Strop Shop Baker Street vs. Black Tie

If you could only pick one, which would you choose? Also, any reason NOT to get the Special Edition with Shea and Cocoa butter, besides price?

Let's Age Some Whiskey!

My birthday is tomorrow, but SWMBO couldn't wait to give me my gift and had me open it today. I got one of the coolest gifts I've ever gotten! She bought me the Woodinville Whiskey Co. age your own whiskey kit. The kit came with a 2-liter oak aging barrel, a funnel, two bottles of un-aged "White Dog" whiskey and two awesome whiskey snifter glasses. The instructions recommend tasting it weekly to see how it's progressing I'm going to use this thread to kind of document my journey through aging my own whiskey.



Here is the kit:



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The bottles of White Dog that came with it also have portions of the label made for keeping track of your aging times which I thought was a nice touch:



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After unboxing the set I did notice that one of the rings on the barrel was coming off so I simply tapped it back into place with a small mallet. Currently I am hydrating the barrel. The instructions state that you have to fill the barrel with hot water and let it soak into the wood so the barrel expands and seals. It leaked at first, but has since stopped or slowed enough that it's not as obvious from what I can tell. Just smelling the barrel told me so much about how important it is for the flavor of the whiskey. I never truly appreciated that much of what I'm tasting in my whiskeys was imparted by the wood the barrel is made of.

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Feather blades hate my face

So I've come to the conclusion that feather blades are going to be put away for a while. Today I went back to using one after about 8 shaves using Israeli personnas and I did everything the same, same technique same razor same prep and biotique bio palmyra in a nice lather and ended with a very uncomfortable DFS. Lots of weepers and irritation. Guess I'll be putting them away for a while. YMMV right!

Shaving without pre-shave oil

For the second time in a row I shaved without pre-shave oil.



I made sure to use a cream that I know without a doubt lubricates the shave - TOBS Coconut (awesome cream!!!).

The hot wet facecloth was still applied as usual. Lathering was started in the bowl, but finished on my face where the consistency and amount was developed to satisfaction.



The shave was as smooth as ever, and I believe the preparation helped the final result more than the preshave oil did.



Now in the future should I use a cream that is less lubricating, I may use the preshave oil again if only for that first pass to be lubricated - TOBS Mr. Taylor's, Eton College, Sandalwood. But since the majority of the creams in my cabinet are quite lubricating, it may just have become redundant overnight.



The final result was BBS. There was only a mild sensation in a few areas with the alum block. I applied a mix of 444 and AV Green afterwards. Oddly, this mixture proved rather intense to the point of discomfort (menthol-wise), but that faded quickly leaving behind a smooth, moisturised, and not sensitive result. I am very impressed, largely by the cream.



Razor is Merkur 23C

Blade is second use Shark

Brush is ICE #3 Best Badger

Cream is TOBS Coconut

Alum block is, well, alum

Aftershave is a mix of 444 and Aqua Velva Green.



One minor note:

After the shave I had three pink patches on my face. This is definitely from sensitivity to something in the shave cream. I'm certain that the preshave oil would protect the skin from any allergens at least for the first pass. A disclaimer though: to be fair I had lather on my face for about 30 minutes, so my skin was bound to say something after all that time.



Has anyone else had a similar experience where you felt sure the preshave oil was benefiting you in some way only to realise later on that it wasn't really doing much? Oil, not preshave cream. I'll be trying the Proraso Pre-Post Green soon I think, and I expect different performance to the oil.

Broke out the Fusion

Out of curiosity, I decided to shave with my old gear tonight. Barbasol and Gillette Fusion. Even with horrible technique, I never had any complaints with carts. Tonight I used wet shaving techniques (no pressure, relather between passes etc.) I guess this is a good shave. I have my trouble areas with my DE, but my good areas turn out much better than this shave. Not that this one is bad, it's just not great. I think my expectations for a good shave have risen dramatically since I started using a DE. Maybe I should use the Fusion for the troublesome spots on my neck and chin and the DE for the bulk of the shave.

Lather sweet spot?

I think I've come to the point where I am getting pretty good at making decent lather with my different creams and soaps...and yes they all take different amounts of water etc. However, I have found that when I get to where I think I have nailed the sweet spot...I add a touch more h2o to the mix and thats what works best for me. I always see ymmv which I believe but does anyone else like a wet almost, but not quite, sloppy lather? Its s till thick.and rich but you can tell its packex with moisture. Or maybe this is really the sweet spot and this post is futile. :001_smile

Back at it again

Between material shortages and equipment failure its been a while.

Back at it!!

Enjoy!!



Ray



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Williams Mug Shaving Soap Availability

Hi...in case anyone cares, if you live in the Gta/Hamilton area in Ontario...Your local Metro is probably selling Williams Mug Shaving Soap..thought some on here would like to know...I've never used it and the reviews are so so but for $2.49 you can't go wrong even if it doesn't work out.

First shave with a DE razor today

Hello,



I've been interested in changing up my shaving routine for a while. My beard is super heavy. Cartridge razor were costing me a fortune so I figured I'd give DE razors a try. I picked up a vintage Gillette adjustable slim and ordered up some shaving supplies. The razor finally got here today so I went ahead and cleaned it up and sterilized it. I must say, for a first go at it I think it went ok. I went with one pass with the grain and one pass across the grain. Still not perfectly smooth, but I figured as long as I didn't shred my face I was ahead of the game. I can see this becoming a slippery slope. I'm already looking for more vintage razors.



