosen safety razors (10 SEs, 7 DEs), drop in a blade, and knock out a perfect VBBS. I have learned to channel my discomfort, however, after reading how one of my two Long Island Joe shave brothers (both accomplished straight razor aficionados) prepares for a straight shave. He strops at night!!!
One of the issues those of us with more solar rotations under our belts than we care to think about suffer from is poor sleep! I used to sleep 7 to 8 hrs a night. Now I‘m lucky to eke out 4 or at best 5 hrs. No more, it seems. Last night, before retiring, I sleepily stropped the old Dovo 50 to 60 times. For whatever reason, I slept 7 hours straight! Who needs Ambien! I’ve got stropping! Thank you, Joe (@Trigger), Your offhand comment may have cured my insomnia!
This morning’s Mug straight razor shave proceeded pretty much as the preceding ones, very slow and steady as I attempt to learn proper handling technique. The two (WTG, ATG) passes took a bit less time, but I still haven’t worked up the courage to attempt XTG yet. That approach is what led to my temporary resemblance to Al Pacino in Scarface about 5 yrs ago. Tomorrow will be my first three pass (WTG, XTG, ATG) straight razor face shave. At least I know I’ll sleep well tonight! My wonderful Colonial Silversmith cleaned up my mug and mowed my noggin stubble down right to the skin line floating on its thick, cool, slick cushion of M-Bombed Nancy Boy shave cream. I feel cool, refreshed, clean and velveteen (VBBS).
RAZOR: Dovo Special (mug) Colonial Silversmith (noggin)
BLADE: Sharp Star (1)
PREP: Cold water rinse
BRUSH: MrEE Aluminum Handled Hybrid Knot #007
CREAM: Nancy Boy Signature w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Nancy Boy Signature Scent Cooling After-Shave Gel.
