Thread: The great experiment

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.

Must be change week!

As originally planned, I picked up my 6/8 Ralf Aust, but while I was stropping it, a fairly new "old" one of mine, a Hess Stainless small-ish 5/8, that I bought on the classifieds a few months ago caught my eye. I decided to switch up and use that one.

My first shave Monday was a little touch and go, but Tuesday, I kinda got the hang of the little guy, and got a pretty good shave. I did get a little razor burn on my neck, but I think it was too much "hand" instead of letting the razor get the angle it wanted.

I also switched soaps to a Barrister and Mann sample I got some time back, and it was super.

Here's the razor.

Yeah, that 42 Hess wedge is of a similar profile as Richard's CMon wedge. I shaved exclusively with that type for 2 years straight.

Hard to beat the 'modern grind' wedge for smoothness and control, I think! Dang! I have a few left.
Need to hone them up soon!