Karl

RAZOR SALE: Ranger Tech / HD Rocket "Patent Pending" / ABC Pocket Set open comb

Many thanks to CartridgesAreADrag - I thought his 'rules' were uber-cool. Sometimes, stuff posted to B/S/T disappears in minutes, even seconds! All prices are shipped in lower 48 and payment by PayPal.





The rules... do not rush or feel hurried! I will check my pm mailbox tomorrow - so, take your time and do review the razor pics on the Photobucket link. In the event multiple people are interested, my criteria for selecting the buyers will be based on a couple things: please include in your PM title the following tags if it applies to you.





For trade - I've never had a Red Tip Super Speed. With case is a plus.





You want to buy the razor outright: Cash - [razor name]

You want to trade: Trade - - [razor name]

First Time! This is your first razor of this type.





Hopefully it is not too confusing, just trying to manage my inbox.





Link to Photobucket: http://ift.tt/1pB6RMh





The Red Imp was sold a while ago, sorry to tease!









Gillette Special Set 501 with ABC Shell handle. $65 As far as I can tell, this is probably from 1910 or 1920. Basketweave case in gunmetal. I believe this is for Gillette Special Set No. 501 with Gillette blade bank and very old Gillette blades. Some of the blades are not listed on mr-razor / Achim's site. 3-hole white wrapper #122. 3-hole pale green wrapper #205. 3-hole green wrapper #341. Note 1 slightly bent corner tooth (right front corner in pic).















1941 Ranger Tech $50

Razor shows faint thinning or speckles on the handle as seen in the pictures. Case is pretty beat up on outside. TTO knob opens & shuts silo doors smoothly, evenly, and tightly.











1953 Gillette Rocket HD stamped "Patent Pending" inside the floor of blade tray. $50

Nice, shiny, TTO is smooth. No lazy doors. There is a ding in the handle, I put silver paint there to hide it a bit See the Photobucket link for images with ding. Great shaver.

Frustration!

Last week I won an ebay bid for a nice clean Gillette New Bar short comb razor. According to USPS tracking it was shipped from Washington State last Wednesday and arrived this morning IN NEW JERSEY!!!!....I live in Texas!!!! Do they not make roads from Washington to Texas? Grrrrr!!!! Is this some new shipping logistic that the USPS is using that I am unaware of? No wonder these guys are 10 Billion in the hole each year. I've been delaying my shave for this razor. I have a 3 day old beard laughing at me.:lol:



Throw me a bone and tell me its going to be OK or something.:mad3::confused1:sad::mad3:

Brand Newbie after Rick Harrison commercial-research-here

Hi all. Like many, I saw the Rick Harrison infomercial on Friday night. He made some good points, so I started doing research (like how it would be a bad idea to order from Rick's plug).



I had no idea that shaving was this...umm...hobbyistic? Like many, shaving to me is a boring task akin to dishwashing and sweeping. I have been using a Mach 3 for decades, and recently converted to DSC to save money. Really didn't like their razors though.



I am at a point in my life where I have figured that I would rather spend money now to save it over the long run. I am still using my cross pen I bought in the early 90's. Yes, 25$ is a lot for a pen, but I haven't had to buy another one since, and it is a fantastic pen.



Fast-forward and cliffnotes, I ended up buying the Parker 96R? set on amazon (with brush and stand). I bought a blade assortment, a 4 pack of those Col. Somebody discs, and a wood bowl/cover. The parker/stand/brush is the same I would spend on a year of DSC cartridges. The soap discs are about 2 years of canned cream costs. The assortment of blades are another 4 months of DSC, but with a year or two of better blades, etc....already justifying the purchase.



I know many here are in to this as a hardcore hobby, whereas I'm just looking for a quality experience without getting to crazy with it, saving money all the while. My stuff arrives, really looking forward to giving it a try.



I have some questions to pose that I haven't seen in my sparse viewing of intro videos, but I will pose those at a later time.



So, thanks Rick for getting me started, too bad I'm not spending 35$ on your 3$ eBay razor.

Pomade mini PIF!

I am clearing out my superfluous pomades to your advantage! I have three "hard" pomades, all petroleum based, that are too difficult to work into my fine hair, so I do not use them.



DAX wave and groom

Murray's Superior

Schmeire "knuppelhart"


These are all heavy/hard petroleum pomades that do not add a lot of shine, but they do have a lot of hold! These have all been used, but only after showering with clean hands.



I will leave this open till next week and use a random number generator to choose the winner! This will be for continental US only (apologies to our over seas brethren). Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!



Regards,

-Mark

Artisan Soap Review: Free Spirit Farm's Shaving Soap

Hey Folks,



I like to support local businesses and craftsmen/women when I can so after seeing that many local soap works produce shave soaps, which they claim rave reviews of, I've decided to sample a few of them and write reviews. Over the coming months I hope to try most of the locally available soaps, as well as some other Canadian artisan soaps I can get my hands on.



First up to bat is Free Spirit Farm's Shaving Soap (http://ift.tt/1gV4wu8).



