Shave of the day

[Pjotr]

Just had a second shave with one of the "elite" blades (Gillette Super Silver). Well, I think it's an elite blade as RM compared it to a Gillette Platinum Plus which I believe is an elite blade. In any case it's out of production so it qualifies to a certain degree. Can't say it was particularly mind blowing. Cut myself stupid on the first go, was really cautious on the second and ended up with an OK shave. I'll have a third and see how it goes.

For the rest and BOT......

Speick stick and my faithful bakelite razor.
I never mention which brush because half of mine are refits in handles I either can't remember or never knew the name or make in the first place.
As you can tell I'm an elite kind of a guy!

 

[JugV2]

R41
PolSilver Super Iridium in the blue wrapper
Boar Semogue
GF Coconut cream

It's been a great week of shaves so far, three days o nthe blade and the second blade was the best.

First day was harsh, a bit face rapy, second day was lovely, and the third day see,s ok but feels a bit worse than the second.

I'm going to give it another two days and see hwo it goes.

I like the coconut cream but wouldn't buy it, the coconut scent is faint once on and dissipates quickly.

Finished off with Jermyn AS which I forgot I had - nearly a whole bottle sitting there. I may end up selling it as I am not using it much any more.

 

[Nick the Knife]

• Feather blade (1st use)
• MNS Lime
• Merkur 37c Slant
• Vie-Long 12705 Peleon

Wow on a really hot day the MNS Lime was manna from heaven - the scent was tremendous. The Feather was ....well.....sharp, but oddly it wasn't as good as I'd heard everyone with 37c's touting. I found the PSS and a few others to be a bit more enjoyable. I just felt that the Feather was liable to give me a good sized cut if I didn't pay attention in tricky areas (jawline, 'adam's apple', edge of lips)......so I wasn't all that impressed.

For a 1st pass it did very well - but the aforementioned reticence seemed to manifest itself once I started going ATG/XTG and cleaning up in the 2nd pass. To be fair this isn't helped by the fact that I've always found this a weakness of the 37c, it's the best 1 pass razor I've ever found but it's a Thomas Method candidate as it really doesn't like ATG/XTG...even with the Feather this didn't feel welcome refining of the 1st pass, as kicking the Slim down to #3 does.

Ended up with 2 tiny weepers that didn't even need Alum on them to silence their protests, still a very good shave but with a few lil sub-standard spots amidst the BBS majority. Might try the Feather in the Slim next time around.

 

[Mong.]

Gillette Tech with a Perma-Sharp, No. 6 horsey, Godrej and Nivea "Cool Kick" balm.

Nice shave while looking out over the river in Hoi An, Vietnam. I've always been a bit lazy with shaving while on holiday, but the scenery was so pleasant when I looked outside that I thought I might as well. Not everyday the opportunity comes around.

Perma-Sharps are damn good. Not far from my favored Polsilver SI's, but a little better I think. Very happy I chucked these in my bag. The Nivea balm was picked up at Singapore airport because I left mine at home. Functions the same as the plain one, but this stuff has a kinda nasty smell out of the bottle. At least it doesn't linger.

 

[SmallYetDeadly]

Mong are you Anh Do?

Gave the whiskers a 2 pass beat down that they thoroughly deserved.

Palmolive Gut 2,2. Somehow loaded a bunch of soap. Had lather for 10 men and made an unusual mess!

Semogue 830. Spectacular Handle! Just realised something, I pretty much grip the knot rather than the handle when lathering. Maybe this is why I don't seem to have a backbone issue. I have pretty big hands so this is natural and comfortable for me.

Slim @ 6.

Permasharp Super (5) - I honestly thought the PSS was starting to go last shave. Of course it was actually just me adapting to the slim. Got a bit lazy with pressure I think and learning a new razor. This shave was easy as pie with the "never gonna let you down" PSS feel.

Proraso Splash - Mmm splashraso, prosplasho. Love the stuff. Excellent pick up for a humid morning.


