February Favorites
February 5
Razor - El-Cheapo Chinese Pain Stick Thingy
Blade -
View attachment 217118
(1)
Soap - Stirling Sheep
View attachment 217120
Brush -
@Jayaruh #54
Post - Alum
So it's February Favorites. Time to pick a favorite or two that isn't perhaps obvious. Well, ok, so maybe a bit obvious at some point. One of my favorites - that isn't a specific razor or other item - is trying new shaving tools that may or may not perform the way we expect them to. For the newbs, I spent many many shaves using questionable blades, razors, soaps etc. Why would I do something like that, you ask? Why, because testing our motto - Technique Trumps Tools - is the real motivation. If the theory is correct, then if the right technique is learned and used, any tool that isn't defective should provide a legitimate shave. Doesn't mean it has to be perfect, but something that we'd say "good enough, I can go to work now". Got it?
I picked up a super cheap "pain stick" a couple months back after someone on here posted a link. Yep, I'm that easily influenced. I say "pain stick" in quotes, because while it does feature the look and features of a true pain stick (otherwise known as an Artist Club razor) it uses half DE blades like a shavette. Intriguing. I'm a big fan of pain sticks so I couldn't pass this up. It's from China and cost less than $10 bucks. I'm actually surprised to say it fits together well and appears to be decent quality. Here's a picture of it in the box it came in along with 10 Dorco ST-300 blades.
I'd normally toss the Dorcos into my shaving box where all of the "in case the world ever runs out of Russian Steel I'll use these" blades reside but....it came with the razor so I'll use one. I'm not a big fan of Dorco. South Korean company, blades made in Vietnam. They aren't horrible, but they're not the top line blade either. Think Derby without the smoothness. Or as much smoothness. Here is a comparison between this cheapy and the real Kai AC razor.
The Kai is a bit longer and definitely heavier. The handle on the Kai is also rubber where the handle on the cheapy is what I'd call rubber feel plastic. My biggest issue when setting this razor up was simply getting the blade in it. I snapped a Dorco in half and spent probably 20 minutes getting it inserted in the razor. Like every real pain stick it has a sliding door on the back side and is hinged to hold the blade. The problem is getting the half blade to sit in the right place while you slide the door back on after loading. You can't really put the blade in just by squeezing the top of the razor to open the holder like you can with an AC. The blade tends to ride over the stops and disappear into the handle. It's also possible to get the blade inserted and have it on an angle - or missing a stop so that it retreats in from pressure. Really a pain in the behind, this one. Finally got it in and then thought about lather.
Time to pick an absolute favorite. Stirling Sheep. Yep. Mutton tallow. Slickest and most protective lather out there. I may need it. The JR54 is an excellent choice to make that lather so it got the call. Finally, ready to go.
I was actually quite surprised at how much it handles like a true pain stick. The blade is shorter, of course, but once you get the angle right it's easy to keep going. If you are good with a pain stick you'll be good with this one as well. I made three full passes and reached DFS. Not bad for a Dorco in this setting. I'll take it. And.......no blood whatsoever. Nice finish. The alum was pretty warm but not to the point of being a problem. Clearly the blade exposure in this setup created a bit of irritation but nothing that would stop me trying again. All in all I'd say it was a success. And.....most importantly......it proves Technique Trumps Tools is still a thing!! Nice shave.
Have a fantastic Thursday tomorrow. We got bombed by sleet then snow today so it's a winter wonderland after the warmest weekend on record. Yep. Living the good life.
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