Thread: How much of this is silly nonsense?

I've never added glycerin, not knocking it, just never tried it. I don't usually knock something until I've tried it. The old "walk a mile in the other guy's shoes". But I found that an almond sized hunk of my cream of choice in the lather bowl followed by the brush loaded with my soap of choice on that particular day makes a superior lather to any soap that I have used by itself IMHO....... YMMV. You'll excuse me please. I have to go finish a razor on my 30k Shapton Pro leaves the edge smoooooth as silk. I can't understand why everyone doesn't use one.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I've never added glycerin, not knocking it, just never tried it. I don't usually knock something until I've tried it. The old "walk a mile in the other guy's shoes". But I found that an almond sized hunk of my cream of choice in the lather bowl followed by the brush loaded with my soap of choice on that particular day makes a superior lather to any soap that I have used by itself IMHO....... YMMV. You'll excuse me please. I have to go finish a razor on my 30k Shapton Pro leaves the edge smoooooth as silk. I can't understand why everyone doesn't use one.

I tried it...all it did was make the lather seem to whip up a little faster, and somehow "shiny". The shave wasn't really improved, except when I was using a mediocre soap like Williams, and then there was a touch more moisturization.

Funny discussion! Except for the seriously logic based type stuff (sharpness tests, prevention or removal of rust, etc) just about all of what we do is a personal preference. One could easily criticize or make a logical cost comparison between my smoking a good Cuban cigar versus a pipe or a Honduran or other smoke. Same for boot preference, scotch (always single malt), or handguns (Glock here). So I guess it's fun to examine it all, but in reality I suppose there are useful and high quality things and similarly, useful and/or simply enjoyable processes or methods. Some view things as priceless and well worth the cost or effort and others see it as simple waste. To each his own and to his own ability to acquire I guess.

As far as shaving in the tub - it was surely done in the 1800s and no doubt there were accidents that caused extreme discomfort. Still, I have to admit that I've considered it and probably will give it a shot some miserable winter night.

As far as shaving shirtless, I find that for me it's a tossup - get lather on my chest hair or on a tee shirt - make little difference to me. Not gonna snap a photo of myself shirtless though even with my god-like physique! :-)

Lather is certainly a very personal thing and seems to differ for me at times for some reason. Some times I want a thick and deep lather, other times I want a more sleek and thin layer. I will however say that I like to make a bit more than I think I'll use just in case I need it for those stray patches - keeps me from going at them without lather - just better to dab a bit more lather than hit it dry or with water alone. Same deal - personal preference.

Spine tape? I only do it when I need to "butter knife" a blade - and normally it's for a bay purchase and only need to do it once. And then really only because I'm looking to keep the spine somewhat preserved. I know in time that I'll grind the hell out of some razors on the stone so if I just tape when I'm being aggressive, I preserve that blade a little longer for myself.

Good interesting thread! Definitely not going to get any consensus on this stuff though!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I actually only have one that I think is utter nonsense.....

I bet I could think of one more....

Originally Posted by AirColorado

Good interesting thread! Definitely not going to get any consensus on this stuff though!

First of all, nice post.

As far as reaching a consensus, you're definitely right. We'll reach a consensus on this stuff about the same time we achieve world peace.

Just thought it would be fun to have folks throw their thoughts out there. Might lead to interesting discussions and some fun.

Scuttles? We don't need no stinking scuttles. Lather? We don't need that either. Just use water. That eliminates a big expense right there not to mention the cost of heating hot water to fill those wasteful scuttles. Not only that but when you use lather it covers your face so you can't see what your doing and that's why you cut yourself. With water you can see everything and afterall water is the universal solvent.

After shave? we don't need that either. Just rub an ice cube on your face. The burn will be gone instantly. Bleeding? Throw away the sceptic stick and use a red hot wire which when applied to the face will stop all bleeding instantly.

Want more helpful hints just ask. The bigspendur is full of them.

Do I use them? Why hell no I'm not crazy am I?

How much of this is silly nonsense?

All of it, of course.

We should all be growing beards.

The time savings alone might make us former shavers wealthy beyond counting.

Unfortunately, my Acquisition Disorders have progressed to Acquisition Diseases and now require frequent dosing with those special "medicines": soaps, creams, brushes, razors, strops, hones, ...you name it, I need another fix for it.

Silly? Nope, on second thought, this is serious.

I actually wasn't going to read this thread, but I got bored...

Originally Posted by VeeDubb65

1. Using a shave brush as big as your head. What's the point? I've always found that at least in terms of size, a $5 drug store boar brush was just about the right size. If your brush is 30mm at the knot, and 10cm across when dry, doesn't it just make it harder to use? I mean, I don't want a shave brush that can apply lather to my eyebrows and nipples at the same time.....

Someone obviously likes it. Maybe the more badger there is, the more badger to love? Same logic can be applied to a lot of other stuff... I'm not going to go there, but...

2. Insisting on creating enough lather to fill a quart jar for every shave. I've always found that the "right" amount of lather is "just enough" to cover my skin so you can't see through the lather. Any more than that just makes a mess. Also, you're wasting a huge amount of shave soap and/or creme. And let's face it, the soaps and cremes that most of us use aren't exactly cheap.

As has been said before, soap is damn cheap! And you are assuming that they don't use the entire quart of lather. Are you sure that they don't? I'm not going to judge until I hear them say that they actually only use 1/8 of the lather they produce.

Besides, its fun making the lather!

3. 30,000 grit hones. Seriously? 30k? WTH for? Is it like owning an italian sports car? "Sure it sucks to drive and it's impossible to park, and sucks gas like the Kennedys suck down bourbon, but I have one and you don't, so I must have a bigger endowment."

Because it exists, the hone is comparatively cheap, and we CAN! Who knows, maybe it shaves better? I'm not going to deny I want my razor to be the best it can be, and if that means a 30k hone, I'm going to save up for one and buy it.

4. Modern scuttles. Completely useless, especially if you just use them with hot tap water. Discuss.

Thats a little unfair. I like my $2 scuttle made from two ceramic bowls from IKEA. Keeps my lather warm... Hot tap water doesn't cut it.
5. I'm almost scared to mention this one.... but I've got to include taping the spine of every single razor for honing. Come on guys, 90% of us use antique razors, and enjoy them because of their age. Isn't taping the spine to prevent perfectly normal and arguable attractive spine wear a little pointless? I get doing it to correct a problem, or make a heavy grind easier to hone, but come on.

As far as I'm concerned, that is their business.

So, what about you guys?

Things that bug me....

The obsession with buying a brand new razor. I don't get it. You'd have to hone it yourself to make absolutely sure it doesn't touch someone else's face. I think people are just paranoid about that one. We breathe in and eat plenty of microbes.

I can't believe that I read this whole thread.

Originally Posted by Bill S

I can't believe that I read this whole thread.

And we just made it longer!