Feather and the slant Nick? Living on the knife's edge!

 

[bodge]

Had a week of russian 7oc green in the flaretip. I'd say it's pretty much the same as the indian green.

Last couple of days I've using an Astra in the flare. Not been a huge fan of these blades previously, but I found it good this time around. Not the smoothest blade but it works.

Been cold shaving for about 10 days now. It definitely works for me, in preference to hot. The razor/blade glides better and irritation is held in check better for a closer shave. "Cold" from the tap is not that cold these days. When the weather cools right down again I'll be back to warm/hot because I'm a sissy.

 

[Mong.]

Mong are you Anh Do?

My secret is out!

Haha I wish, then I'd be funny! Is he back on the tele and in Hoi An too?

I'm in Saigon now actually, and I had a look in the army surplus market this arvo. One store had a bunch of beat up old DE's, maybe even dating back to the war. I doubt it, but they're pretty aged so it's possible. Most of them weren't worth picking up as they had quite a bit of corrosion and plate loss, but there is one user grade Fatboy there that was priced around $7.50 that I might go back and grab. I'm not sure, but it might even be a Slim as the handle is a little different to my Fatboy.

I got knocked back for the $4 I offered, I might go back tomorrow and try my luck again.

 

[kjparker]

My secret is out!

Haha I wish, then I'd be funny! Is he back on the tele and in Hoi An too?

I'm in Saigon now actually, and I had a look in the army surplus market this arvo. One store had a bunch of beat up old DE's, maybe even dating back to the war. I doubt it, but they're pretty aged so it's possible. Most of them weren't worth picking up as they had quite a bit of corrosion and plate loss, but there is one user grade Fatboy there that was priced around $7.50 that I might go back and grab. I'm not sure, but it might even be a Slim as the handle is a little different to my Fatboy.

I got knocked back for the $4 I offered, I might go back tomorrow and try my luck again.

Any Straights there?

 

[Nick the Knife]

Haha I wish, then I'd be funny! Is he back on the tele and in Hoi An too?

I'm in Saigon now actually, and I had a look in the army surplus market this arvo. One store had a bunch of beat up old DE's, maybe even dating back to the war. I doubt it, but they're pretty aged so it's possible. Most of them weren't worth picking up as they had quite a bit of corrosion and plate loss, but there is one user grade Fatboy there that was priced around $7.50 that I might go back and grab. I'm not sure, but it might even be a Slim as the handle is a little different to my Fatboy.

I got knocked back for the $4 I offered, I might go back tomorrow and try my luck again.

Oh that army surplus market is an interesting place - I was quite amused poking around in it but suffice to say the missus didn't see that much that caught her eye. Hard to believe as surely every female could do with some .50 Calibre ammunition boxes or entrenching tools! Women! Go figure! :blink:

Hmm I didn't see any of that DE stuff there but that was back when I was in the grasp of the evil Cart-God. Hmm the Fatboy or Slim is a good buy at the list price or below.

If the weather there is anything like it is here I'd be heading for the nearest Beer Hoi and pulling up a milk crate for the afternoon/evening! Haha just don't have one too many and then decide you like the look of the dried squids that they drag around on those carts and BBQ for you on demand! Great food, great shopping and great people (if people can not be western jerks and show a bit of sensitivity for the horrible injustice these folks suffered during the war).

I reckon my wife asks me can be go back there on a regularly monthly schedule! Just don't travel long distance on the buses. Made the mistake of getting cheap and rather than flying back to HCM City from Hoi-An went via an overnight bus........freaking nightmare material!!!!!!

 

[Nick the Knife]

• Feather (#2 shave)
• Weber Polished SS 3 piece razor
• MNS Barber Shop
• Omega #10005

Well first the Weber is great - serious blade gap which makes it quite an aggressive shaver. Really nice heft...I mean really nice. You get a lot of audio feedback through the SS rather than other razors must be a metallurgical thing.