Test Conditions: 2 days beard growth, 40's Style Superspeed + Wilkinson Sword (2nd shave). Vulfix Pure Badger brush [can't remember model number after all these years]. Shower followed by hot towel as prep.



Presentation and Format: 4oz/114g bar, almost cube shaped, off yellow and quintessentially soap coloured. This bar could easily be used as a shave stick, but apparently it is intended to be a mug soap. Very homemade looking label (who cares though), and apparently biodegradable plastic wrap. If I were to continue using this soap I would either use it as a shave stick, or grate it into a bowl, I did not find the current shape conducive to brush loading. Price was a typical of local soaps $5 a bar.



Ingredients (from packaging): Olive Oil, Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Lye, Castor Oil, Cocoa Butter, Cedrus Deodora (cedarwood) oil, Peppermint oil, French Green Clay, Rhassoul Clay.



Aroma: Pre-lather it smells strongly of fresh cut cedar bows, which I loved and was the primary reason I purchased this soap, very strong but not overpowering. Once lathered the peppermint takes over, again strong but not overpowering; however, I found it far less pleasant than the initial cedar smell, much more medicinal, almost chemical and somewhat off putting. That said the smell wasn't so bad as to prevent me from using it, other may enjoy it more than I did.



Latherability: Despite awkward format, it loaded my brush surprisingly easily. I bowl lathered, it took a bit more work than usual to get it to start lathering, but took off without too much trouble. Lather was somewhat on the light and airy side, though felt adequately slick on my fingers.



The Shave: There is no other way to put this...this was the single worst shave I've ever had. The razor did not travel comfortably over my skin, the lather provided little to no lubrication for the blade, and dried out quickly. By the time I was half way though my WTG pass on my neck I had to abort due to a distinct burning sensation on the skin I had just shaved. I immediately jumped back in the shower to rinse off again.



Aftermath: My neck burned for the remainder of the day, and apparently the half of my neck I managed to shave was distinctly purple for several hours afterwards. The skin on my face fared better, though is quite dry now. 1 day later I can hardly tell the difference (stubble wise) between the now 3-day growth parts of my face and the 1-day growth parts of my face.



Verdict: Would not recommend. I don't think I'm particularly sensitive to one of the ingredients as the portion of my neck that I lathered but did not shave seems fine. I suspect the cedar/peppermint oil simply aggravated irritation from the lack of lubrication.



I will gladly PIF this bar to any masochist who wants to try it :lol: (on condition they provide a subsequent review as well).



Next up will be Osha Mae Castor Oil Shave Soap (http://ift.tt/1ghNDE0), date TBD once my neck heals.

does anyone use a shaving scuttle cup ?

I just ordered one because I needed a mug anyway... $71 dollars later. Hope this is as exciting as I think it's gonna be.

Durham Art Deco

Hi All, I just received a Durham Art Deco razor and have a really newb question - how does one get the cap off without losing too much skin from one's fingers? :confused1



Sorry - at work, so no photos, yet.

Order of Use

So I ordered a variety pack off of amazon for my entry into DE shaving. These are the blades that were included. What order should I use them in? I used the Derby and it did okay. I know many of the top brands are not included but I will get there. Thanks for all of the help.



Here they are:

1 FEATHER Hi-Stainless (Japan)

1 GOAL (India)

1 TREET Platinum (Pakistan)

1 DERBY (Turkey)

1 MERKUR Stainless (Germany)

1 SUPER-MAX Platinum (India)

1 SUPER-MAX Stainless (India)

1 TRIG Silver Edge Stainless (Pakistan) 1 ASTRA Superior Stainless (Russia)

1 ASTRA Superior Platinum (Russia)

1 NACET Platinum (Russia)

1 NACET Stainless (Russia)

1 BIC Chrome Platinum (Greece)

2 7 O'clock Super Stainless (Russia)

2 BLUEBIRD (Europe)

Nice 1st lather with my new Omega 10086 "Bigger Bambino"

Just got the brush in the mail today and decided to start breaking it in. Used a puck of Williams and it took about 45 seconds to whip up a nice lather. Hardy little guy! Looking forward to tomorrow's shave.



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SaskShaverNRB's Entry to the Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame Entry

What is your real name?

Noah Roland Biegler

What are your nicknames/aliases?

BIEGS

Where do you live?

Regina Saskatchewan Canada

What is your age (or) generation?

17

What are you in the real world?

Aspiring Woodworker Guitarist And Photographer

What is your favorite shave setup?

1959 Gillette Flare tip With A Astra Or Derby

What are your hobbies and favorite activities?

Woodworking Guitar And Photography

What else should the members of B&B know about you?

Im A Huge History Buff

Romatic comedies .why don't they make as many as they used to

I'm a fan of romantic comedies. I find some of the old ones from the 1930's such as Libeled Lady...starring Myrna Loy and William Powell....and The Awful Truth....starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne are wonderfully written, well cast and that the lead characters have a rare screen commodity....chemistry.



However we don't see that kind of movie....made much anymore. Now I will admit there have been a couple of modern romantic comedies, that in my august opinion are close....very close to the quality of the previously mentioned 1930's movies.



They are As Good as it Gets....and You've got Mail. Think both of them may have had the hand of Nora Ephron involved and she was a rare talent.



