My Grande Journey

[Esox]

Maybe it's time to try neutral angled shaving with a light touch? Try to not be blinkered by what your face needs from other razors, and try to discover what the razor needs. You can figure out how to make that work on your chops later.

You know how when you try to shift a big wardrobe on your own, and you "walk" it, moving one side then the other? Trying that in one of the easier areas (cheeks) might help you get the feel of what each of the blade is doing individually. When you find the right angle of dangle for each side, then try a longer pass like that over one of the less straight forward zones.

I have, thats how I feel the center of the blade the most but also why the Derby Extra shaved so closely. This is why I say I can see the potential. To get the most effectiveness from this razor, the same as my Grande, I need a more neutral angle. Because of the torque in the blade I cant balance that with comfort.

Using it neutral with the Derby, my face feel was the same as an R41 but more secure. The blade angle of an R41 is noticeably steeper than it is in my Grande. The R41 also feels like a scraper, an unstable one.

I've even tried applying pressure to each side of the razor differently trying to find a better balance. That results in either no cutting or far too much scraping. If theres a fine line between the two, its too fine for me.

 

[Rosseforp]

Mike, I think I get what you are saying.

My FOCS is a great razor, it is very easy to use. I used a Nacet, Polsilver, Feather, and Gillette Platinum in my FOCS, and I got good shaves, nice shaves, close shaves.
I never got a very good, or a comfortable close shave, or a Damn Fine Shave.
The edges don't feel the same to me, you said no one has mentioned how the razor transitions.

Or doesn't.

To me, it doesn't feel intuitive.

I put the Feather(2) that gave me a good shave from my FOCS in my 1955 SS Flare Tip, and got a Super Saturday Shave.

There is nothing to me about the FOCS that puts it a step ahead of my KBG Grande. Now the handle, that is another story altogether. For the price, it is worth getting a FOCS just so you can use the handle on another Fatip.
I loved my Mk1 so much when the pin broke off of the cap I epoxied it back on, the FOCS handle makes it magical.

And we aren't even talking about MMOC's or AC razors.............

 

[TinyT]

Cannibalism is a species eating the same species.
Anthropophagy is human cannibalism.

 

[thombrogan]

Thats the plan. Same blade, flipped, while trying different soaps. I know Polsilvers, I know they're a great blade and I know they work. They've never cared which soap I use, only Feather has stood out in that regard. I still have a couple GSB's too but if I'm down to using them I am in the wrong universe and something will need to be done to get me back in the right one.

The big question now is: will the ATT SE1 still be around to buy and get gold plated when you’re chasing marginal — questionable for you, actually — improvements over your MMOC and Fatip Grande shaves? It’s a game changer for the other BOSC royalty and even others have received performance increases from the switch, but seems to have too many drawbacks for you.

 

[Esox]

Mike, I think I get what you are saying.

My FOCS is a great razor, it is very easy to use. I used a Nacet, Polsilver, Feather, and Gillette Platinum in my FOCS, and I got good shaves, nice shaves, close shaves.
I never got a very good, or a comfortable close shave, or a Damn Fine Shave.
The edges don't feel the same to me, you said no one has mentioned how the razor transitions.

Or doesn't.

To me, it doesn't feel intuitive.

I put the Feather(2) that gave me a good shave from my FOCS in my 1955 SS Flare Tip, and got a Super Saturday Shave.

There is nothing to me about the FOCS that puts it a step ahead of my KBG Grande. Now the handle, that is another story altogether. For the price, it is worth getting a FOCS just so you can use the handle on another Fatip.
I loved my Mk1 so much when the pin broke off of the cap I epoxied it back on, the FOCS handle makes it magical.

And we aren't even talking about MMOC's or AC razors.............

Its not intuitive to me. The complete opposite lol.

The handle I can take or leave. I looks nicer but in use I might prefer the Grande handle, I'm not really sure yet. The Grande handle with the straight smooth fluting seems to sit in the pads of my thumb and fingers a bit easier when the spiral handle fluting doesnt and wants to roll. A pretty minor gripe though.

The big question now is: will the ATT SE1 still be around to buy and get gold plated when you’re chasing marginal — questionable for you, actually — improvements over your MMOC and Fatip Grande shaves? It’s a game changer for the other BOSC royalty and even others have received performance increases from the switch, but seems to have too many drawbacks for you.

