Thread: How much of this is silly nonsense?

First of all, before anybody get's upset by anything, this is not a particularly serious post. It's mostly editorial, and an invitation for more editorialism. This post is for fun, not mean-spirited flame baiting. So, let's all keep a good sense of humor here.

Ok, I'm not claiming to be an expert here, but this just came up in another thread about lather and I thought I'd make a separate post about it, because I can't help wondering?

There seem to be a lot of things around here, that a lot of folks do, that just seem like complete non-sense.

Things that really don't improve a shave, and some that actually hurt a shave. (It's entirely possible that they only seem like nonsense to people who don't get it, or course)

I thought we might open up a discussion about all of those things, and give everybody a chance to list the things they just don't get.

I have a few:

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.....

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.

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."

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

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.



So, what about you guys?