Thread: The great experiment

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Hard not to like those, Harold! Indeed, taping the ears back is a good idea!

I've got elephant ears...would have to use duct tape, and lots of it...

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.

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!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

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.

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!

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

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.

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.

Harold, no matter what I do know, I still learn something new everyday! Excellent thread.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

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!

Geez now I've learned something else When does it end? Maybe never!?!

I stropped it well, will give it another stropping before the next use...Thanks to Rodb for that one via the classifieds!

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.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

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.