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Natterings of a Nasal Barbarian

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SOTD SATURDAY AFTERNOON, NOVEMBER 14, 2020

The hot button item on the honey-do list SWMBO provided yesterday kept me busy for most of the morning. For some reason she decided the combination glass shelf and hand towel rack in our guest lavatory suddenly became “ugly” after 5 years. The request to install the new one required removing the old which, of course, mounted completely differently from the new one. So spackling, paint matching and painting took most of the early morning. Then discovering that the cheap wall anchors that came with the new shelf were insufficient and required replacement with heavier duty third party anchors delayed things until almost noon. Anyway, thank goodness a great shave preceding all this nonsense and kept me in good spirits.

I'm rapidly becoming a confirmed vintage cast steel Sheffield fan. Yesterday’s shave with my favorite razor, the Manhattan Cutlery 13/16 French Point was outstanding. One of those shaves where onerecognizes what incredibly comfortable and close velveteen bliss is. Today’s modern Artisan Riga Razor 7/8 shaves acceptably, but just doesn’t feel as good in hand as yesterday’s 180 year old vintage masterpiece. The heft and balance just seem off. The shave was fine, but that special effortlessness of yesterday’s shave was missing. In any case the outcome wasacceptable, and the dome shave with my favoriteShake Sharp Model 1.5 was excellent. I felt refreshed, clean, cool and velveteen when finished! That feeling thankfully persisted throughout a less than pleasant morning!

RAZOR: Riga Razor 7/8 (Mug), Shake Sharp Model 1.5 (Dome)
BLADE: Two stacked Polsilver DE
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub withArgan Oil.
BRUSH: Viking Silvertip Badger Fan Knot
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Osage Rub.
 
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SOTD SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 15, 2020

Japanese silver steel razors really hold an edge! This morning I shaved with two razors, my NOS Diamond Hayashi Nichiri Tokusen 6/8 and my Barbasol Floating Head (BFH). The straight razor is one of two razors obtained through my son, Ben. Both the razors were finished by Ben on a jnat progression. These are the only two razors I have without a jasper stone edge. But that’s just fine by me as they shave magnificently. Three slow, luxurious passes (WTG, ATG, XTG) delivered that incredibly smooth velveteen shave surface that I find myself amazed at hours after the shave. I’ve reached a point in my straight razor technique where I don’t believe I could get a closer mug shave!

The new Sapele/resin handled boar built for me by TSD’s extremely talented Canadian turner is perfect for MWF. I’m easily able to generate the two kinds of lather I require for my morning shaves - a thinner, wetter lather for my mug, and a thicker more yogurty lather for the noggin. The BFH is a highly efficient safety razor that requires concentration and focus during the dome shave as it does have a tendency to bite. I find when I take my time with this razor that my shave consists of a single ATG pass with some selected buffing, and that was the case this morning with one minor lapse in concentration resulting in a minor nick as I was buffing above my right ear. Regardless, I feel refreshed, velveteen smooth and ready for this morning’s task at my stepson’s.

RAZOR: NOS Diamond Hayashi Nichiri Tokusen 6/8 (Mug), Barbasol Floating Head (Dome)
BLADE: Kai DE
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by Argan Oil
BRUSH: Sapele/Resin Handled Pro48 Boar
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Lucky Tiger Aspen AS Splash.
 
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SOTD MONDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 16, 2020

There's something about Sheffield Cast Steel’s edge holding ability that is just addictive along with, of course, the thrill of shaving with a 190-200 year old razor. One feels almost like a caretaker. This very early French Point Boker was built with imported Sheffield cast steel 70-80 years before Germany’s Import Act of 1891, and restored for me by Glen Mercurio. The three pass (WTG, ATG, XTG) mug shave left me velveteen smooth. My noggin shave, unfortunately, was not in the same category, but still satisfying. My best shaving injectors are my E Type and my Supply V2, but this repaired F Type delivered a smooth shave albeit leaving some very slight residual roughness in the valleys at the back of my dome. However, the able ministrations of my old Boker cleaned things up admirably in those two problem areas leaving me refreshed, clean, and smoothly velveteen!

RAZOR: Boker & Co. Sheffield Cast Steel French Point 5/8 (Mug), Schick F Type (Dome)
BLADE: Schick Injector 2
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: MrEE Aluminum Handled Monster Tuxedo Synth
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Krampert’s Frostbite AS Splash.
 
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SOTD TUESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 17, 2020

This morning was a classic shave. The straight razor selected for my mug was the Puma 88 5/8. Since I hadn’t shaved with any of my Gem safety razors in quite I selected the Model 1912 for the dome. The Puma is an excellent 20th century razor, and provided an excellent shave this morning along with the Model 1912 which sheared my dome stubble right down to the skin line. I feel cool, clean and smoothly velveteen, or as my Scottish friend Billy, of the TSD straight razor group says, “dolphin smooth”!

RAZOR: Puma 88 5/8 (Mug), Gem Model 1912 (Dome)
BLADE: Pella PTFE Gem
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Alpha Shaving T-400 Tribute w/ 26mm Boar Ferrule
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub.
 
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SOTD WEDNESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

I was up early for a couple of medical appointments, and didn’t have time to post this earlier. My favorite shavette/Barber’s razor is my Feather DX. I can always count on a quick excellent shave, and this morning’s shave was true to form. Unfortunately, while I was shaving my mug, my dachshund, Gromit, was feeling playful and knocked a Fine American blend to the tile floor and broke it! Although I tried to clean it up, the scent gave poor SWMBO a migraine, and I lost 10 minutes leading to a rushed dome shave. It’s only my third shave with the Tradere. I ordered it on the day it became available, but due to my safety razor glut, it sat in the razor stand, and was only used twice since it’s arrival several months ago. The handle is a bit longer than I’m used to, and in my rush to get to the doc’s ended up nicking the top of my right ear. Some Proraso Styptic Gel put that to rights, leaving me clean, cool, and velveteen smooth.

RAZOR: Feather DX Wood Handle (Mug), Blackland Tradere (Dome)
BLADE: Feather Super AC (Mug), Feather DE (Dome)
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Rooney Ebony Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub.
 
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SOTD FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 20, 2020

This morning I decided to shave with my 1976 Gold Bicentennial Edition Schick Krona. I shaved with a regular Krona for over 50 yrs until it broke. They are excellent shavers, and this particular safety razor did the job. Coupled with my C-Mon Special, new Sapele/Resin handled Pro48 boar, and MWF the shave was spectacular. Alum check revealed no heat. I feel cool, velveteen smooth, clean, refreshed and ready for the day.

RAZOR: C-Mon Special 11/16 (Mug), 1976 Gold Bicentennial Edition Schick Krona (Dome)
BLADE: Feather DE
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Sapele/Resin Handled Pro48 Boar
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub.
 
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SOTD SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

My current bride suffers from a severe fragrance allergy which can lead to migraines. My first wife loved both AS and Cologne resulting in a comfortable collection of AS and cologne, but give as she’s currently residing on the other side of the grass I’m usually limited to scentless products with the exception of lime, and as long as it isn’t too long lasting. Today’s selection fit the Bill and provided the foundation for a delightful shave.

Despite the fact that the Dovo Special I selected for today’s mug shave led to a fearful facial injury five years ago, it was my first straight razor and is a tremendous shaver. I have come to enjoy shaving with it. This morning’s shave was a two pass (WTG, XTG) that left your humble narrator clean an velveteen. The Feather Super loaded in my Vector cleaned up my dome in its usual one and 1/2 pass (ATG) way and delivered a comparable dome shave. The combined shave left me in very pleasant lime-scented, velveteen bliss.

RAZOR: Dovo Special 5/8 (Mug), Blackland Vector (Dome)
BLADE: Feather Super
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Rearden Razor 316L SS Tuxedo Synth
CREAM: Castle Forbes Lime
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Old Spice Fresh Lime.
 
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SOTD SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 22, 2020

Great combination shave this morning as we prepare an early Thanksgiving send off for my stepson this afternoon prior to his visit to his girlfriend’s parents who don’t believe the Covid plague is real. In any case he has accepted that he will have to shelter in place for two weeks uponn his return. This year we’ll have Thanksgiving twice. Once today, and then again on Thursday with my clan pod.

The shave was excellent this morning and featured the Saito SK3 7/8 for my mug and my Schick E Type for the noggin. The Viking Silvertip Badger is just a great brush and easily generated the two types of lather that I like - a thinner, wetter, slick lather for the mug, and a thicker, yogurty lather for the dome. The three pass (WTG, ATG, XTG) mug shave was a pleasure. The following two pass (ATG, ATG) dome shave checked all the boxes as well. I feel clean, velveteen and refreshed.

RAZOR: Saito SK3. 7/8 (Mug), Schick E Type (Dome)
BLADE: Proline B-20 Injector
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Viking Silvertip Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Pre de Provence Bergamot & Thyme Balm.
 
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