People don't understand the bowl. It was a hygienic measure. In a Barber Shop, the brush would never touch skin. Lather was made in a bowl and applied by hand to the client's face. Shave bowls were never intended for use outside a pro shop. Think about Williams "Mug" Soap, intended for a vessel that inhibits lather production. Face lathering is definitely the more efficient method, and in my opinion, a better way.

So engineering update. My energy drink can Kamisori ran into a bit of a problem. My only standard on doing stupid human tricks with sharp things for fake internet points is that there has to be a slight possibility that things will actually work. When I got everything finely adjusted (i.e. put the aluminum on fairly new concrete and wailed on with a hammer to flatten it out,) the portion I was going to sharpen was wavey and inconsistent. I’ve used cheap razors that held a blade like that, but I couldn’t see anyway to actually sharpen the piece of can consistently. The thought of trying to shave with a wavey and partially sharpened piece of aluminum can just didn’t appeal to me. I’m calling version 1.0 a no go.

On the plus side I was looking for some shave gear I thought was in storage, and Mrs. Gulch told me there was a small box of shave crap in the back of the closet. I found my Mayhem box. I’m getting tomorrow’s shave planned now. Game on, Gentlemen.

File under:

Things that sound really bad, but aren't.

I vote full bail out. We'll give you the nod for building it and realizing it wasn't right.

Can by Sayuri?

You can probably solve that engineering problem with a standard Russian engineering procedure. Use bigger hammer!!

Makes sense. I do know that a few very thirsty soaps (Barrister’s Reserve comes to mind) are much easier for me to get dialed in perfectly in a bowl as opposed to face-lathering.

My father, age 78 on his next B-day, took a fall in his garage maybe 10 days ago. Didn't tell mom , me, or his doctor. He complained of a stiff neck & sore shoulder for a day or two. Mom noticed he wasn't eating regular like he's lost his appetite. Then he slept in his recliner on maybe second or third day after his unreported fall. He's done that before so no warning signs yet. Mom got him to go to bed that evening, but the next morning he couldn't get out of bed for the pain in is neck and shoulders. We call in medical transport that helped him out of bed and onto a gurney, and into the ambulance. An x-ray revealed no broken bones, the ER Doc suggested nerve injury, but not damage. So he's been recovering, feeling better, trying to not take the pain meds. He's a retired psychiatric RN and doesn't like what opioid addiction does to folks. That whole scenario put me in the seat of his riding mower. While he might putt around in no hurry to get the grass cut, I crank up the throttle, lower the deck for a shorter cut, and zoom around like I know what I'm doing. Remember when you were young and got injured? You wondered how long it would take to recover. Now it's a question of IF recovery will happen.

That Whipped Dog HMB is a good knot and I tend to use it for creams and soft soaps. If I choke up on the bristles it'll load a harder soap, especially if it's soused. I was tired from jouncing around in the satsuma trees. Dried out Crawfish chimneys all over make for a rough ride in a mower with no suspension.

Hope your dad has a speedy recovery. Stubborn old men make it difficult to take care of them. My wife says that about me all the time. a retired psych RN - quite an interesting man with an interesting career I'm sure.

He's doing better. Mom complains about him spending more time in his recliner. I've noted that she does this fussing while sitting in her recliner. Dad's had a reoccurring issue about going back to school. Chemical engineer/ research chemist, MBA, and RN. He chose the psych ward because the patients leak less. Somewhen in that busy work schedule he did 30 years of Army Reserves and ended in charge of a Medic Unit. Several years ago he arranged an 8 week contract as a fill in/ temp nurse at a hospital in Hawaii. Used his Space Available military benefit to fly him and mom there and back for free. They rented a small house, bought a car, and enjoyed a "working" vacation. Only person I've ever know to visit Hawaii and come home with more money that when he left.

Yessss you do. I get those shaves all the time.

Hope he is back charging around soon.

First use of a Soap Commander soap before work. It was veddy nice. The razor is a 1907ish Ever Ready. Another top notch shave! Thanks to @PanChango for the Rose soap goodness!!

Thanks Jason. I just love that razor. It has mojo, and it never lets me down. And Perma Sharps are super solid.

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If I'd tried them earlier on I'd have had a rough time for sure. Now, I'm still getting some of my best shaves out of the Pacific, and it tickles me to be able to do so well with something so cheap, build quality aside.

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I haven't used a bowl in over two years. Might revisit for grins.

If it can't be repaired with a hammer, duct tape, and a plumber torch....

It's beyond repair.

Beautiful picture, Jim!

Great picture, Rick. Too bad the HMW didn't work out for you.

Thank you, Jason!

Sounds like your dad has had quite the life. I hope the recovery goes well for him.

Fatip Day #11
Bit of a rush job but continuing the garden theme
Excellent shave this morning but one cut where I jumped when the phone went. Alum told me it was a good shave, cut notwithstanding.
Razor Fatip
Blade Astra
Soap, balm Speick
After Shave Eau Sauvage