Two questions .



Why do quality romantic comedies such as these four...seem to be rarely made ?



Am I missing any excellent romantic comedies made since 2000 ?





P.S....Jim...I hope this thread goes better than my last movie thread. I took your advice. :001_smile

I'm done! No, really I'm done.right?

The thread a few days ago pertaining to "Who has the most stuff" got me thinking......am I headed down that path?



Today, two more boxes of shaving items showed up on my porch. Small boxes, but boxes none the less. Now, compared to that fella's den and plenty other guys on this forum I have......wait for it.....a mere travel kit. But, before I found this hangout I was happy with what I had. It basiaclly started when Wal-Mart stopped carrying Wilkinson Sword blades. I went online to see where I could get some and then this place happened.



So my timeline is roughly as follows.



From 10 or so years BBB (Before Badger & Blade) my den was:

2 DE razors (EJ DE87 and Merkur 45 travel razor)

1 type of blade (WS)

1 brush (VDH came with starter kit)

1 bowel (VDH came with starter kit)

1 soap (Williams)

1 after shave (Mennen Skin Bracer)



Since January ABB (After Badger & Blade) 2014 my den has grown to include the above PLUS:

1 OC DE razor (RazoRock Jaws)

8 different razor blade brands (Astra SP, Personna Red, Feather, Lord, Crystal, Dorco, Derby and Voskhod)

2 brushes (Semogue 620 & Omega 10086)

2 soaps (Arko & Palmolive)

2 creams (Speick & Real Shaving CO.)

4 after shaves (Pinaud VIBR, Pinaud Clubman, Thayers witch hazel w/aloe vera and Razorock lime)



I did buy 100 each of the Astra and Personna blades and the others were just from sample packs or one-off buys.



I do have to say I've not been disappointed by any product I've read about here save some of the blade brands. But that, I'm convinced, has more to do with razor to blade compatibility than anything else.



So, I'm done. No more. Going to use up what I have software wise and I'm happy with the hardware I have. Getting DFS to BBS most days.



Now......about these slants I keep reading about.....and is MWF that good? Personna med prep eh? Speick makes an after shave too? I wonder what a badger brush would feel like.............SOMEBODY BLOCK THIS SITE ON MY COMPUTER!!!!!!



:scared:

Knot too large?

What is the minimum amount of space around the knot I should leave for swelling? I usually try to leave 2mm. But I have a handle with a 28.5 mm hole and I want to try to shove a 28 mm TGN into it. TGN says the plug size is 27 to 27.5 mm. Does that leave enough space? Thoughts?

A package today means a great shave tomorrow!

I finally made the plunge into wet shaving. I had been using Tabac soap and a generic boar hair brush with a disposable for a while now. Yet, I have been wanting more. So, with the help of the members of Badger and Blade I made my first true wet shave purchase from The Italian Barber. The package arrived today so hopefully I will have a great shave tomorrow. My first order consisted of:



RazoRock Mission DE razor

Omega 10049 brush

Omega 10086

RazoRock "La Famiglia" shave soap and aftershave balm

Shavex Alum Block

Stypic Pencil



A sample pack of blades including:

Astra SP

Rapira Stainless

Rapira Platinum

Voskhod Teflon



Just wanted to say thanks for everyone's posts that have really helped me out. I would like to ask two questions.

Any last minute first shave advice?

I usually shave up my neck ATG with a single blade disposable. This is gives me far less irritation than WTG down my neck. Should I stick with this or go WTG as recommended for my first DE shave?



Again, thanks for the help members.



Josh

Made a new stand that I had to share

I enjoy woodworking and design and have gotten into a stand kick. The supports for the brush are extended with a taper so that it will hold large brush handles and small alike. The stand is finished in Tung oil to add protection from water and to pop the grain.

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Help in Identifying Straight Razor Gift

Last week I mentioned to my father that I have been shaving with a DE Safety Razor. My father's response was that he didn't think they even made safety razors anymore, so I proceeded to show him my collection of goodies. He said that he has something for me that I might like, but he didn't tell me what it was.



This weekend when I was at my folks place he gave me a straight razor that had been owned by his grandfather (my great-grandfather) Giovanni, passed down to my grandfather Pasquale, and then to my father, who has now passed it down to me. I don't know anything about straight razors so any help you can offer regarding it would be greatly appreciated.



The box states: E. A. Joseph, High Grade Steel, Bayonne, N.J. Made in Germany.

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Some background: My father said that his great-grandfather died in the 40's, so it is highly unlikely that this razor was imported from Germany any time after say 1939. Therefore it is probably from the 30's or 20's if not older. The handle feels like plastic, but I'm pretty sure it's ivory or some other material.



The Handle says "Washington".



The blade says "E. S. Joseph / High Grade Steel / Bayonne N.J. 5/8" on one side



and "Washington / Made in Solingen-Germany" on the other side.



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I know next to nothing about straight razors. Any help would be appreciated. Manufacturer? What is it worth? Can it be salvaged and used (by me)? What needs to be done to get it in shape? Just sharpening (honing)?



Thanks!

