Thread: The Mach Delivers ?!

nun2sharp,

Thanks for the reply. As far as razors, the ones I've been using regularly include a Clauss 5/8 round, Shumate 5/8 square and a Landers Frary & Clark 5/8 round. I actually had what is probably my best str8 shave to date with the LF&C this morning. I tried a quasi "guillotining" stroke to get an ATG component without a direct ATG attack. A friend explained it to me as drawing the blade on a diagonal "as a knife cutting bread." (I believe that's the quote from a barber's instructional manual.)

I know that some people frown on this type of stroke due to safety concerns, but it did seem to make a difference. Much closer shave, no irritation (and no cuts).

I'm inclined to continue refining this technique, but not if I'm begging for a scar. Much obliged if you'd like to share any thoughts. I'll take your advise and start a new thread as well.

Cheers!

Today was the first shave with the new mach pro glide super whatever and I made sure to do the full prep including towels and proraso:

- Hot Shower with hair conditioner soak
- Proraso Pre while building the lather (my go to)
- Proraso Green Tea For Sensitive Skin (not the most cushion but appropriate for a cartridge and despite that continues to impress me still)
- Plisson Mountain Badger in Horn (luxurious)
- Hot Towel
- 3 Pass WTG, XTG, ATG (usually get WTG & XTG with straight switching to DE for ATG)
- Alum (not a bit of sting)
- Cold Rinse & Dry
- Thayers Unscented Witch Hazel
- Proraso Post (same stuff as Pre)




Turned out my closest most irritation free shave ever. Not even a tingle by the alum in the end. If I can achieve half of this shave someday with a straight I am looking forward to that day. It will be interesting to see how long this cartridge gives a good shave. I suspect 6 shaves over 2 weeks.

you're lucky. 6 shaves barely gets me to the weekend...

Grizli

Originally Posted by grizli

you're lucky. 6 shaves barely gets me to the weekend...

Grizli

LOL, yeah with a name like Grizli I can believe it

I used a Mach III for kicks a few weeks ago and got a wonderful shave myself as well. I feel bad for using one because the shaves I used to have with it was the reason I went to wet shaving in the first place. I guess I've learned so much about soaps and brushes a long with good prep that the tool to get the shave really isn't as important as I once thought....

I still shave with a straight every day and it's because it's just so much more fun to do so!

Originally Posted by Disburden

I used a Mach III for kicks a few weeks ago and got a wonderful shave myself as well. I feel bad for using one because the shaves I used to have with it was the reason I went to wet shaving in the first place. I guess I've learned so much about soaps and brushes a long with good prep that the tool to get the shave really isn't as important as I once thought....

I still shave with a straight every day and it's because it's just so much more fun to do so!

am agreeing more and more with this every day. infact today just arrived a few flea-bay W&B and a Parker so there is a good chance I will never give up on straights. regardless of the quality of the shave they have a host of beauty that the cartridges just can't compete with. now that iridium or whatever it is with sapphire blades, that might throw the mach gauntlet down for good... itching to bite the bullet and put down the $2k on the cheap one.

Originally Posted by Disburden

I used a Mach III for kicks a few weeks ago and got a wonderful shave myself as well. I feel bad for using one because the shaves I used to have with it was the reason I went to wet shaving in the first place. I guess I've learned so much about soaps and brushes a long with good prep that the tool to get the shave really isn't as important as I once thought....

I still shave with a straight every day and it's because it's just so much more fun to do so!

When you think about your past shaves, it's good to remember that Gillette (and Schick, etc.) sells a SYSTEM. Some claim you don't even need a cream, the moisture strip is all you need to shave. When they do promote a cream, it's the canned gel. But in both cases what they're selling is a quick and easy system, no prep needed, no hassle, wipe and go. So I wouldn't feel guilty if I were you (I don't feel guilty!). Prep and lather and stretching will do a lot for any shave. But they're part of the wet-shave system, not Gillette's Mach X speed shave system.

FWIW!

Peace,
Jim

Originally Posted by BigJim

When you think about your past shaves, it's good to remember that Gillette (and Schick, etc.) sells a SYSTEM. Some claim you don't even need a cream, the moisture strip is all you need to shave. When they do promote a cream, it's the canned gel. But in both cases what they're selling is a quick and easy system, no prep needed, no hassle, wipe and go. So I wouldn't feel guilty if I were you (I don't feel guilty!). Prep and lather and stretching will do a lot for any shave. But they're part of the wet-shave system, not Gillette's Mach X speed shave system.

FWIW!

Peace,
Jim

would be interesting then after this experiment for me is over to try a couple weeks of using a straight but with gillettes can foam as compares to real soaps and cream.

The 5th shave was a complete reversal on Monday's poor shave. I switched back to Proraso soap and the 4 days of growth was taken off with almost no irritation this time, a much friendlier shave then the last and making me suspicious of the MWF or more likely the added trumpers sandalwood skin food. Thinking back on all my shaves that included the skin food as either a soap augmentor or a post shave balm I am starting to believe that might be the culprit. I have have some very good shaves with MWF even though most have had some minor irritation after the 3rd pass but the skin food has always given me trouble.

So it looks like the cartridge lives on to see shave #6 and I will continue to use the proraso soap to keep things all but equal for comparison. Perhaps the 4 days of growth rather then the standard 2 is also something that has increased the quality of the shave.

In conclusion a very nice smooth shave with only a minor sting from the alum in a couple spots.

Awesome shave today with the Mach. Shave #9, identical to shave #2, BBS literally no irritation and just a memoir of sting in the Alum. Still using proraso pre and proraso for sensitive skin as a base but mixed in a dab of Maca Root cream and whipped it up in my new homemade Groovy Scuttle which I was also suprised did a great job keeping the lather warm.



To anyone out there looking for a cheap and impressively simple, easy to make, and well performing scuttle (beats my moss) give this a try. Order this quality double walled stainless mug Amazon.com: Brilliant Double-Walled Stainless Steel Tea Cup and Saucer Set (7 Fl Oz) - Quality StainlessLUX Drinkware for Your Enjoyment: Kitchen & Dining and using the barrel grinder that comes with a dremel tool cut a thumb sized notch in each side across from each other.



Fill sink with hot water and let it heat in the sink as you normally would while you shower. Then just take it out and put your thumb over the handle side notch and turn it upside down to empty the water from the bowl, the water will remain between the double walls keeping the lather warm. The space between the walls holds about 4+ ounces of hot water, depending on the temperature of your water enough to keep the lather warm for 3 passes. What allows it to work with such little water is the good thermal conduction of the metal. When you are done simply turn it upside down without closing the notch with your thumb and the water inside drains.

Cheap, very elegant polished stainless, indestructable, and takes all of 5 minutes to make. With this there is no longer a good reason anyone who would like a nice scuttle should be without and feel good about it since they made it themselves. The saucer that comes with it is also a nice touch.