I've got elephant ears...would have to use duct tape, and lots of it...:shrug:
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I decided to do a little contrast and shave with one of my smallest razors, after yesterday's shave with the large Filarmonica. It was this one that I got on the classifieds a month or two ago, a diminutive 5/8 Hess Hair Milk Laboratories #42 Stainless. I'd guess it's a 1/4 hollow grind, and maybe 1/32 shy of 5/8 at this point in its life.
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I used Proraso Green soap to face lather, and must say I got a good shave. It is a little harder for me to get a grip that I like on than the larger, heavier razors, but since it's Friday night and my wife is working, I figured I'd just do a one pass shave and it would be great to go to work with. The areas that I did less than great on were the hollows of my neck, where I just seem to love the heavier blades, that give me a better grip, reach and less tendency to use pressure. That could just be part of my learning curve though.
For anyone new reading this, yes, I'm still learning after 2 1/2 years, and now prefer a SR to any other shaving "apparatus" that I've used, which is most from 1965 until now.
Looks to be a 42 wedge Harold? Give a pic of the end of the blade. Good razors, Hess!
Hard to do right now....will have better access to light and camera tomorrow, but it looks to have some hollow if I use a straight edge. Here's a try...better tomorrow, promise.
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Yep! All wedges have some degree of hollow, Harold. Those stiff old 'modern grind' wedges are good, simple shavers.
Lots of strop required, FME. Esp. the stainless ones!
So, the question might be: 1) is there a razor that is not a favorite for me for some reason....OR ....2) has my ability to get the most of one just not yet fully developed?
If the answer is #1, then my life savings might be safe (meager as they are). If the answer is #2, then I'm in trouble RAD wise and every other AD-wise, and may wind up like one of you very senior guys in SRP who converts their child's bedroom(s) and their garage (and other "un-needed rooms) into workshops, shave dens and storage safes for razors and tools to "restore/refresh" them.
It just depends on your personal preference Harold. There are members here who have quite a few straights & collect 'em & there are also some who just have enough for their rotation. I have a W&B heavy wedge that shaves very nicely. I also have a TI that does very nicely as well & my Waterhouse razors shave very smoothly also. The W&B was a rusty old blade at first & I got it for around $12 so I cleaned it up one day & my straight razor buddy asked if he could hone it for me & I said have at it. It wasn't long he sent me a short video clip from his phone showing it popping hairs! It might have been a rusty old razor but it shaves like a dream! I could go on...........I have more that are very nice shavers but I favor my heavy wedges the most even though I like 'em all.
So today was another of mine, a new-ish (less that 2 years old) Dovo Prima Klang Extra Hollow 5/8. Maybe shaved with 10 times.
It is a beauty; it sings; it is sharp; it has been shaved with 3 times since being honed last at SRD. It doesn't work for my face/my beard/my technique.
It is a beautiful, sharp, well balanced, and in every way desirable razor, but after having it honed at SRD 3 times, it just isn't MY favorite. May be your favorite, in the mold of YMMV.
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Will be "underground" for a few days due to work, then a houseful of " grand-munchkins" coming for a loooong weekend. Promise to get back to this Monday (maybe Sunday). Still experimenting, just backing up on reporting!
Same here! Have a happy, Harold!
Happy Thanksgiving to you Tom and all my new friends here on SRP!
Happy Turkey Day to you too Harold, Tom & all! :beer1:
Just a thought, Harold.....Why don't you use only the most problematic razor of the bunch for the duration and see if adjustments over the next week improve the situation?
I was thinking I'd do it a few days in a row. I think it's the Manhattan, but I'll decide, then use it for a week. Great minds think alike! :beer1:
I also want to think more about what makes a favorite...size, grind, balance, # of day's growth, attitude of the day...etc.
Then I'll get the "rotation back in the mail west.
I just realized, after reading most of this thread that I have an ongoing evaluation test, so to speak. Every several months or so I will go through my collection (conglomeration is a better word) and do a start to finish rotation cycle of the razors, one a day. That takes about 45 - 50 days to complete. In the process I remember what I liked about that particular razor and if it needs a touch-up or a trip to the hones. If I remembered how it shaved on that use, and I liked the results I would use it for several more consecutive days. By the end of this, to me, rigidly enforced cycle, I resort back to randomly choosing a razor (and if rushed, a DE, SE or any shaving oddity I own) based on subjective response to the day and the look of the razor. What I enjoy the most is looking at the razor and trying to remember what I need to know about it for a successful shave.
