Thread: Sun December 5th - Sat December 11th

Mikael, Glenn, Jose thanks for sharing all the excellent photos!

Cheers,
fonti

Now you are a senior member, Béla!
Congrats.

Saturday 12/11/10

Union Cutlery Spike 4/8
Genco Henry's X 5/8
Wald Ese-Ex 6/8
Coates (original) Sandalwood sc
Thayers Cucumber WH w/ aloe
Speick a/s
Anherb a/s conditioner
Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet Edt

I honed the three razors this morning and tried to use them during this shave but I only managed a couple of strokes with the Wald as I wanted to compare the Spike and the Genco. I bought the Spike over a year ago at a flea market and the Genco was a recent E-Bay purchase. I like American steel and like the feel of the Gencos and Geneva Cutlery razors (same company) which are from nearby Geneva, NY. The Union Cutlery is from Olean, NY which is actually closer to me than Geneva. I am hoping for a Robeson (from Rochester) one of these days.

Not being terribly confident in my honing skills I used the Coates cream for maximum cushioning and got what I hoped for. It was interesting using two razors, both did the job well enough. The Spike was quieter than the Genco (or the Wald), which, I guess, is due to it's size. I always do a couple of touch up passes around the jawline and neck and ended up with a very good shave, dare I say a Damn Fine Shave?

It's a great feeling of accomplishment to take a razor to a shave ready state and I feel very good about it. I needed to get over my anxiety about honing and just do it. Thanks to those who have helped me along the path...JoeD and Dylan for their guidance and tutelage (and Lynn for being able to watch him work), Bart and the crew over at Coticule.be for their encouragement, and my own Lynn (SWMBO) for her support and amusement at my interest in our little adventures in wetshaving.

And today will be better than yesterday.