I started shaving with a double-edge razor about a year ago and I'm finally diving in more. I've started a journal to start posting my ramblings as I've been posting it elsewhere and I don't want to crowd that forum. I look forward to showing everyone my journey!
Mumblings of a 20-year-old shaver
- Thread starter Letsgoalready
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #2
Today’s shave 10/14/24:
Pre-Shave: Hot Towel for 5 minutes
Soap: Cella Aloe Vera Shaving Cream
Brush: Omega 48 Boar
Razor: Gentleman Jon DE
Blade: Astra Platinum (3)
After-Shave: Nivea Deep Vanilla Bourbon
Song of the Shave: Crawl Out Through The Fallout by Sheldon Allman
Rating: 9 CCS+++ (almost a BBS but just barely some hairs on my jawline)
Its been about 4-5 days since my last shave since I went away for the weekend and to say I wasn't looking forward to it would be a lie, and I was not disappointed. Did a hot towel as I didn't shower beforehand as I usually do, felt it got the job done. I did a face lather again and I may have overloaded my brush because I didn't get a great lather, but none the less an amazing shave happened after. Did a WTG pass first everywhere, then some XTG in some places, and ATG going along my neck, and boy did it glide. Ive been trying out using blades for more than one shave and that has been the biggest difference I've made. No knicks or weepers for a second straight shave and it is as smooth as I have ever got. Made my weekend to have such a great shave. I also picked up a wooden tray to hold my shave stuff and my new to me Gillette Tech comes in tomorrow! I skipped my alum block for once and my face feels so much better after my shave. No redness or irritation this time as I have had some issues with that in the past so that's leaving my routine. Ill be back tomorrow with some pictures of my Tech and my shave review.
Best,
Letsgoalready.
Pre-Shave: Hot Towel for 5 minutes
Soap: Cella Aloe Vera Shaving Cream
Brush: Omega 48 Boar
Razor: Gentleman Jon DE
Blade: Astra Platinum (3)
After-Shave: Nivea Deep Vanilla Bourbon
Song of the Shave: Crawl Out Through The Fallout by Sheldon Allman
Rating: 9 CCS+++ (almost a BBS but just barely some hairs on my jawline)
Its been about 4-5 days since my last shave since I went away for the weekend and to say I wasn't looking forward to it would be a lie, and I was not disappointed. Did a hot towel as I didn't shower beforehand as I usually do, felt it got the job done. I did a face lather again and I may have overloaded my brush because I didn't get a great lather, but none the less an amazing shave happened after. Did a WTG pass first everywhere, then some XTG in some places, and ATG going along my neck, and boy did it glide. Ive been trying out using blades for more than one shave and that has been the biggest difference I've made. No knicks or weepers for a second straight shave and it is as smooth as I have ever got. Made my weekend to have such a great shave. I also picked up a wooden tray to hold my shave stuff and my new to me Gillette Tech comes in tomorrow! I skipped my alum block for once and my face feels so much better after my shave. No redness or irritation this time as I have had some issues with that in the past so that's leaving my routine. Ill be back tomorrow with some pictures of my Tech and my shave review.
Best,
Letsgoalready.
Welcome and thanks for sharing!
Hello from Nashville, TN.
Welcome to B & B!
Welcome to B & B!
Thank you for sharing your journal with us. Can’t wait to read how your new-to-you Tech compares to your Gentleman Jon’s razor.
Welcome to the journal section!
- Thread starter
- #7
Well it's in! I picked up the razor from my PO Box today and I can't wait to shave with it. For being 92 years old it looks in pretty good shape. The handle is shorter than what I'm used to so we'll see how that feels. I've attached pictures below.
That was my first thought as well when I got my Canadian pear Tech. But I learned that 1932 is not a year. It’s the patent number of Gillette Canada for this razor.
Your baseplate has rectangular slots indicating this is likely a postwar (WWII) Tech. That would still make it a handsome 74+ year old razor.
Either way it looks great and shaves great. And that’s what really counts.
Enjoy!!
Guido
Welcome to B&B. Thanks for sharing. Nice shave. Five minute hot towel, My Man!
- Thread starter
- #11
Oh well, but that's an awesome fact! It's really cool to see the wealth of knowledge here. So this one is from sometime after 1945?- Thread starter
- #12
Thanks for the warm welcome! I've gotta soften up my stubble and open up my follicles. I have sensitive skin so I've found a hot shower or towel really helps.Welcome to B&B. Thanks for sharing. Nice shave. Five minute hot towel, My Man!
- Thread starter
- #13
Looking into an adjustable down the line, I like to keep control of my variables as I take a second more in-depth dive into DE shaving (I've been very on and off the last year or so). Having a set blade makes it more consistent for me!
Most likely yes. At least with the US ones the triangular slots indicate prewar and the oval slots postwar, so I am assuming this is the same for the Canadian ones.
But Canadian ones are supposedly the more effective ones of the Techs so you have chosen really well!
The handle is called a fat handle. The knurling is excellent and judging from your picture the plating seems to have held up really well in addition to the cap.
Techs are perhaps the most produced safety razors ever so this is a great progression from your initial razor and maybe even all the razor you will ever need (I should have told myself that when I started DE shaving).
Enjoy it to the max!
Guido
Oh yeah…and welcome to B&B!!
It may well be an example of this
I have got the same head, it came with a 2 piece brass handle, so I assume it was some late 40's or Korean-era military example I've not been able to trace.
I use mine on a 'fat handle' which I think is the finest stock handle ever made by Gillette, and in the world anytime. The Karve G Series handle is a very close 'tribute'. G Series Handle - Stainless Steel - https://karveshaving.com/products/g-series-handle-stainless?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=5a3877fb8&pr_rec_pid=7918632927468&pr_ref_pid=8012154110188&pr_seq=uniform
It's a great razor, but frankly I have been a little underwhelmed so far. I prefer the English Flat Bottom version and the US Pre-War. It may be the top cap, which is oddly rough - this is mostly due to plating loss I think - but the top is rather thick and almost clumsily cast. Very odd. I must swap out for another cap in my stash.
I need a Pre-War Canadian to try.
However we are talking degrees of excellence here. The early Techs are all superb performers so I am just being hyper-picky I think.
Enjoy!
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- Thread starter
- #16
Today’s shave 10/15/24:
Pre-Shave: Hot Towel for 5 minutes
Soap: Cella Aloe Vera Shaving Cream
Brush: Omega 48 Boar
Razor: Gillette Tech Made in Canada
Blade: Astra Platinum (4)
After-Shave: Nivea Deep Vanilla Bourbon
Song of the Shave: Easy Living by Billie Holiday
Rating: 8.5 CCS+
First shave with the Gillette Tech, I was intrigued and confused. It was my first time using a different razor and I learned some things. My Gentleman Jon razor gives more feedback, I can feel the blade against my face as opposed to the tech which glides a lot better but I can't tell how my contact is with my face. It is going to get better with time as I learn how to shave with this razor but for my first attempt, I got a pretty smooth shave. Chin had some light light stubble but was otherwise smooth. Lather was pretty crappy today but tomorrow will be better. No weepers which was a pleasant surprise. Showered earlier so I did a hot towel again, I liked it. I'll let you all know how tomorrow's shave goes with a new blade and seeing if I can get more feedback.
Pre-Shave: Hot Towel for 5 minutes
Soap: Cella Aloe Vera Shaving Cream
Brush: Omega 48 Boar
Razor: Gillette Tech Made in Canada
Blade: Astra Platinum (4)
After-Shave: Nivea Deep Vanilla Bourbon
Song of the Shave: Easy Living by Billie Holiday
Rating: 8.5 CCS+
First shave with the Gillette Tech, I was intrigued and confused. It was my first time using a different razor and I learned some things. My Gentleman Jon razor gives more feedback, I can feel the blade against my face as opposed to the tech which glides a lot better but I can't tell how my contact is with my face. It is going to get better with time as I learn how to shave with this razor but for my first attempt, I got a pretty smooth shave. Chin had some light light stubble but was otherwise smooth. Lather was pretty crappy today but tomorrow will be better. No weepers which was a pleasant surprise. Showered earlier so I did a hot towel again, I liked it. I'll let you all know how tomorrow's shave goes with a new blade and seeing if I can get more feedback.
- Thread starter
- #17
What an awesome find thanks!!! Ill give you my true thoughts on it after a few shaves!It may well be an example of this
I have got the same head, it came with a 2 piece brass handle, so I assume it was some late 40's or Korean-era military example I've not been able to trace.
It's a great razor, but frankly I have been a little underwhelmed so far. I prefer the English Flat Bottom version and the US Pre-War. It may be the top cap, which is oddly rough - this is mostly due to plating loss I think - but the top is rather thick and almost clumsily cast. Very odd. I must swap out for another cap in my stash.
I need a Pre-War Canadian to try.
However we are talking degrees of excellence here. The early Techs are all superb performers so I am just being hyper-picky I think.
Enjoy!
- Thread starter
- #18
Today’s shave 10/16/24:
(Didn’t have time to post last night)
Pre-Shave: Hot Shower
Soap: Cella Aloe Vera Shaving Cream
Brush: Omega 48 Boar
Razor: Gillette Tech Made in Canada
Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (1)
After-Shave: Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm
Song of the Shave: No song of the shave
Rating: 9 CCS+++
Really good shave today, I was using my new Gillette tech razor again. My lather was better today, but still not great. Needs more work. Knicked myself twice which I haven’t done in a few shaves, so that was disappointing. I’m still adjusting how well this razor glides across my face. Sometimes I even feel like it is slipping. Really close shave all around a little bit of stubble on my chin. I did WTG, XTG, and ATG again today. Overall felt good. I also had a new blade today.
(Didn’t have time to post last night)
Pre-Shave: Hot Shower
Soap: Cella Aloe Vera Shaving Cream
Brush: Omega 48 Boar
Razor: Gillette Tech Made in Canada
Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (1)
After-Shave: Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm
Song of the Shave: No song of the shave
Rating: 9 CCS+++
Really good shave today, I was using my new Gillette tech razor again. My lather was better today, but still not great. Needs more work. Knicked myself twice which I haven’t done in a few shaves, so that was disappointing. I’m still adjusting how well this razor glides across my face. Sometimes I even feel like it is slipping. Really close shave all around a little bit of stubble on my chin. I did WTG, XTG, and ATG again today. Overall felt good. I also had a new blade today.
Looks like I am a bit late to the party....
Welcome to B&B! We are so glad you are here. Thank you for taking us with you on your journey. Greetings from Raleigh, NC
Welcome to B&B! We are so glad you are here. Thank you for taking us with you on your journey. Greetings from Raleigh, NC
- Thread starter
- #20
Thank you for the warm welcome!!!