I'm VERY happy with it and sent a gushing complimentary email to the maker, which he replied back to within 10mins! Nice guy.

Anyway...the lather was great, I was a lil cool on the Barber Shop but it's grown on me...is the wife's fave too. The Feather has reminded me why I haven't used them since I first did a few yrs back. Yes they're very sharp but they're just a tad unforgiving. Its hard to explain they just feel a little like they could give you a very nice cut at any second....now sure part of that could be just their sharpness but I swear several other blades are in the same 'ballpark' for sharpness but don't have this 'edgy' feel to them. I found again that they excel on the first-WTG pass but then when you look at going ATG/XTG they feel very tempermental and make you back off.

Got a very good shave, exceptional in spots but I find the Feather keeps me from being as aggressive as I'd like to be around my jaw and other spots, in contrast the PSS and a few others feel so forgiving I don't have such constraints.

Anyway loving the Weber.....suddenly everything else in my lil razor collection except for the Slim and Adams Open Comb seems very expendable.

 

[Pjotr]

Number three with the Gillette Super Silver. Very nice shave. I might keep it in there for a fourth. If it wasn't for the first shave face rape I'd be extremely happy with this blade. Almost as good as an SE blade!

For the rest and of course BOT:

Bakelite 7O'Clock razor.
Tabac cream. This stuff rocks.
Brush: refitted with a TGN knot (can't remember which one) handle.

 

[Nick the Knife]

• Weber Polished SS razor
• Gillette Blue Platinum (Maltese)
• DR Harris Arlington
• Jaguar brush

WOw I'm officially in LOVE with this razor - honestly it's just divine. I'm happy to gush about it, everything about it is just so much better than the Merkurs. Chalk and cheese to compare them. The grip is like velcro to your hands!

Thought I'd try with one of my 4,000 or so Gillette Blues and thankfully they worked together VERY well....haha was a huge relief, kinda like introducing your new GF to oyur parents etc and wanting it to work!

Having used a lot more blades over the past few months I recognise that the Plats miss a lil of the elite sharpness but are as smooth as anything out there. Got a very nice shave from it. Alas the DR Harris isn't a great soap.......dries up very easily and not really very slick, doesn't tend to feel good on ones skin. I'm spoilt using the MNS varieties I have.

 

[mr626]

• Weber Polished SS razor
• Gillette Blue Platinum (Maltese)
• DR Harris Arlington
• Jaguar brush

WOw I'm officially in LOVE with this razor - honestly it's just divine. I'm happy to gush about it, everything about it is just so much better than the Merkurs. Chalk and cheese to compare them. The grip is like velcro to your hands!

Thought I'd try with one of my 4,000 or so Gillette Blues and thankfully they worked together VERY well....haha was a huge relief, kinda like introducing your new GF to oyur parents etc and wanting it to work!

Having used a lot more blades over the past few months I recognise that the Plats miss a lil of the elite sharpness but are as smooth as anything out there. Got a very nice shave from it. Alas the DR Harris isn't a great soap.......dries up very easily and not really very slick, doesn't tend to feel good on ones skin. I'm spoilt using the MNS varieties I have.

Sounds great Nick- glad that it was worth the wait to get the razor. You mention that its fairly aggressive- are we talking similar to a red tip?

 

[Nick the Knife]

Sounds great Nick- glad that it was worth the wait to get the razor. You mention that its fairly aggressive- are we talking similar to a red tip?

Thanks '626. Yes, its really very nice......I had slight buyers remorse when I'd just bought it as I thought do I really need ANOTHER razor....but if anything now I almost not getting another to trade/swap!

I think the gap is considerably more than the Red Tip, it definitely feels more aggressive than the RT. I will try and get a pic to show it.

PS. Popped 3 pix over in the Weber thread - doesn't really show it that well but you get an idea that it's got quite a 'grin' on it - definitely larger than the RT....shaves more aggressive than the RT as well, so reflects this.

