Pay It Forward

Wetshaving in the internet-age isn’t just about getting a damn fine shave while (potentially) spending significantly less money that you would if you went for canned goo and cartridges.

It is also about – at least for some of us – social interaction with others with whom we share a hobby. Being active on an online forum means you get to share hints, tips and sometimes more… many wetshavers are happy to Pay It Forward, which can both serve to give other shavers a chance to try something new as well as culling the horde some of us accumulate.

To mark my 1000th post over at The Shave Nook – a  very friendly and open minded shaving forum – I decided to pay forward a tub of Mama Bear’s Brazilian Coffee that I’ve barely touched. With luck the guy who got it will enjoy it – and in time pay the favour forward.

Shave of the day 30th January

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Orange Soap
Lather: Walter’s Shaving Soap
Brush: Turkish No6
Razors: Cadet TP-01 OP and TTO-13, both with a “Flying Eagle” blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse

The Flying Eagles are a bit rougher in the Cadets, but still decent blades. And Walter’s is still a nice soap.

Soaps, croaps and creams

It is amazing really – no matter how often you shave, the sheer amount of soaps and creams don’t seem to be reduced.

Clearly the reason for this apparent miracle is that we’re living in the future now, and soaps, croaps and creams have become self-replicating… it’s the only logical solution. The other hypothesis – that they breed – is just too… off-putting.

Shave of the day 28th January

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Lavender Soap
Lather: Mike’s Natural Hungarian Lavender Soap
Brush: Semogue TSN 2012 LE badger-boar
Razors: Cadet TP-01 OP and TTO-13, both with a fresh “Flying Eagle” blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum

Trying out the Flying Eagles in a new pair of razors, as well as a new soap.

Shave of the day 26th January

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Peppermint Soap
Lather: Proraso Eucalyptus & Menthol croap
Brush: Turkish No6
Razors: Merkur 25C and Gillette ’58 TV Special, both with a “Flying Eagle” blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum

The last day of the Flying Eagles, they have given me two weeks worth of Damn Fine Shaves.

3D printed razor

The idea of using a 3D printer to make shave gear have taken firmly root in my head, to the point where I find myself messing around with free 3D-CAD software just to try to visualize how razors and brushes could be created… someone beat me to it though:

Click here for the relevant files
It may just be me, but I think the shape of the head could do with a little work… well, a lot of work. But it shows that it can be done, so the question becomes how to make it better. Well, that and justifying spending a pile on cash on a 3D printer.

Shave of the day 23rd January

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Peppermint Soap
Lather: Dalen d’Men Energic cream and GzD shave stick
Brush: Vie-Long 14033 mixed horse-badger
Razors: Merkur 25C and Gillette ’58 TV Special, both with a “Flying Eagle” blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Prototype Menthol

The Flying Eagles is still giving me a DFS – today’s lather was dense without being overly thirsty.

Blade review: Flying Eagle

At times I do things for reasons that can be described as ‘less sane’ – like picking up a sleeve of razor blades I’ve never heard about before just because I like the name. Sometimes it even works out…

I was over at Shave A Buck, ordering one of the new Cadet Razors (the Twist To Open TTO-13, which is a damn fine razor by the way) when I spotted a couple of blades I knew I had to pick up just because of their names; Lord Cool and Flying Eagle. While I haven’t tried the former yet, the later is actually surprisingly good blades.

More about that later, first we got to have pictures:

The front of the cardboard sleeve – and no, I have no idea what it actually says.
Back of the sleeve – all I can figure out from it is where to open the damn thing.
The back of the individual wrapper – the front of it is the same as the front of the sleeve.
The blade unwrapped – unlike some more expensive blades, the Flying Eagle is double wrapped.
The inside of the wrapper, and the surprise of the day – an advertisement for a cartridge razor called the Gillette Vector!
One side of the Flying Eagle blade – mounted in my Gillette 58 TV Special.
The other side of the blade – for us white barbarians who don’t read Chinese I guess.
The Flying Eagle gives me – at least in my Gillette 58 TV Special and my Merkur 25C OC – a very good shave. It’s sharp and smooth, and stays that way; it actually stays good for longer than my current fall back blade – even if it starts out slightly less sharp that is a trade off worth considering.
YMMV as always, but I think everyone who likes to experiment with blades that are from outside the beaten track should give these a go – for less than 2 bucks for five they are reasonable priced, and they might give you as good an experience as they gave me.
As an offside, the Gillette Vector mentioned in the advertisement seems to be a Far East clone / remake of the Gillette Sensor; pivoting head, two blades, lubrication strip and ‘micro fins’.

Shave of the day 21st January

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Lavender Soap
Lather: Derby Lavender cream and Lea shave stick
Brush: Semogue TSN 2012 LE boar-badger
Razors: Merkur 25C and Gillette ’58 TV Special, both with a “Flying Eagle” blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum

The blade that keeps on giving – a DFS in it’s second week.

Shave of the day 18th January

Pre-shave: Dr Bronner’s Liquid Teatree Soap
Lather: Derby Lavender cream and GzD shave stick
Brush: Turkish No6
Razors: Merkur 25C and Gillette ’58 TV Special, but with a “Flying Eagle” blade
Post-shave: Cool water rinse, alum, and Krampert’s Finest Bay Rum

Another combo that gave a very thirsty lather, but also a DFS.