Thread: The great experiment

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Oh! BTW, Harold! Your Williams arrived yesterday!

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I have a few gifts, I suppose, but one of them is I can see a frown from across the road!

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So your eyes and Mike's were right, long distance, bad photography and all! I'll be darned. That is still the honing that it arrived with, meaning I didn't mess it up trying to hone it.

Also, to clarify, I sent the fuzzy gift, but the rest I just wanted advice and opinions on, before I undertake butchering them on my own. I didn't send them to be honed/corrected.

The frown in the Williams, however, is well beyond my talent. If you wish you can correct it, otherwise, I'll send it back to the vendor. We also had discussed if it was possible to make it smile. I would like to know the answer to that question, if you're so inclined.

I will cogitate in a coherent fashion over the dual suggestion of what I hath writ and consider a continuation of said epistle for the enlightenment of those novices seeking advise as to the considerable nature and variation within the confines of straight razor shaving (and associated implements.)

Of course it will be in plain English.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

I will cogitate in a coherent fashion over the dual suggestion of what I hath writ and consider a continuation of said epistle for the enlightenment of those novices seeking advise as to the considerable nature and variation within the confines of straight razor shaving (and associated implements.)

Of course it will be in plain English.

Indubitably, Richard!

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

So your eyes and Mike's were right, long distance, bad photography and all! I'll be darned.
The frown in the Williams, however, is well beyond my talent. If you wish you can correct it, otherwise, I'll send it back to the vendor. We also had discussed if it was possible to make it smile. I would like to know the answer to that question, if you're so inclined.

Seems you have had this razor for quite some time, Harold. I don't know what warranty may remain, however the bevel is noticibly wider in the frowning portion of the edge, leading me to believe that taking a bit off the toe and rounding the heel somewhat will give it a nice smiling edge and possibly a more even bevel to boot. JMHO.

I will accomplish it for you, just don't be in a rush, eh?

You may do that, Tom, no rush whatsoever! And I thank you for that.

So hows it going, there?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

So hows it going, there?

Apologies for the extended absence (especially to Tom), but I have been under siege by a week long visit from 2 and 6 year old grandchildren, who seem to never sleep at the same time and never for more than 6 hours at a time. As a result, I had no time to myself and reverted to shaving every other day with a DE....in a hurry.

Last night I got back into the swing with the Manhattan, which after a month of shaves I've used only twice previously (pictured in post #18). I've picked it as my least favorite of the bunch and plan to test that by using it all week. Shave # 3 was a DFS, although still not top of the heap. It was smooth and comfortable on my sideburn/cheek areas, but I tend to grapple with the grip some on my chin and neck. This shave was not as good with my last with it which was almost a month ago. I'll see if using it every day improves my comfort with it as I gain more experience.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Apologies for the extended absence (especially to Tom), but I have been under siege by a week long visit from 2 and 6 year old grandchildren, who seem to never sleep at the same time and never for more than 6 hours at a time. As a result, I had no time to myself and reverted to shaving every other day with a DE....in a hurry.

Last night I got back into the swing with the Manhattan, which after a month of shaves I've used only twice previously (pictured in post #18). I've picked it as my least favorite of the bunch and plan to test that by using it all week. Shave # 3 was a DFS, although still not top of the heap. It was smooth and comfortable on my sideburn/cheek areas, but I tend to grapple with the grip some on my chin and neck. This shave was not as good with my last with it which was almost a month ago. I'll see if using it every day improves my comfort with it as I gain more experience.

So what is it you don't like about that razor, Harold? The blade is shorter than some, the thing has also had the scales shortened......

Also, the scales were left pretty chunky at the pivot for strength's sake. That, in itself, is a pain for me.

Is it a balance thing? has the pivot loosened?
Curious!

I know it shaves good, yet only used it once before sending it.

If it sucks, toss it aside and shave with the others!

It doesn't suck, but I do have to work at it more. I think it's the balance and my grip style/hand size. It might also be the length, and my hands. I'll use it tomorrow and pay more specific attention. I wanna give it a fair shake.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

It doesn't suck, but I do have to work at it more. I think it's the balance and my grip style/hand size. It might also be the length, and my hands. I'll use it tomorrow and pay more specific attention. I wanna give it a fair shake.

First of all Harold, you did right. Family comes first.

As for the issue, it could be a number of things you mentioned or all. It could very well be your hand size & grip. The balance also comes into play but you might be able to get it, after all, not every straight razor is the same. After trying to hold it different ways you might get it just right. I know I have had to hold certain straights different ways but not too much differently but just slightly. We'll see how this comes about.

And yes, this thread should keep on moving so Richard could continue it once your experiment has come to an end.