 

[SmallYetDeadly]

P.160 Morbido
Schemoog 830
Gillette Slim
Polsilver (Blue and red package?? Bloody forgot on the way to work - what's the provenance on these ones?)
Dickies witch hazel
Nivea ASB

First crack with one of the Polsilvers Mong generously PiFed me. He sent two of these ones and only one of the other types so I figured I'd go with the multiples. First pass and I was a bit underwhelmed. Effective stubble removal but it was reasonably rough and not very sharp feeling. A bit shark like for mine.

Second pass it felt improved and third pass felt pretty good. Second shave should be interesting to see if it can stabilise. Maybe some sort of coating needing to wear down a bit?

 

[Pjotr]

..........First crack with one of the Polsilvers Mong generously PiFed me. He sent two of these ones and only one of the other types so I figured I'd go with the multiples. First pass and I was a bit underwhelmed. Effective stubble removal but it was reasonably rough and not very sharp feeling. A bit shark like for mine.

Second pass it felt improved and third pass felt pretty good. Second shave should be interesting to see if it can stabilise. Maybe some sort of coating needing to wear down a bit?

Uh ooohhhhh.......sounds like MUM to me!

 

[Mong.]

The blue and red wrappers are the ones I like, I chucked the other Polsilver brown and the Super Iridium in for comparisons sake. They're all pretty damn similar, but the Pollie SI is my favorite.

If memory serves, mine started off a little rough but gave me a reasonably good shave. Second and third were really good, I think you'll enjoy it.

PJ, I think I have one or two loose ones lying around at home if you'd like some for your MUM experiment.

I had another good shave with the Tech and Perma-Sharp combo. I'm looking forward to putting it in the 34C. I don't like Godrej that much, but I think my face lathering technique leaves a bit to be desired. Really enjoying the No. 6 horsey too.

 

[Pjotr]

............PJ, I think I have one or two loose ones lying around at home if you'd like some for your MUM experiment............

My MUM experiment was meant to only focus on what people thought were bad blades. I've simply not had what people think are really bad blades to try. Mind you, just found some Gillette 365s in the vintage PIF. They're not meant to be any good according to RM. At the moment I've got about twenty different blades to try out. I wouldn't mind having a go at a Polsilver or two. I must admit to still being totally confused as to what's what in Polsilver land. I'll PM. Thanks.

 

[SmallYetDeadly]

The blue and red wrappers are the ones I like, I chucked the other Polsilver brown and the Super Iridium in for comparisons sake. They're all pretty damn similar, but the Pollie SI is my favorite.

If memory serves, mine started off a little rough but gave me a reasonably good shave. Second and third were really good, I think you'll enjoy it.

PJ, I think I have one or two loose ones lying around at home if you'd like some for your MUM experiment.

I had another good shave with the Tech and Perma-Sharp combo. I'm looking forward to putting it in the 34C. I don't like Godrej that much, but I think my face lathering technique leaves a bit to be desired. Really enjoying the No. 6 horsey too.

Thanks fior the clarification Mong.

I would expect 34C and PSS to be a better combo than tech and PSS. I found the PSS to not go well in mild razors (#58 & Krona) Super smooth shaving but lacking in closeness without working too hard at it.

 

[Nick the Knife]

• Gillette Slim @5/3
• Feather Hi Stainless (#3 use)
• MNS Orange/Black Pepper/Cedar
• Vie-Long 12705

Really nice shave, REALLY nice. The Slim felt great with the Feather in it and MNS soaps always feel extra good when you've slummed it using something else for a day or so. BBS result.

***

Sorry but with all due respect I'm really surprised that the Polsilver SI's could feel anything like a mediocre blade (which Shark's definitely are). I don't recall the one I've tried (courtesy of Mong) being one of those 'better on 2nd use' blade variants. IMHO I've not felt that anything Polsilver makes is even vaguely MUM material.

Well if anyone really feels this way about the Pol's I've a bunch of SHarks to swap with you - heck I'll even give you 2 for 1 - so if they're on par you'll make out like a thief. ;-)