One upshot of this process is I have been able to thin the herd every now and then (and of course, against common sense, start looking for more razors to add to the group.)
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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What Tom suggested would be a great follow-on, Richard. I've spent 4 weeks going through a seven day rotation Tom lent me on average 3 times with a few of my own rotated in. I started, with Tom's help, for the purpose of finding put what I really enjoyed shaving with and then thinning the herd of those I didn't. If you'd add yours to it, maybe a thread could be perpetuated that helped encourage new guys, not to go buy 4 of essentially equivalent new razors, but rather shop around and think about a more balanced and "educated" approach than I've taken with my purchasing frenzies.
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.
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? :D
You may do that, Tom, no rush whatsoever! And I thank you for that.
So hows it going, there? :shrug:
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! :D
I know it shaves good, yet only used it once before sending it.
If it sucks, toss it aside and shave with the others! :roflmao
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. :chapeau
Thanks Steve and Tom...I shaved with it again this morning and it felt better when I paid attention to the combination of grip and angle of the blade. I'm going to stick with it for a few more shaves to see if I continue to improve.
My issue (not the razor's) seems to be that when I adjust my grip for the thicker more "non-standard" scales, I unconsciously change the angle to my face. Same issue I had at first with the silver Tally Ho, which has thinner that standard scales,I think. Onward I go for a few more shaves then these beauties all head back to Texas!
Two related but only semi-connected thoughts today about my 3d consecutive shave with the Manhattan.
#1—This morning when I got up I realized how much closer yesterday’s shave was than any I get with a DE…and that opinion is fresh, because over the extended Thanksgiving weekend, I shaved only with DE because of the rush of having grandchildren underfoot and people to amuse.
# 2 -- I decided that when I finished with the Manhattan today, I would do something that I used to do when new with a SR which is to check my SR technique by making a last pass with a DE to see where I had missed and needed to improve with my SR. In today’s case I decided that my last “test” pass would be with with my favorite DE (a Merkur 37c with an Astra blade).
So this morning I stropped the Manhattan in my normal routine, which is 15 fabric passes, and 40 each on three leathers…first SRD modular paddle with their Premium 1 leather, followed by their English bridle, finishing on an SRD 3” hanging strop with Roo. I then built a nice face lather with Castle Forbes and an Asylum Brush Works BG7 Shaving Brush in synthetic Silvertip Fiber, and went to work with the razor, paying particular attention to the way I gripped the razor, given the profile of the scales and the angle I used, since the razor is about ¼ hollow, as I judge it. The results seemed great. The shave was comfortable through my full two passes and a touch up, which is my normal routine.
Then I went to the Merkur DE and got NOTHING off with it except the lather, and I was as close to BBS as I ever have wanted to be. Amazing shave…proving Tom and others are right who have said to try and use the same razor a few days in a row to see if you don’t get better with it. I did, and I did.
That's good news, Harold! TBH, I have not discounted any quality-made vintage razors for anything other than condition or inability to get a good edge on it. It seems they are all different in one way or more and just take practice and actually thinking about how they differ to get really good with each. I have had a few which I had deemed the devil's razors as they always want to cut me, but going back to them later, my memory is piqued to adjust. No problems! :D
It would seem it is a bad idea for newer shavers to go at shaving with a pile of different ones instead of just a few with differences in order to learn the in's and out's of using razors in general.
Hopefully your observations here will help some learn to adjust and remind others to think of what is in their hand at the time.
Also, someone else should keep this thread going in the same manner. We are all here to learn, I think! :chapeau
GREAT shave today with the previously discussed W&B FBU. I guess that's all I have to say.
Haroldg48, During the experiment did you try to have an average number of shaves with each razor?
I have been thinking about adding to this thread. Would that be okay?
I have three razors that I want to better familiarize myself with: one razor was a gift that is the first razor I honed from start to finish, a TI that is on the plus side of 6/8 making it larger and different feeling from most of my collection, and a Wade & Butcher wedge around 13/16. The W & B is the first wedge (near wedge) I have owned and I don't feel I have got shaving with a wedge down.
