skyvue
Call Me a Cab
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Does an alum block do what styptic pencil does, basically?
Ok, razor (Mekur) - check; good blades - check; steptic pencil - check; badger brush - check; soap - check; witch hazel - check. Ok, tomorrow morning I'll give it a go. Question: what's the proper way to use an aftershave (Bay Rum)? Every time I use it I feel like I am using too much and I smell like Bay Rum for a couple of days.
Thanks,
JDG
I just ordered an alum block and I know they stop bleeding at a nick. But, is it something that you rub over your whole face or just nicks?
Mike
Does an alum block do what styptic pencil does, basically?
First shave this am. Piece of cake. No blood, no burn, no negatives at all. It took a little more time than a can and standard razor but it actually was relaxing to slow down and shave. It reminded me of all the pleasure one can get from relatively mundane tasks if one is just willing to slow down life a little
Cheers,
JDG
I agree, I now actually look forward to shaving. It takes longer than my electric, but I get a nicer shave and it is more 'fun'. That and I retain my 'baby smooth' face from about 0630 to 2000 instead of a 5 o'clock shadow at about 4 o'clock.
Mike
Does anyone know guys used to on the road when it came to shaving kits? The one I have and 99% of what I have seen don't seem to have provisions for safety razors, soap etc. They have all of the other things (brushes, combs, files) but not shaving things? Am I not looking in the right spots?
Mike
Hi Mike, my personal travel kit for shaving goes like this: plastic soap case that holds my Gillette Tech DE and pack of blades, A large prescription pill bottle with some holes drilled in the cap to hold my brush, the small tube of C O Bigelow or C&E shave cream and a tube of Avon AS Balm [my wife likes the smell of the Black Suede]. This will have to go in your checked luggage if flying unless you substitute a disposable razor for the DE. Then when you get where you are going, find a small bowl or just squirt a little of the soap into the end of your wet brush and face lather.
I hate flying these days, because you have to be careful about damn everything.
I'm off for a month starting the day after tomorrow. I want to bring my cutthroat razor along, together with a small strop. I have to pack that in the check-in luggage...what a crock...
Hi, all,
Just thought I'd add a pic to the thread. Here's my circa 1938-1941 Gillette Tech razor that I snapped up a few days ago. It takes a little more time to shave with than modern razors, but like a lot of you, I enjoy the ritual and the attention to detail. Happy shaving!
-- Sammy
What Ho, Ginny!!
Sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you last time we were both on line. Your new straight-razor looks very nice. Remember to sharpen it lots, strop it plenty, and take it slowly. Don't use any excess pressure and don't use any force. If the razor doesn't want to co-operate, it's because you haven't prepared it properly. Don't force it to do what it can't or won't do. It will punish you by slicing your face open.
Surface-rust may be removed with very fine sandpaper and/or steel wool (sandpaper preferred). Then it's just a matter of keeping it clean and dry between uses to prevent the rust coming back.
The angle of sharpening and/or stropping will be indicated by the grind of the blade. When it runs smoothly across the stone and strop, you'll know that you've got the angle right.
Best of luck!!
If you got any questions or whatever, feel free to send me a PM, or just post here.