Originally Posted by
Haroldg48
Glad to share. My prep is a little unorthodox, depending on your point of view. I have abandoned the hot towel, hot lather in a scuttle approach to a lukewarm or cool water wash with a good soap (I use Dove), followed by loading the brush with the same temp water, and either building some lather in a mug, or face lathering. Whichever I choose I get my face really wet first by splashing a LOT of water on it and then lather really well. As you commented in another post, I believe the lather and water combo on the face is the key IF you have a sharp shave-ready razor. When I get a sub par shave, I know it's my lather, and each soap or cream is a little different. While you're fairly new, I'd stick with one to eliminate that variable.
As to my razors, for new, modern ones I have the R. Aust like yours, a R. Aust 6/8 stainless, a Dovo Prima Klang 5/8, a Hoffritz 5/8 that was my first 30 years ago, a Boker 6/8 "Silver Steel", and a 7/8 Robert Williams custom. In the vintage category, I have a Wade and Butcher 6/8 in ivory scales (my favorite), a George Butler Art 6/8, a Taylor Eyewitness (6/8,I think), A Burrell Top Flight 5/8, and a Henckel 5/8 shorty that was a gift from a member. I've attached some pictures in no special order.