My plan would be to shave with each razor in turn 3-5 shaves, reporting my impressions at the end of each razor's rotation. As I normally shave 3 times a week I would expect it should take a month.
[QUOTE=Leatherstockiings;1575674]Haroldg48, During the experiment did you try to have an average number of shaves with each razor?
I have been thinking about adding to this thread. Would that be okay?/QUOTE]
I did try to average out my shaves for each razor, although admittedly I tended at the beginning to favor the ones I did best with in the second go 'round. Overall I did 4 shaves/razor, which was about 28-30 shaves over 2 months, with travel and the flu thrown in. Toward the end, I started doing two or three in a row for the ones I did the least well with in order to see if I used the same one several days in a row, I'd improve....and I did.
I would love to see you jump in and add to the thread.
I now have returned most of those seven to Tom and added one or two of my longer term rotation, and my plan next to to take that 6 or 7 day "new rotation" and do a week at a time with each, which for me is usually 5 shaves in a week.
Please jump in. I'd love to learn from someone else's observations about their own experiences!
As an update, 3 of the 7 Tom sent me for the original experiment now live in North Carolina permanently. Given that I've settled on what I like…large, and usually heavy smiling blades…the attached picture is the rotation for the next month or two.
It includes several I’ve had for a while and two of the three which refused to go back to Texas (the MOP scaled Henckel smiler and the W&B FBU), as well as a Robert Williams that has been improved from a slight frown to a slight smile by the same Sharptonn. I holding out of this phase an Ivory scaled Elliott smiler (which is my current favorite), which also likes NC better than the more humid Houston area. Using it in this rotation would be unfair to its brothers.
From top to bottom in the picture they are a Geo. Butler Art, the MOP Henckel, the W&B FBU, a small but near wedge 5/8 Hess 42 that I got from Rodb, my newly improved Williams (thanks Tom) and a W&B smiler in ivory scales.
At the very top is a new Mongoose, which is my first SE since a Schick injector many years ago. I recall once saying that their price seemed steep for a SE. I was wrong, because it is worth every penny. It gives SRs a run for their money, at least when the SRs are in my hands.
The plan is to use each SR for 6 days in a row, to give me a chance to adapt to it, and to correct for any lather and prep issues (as well as the occasional bad mood/no patience disorder). On the 7th day my face and I shall rest, using the Mongoose to get to church acceptably neat and tidy, shave-wise.
I'll report once or twice each week, and maybe together we’ll see what I'm learning, you guys can help me some, and hopefully it might help or inspire someone else. Hope you all enjoy.
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I just want to take the time to THANK Harold, and Tom For a great thread!!!
Okay, Ive finished my run with the first razor in my experiment.
First up was the Felt Pad Razor Works razor that was gifted to me by a friend at SRP. Ill let him identify himself if he wishes.:) The Felt Pad is a 5/8, full hollow razor. The origin is not marked on the razor. The company was out of St. Louis, Missouri but I don't know if Felt Pad made their own razors or imported them like their neighbors Shapleigh and Simmons. Estimated date of manufacure is 1905.
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I honed this razor in late November under the direction of a very experienced homer and mentor. The progression was 1k Naniwa traditional, 5k, 8k, 12k Naniwa super stones, and finished on the 20k Suehiro Gokumyo. I shaved with the razor once in November a day or so after it was honed, and recently three times in a row.
My impression is that this razor shaves much like my other 5/8 full hollow razors-easy to handle and nimble. It surprised me once again how little pressure is needed with a freshly honed razor. Because shaving with the Felt Pad seemed so effortles, I became a little too confident and nicked my chin on the last shave. This razor did make noise while shaving but not near as much as some of my other full hollows. Finally, it seemed the razor was especially light so I weighed it. It weighed 38g. For comparison my Ralf Aust 5/8 weighs 42g. The other two Razors I am going to continue this experiment are a 6/8 full hollow Thiers-Issard and a 13/16ish Wade and Butcher near wedge. They weigh 48g and 66g, respectively.
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Next installment will be in around a week with the TI.