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Better alternaive to Pinaud Clubman

So here's my conundrum. I LOVE the smell of Pinaud Clubman, but when I wear it, it makes my fiancée's eyes water. I figure there is something in this cheap juice she's allergic to, so I wear it very seldom.



I'm wondering wether anyone can recommend a higher quality alternative with a similar scent. I'm hoping I can get that barber shop smell without causing my sweetie any distress, and thinking maybe a higher quality AS might do the trick.

Some of my photos

Hi everyone. Thought I'd post some of my photos. Comments are always welcome. All were taken on an Olympus Micro 4/3 system, mostly an E-P1. All are HDR. Thanks for looking.



1. Marietta National Cemetery





2. Old Car City, White, GA





3. Little River Falls, AL





4. Fog on the Kentucky River





5. Churchill Downs Paddock





6. Lough Inagh, Ireland





7. St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh





8. Loch Ness





9. Morning Mist, Lake Martin, AL





10. Sunrise, Blue Ridge Pkwy





If you're interested, more can be seen at: http://ift.tt/1mqnfND

The NEED for a good brush? Kent P4

Hey all,

I'm new to DE shaving and loving it!

Unfortunately I am already realising the need for a decent brush. Having bought a cheap boar brush and Arko soap stick from amazon I have found that the brush is quite harsh on the face especially as I am applying onto the face straight away. I am aware that brushes soften over time but this one is just a cheap brush and so I do not expect any drastic changes to it.

I have had my eye on a Kent P4 shaving brush recently but have been unable to find any decent information on it. The thing doesnt seem to exist apart from on one SOLD thread years ago... If anyone could shed the light on this brush/the price I should expect to pay for it and its performance I would greatly appreciate it.

Gillette NEW vs Ikon Deluxe OC

I picked up a New LC about a week ago and have been using the head on a Ikon 3 in handle. I've not wanted to shave with my Tech or DE86 since and will pick up a NEW SC hopefully soon. It still a relative newbie DE shaving for a few mo's, but I've really taken to the OC. Not giving up on my other razors but I could tell the first time I shaved with the NEW that I was going to like OC's.



I have a birthday coming up and an itch for a SS razor and was wondering how the Ikon Deluxe OC compares to the NEW.



I've read it's a little more aggressive but is it a big jump from the NEW?

Should I get a Merkur Slant Bar?

I just did a bit of google searching on DE razors that work well for tough beard hairs and the Merkur Slant Bar seems to come highly recommended. The only problem is that it sounds incredibly aggressive and dangerous in unskilled hands with its angled blade capable of taking off skin like a bacon slicer.



I've only been DE wet shaving for 3 months and my Merkur Classic 33C is nice enough but really struggles to cut my adamantium beard and deliver a close shave especially on the neck. I often find I need to go over the same area more times than my skin can handle (or apply more pressure than I should) to achieve a decent result.



I'm fairly confident in my technique and steady hand so is the slant bar something I should be considering or am I walking into a world of hurt?

Floid Black: It's pretty awesome!

My wife and I are 32, and she just doesn't care for the scent of most "legendary" aftershaves, such as Old Spice, Clubman, Speick, etc. She much prefers more "modern" fragrances. Well it just so happens that I was in the process of ordering some new splashes a few weeks ago, so I added a bottle of Floid Black to my shopping cart. The reviews I could find were mixed as far as scent goes, and probably leaned toward the "this smells horrible" side. But I took a gamble, and I'm glad I did.



I am not good at describing scents, so take this with a grain of salt and don't let my horrible description deter you from trying it. Like some have said, it has a fairly "sweet" and "fruity" scent in the bottle, but it mellows out as soon as I splash it on and develops into what I think is a wonderful fragrance. The fruity side of the scent brings to mind a candied fruit cocktail, if there is such a thing. Now I know you're probably thinking "who would want to smell like a candied fruit cocktail," but I told you I'm not good at describing scents; I promise it's not as bad as it sounds. On the other hand, there is something else that balances it out quite nicely, and I don't know how to describe it other than manliness. If you're into fragrances, I would say it's like Creed Aventus in that it has "fruity" or "sweet" notes to it, but it is overall a very classy, manly scent. I read a few comments that compared it to Axe or other modern "fresh" fragrances, but I cannot disagree more. It doesn't smell like any Axe that I've ever smelled. I would say it's a middle-of-the-road fragrance; it's modern enough that you won't smell like an old man, yet classy enough that you won't smell like horny teenager. It is not subtle, however, so it's definitely one of those "a dab will do ya" situations. And the scent lasts for a solid two to three hours on me. The best part though is that I finally found an aftershave scent that my wife and I both like.



Better yet, it is an amazing performer. My other two favorite aftershaves (so far) are probably Speick and Myrsol Agua Balsamica. I would put the Floid Black somewhere between those two in terms of performance, which says a lot. There's a healthy enough alcohol sting to let you know it's there, but it's not too much. It also has a rich, long lasting moisturizing effect, much like Speick. In fact, it left my face feeling so smooth and moisturized my wife thought I had used some kind of balm or lotion. Heck, had I not applied it myself, I probably would have though I had used a balm. I've been using it for about two weeks now and I am still fascinated every time I use it. Needless to say, Floid Black has quickly risen to the top of my favorites list. So if your looking for a non-old man aftershave, I would highly recommend you try it. Actually, given the performance, I'd recommend it regardless of the scent.

Super Stainless Gillette Blue Blades?

So I was looking through Taobao (ebay equivalent of China) and came across this:

T10_RxFpxkXXXXXXXX_!!0-item_pic.jpg



They sell it really cheap there. So I was wondering if anybody have tried this and if its any good?

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Blades Grim Soaps. Yet another entry worth having

Of late, The Blades Grim seems to be on the threshold of becoming perhaps one of the more significant players in the wide world of wet-shaving. Luke has taken a firm grip on the reins and jumped into the thick of the razor making melee, only to come out with blades which are getting some damn fine reviews. What follows?? A line of shave soaps which I say is on par with many of the huge names out there and in fact, surpasses a lot well regarded soaps I have tried; many of those considered as Blue-Chip, Gold Standard, Bellwether products of their type (I'll let you figure out exactly which ones).



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One can merely wonder....when will we be seeing "Brushes Grim"??

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Saved a rough shave this morning!

I broke out my Schick Krona today, which I haven't used in about 6 weeks. My go to razor has been my Merkur 1904. First pass was OK, second started to feel irritated, which never happened with the Krona before, weepers everywhere as well! Switched to the 1904 for the 3rd pass and finished with a very nice, near BBS shave.



So, was the rough shave just due to my not using the Krona for a while, since it probably needs a different technique than the 1904 and I just need to get used to it again? Or, have I just fallen out of love with it? I have noticed I prefer the 1904, possibly because I have a heavy beard, and the OC makes it a better shave for me.



Opinions?

First straight. what you guys think?

hey there. im new to the forum. second post. i have been looking at and reading all about DE and straight razors. i am currently overseas so i have ordered a DE merkur 34c and a thiers issard. so i havent seen or used them yet. the wait is killing me. i do plan on using both. taking my time with them of course. well im curious if anybody has some input on the straight razor i ordered. thanks ahead of time.





http://ift.tt/1rXgpTJ

My Dad PIF

My older brother is in trouble with his health. This has gotten me thinking about his step-dad...My Dad. He loved my father as if he were his own.



My Dad always used a Schick single blade...I think it was a G, but I always get so darned confused on those. I have more than a few G's. I use them for touch up, and I keep them around to remember my father.



So, this simple PIF is a Schick G, a gift from a co-worker...it cleaned up really well after Barbicide and Scrubbin' Bubbles. And a 7-pack of Schick blades. BTW, Amazon has an incredible deal right now...under $8 for 21 blades.



Tell me good things about your Dad. My father was a gentle, gentleman. He was an engineer. As a kid, under 5 years, I remember a cold winter night, holding his big hand with my little one, the wind was blowing hard, and he smelled like clean sweat, and cigarettes. We had gone out for "something" on Christmas Eve, and Santa had come whilst I was gone.



My dad always wore a brown fedora, work boots, and khaki's: shirt and pants, heavily starched...they still had the crease in the pants when he came home. He loved my mother.



CONUS and OUTUS.



I will choose the winner by random.com at the end of the PIF. Let's give it time for my return from visiting my brother, and before my next assignment, bodyguard to Michael Moorcock.



So, PIF ends Sunday, April 13, High Noon, thank you Mr. Gary Cooper.

Dry skin after shaving.

I'm just started using the noxzema deep cleansing cream with my shaves. I have been applying it to my face and then putting my lather over it and then shaving. I do this for each pass. The razor burn and irritation has really went down with this method, but about an hour after my shave my skin on my cheeks, lips, and chin is really dry and flaky. I'm currently using tobs sandalwood aftershave. Should I switch to a balm? Or is there something else I can do to remedy this?

Horn problems

Lately I tried to make scales using horn plates. Problem is, that two times already, while thinning out the plates, large horizontal cracks appeared, that were not apparent at beginning and that were separating layers of the plates from each other rendering the material unusable. The last time this happend I was almost finished and I had to toss the thing after nearly an hour of cutting and sanding. Is it the poor quality of the raw material I have or is it something you have to live with when using horn for making scales?

New shave video : Black Beauty and Mike's Natural Soap.

Here is my latest video. Sorry it's pretty quiet, just got a gopro and it doesn't seem to pick up much for sound in it housing. Will have to play around with that.

Replating - My 4 favorite razors are going across the pond

Since there are regular threads that pop up regarding "which replater to use", I thought I'd post this. In short, I'm putting my money where my mouth is.



My 4 favorite razors (Fatboy, Slim, Gem Junior with art deco ornate handle, and a Canadian 1932 triangular slotted Tech head with an English spiraled travel Tech handle) are heading to onotoman/RestoredRazors as I type. Gold, gold, gold, and, for the fourth . . . oh yeah, gold. :001_tongu



I was planning on taking "before pics" to compare with the after ones, but since I wanted to get them shipped out I skipped that step.



Here's hoping that British Mail doesn't muck things up. I actually didn't insure them, as with any insurance the price was $100+ which is pushing into "razor replacement cost" territory. I'm hoping that I don't regret that . . . Actually, now that I think about it, I probably should have gone for FedEx. I think that things will be ok, though. Hopefully!



In the meantime, I get to pick from my backup Slim/Tech and a few others. It's going to be a long month or two (or three?) . . .



Fortunately, I have 2 boxes of Girl Scout cookies (mint and shortbread) to assuage my temporary loss. I also need to get a box of the peanut butter/chocolate ones . . .

Suckered twice or I am color blind?

Recently on two ebay bids i received items that did not look at all like what was pictured.



The first one looked like a gold tone superspeed and the reply i got from the seller was:



"I don't understand what you see as a problem as the pictures that you took and sent with your message are displayed right along side of my main picture and they look identical in color. I have looked at the pictures on my listing and the only problem that I could see was that the close ups of the Gillette logo on the head are a little off in color for some reason but the entire razor is silver in color like the two pictures of the entire razor. Angle of light and background reflections make taking pictures of silver items tricky. If it had been gold tone we would have stated that in our description as they are kind of rare. Hope this answers your question"



$_12.JPGPhoto of item.jpgWhat Was received.jpg





The second one i did not even bother contacting the seller



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Though buyer beware is the motto when buying online. i thought this was particularly dishonest where sellers put caveats like "ask questions before buying" "pictures are a part of the description" "sold as is with no returns" while at the same time putting up patently misleading pictures.



Having vented, this makes me feel good!!

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A little love for the Speick

Haven't seen anyone speaking of the Speick lately and just curious if people have lost their love for it or just not talking about it? I love it and naturally follow it with the A/S and edt for the full effect. Great soap, very easy to make a great lather, and it has that great smell. Did I mention that I love my Speick?



edited to say that I actually grate mine into a tin for loading

Definitions for newbies

I have figured out WTG is with the grain, XTG is across the grain, and ATG is against the grain, I have assumed that BBS is Baby Butt Smooth what are some other abbreviations and their meanings? I have been reaading as much as possible lately and some of them just have me stumped. I was on a thread earlier and they kept mentioning the BST and it took me more time than I like to admit to figure out it is the Buy Sell Trade section. If you can think of any please post them for those of us that aren't in the know.:001_unsur

First shave with my son!

A few months ago, my son talked me into losing the cartridges and getting started wet shaving outside of the shower. I had an old Gillette DE but quickly fell for the straight razor lure and bit hard! Bought a couple of razors and we are learning the care and feeding of these delightful instruments! So many wonderful fragrances and conditioning products from which to choose! I like the challenge of honing, stropping and putting that great edge on my razors. This "first shave" with my son was a real treat for both of us! We are learning so much by reading your excellent posts and are glad to be a part of this fine community!

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Slightly less aggressive than an R41?

Hello all,



I'm looking to buy a new razor, something more aggressive/efficient than my 33c. I was leaning towards a Sabi T1/T2. What are your guys recommendations for something around that price point($25)?

Shavecraft 101: Mild or Aggressive?

Hey everyone, so the title says it all! I've read reviews about this razor and I have to say I'm intrigued. I would like to get people's opinion on where it stands compared to other razors, such as R41 or DE89 in terms of how efficient it is at shaving stubbles while being smooth. Thanks!

Whats your preference? Hard of soft soaps?

Hard soaps like MWF or soft soaps like Cella?

Yes or no???

I was debating on purchasing the Omega silver tip barber pole brush. Would you guys think this is a smart move or should I only stick to boars with Omega?

OH Mystic Waters... How I misjudged you

To make a long story short....



I bought Mystic Water Bay Rum two months into my wetshaving journey and failed miserably at making what I thought was a good lather. The lather just kept disappearing and being the shallow young man I was, I thought what is this ugly looking lather on my face? I can't use this! Off with this junk!



Fast forward to a week ago. My friends on here and TSN keep using and regarding it as the best. Fine! I said. Round two.



Excitedly, I ordered my second puck and went with Jeff's Lavender. Again... Michelle's scents are the best I've encountered. You can't dispute it. YMMV on scents? I say NAY. Perfection :)



Ok so I soak the puck, brush and go about my routine. Load heavily. Go to face lather and struggle. Hey... At least i tried. I go ahead and shave anyway with a super thin looking watery lather. My aesthetic desires were set aside. Low and behold, my shave was...



Outstanding. The slickness and glide? Unparalleled. Protective? Yes! I feel like I discovered one of the great secrets that most wetshavers don't uncover.



Fully satisfied with my irritation free and effortless shave, I rinse off and apply some AS.



WOW. I always thought MWF, LPL, and others had great post shave. Honestly, nothing has ever left me so feeling so great. It's difficult to describe but my face for the past two days has felt this sensation of ultra hydration. For a good hour after the shave, my face felt like it still had a layer of cool water over it yet dry to the touch.



All I have to say is: Michelle I am sorry! I have been one of those who proclaimed MW doesn't work for me. It's a polarizing soap. You either love or you hate it.



For those of you who have "failed" at making lather with Mystic Waters soap, you may be surprised at how incredible it performs even with a poor, wet looking lather. Unreal. With time, I'm sure I'll figure out how to make it appear like a rich yogurt like cream that I usually get but ultimately.. I don't care!!!



End rant.

clear sac?

Does anyone make a clear sac? I want to Nemo hack a Kaweco, but use something clear so it looks semi ED'd. Anything out there?

Just got my first Clubman and VIBR and.

