Great shave kit and terrific photo, as usual, Blair. ’ve always admired the wrapping job you did on your DX. Did you waterproof the leather cord? Any recommendations?
Thanks for the compliments Jeff! On the DX, that was a tough one. ~5 tries to get it right. It is 1.5mm round leather cord, from Amazon. No waterproofing (it is already coated/burnished). The tough part is the loose ends, making the first end stay in place while wrapping, then keeping the wrap tight while threading the loose end back under the entire wrapping, and alongside the first end (that was covered up). I used a large leather needle, needle nose pliers, GEM blade (to cut the loose ends in between the wrapping). I'll get some better images for you soon. I've wrapped two other kamisoris, I'll get images also. Those I used 3mm & 4mm flat deerskin lacing. I laced those like you'd do a marching band drumstick, which is also the same overlap bar wrapping technique used on drop bar road bicycles (lots of video's on YT of this). Supremely easier than what I did on the DX, I just tied off the ends and let them be ornamental lengths that don't get in the way while shaving.
Karl, that’s the stuff I shave with 95% of the time. Great stuff! Some impatient souls have issues lathering it. It is a very thirsty soap, but the skin benefits with extended use are awesome! Disappearing weepers, and great post shave skin tone. It does take some time to build a lather. Which some of our younger members are unwilling to spend the time to do!
I have two vintage tamahagane Kamisori razors on the way to me. I’m planning on doing a wrap on the one without a handle. I’ll keep you posted.
Fine shave with the ever loud and noisy Leader. Nothing but smooth skin left behind Hot water preparation Argan Oil PSO Romera Wengue Chubby Manchurian Badger Baume.be Shaving Cream FW Engels Leader 13/16 Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Happy shaving - Karl
SOTD MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY 10, 2022 RAZOR: Klas Tornblom 4/8 (Mug), Eclipse Red Ring (Dome) BLADE: Feather DE (Dome) PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a heavy scrub with Argan Oil BRUSH: JT Cashmere Knot (me likee) CREAM: Castle Forbes Lavender POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by a rinse with Humphreys WH. Finished with Ethos Lavender Surpreme Splash
That is one sweet-looking straight, Hans! I shaved with my Genco 35 this morning. Geneva changed their name to Genco following their move from Geneva New York where they had their start to Bradford, Pa. which was closer to Pittsburgh, thus lowering their steel materials cost. Great shave kit this morning!
SOTD TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 11, 2022 RAZOR: Genco 35 5/8 (Mug), Barbasol Floating Head (Dome) BLADE: Feather DE (Dome) PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a heavy scrub with Argan Oil BRUSH: Rooney Ebony Pure Badger SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by a rinse with Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Cremo Cooling Post Shave Balm.
Yesterday, the Rifuto, soap was 3P lathered with an Omega boar, and a little ABC almond balm was the perfect compliment. Today, an I.Z.S. by Ilzuka Co, a name knofe people will recognize. Iizuka san worked with Iwasaki and Tanifuji before starting up his own forge, Shigefusa Hamono. I’m assuming that this is the same gentleman. Soap was Floris Elite lathered with a Duke 3 copy in two-band by Scott Lockwood, and a little Floris Elite AS finished up.
No they’re not Jeff, they’re mid-1960s razors. You can still get a Shigefusa kitchen knife if you’re incredibly lucky, but he does not make razors anymore AFAIK. Boy I wish!
SOTD WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 12, 2022 RAZOR: Frederick Reynolds 9/16 Rattler Grind (Mug), Barbasol Floating Head (Dome) BLADE: Feather DE ( Dome) PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a heavy scrub with Argan Oil BRUSH: Rearden Razor 316L SS Handled Tuxedo Synth SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by a rinse with Humphreys WH. Finished with Cremo Cooling Post Shave Balm and Canoe Original EdT.
They are not marked as such Jeff, and I know very little about the Iizuka. There’s some speculation that Prefect Works (the Rifuto 815 and several others) had a connection to Tanifuji but that connection, if any, is not widely accepted. I’m trying to find out more but doubt that I will succeed.
I have a nagamasa tamahagane vintage Kamisori arriving today, Steve! Have you ever honed tamahagane steel? I understand it can be quite an undertaking! We’ll see!
