And one of the biggest and heaviest looking that I've seen! A beauty!
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I tried castle forbes for the first time the other day, and was utterly blown away. It just goes to show how different people view different soaps and creams in different light. I know it was good, so many people rave, but to me it was one of my best shaves ever! I'm starting to branch out from the "top brands" ever since I was highly disappointed by xpec...
This afternoon's chapter in the experiment was my third shave with the W&B FBU.
Attachment 218373
In my first shave with this one, I loved it, and got a shave I gave a 9 out of 10 (DFS). The next week, on my second try, I didn't do as well I think because of using too shallow an angle and just not concentrating on what I was shaving with. To be fair, it was only my second shave with a real heavy razor and I had been traveling and using a DE for the 5 days prior.
This afternoon's shave was a home run! First, I was coming off of two days using the Tally Ho, which is a heavy grind, wedge-like faux frame-back, and I had gotten good advice on angles to use with it after struggling the first time I used it. I applied those tips (larger angle, firmer strokes) to the FBU and the razor did the work. Whiskers came off in two full passes and a minor touch-up on my chin, and the comfort was amazing. I love the smile and the barber's notch. When done, I had no feeling of irritation at all.
I have big hands, and the FBU fit my grip perfectly. So those technique adjustments combined with the usual progressive stropping routine and a good face-lathering with my newly acquired MDC and I gave the shave a 9.5, splashed on some Floid and let the wife rub my cheek.
I finished my evening as a happy, clean shaven guy, ready to take on tomorrow's challenge. I'm liking this experiment; hope I'm not boring you guys!
Not boring in the least, Harold! In fact, quite interesting. Indeed, some razors will 'ruin' you for another as the thought process of what a particular razor actually needs might be forgotten, or at least hazy. DE's will do that! :rofl2:
I never met an old wedge FBU I did not like, this one included. Lightly reground, but not much, It seems to have been straight-honed and used a bit after the regrind. I have taken a bit off the heel and toe to give it a smile and worked hard to reestablish the bevel. The rest was pure bliss. All-natural honing off the 1k to the Escher made that one sharp right-now.
Those things are great. Just great! No one could convince me that Wade and Butcher did not reserve the best steel for FBU's.
I did think you may like to use this one. Aside from being fractions less than an inch (as it matters), not much to not like, IMO.
You did a great job on that one Tom! And all your edges that I've experienced are super sharp and smooth...or maybe it's my stropping :rock:
On edges, didn't I read in one of your posts that you didn't like to hone :w
Sometimes I do like to hone, Harold! I just never know I liked it till after the shave! :roflmao
Thanks for your stropping! :tu
This afternoon's shave was with the MOP scaled Henckels near wedge (near as I can tell). My picture doesn't do it justice:
Attachment 218506
Once again I stropped, this time rough leather then 3 other leathers finishing with 'Roo on a hanging strop. I did about 140 laps for this shave.
Then, since the wife went to work, I had time to shower, then face lathered with MDC and did 3 passes, and not my usual passes
That is where I seem to be learning: :idea: -- each razor asks for or gives you something different!
I got another stellar shave.
And for some reason (maybe the smiles they have in common) this and others have converted me to a right-handed pass on the left side of my neck. It works! Also, I have learned to feel the angle and adjust as I start at my sideburns, and adjust if needed.
Overall this was another 9.5 of 10 shave. I am also learning that heavier is definitely my preference.
I may work a heavy Robert Williams of my own that I have into the rotation tomorrow, just to see if it's the weight, the smile or the old steel that is my preference....or if I've just begun to learn to shave by having a variety to work with.
So true. I tripped across a post I made in another thread some months ago where I said I wish it were still possible to walk into a shop and handle a bunch of razors oo see which "felt" right. Some of these, when I first pick them up, I know they fit. Others I work with.
That one is an enigma of sorts, Harold. I contoured that out of a straight-honed 66 which originally came with a smile.
One of my first 're-shaping' efforts, I sort of overdid it, but in a good way! :D
Lots of light compounds in the hollows to get it right where it came out with a really tiny and even bevel.
It started out as 'WOW' and still shaves the dickens 4 or 5 years later with only the strop to blame.
Awesome blade, if I do say so myself. Silly smooth, IMO. It does not seem to want to cut you, but to shave you! :rofl2:
Yes it does, Tom!
BTW, Harold, 140 laps is 280 strokes? 140 on each side? I need to loan you some more razors!
Perhaps some strops? :D
To expand the experiment, today I used one of my own razors, a Robert Williams 7/8 maybe 1/2 hollow. The question in my mind was that since it had been one of my two or three favorites, how did it compare to my favorites from the rotation Tom provided.
Attachment 218634
The answer is that it performed well. I like the weight, it shaved me closely and fits my hand well. Question 2 is was it as comfortable and easy to maneuver as my favorites from the "loaned" rotation, and the answer is no.
I know I still have learning to do, but clearly at this stage of my education I favor heavy smilers (or any smiler), and the shape of the modern Williams blade makes it harder to maneuver in my hollow spots than even the largest FBU I've used in the last two weeks.
It also is not as smooth, but that could be the result of newness, as opposed to 100 years of honing and stropping for the others. Nevertheless I got a DFS and I'm happy. It'll stay in my rotation, once I return Tom's babies to Texas.
Tomorrow, back to the vintage blades and time doing some honey-do chores.
If I may, That razor looks disposed to a frown. The spine seems humped and the bevel looks frowned to match.
I think hunched-up somewhat? Am I wrong? :shrug:
Certainly it is good as it shaves well!
I'll check it on a flat edge. I think it's just the photo, but I could be wrong.
I suppose it is just me. Seems a 'modern' design with the spine protruding past the point. Might be a straight spine, just looks like it tapers down toward the tip. An illusion, I suppose.
Definitely not a smiler is what I should have said!
I have not experienced one that big and heavy with a completely straight edge.
It would be a better shave if it smiled. The square point is fine, but that "corner" at the heel is a pain. Messed up a strop with it when doing slightly heel leading x-strokes, and it also makes it harder to work areas like the hollows of the neck...very unforgiving :gaah:
I had to look twice at that williams and put a ruler to my screen but I think it's just the camera angle.
Makes it look a little 'humpy' for sure.
Eagle eye Tom!!
But a nice blade Harold. Love the aggressively deep jimps!
TBH, I feel it is quite possible, Harold. Measuring with micrometer directly above the bevel tells-all. To get an even bevel, lots of work is sometimes required, Sometimes, an uneven bevel suffices wonderfully.
This razor seems to have quite a wide bevel. If the spine is straight-ground, it may work?
Sorry, I've been under the weather and just laying around feeling lousy. I'll jump in tomorrow when I'm hopefully feeling better and we can discuss. I didn't figure you'd answer seriously :shrug:
Why wouldn't I, Harold? Seriously? :D
Hope you get to feeling better!
OK guys, back on my feet and in the groove although not feeling 100%, but my 90 is better than most people's 100....except Outback (who appears to be the Energizer bunny).
Since I last posted here I skipped two days of shaves except one day with a DE to go to church. My tip from that one is anyone who would like my Gillette Black super Platinum Blades send me your address via PM. They suck on my face/beard, even in my favorite DE.
Beginning back with a SR yesterday and again today I used the ivory scaled Joseph Elliott's "Best Silver Steel". It is a beauty, and as Tom remarked last time I used it it is very similar to one of mine (via Tom) that is an Ivory W&B about the same dimensions Both are fairly heavy grinds for their size (6/8), and both smile -- my favorite trait in a blade.
Attachment 219086
Again I got great shaves..2 in a row. Yesterday was almost a 2 day beard because of the DE fiasco of the day before (got me through church, but that's all). The Elliott plowed right through my beard, humming along with that sound you only get from a heavy grind -- not singing, more like humming. Today again a DFS. At 67, I long ago gave up the hunt for BBS, and refuse to go ATG anywhere except the lower end of my chin. But got a solid 2 pass shave that was as good as I've ever gotten. This blade hangs in my top 3 of the seven day rotation (so far).
Tom -- The Williams is headed your way for you to try and look over so I can hear what you think about it. I may pack a few other things with it for your use and review. Don't stand by the mailbox yet, though...I live at the far side of nowhere USPS-wise.
Nice, solid wedge, that one! I always thought the balance was spot-on. The spine-treatment is pretty cool as well!
As you had previously spoken about your affinity for the Wade and Butcher, I figure you may like that one!
Seems that Wade and Butcher took you a while to master, Harold, so that Elliott was likely easy! ;)
I am a slow learner, and sometimes learn something three or four times before it stays learned. My issue is I look at the size of the blade and ignore the grind, THEN, when "someone" says if it's a wedge, give it some more angle, it works. You'll remember my learning curve on the W&B as well as a few others. On one you actually said, "Didn't I tell you that?" :banged:
I'm the same with a large (wide) full hollow like the big Filarmonica. I figure, it's big, large angle....doesn't work. Close it down some and whaddya know!:idea: Every blade has a personality and its "needs"....I'm beginning to get it, but it's only been since July 2013 :shrug:
An experiment like this should be invaluable, Harold, as I spent lots of time and dough to see.
Someday, really soon, you will be able to look at a razor (fresh off the stones. Or not.) down it's throat, stick it to your sideburn for a downstroke, and know instantly what's-up and adjust right then. Adjust as you go!
Kindof fun!
Wow, sorry I'm late to the party Harold. As a few know, I was preoccupied helping a brother move into his home but he does things for me as well. That was great of Tom to do that for you. He's an all around good guy!
So today, after ranting about my fondness for heavy grind smilers, this gem of a 7/8 Filarmonica Doble Temple came up in the rotation.
Attachment 219188
It is a full hollow grind (I think), but has plenty of heft and superb balance. It also is a SR shaver's dream.
It is a long razor but has a feel to its edge that is smooth as butter. To even things out I got alway from my MDC and Castle Forbes and used Mike's Natural Soap, which I've hardly ever used before, and didn't have a good first experience with, but it worked with this beast of a blade (or the blade worked in spite of it) and I got as close a shave as I've ever gotten. 2 1/2 passes -- WTG, XTG and scything -- and I was smooooooth!
The length of the blade does threaten ears, and the sharpness (or my technique) raised one small weeper, but I have nothing but good things to say about the way it shaved. Comfortable, close, singing (kinda) and great balance made the shave a home run.
I think again tomorrow I'm going to rotate one of my standards in, to see if it is the razors, or what I'm learning that are creating such good shaves. Just another dimension to the experiment.
Thanks Tom, for the chance to do this! :bow:bow
Hard not to like those, Harold! Indeed, taping the ears back is a good idea! :rofl2: