Pomegranate actually. I had one small nick on my cheek due to the fact I used Stirling Glacial Lemon soap and didn't think about the fact it makes my eyes water, so I lost focus for a second.
Ok, I realized I had a de I didn't care about. So I made one. Here it is. My results so far are two small nicks, largely no irritation, although the upper lip is worse than it's ever been in terms of stubble clearing. The shaves I get with bar or comb razors are superior for the upper lip. The chin wasn't as hard to navigate as I suspected it might be. Tldr; it can be done, it can give good results, bars still allow lather to reach the blade and it's a combination of tools and technique that lead to good results- choose the right tool for the job. It completely violates the intended geometry for shaving angle that razor makers intend- and that's ok, if it works for you. Sent from my mobile device
Follow up to follow up. I was rubbing my face and still feeling stubble. It was passable but not the best shave ever. So, having done the test, I grabbed my wolfman (tools. It and the baby smooth work the best for me, followed by old type on a shim) and did one more pass. I could hear hair being cut, and now have a proper, worthy shave. Think I'll stick with the tools I know work well. Sent from my mobile device
Shimming a razor violates the intended geometry.... Just giving you a hard time for fun. Did you do a full straight shave skin stretch routine? Do you have solid straight razor experience?
You're not wrong... except, the carbon steel blades manufactured at the time of the OLD type were twice as thick as today's thin blades. The THIN blade was invented in 1938, contemporary with the Tech. By shimming the OLD type, I'm just getting a modern blade back to the thickness and geometry that the razor maker designed it for, which is why it's so much better on the shim. I'm concerned that the skin stretch and shaving in this manner will lead to increased ingrowns. I have no straight experience, solid or otherwise. I feel like I did pretty ok, for a first go without the bar. I think the tool I altered is somewhat suspect - it was a low quality DE, and may not have curved the blade enough to give it stiffness. Anyway, I think I've given a decent amount of attention to this, both checking that the lather does reach the blade instead of the bar snowplowing it, and making and using a bar-less razor. No one can say I didn't try.
I am glad you tried and actually didn't realize that about the OLD and carbon blades. Using the DEvette configuration is definitely easier if you are a straight razor user. Skin stretching achieves the closeness you were missing. Glad you got through it unscathed. Edit: I doubt skin stretching will cause ingrown hair. My skin is prone to ingrown hair, and my face is in the best shape of my life since switching to full stretches with any razor.
the problem is with this whole devette thing... the modified razor doesn't provide proper blade support. Sadly to say. There is a fellow on a different forum who specialized in buying old gem and ever ready SE razors with damaged teeth, and cutting the inner ones out and making se vettes from them. As to riding the cap or the bar, read your original Tech boxes guys. it makes particular mention of the little grooves on the safety bar as being there to help keep the razor goig in a straight line. Words from the sage that say, RIDE THE BAR
When I was younger and with my Dad, old time barbers would say that the purpose of the comb or bar on a razor is to protect the face from exposure to the blade. The comb was replaced by a bar for ease of manufacture and cost. Also according to them, riding the cap is the way to shave with DE's and I agree with that.
My DEvette was a cut down 89clone. A high angle, ala ride the bar, would've been disastrous. The radial curves of a razor cap are what should be used to set the angle.