Tech Week April 2-8

1966 Travel Tech with the same Astra SP blade. A darn fine shave.

Technique is very important with this razor. The cardinal rule when using a safety razor is NO PRESSURE, let the weight of the razor do the work. Many times the best way to do this is to hold the razor at the very end of the handle. Well, the Travel Tech has no weight or any real handle to give much room for moving down. One has to hold the razor directly under the head and be very aware of how much pressure they are using. Attention to technique, along with the right blade, and these little guys can give a pretty decent shave.

 

Shave #2 with this tech is in the books. Not quite as close as yesterday. I had some difficulty with touch-ups in some spots. Finally I gave up but still got a great shave.

 

I probably didn't need to shave today but I did anyways. Another good one for the gild ball end tech. Since I'm traveling I had forgotten my brush I went to CVS and picked up a uhb boar and some williams soap. I haven't jumped into soaps yet but I had a hard time lathering it up. The brush was awful and shedded all over the place. I can't say I loved the smell of Williams soap esp when combined with the wet dog odor of the brush!

That mini rant aside I really do enjoy my tech with the Gillette platinum blades. I will have to try some new blades in it soon.

 

I'm shaving with my Gillette Tech Ball end this week instead of my super adjustable in honor of tech week. Using VDH Deluxe, Astra SP and Aqua Velva (yeah yeah w/e I like the smell and it's what my grandpa used.). Great shave as always.

 

I'm getting much more comfortable using my ball end Tech now after 3 shaves. The Personna Super "lab" gave me a great shave last night but it just doesn't seem aggressive enough for my trouble spots around my chin. Buffing doesn't even do it. I have a Ladas loaded up to go tonight.

 

Day four for the Astra SP. Dropped it into my Thick Handle Tech. At least that what Country Joe called it. The handle is the classic Fat Handle Tech, but the head is more like the NEW. It was gold plated. Looks like the previous owner boiled it. The handle is almost brown, and the head is showing nothing but copper. I like it.

Another very nice shave.

 

Tried a Travel Tech today and found it to be uncomfortable. The 2" handle didn't match up well with my long fingers. The handle is a full inch shorter than the Fat Handle Tech that is becoming a favorite.

Steve suggested that we submit photos of our Techs. Here goes:

 

Just had yet another round with the Travel tech and got a really super shave but the big hand was complaining.. man that's one small razor..

 

I'm getting the hang of using this Tech. Last night's shave with a Ladas was pretty fantastic (except for the burning TOBS issue). Ladas were just passable in my 38M, so I was really happy to find they work this well in my Tech...at least for 1 shave anyway.

 

As I only have four Techs, the '58 Ball End had a second go. Last day with the Astra SP and another great shave.

I'm not much of a photographer, but I'll see about maybe getting a pic up tomorrow.

 

Well, being the weekend, I bring out my SEs. Today, as every Saturday, it was a straight razor. Sundays are the more traditional SE safety razor.
But, as this is still Tech Week, I will share a pic or two of what I've been using this week.

Left to right: '53 Ball End Tech, Fat Handle Tech, Thick Handle Tech, '66 Travel Tech

 

Given the great, comfortable shaves I've had with the tech this week, I may search out a new handle for mine. Are those fairly easy to find?

 

Quite a few around these days.. BRW of course and there's Ikon bulldog handles at Italian Barber and I heard that even Weber handles can be bought separately. One can even make his own light saber handle ..2

 

Well I had my last shave of tech week today. I think I shaved too much this week but I have had trouble underneath my jawline. I end up doing an extra pass and getting some irritation. A couple nicks this week but being new to de shaving I think I just try to be too aggressive. It's been an enjoyable week though!

 

I had my last tech shave last night. I went an extra day to get two shaves with the travel tech.

I use a combination of a ball end tech with a Personna Super "Lab" and a Ladas blade (3 shaves each) and a travel tech with a Voskhod blade. I picked the three blades I did because between those three I have just over 1000 blades.

It took me a couple of shaves to get used to the skinny handle (compared to my usual 38M) and it wasn't so bad after that. Even the travel tech wasn't too much of a problem after a pass or two. Still, I can't see using my travel tech, for home or travel, due to that stubby little handle. The 1" saved off the handle is of no benefit to me and if I want to pack something lighter weight I'll use a Guard.

The regular tech, on the other hand, will see use when I want to use a Ladas blade. All three blades I used performed well in my Techs, but the Ladas was the only one that was marginal in my 38M. The Voskhod and Personna are fantastic in my 38M. I have 285 Ladas, so to have a razor they work well in means I don't have to sell or trade them. I will, however, get a replacement handle at some point.

Every shave with the techs were very comfortable and very close, however getting the trouble spots around my chin was more challenging than with my 38M. It will be interesting to see how the 38M does tonight after using the tech for 8 days.

Now I need a Cheap Razor theme week so I can use my Weishi, Lord L6, and my $2.60 Yuma.

 

I just saw a nice picture of a BRW Bull Massive with a tech head up on B&B..

 

You missed it. It was back in December. Not to worry. I plan on putting together another year of theme weeks when these are done.