Thread: A Presidential Shave...

How many of ya give yourself a presidential shave?

So what is a presidential shave... well if you watch
a president like Obama, Bush sign legislation you
might note that the signature is done with an big
old pile of pens. Obama recently used 22 pens to
sign the health care bill. Thus a presidential shave
is a shave that uses multiple razors.

Today I set out a couple of razors and began
building a fine lather. I picked up a Swedish blade
and began my shave. It felt a little harsh and
gave me a "Feather" nick so I considered stropping
it on some CrOx to take the harshness off but I had a
second razor at the ready so I dried off the first and picked
up the second. Continuing my shave I found that my
mind wandered to a third Older German blade sitting
under the sink. I took the hint and rather than shave distracted
switched to the older German blade.... At this point I was on a roll and
when switching grips I also switched razors. One
last time a new blade to tidy up my chin and I was done.

The interesting part is that shaving my neck was easy
as pie with a fresh blade. I commonly shave my neck
at the end and some days it is a little rough... Not today

Not 22 but four blades gave me a fine shave this day....

I'm too lazy to do that since I have to strop and clean up each razor. So I start and end with one the one razor. If it isn't performing to my liking I may take it to chrom-ox on a flatbed with felt, a barber hone or with diamond spray on the felt hanging strop but I will start and finish my shave with the same razor.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

How many of ya give yourself a presidential shave?

So what is a presidential shave... well if you watch
a president like Obama, Bush sign legislation you
might note that the signature is done with an big
old pile of pens. Obama recently used 22 pens to
sign the health care bill. Thus a presidential shave
is a shave that uses multiple razors.

Today I set out a couple of razors and began
building a fine lather. I picked up a Swedish blade
and began my shave. It felt a little harsh and
gave me a "Feather" nick so I considered stropping
it on some CrOx to take the harshness off but I had a
second razor at the ready so I dried off the first and picked
up the second. Continuing my shave I found that my
mind wandered to a third Older German blade sitting
under the sink. I took the hint and rather than shave distracted
switched to the older German blade.... At this point I was on a roll and
when switching grips I also switched razors. One
last time a new blade to tidy up my chin and I was done.

The interesting part is that shaving my neck was easy
as pie with a fresh blade. I commonly shave my neck
at the end and some days it is a little rough... Not today

Not 22 but four blades gave me a fine shave this day....

That's a novel idea, and one that appeals to my sense of ROCD. Who knows? I may make my next trip to the sink with a handful!

On the other hand, it's worth remembering that all those pens are used because they're all given away. Got any razors you want to give away now?

Ha, I'm not alone them
I've been doing this for a while, just to learn the differences between different grinds and sizes and such.
Another important point for me in doing so, is to evaluate my honing on the different razors.
Being a newbie at both straight shaving and honing, I find it quite educational.

Our honemisters do this on a regular basis to test the quality of their worl and give it the seal of approval. I expect Lynn may rival Obama's pen counts on some days.

I will shave test up to four razors at a time, in which case
I'm relying a bit more heavily on the other sharpness tests
to back up what I'm feeling during the more limited time I
shave with the razor.

- Scott

Since I don't hone for others I have the luxury of shave testing with a full shave. For me the test comes in the chin area and on either side of the windpipe. Those are my toughest whiskers. I like to hone a razor and shave with it and if I feel it could be better go back to the hone and shave with it again the following day. I may have to do this a few days running or I may get it first time around. One way or the other, with a few exceptions, I usually can get them where I want them. Those few exceptions get put off to the side and I will come back to them eventually. Even Babe Ruth didn't hit a home run every time he came up to bat.

I take two razors in with me every time. First pass, and then a fresh second pass. I won't bring my strops into the bathroom. When switching to the second razor I superheat the blade of the first razor and towel dry it . My theory is that the heated steel will evaporate water from the pivot area. Seems to work.
It is fun deciding which combo to use; ebony and ivory,Swedish pair,tortoise and whalebone, huge wedgeday, ancient razor day, American made!
It is a slight justification for my RAD.
Fortunately, I only need a couple more.....

Ed
quicknicker

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

the signature is done with an big
old pile of pens. Obama recently used 22 pens to
sign the health care bill.

Is there a special historical reason for this, or did he try 21 pens before he found a good one?

Originally Posted by welshwizard

Is there a special historical reason for this, or did he try 21 pens before he found a good one?

It is customary for presidents in the USA to give pens as gifts that are used for signing historic documents. He is not the first to do this with multiple pens.