6/8 Wacker Inox DRH Windsor "Brutus" homemade boar with too short of loft This brush was lofted beyond reason when I made it, too short for a boar. It's breaking in nicely and regardless I like it. Soft and scrubby. I treat it like a rented government mule. Nice shave this morning. Have a good one.
It is and a good brush too. That boar helps with soaps I couldn't lather before. The razor is the closest I get to modern, besides a modern Dovo and a modern Suzumasa I have.
First shave with this Shumate 125. Smooth as hell. Also was my first run with the Proraso Red. Not sold on the smell, but it performs beautifully with my WD silvertip brush. An excellent shave in one pass with some touch ups.
Wow lindyhopper, does that include any customs you may have? I think I have only a Hart Steel razor and a Wacker Stosser I purchased new from new stock (in addition to customs). Or not. I can't remember at this time. I've been shaving with a Mastro Livi New Grind exclusively since packing razors away on Friday night. It's hell getting old so I'll lean on the excuse that I'm exhausted from the move as the reason behind my lapse of memory. On the bright side, the move is over, we're unpacking, and soon I can rejoin the ranks of the SOTD regulars .
I have not a single custom razor. Most are so crazily expensive. Bob of OCD razors is a bit more reasonable at $250 for a basic razor, but many start at $650. I love my vintage razors and basic classic lines.
Filarmonica 14 Sub Cero, pre 1952, 2nd generation Alfredo Gil, doc226 on other forums, sold this razor to me along with another Fillie and said this was the best edge he ever had on a razor. I agree. It is amazing. Sometimes with straights the first pass can feel slightly rough, especially since I'm shaving with one hand these days, but this Sub Cero felt like the touch up pass. I love the heft and the thin full hollow blade. I used two of Steve's brushes today, a boar for Pre de Provence glycerin soap and a synthetic for the MdC. This is the first time I've gotten a decent lather from the Pre de Provence. The boar made a difference.
Someday I'd love to try one of those large-bladed beauties. I see the Filarmonicas come up at times on ebay, but the prices usually scare me away. If I'm outlaying that much coin, I'd prefer to do it from someone I know versus gamble on ebay. Robert, I had the same struggle with the PdP, and you're absolutely correct—the boar does make a difference with that stubborn puck.
I got better deals from BST on badgerandblade for the Filarmonicas. JapanNippon on ebay has had crazy prices, but recently is lowering his prices on Filarmonicas and C V Heljestrands dramatically. If you keep up with B & B in BST and the Hobbyist/Vendor you'll find some much better prices.
C V Heljestrand MK8 You can see the tang with jimps is very different from the MK31, 32,32. It is straight instead of semicircular. The blade width is similar to the MK31, 5/8 to 11/16, but the blade feels stiffer and heavier though it is also full hollow ground. the toe was square, but the point and that part of the edge was jagged for some reason. I used a DMT325 to breadknife it to the rounded off point. I like the feel of the MK31 better, but maybe I need to rehone this MK8.
Thanks for posting. I was beginning to think I needed to the thread name to "What Straight Did Robert Use Today?".
I'm still getting the hang of this Rodgers & Sons. Both the blade shape and weight are quite dramatically different from the majority of the SRs I use. 'Practice makes perfect', I suppose. I still had a terrific, yet cautious, shave with it last night!
