What did we learn from our last shaves?

That a Red Personna will never again go into my Slim adjustable..........ever....

 

I learned that with the right technique, modern Williams can lather maybe as well as vintage Williams...

 

I learned two things with my shave this morning:

1. Ladas blades can provide an excellent shave (my first time with Ladas) in a late 40's Super Speed.
2. My ceramic lather bowl can float in my hot water in the sink with the brush in it whilst I am shaving and it keeps my lather warm for pass 2 & 3!

 

What I learned today is that no matter how great your lather is, a drop of glycerin will always improve it

 

I learned that one really bad shave can be followed by a really great one if you just mix things up.

"Returned" to a SE razor today, an OC Micromatic, and it gave a fantastic shave.
Even the backbone-lacking Plisson brush performed so much better than my pesky Vie-Long brush.
I face lathered and it all came together beautifully.
The 3P soap is still one of the favorite soaps in my rotation and the Zirh Erase my new favorite A/S treatment/tonic.
It's good when things really do come together.

 

In my last shave...

I learned that I prefer the clean menthol of TSD Iced Subzero or Yeti Snot over the anise laced Glacial Obsidian.

 

By "the right technique", do you mean a 12hp orbital floor buffer??

 

And a clothespin for your nose.

 

I learnt that absence does make the heart grow fonder. For the past 5 shaves, I've been dialing in the Mongoose so today I picked up my King Cobra with custom UFO handle. It was like breaking the sound barrier with Charlotte McKinney in my lap. What a shave.

 

Lol nice illustration. Love it.

 

A Yuma cheapie, with good technique, can yield top 10 shave results. What a great shave.

 

After thinking about several elements of what makes a good shave (the journey is as important as the destination (... right?)), I may have to re-evaluate my whole collection. Yesterday I downgraded the Yuma. Today I reluctantly downgrade my Gillette FatBoy. <sigh>

The end was a 2 pass BBS(rf)**: first pass on 9 and second pass on 5. I just didn't enjoy the overall process as much as when using some of my other razors. If this is not a passing phase, I fear I may have to thin my herd!
**(rf=reasonable facsimile)

I don't see getting down to a single razor, but I really have to ask myself why would I choose a "low enjoyment" razor over a "high enjoyment" one? I would not consider dumping wholesale lots! I have experienced that thrill of re-discovering a razor that has been grazing on the south 40 for a month or three. ... but when you trot one out, like this morning's FatBoy, and the magic just isn't there...? Do you wait for the magic to return or accept it and soldier on?

I lament the passing of a shaving joy. I am glad when I focus on what has replaced it.

... and I have not decided what to do about my just-downgraded FatBoy!

 

As much as I want to love my NEW LC, it just can't compete with my Fatboy at 9. Even with 3 shims...

 

I've decided the Fatboy is my favorite razor now, so I could always use a backup if you decide to PIF.

 

It's a collector item so, don't move on from it. Keep it cuz once you don't have it anymore it's harder to get another for a lower price again.

 

I don't know if it is my particular FatBoy or if it is all of them... but.... (covering head in case I'm attacked) I think I get a better shave from a 1940's Super Speed.

 

Forget the shims.
Time to pick up a razor that goes beyond the wide-open 195 & an overly-shimmed LC....
No dialing nor shims necessary. Just proceed with caution.

 

What is that razor?

 

From Kevin? It has to be his coveted Muhle R41 2011 model! Right, Kev?

SO... is it more aggressive than the FaTip Grande? (<— One of my top 5!)

 

It's on the Christmas list (2013 Grande). If I don't get it, that's what I'm using any Christmas money to buy. I'm also sending the Fatboy over to Captain Murphy at B&B. He's gonna hook me up with some custom blade gaps so my 6 will be the same as a normal 9. He already did that to his own.