Thread: The Ponderings of a Beginner

Originally Posted by xman

The 'softer' your water is (ie. the less mineralised) the easier it will be for you to produse lather from all agents. Minerals are noticeably absent from distilled water (which is why it's bad drinking water) so it should facilitate lathering better than any other water. Likewise, Perrier should be a bear to try and lather with.

"But it already has bubbles. Don't they help?"

X

X, I'm thinking distilled water might be better for cleaning your razor or for rinsing. My tap water is fairly hard and is starting to leave "spots" and slight mineral deposits on the blade. When using distilled water I am able to get much more wet yet stable of a lather because I can add more water and still get stiff lather. It's really a win win situation and I'm learning how to stretch a gallon (not that it's expensive). As things go and perfectionism starts to set in , I'll probably be distilling my own water months now --just another level of control .


Justin

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

X, I'm thinking distilled water might be better for cleaning your razor or for rinsing. My tap water is fairly hard and is starting to leave "spots" and slight mineral deposits on the blade. When using distilled water I am able to get much more wet yet stable of a lather because I can add more water and still get stiff lather. It's really a win win situation and I'm learning how to stretch a gallon (not that it's expensive). As things go and perfectionism starts to set in , I'll probably be distilling my own water months now --just another level of control .


Justin

If you're going to start distilling, you'll need to find a shack in them thar hills (oh, and a fast car to outrun them po-lice)

Originally Posted by steve

Colleen and I have been working on getting a good lather with her cream. My first batch from her was fantastic then she sent me a different formula and my regular routine was producing thin suds.

So, we got it down to just needing 3/4tsp mixed a little at a time and now get velvety, thick, rich lather. So I don't use much water, either.

Do you warm up the water? I like to use a scuttle for warm lather. Of course, I could use just tap water for the scuttle and distilled for mixing.

*Sigh* Another test

I only use distilled water for soaking the brush and leave a little to add to the lather. I get everything hot: the water, the mixing bowl,etc. I like to drip a little hot water on the soap and let it sit for a minute ( void for cream). I use only the finest Perrier (circa 1880) for the hot towel treatment and cleaning my face . Later,

Justin

Originally Posted by steve

If you're going to start distilling, you'll need to find a shack in them thar hills (oh, and a fast car to outrun them po-lice)

There are no "them thar hills" around here , it's all prairie land and rice fields. I might have to go underground --but everything around here is just above sea level - so that won't do. Hmm. I know just the place in the nether regions of the Atchafalaya Basin.

Justin

I forgot. You'll find something, I'm sure

At this point, I'm almost ready to give up.

My face is RAW!!! Multiple, multiple passes and still have stubble. Obviously a dull blade but I didn't feel dullness when I tested it.

I'm getting real tired of only being able to get 1-5 shaves before needing to hone the razor again. In this case I got 1. I know it must be in my stropping. I noticed I was going too fast today and I tried the X-pattern (I have a 3" strop so I normally don't - won't do that again!)

The only place I got good results is on my cheeks.

It wasn't a full 48 hours between shaves but it was 36 so I thought I did OK. Another possibility is that the whiskers were just too short to grab.

I'm about ready to hone this thing until my 5/8 becomes a 1/8

Originally Posted by steve

I'm about ready to hone this thing until my 5/8 becomes a 1/8

I actually laughed out loud. Sitting here at work, yes navy duty on the weekend, I laughed out loud.

Originally Posted by Bear

I actually laughed out loud. Sitting here at work, yes navy duty on the weekend, I laughed out loud.

Uh-oh, KP duty for you

So Steve. You're getting good shaves right after honing but they only last a couple shaves? Are you raising the spine off the strop at the end of each stroke? I think that's a common tendency ---at the beginning of the stroke, pressure is balanced but towards the end of the stroke the pressure is more directed towards the edge of the blade --if exaggerated this can cause the spine to lift and therefore round off the edge. If this happens for me --I go back to the linen and give a couple good strokes to help realign the edge -then back to the leather -fixes it for me. Also, I pull my strop tight but comfortable for me and try to aim for the lightest touch while still getting that rasping sound. Sometimes I use a little more pressure on the linen and ease up on the leather --also, I ease up when I'm doing my last few leather strokes --very light touch.


Justin

Watch also the tendancy to drop the heel as you come off the strop. Dragging the shaving edge off the edge of the strop is also bad.

X