Background I'm 35, enjoy AV Ice Sport and Proraso Splash and in general more modern smelling scents. Just received these two heralded aftershaves for the first time. So I immediately open both bottles to take a whiff and ...... Wow i'm not sure about these fragrances. They are very very different than what I'm used to. Clubman smells weird right now hard to explain, , made me a bit queasy. Smelled like going into a casino in old Vegas or some 50s restored car. VIBR smells like dr pepper with some rum.



Not sure if I could take the plunge and use these. Guys help me out here, or just tell me I'm an idiot.

WTB: Gillette Super Adjustable (AKA Black Beauty)

Looking to buy a Super Adjustable, short or long handle, preferably metal base plate, and in decent condition (good shaving order) with no deep scratches or pitting, plating loss is fine. Payment via Payapal.



PM me with offers,



Thanks.

First shave with Le Coq

Wish me luck. All ready to go for the AM, loaded up with a 7:00 Sharp Edge...

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I have narrowed it down to three.Help me pick!

Mostly face but some bowl lathering. Soap and creams.

Long time lurker, first time poster

To be honest, I thought I made an account years ago. After my dad switched back to a safety razor, I got curious and found B&B, bought a 60s Gillette on ebay, and I've been enjoying a proper shave for the last two years or so.

Incidentally, this forum got me interested in fountain pens around the same time and I've been quite active on FPN.

Anyone going to the Atlanta Pen Show? If you're staying at the hotel, how are you packing your dopp kit? I live in Decatur, so I'm carpooling with a few buddies.

Best,

Tom

spotting a sextoblade help

I'm curious in trying a shavette and have settled on a Week sextoblade. I've seen some wecks posted around on some sites but they are just listed as Wecks. How can I make sure it is a Sextoblade and not another model? What are the lengths im looking for. Also been reading that there are 2 open comb guards, one you can have with and one you can't, once again how to spot them. Thanks

Synthetic Brushes Test Lather

I had some free time today and was able to get some test lathers done with my synthetic brushes today. I was amazed and how much lather they produced with the amount of soap/cream that was used compared to my only other brush which is the VdH boar brush from the VdH premium set. Here are some pics from todays lathers.



Muhle 23mm STF v2

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Muhle 25mm STF v2

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Lavender?

So, I went to a local health foods store and was looking in the organic health and beauty section, and couldn't help but notice a lot of these products such as lotions and moisturizers were a great deal cheaper than so called specialized shaving products. I picked up a tube of organic lotion with aloe and lavender as the first 2 ingredients for $8.99, with no fillers,and got rave reviews on Amazon. Is there really that big of a difference? Are we being taken?

Just figured out I can buy proraso green at the mall

Whadaya know??? The wife dragged me into bath & bodyworks (or was it the other way around..lol) and I was checking out the men's section and was looking at the C.O Bigelow cream and read that it was made by proraso. So I kinda figured it must be proraso green which I was getting ready to order onlince. Instead i bought some in the mall! Now I wish they had a C.O Bigelow splash that is re-branded proraso and all the other colors would be cool.



I am sure many of you guys already know this, but for those who don't and would like to buy some proraso green cream at a local brick and mortar, go to your local mall and grab some. It's $5 for a small tube.

Maverick ET732 and a set of "Man Claws" $38 on Amazon

Stolen from Slickdeals.



Use code KYRM97NI at checkout for $7 off. Best price I've ever seen.


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Brush upgrade

So i'm thinking about new brush. So far i have Omega 10051. It's a nice brush, but i want convert myself to face lathering, and my Omega just feels too scritchy for me. I tried once and got burning sensation on my face. So i decide i just don't really need or like all that exfoliation from brush, and want something pillow soft and comfortable on my face. I think about HJM black fibre V2 synthetic brush. :001_rolle But since whenever someone says "face lathering", everybody say boar, backbone ect. I just want to ask. Are these things really necessary to get good lather, or it's just some kind of what most peoples like? From what i saw and read, i think this HJM brush should perform with no problems face lathering, but since it's not what most peoples here prefer for that task, i just want to know why? :001_smile

Pelican found

I found this Pelican in a store near me.

What is it ? Should I get it ?

It is used. So is 120 euro = 165.03 $ a fair price ?



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So far I have only bought cheep fountain pen's like the Lamy safari.

I do like the green pelican on the top of the cap, and as we all know that is how one picks a pen.

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I want to try a boar brush

I want to try a boar brush. The EJ best badger I have is good for mixing lather, but I feel I need something with a better backbone to do a better job on lifting the hairs. I was looking at the Semogue 1800 or 830, or the Omega 31064. Any comments on these, or any other suggestions??:confused1

Rooney style 1 size 2 black

$90 shipped conus non shedder used just a few times and comes with original box.

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Let's see those coffee pots

I know I'm not the only one with CPAD. I have more than a few. This is my workhorse a Bodum 12 cup. uploadfromtaptalk1396190208245.jpg

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2 day BBS shave with a Derby

Yes you read the title correctly.



I shaved last night after showering with a Derby (shave #2 on it) in my Vision 2000 and this morning I'm still BBS with no whiskers to be found anywhere.



This might be the last time I use a Derby blade as I can't shave if there are no whiskers to shave so today will be the first day in a LONG time that I have NOT had to shave :sad: