Thread: The great experiment

And one of the biggest and heaviest looking that I've seen! A beauty!

Originally Posted by Phrank

Wow! One of the nicest razors I've seen.....

...............

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Had to give the Tally Ho a fair shake, so I put it back on the strops, lathered up my 24 hour growth with Castle-Forbes, and followed the leads provided by Phrank and Sharptonn. I used a firmer grip and stroke, increased my angle some, tried some different XTG approaches and got a great shave.

Guess that proves learning is a part of the experiment. Tomorrow's another step on the trail!

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...

Originally Posted by cheetahmeatpheonix

I too have an affinity for the large blades and i was lucky enough to score a huge frame back when I first started collecting. This one is a 9/8 Joseph Eliott FBU.
I love the look of these razors. They have amazing lines..especially this Joseph Eliott.
The feel in hand is pretty spectacular as well. I love the heft of these big blades.

Cheetah

Wow, what a gorgeous cleaver!

Originally Posted by cheetahmeatpheonix

I too have an affinity for the large blades and i was lucky enough to score a huge frame back when I first started collecting. This one is a 9/8 Joseph Eliott FBU.
I love the look of these razors. They have amazing lines..especially this Joseph Eliott.
The feel in hand is pretty spectacular as well. I love the heft of these big blades.

Cheetah

It IS loverly, Cheetah, my man! T'aint no frameback, however! (don't get me started! )

SO.....How does it shave, Cheetahmeat?
Inquiring minds need to know!

This afternoon's chapter in the experiment was my third shave with the W&B FBU.

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!

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

On edges, didn't I read in one of your posts that you didn't like to hone

Sometimes I do like to hone, Harold! I just never know I liked it till after the shave!

Thanks for your stropping!

This afternoon's shave was with the MOP scaled Henckels near wedge (near as I can tell). My picture doesn't do it justice:


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: -- 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.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

....or if I've just begun to learn to shave by having a variety to work with.

You just answered your own question.