Thread: The great experiment

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I'm going to finish the week with the Butler, which I believe to be a full hollow, and then move back to a true favorite to reward myself.

The trouble with rewarding yourself with a favorite is that by now you are so sensitized to all, and I mean ALL, nuances of a shave that you now find yourself highly critical of every move. Oh my goodness, you will say, I didn't notice that about my favorite razor. I was getting better results from x, y and z. Was there something wrong with my technique before, that I've since corrected, that I didn't see this flaw before?

Solution to this (it is working for me) is I no longer have a favorite razor. I have an X number of razors that give me shaves close to what I feel is a proper and good shave based on at least a dozen variables. I'm working, mentally, toward selling off any that exceed X. And BTW, the variable includes the weather of the day, the mood on wakening, enjoyment of breakfast before the shave and whether I think it will be a good day or meh. All this besides the choice of razor, soap and aftershave balm is decided.

I think my motto should now read "Your Personal Mileage Will Now Vary Beyond Comparison So Just Get On With It And Be Done With It or YPMWNVBCSJGOWIABD. Have a nice day.

You're correct, and I will attempt to self correct by expanding my circle of razors, which is what this whole thread was originally about. Thanks for the course correction. As a reminder, I've captured your thought and recorded it for reference: Your Personal Mileage Will Now Vary Beyond Comparison So Just Get On With It And Be Done With It -- YPMWNVBCSJGOWIABD, although I think it's awfully long for me to remember....I'm gonna try, grow up and try it "GUATI"

Couple days observation - right or wrong it's my face.

Percolating in the recesses of my mind was the thought about stubble. With all the things to cogitate on in the world my mind came up with stubble. Go figure.

I was suddenly curious as to the subjective feel of facial stubble the next morning, before the next shave. So yesterday I shaved with my 1820ish smiling semi wedge lovingly resorted by Glen the gssixgun to compare the 24 hours later level of stubble as opposed to the 8/8 filli half hollow. It's all subjective, if not possibly downright self deception to think, without scientific measurements plus the phase of the moon, to decide one way or another but I did. The 1820 no name gave as close a shave as possible to the filli (will try again with a vintage no name that has been one of my standards at a later time) and the decision comes down on the side of the 8/8 this time. I'd swear that maybe due to it's size and weight (plus the mandatory skin stretching, etc) the length of the stubble was shorter than what I felt from the 1820. This mornings shave was the 8/8 so a counter check is due on the morrow.

Stay tuned for the electrifying, absorbing, definitive investigation into the mundane world of beard and it's stubble (soon to be a feature film if I can convince a neophyte film maker as to the importance of telling the romantic story of a man and his razor(s).

I consider that Filarmonica to be a 'full hollow', Richard.

Anyhoo, I seem to be in that stubble place I am in every winter. Things are dry and seems the hairs grow faster and thicker in diameter than in the summer months. Like a dog and it's winter coat.

Hey! I could be a dog!
I digress.....

Seems my smaller, thinner razors are less effective than my big, heavy ones this time of year.
At least that is what I say to myself as winter rolls around.

I suppose it's just me?

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Couple days observation - right or wrong it's my face.

Two completely random observations.

First that observation about it being one's own face almost never comes up in all the questions new SR shavers ask or the answers they get, when in fact, "what's the best soap" or what's the best size razor" or almost any other beginner's question is really dependent on what is right for them and their face. I can't think of anything that varies more than faces or beards. Mine is different now than it was 5 years ago, but luckily I deal with it every day, so adjust along the way.

Second, man is a loose pivot pin aggravating. I've stuck with the Butler Art and each day is better than the previous day and its pivot is tight a a drum, but I started to browse my modest collection to find my next weeks razor, I came across one that was loose and put it aside. Unexpected movement, a SR and a face do not make a good mix. I'll be tightening it up as soon as I visit my work area.

For next week, I'm going to go new and German and pull out the Ralf Aust 6/8 Stainless to see if all I've learned has improved my skill with it. I'll post a picture Monday when I start, but it's not exciting, just one of the first I got that I began to have problems with. It's freshly honed so it should be a good test of my learning curve.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I suppose it's just me?

Nah, it's not just you Tom. I thought the same thing this morning. I took yesterday off since I wasn't leaving the house, and this morning's shave was a major task. Everything seems denser, drier and tougher to mow down, but the Butler did the job, just one more pass needed.

Every face has its sweet spots, and problem areas. Tom is an excellent ambassador.
I will state that each blade has its value and good points.
I read this post from its inception waiting to respond.
Our faces and hair growth/season/age are all variables.
Prep and soap add additional parameters.
Fillys, Ducks, Revisors, Heljestrand big boys all shave me well.
Excellent wedges work well for me, yet it lacks feel I enjoy .
Experiment further, I/we can learn from your insights.
Kudos to you.

Tom, I stand corrected. It is a full hollow, my bad.

I got lazy and didn't shave Sunday. Kind of enjoyed the stubble and reminisced about my former beard of 40 years. Shaved with the Filli this morning and relished the smoothness of face afterwards. It does get nullifying after a while having DFS's and BBS's shaves all the time. I think, to avoid the boredom of finesse, I will try shaving every other day for a few weeks. Using some of my other razors to get a comparison of the shave quality copared to the 8/8 can add a modicum of excitement back into a mundane daily necessity.

My every other day shave this week, this morning, was a last minute choice, not of the Filly but my C-Mon's 5/8 wedge. I had it tagged for a re fresh and din't feel like waiting so I gave it eight laps on a Crox pad, 35 on felt and 140 on English Bridle leather. Wahoo! It thumbed it's nose at the Filly! 3 PM stroking of my cheeks reveals a still smooth surface and a contented sigh from me. Nothing more to say.

Did a little variance myself with my 6/8 Terrier yesterday. Did the water on the face before applying lather and it was certainly an effective shave. In fact, I skipped today! I had heard of some wetting the face before the lather, but had never tried it.
Might be helpful in the drier weather. Think I will try it with another smaller, thinner one tomorrow and see if a conclusion can be made.