There are plenty of SE 1's around. I keep an eye on the B/S/T but havent found one when I was in the buying mood.

 

[Rosseforp]

Its not intuitive to me. The complete opposite lol.

+1

 

[Esox]

I think I found a problem flipping the blade for yesterdays shave. I unscrewed the handle with the cap in my left hand, got the handle off, got the baseplate off but the blade wouldnt come off the cap. I had to put the baseplate and handle down, put the cap on a counter and even then, it wouldnt come off. It was stuck at the base of the stud and would have folded before it lifted off. Just when I got frustrated enough to get the needle nose pliers, I sort of let it drop to the counter and I heard the blade come loose. Then it came off easy.

I havent had time to have a good look at it yet, but I think the center hole in the blade is catching on the base of the stud and when I tighten the handle down it distorts the edge and that might be why it feels like a scraper.

Anyway, yesterdays shave went fine, with Wickham. Smooth, little blade feel and no scraping. I'll need to sort the blade issue out before anything else.

 

[TinyT]

I havent had time to have a good look at it yet, but I think the center hole in the blade is catching on the base of the stud and when I tighten the handle down it distorts the edge and that might be why it feels like a scraper.

Anyway, yesterdays shave went fine, with Wickham. Smooth, little blade feel and no scraping. I'll need to sort the blade issue out before anything else.

Slants. This is twisting my melon, man.

 

[Esox]

Slants. This is twisting my melon, man.

Maybe you need some Morphine.

 

[TinyT]

Maybe you need some Morphine.

Who doesn't?

 

[Rosseforp]

Shall we bring in the rest of the band?

 

[Esox]

Van Halen. **** yeah! Lets turn this week around!

 

[Esox]

Sticking with Van Halen.

Now that I have time to shave in the last 3 1/2 days...

Vitos, Crooked Italian with an unflipped Russian Polsilver.

Same three passes. All is well in the universe. No scratchiness. Nice smooth shave, close too I might add. Minimal buffing. Its a toss up to me whether this razor is more efficient than my Grande or not. I could have the same shave I do right now if I had used my Grande. No closer, arguably more comfortable.

Vitos. Nice soap that. Immediate post shave feel isnt quite at Wickham or SV level but I'm livin rich all the same.

Sometime between now and next shave I'll pull that razor apart and have a closer look at the cap and see if I can figure whats going on with it.

 

[thombrogan]

Its a toss up to me whether this razor is more efficient than my Grande or not.

Stubblewatch 2, Electric Buggaloo

 

[TinyT]

Same three passes. All is well in the universe.

I could have the same shave I do right now if I had used my Grande. No closer, arguably more comfortable.

 

[Esox]

The Gem Cutlery Company has been doing it right since 1898.

Bullet Tip/ PTFE 3
Lecters Nectar
The Brush.

Three easy passes, surprisingly easy after using the crooked Italian. A little buffing around the usual suspects.

A shave as close, done with less blade feel and more comfort.

This soap baffles me. I loaded less than I do Wickham yet had three times the lather. It is thirsty. I felt a very light sting from it each time I lathered though. Not a big deal and it doesnt seem to bother my skin outside of that sensation but I did notice it.

I really like the lather from this soap, its incredible. However, there is more to a good shave than just incredible lather. It feels like it even surpasses SV tier and yet, I find the overall shave lacking slightly. My skin, to the touch, feels great. Face feel is lacking though. I feel like I shaved with my R41. A Bullet Tip shouldnt give a post shave feel like an R41.

The scent is only noticeable while I'm shaving and sitting here now I can only notice it if I try too.

I'm not sure what to make of it just yet. I havent even picked it up for a closer look, just pushed it out of the way reaching for my Bullet Tip. The wind is out of those sails.

 

[TinyT]

I'm not sure what to make of it just yet. I havent even picked it up for a closer look, just pushed it out of the way reaching for my Bullet Tip. The wind is out of those sails.

 

[Esox]

View attachment 1144225

Its not sinking yet but it is adrift.

 

[Clay S]

View attachment 1144225

When you said put everything aft, aft means front right?

 

[AimlessWanderer]

When you said put everything aft, aft means front right?

I though it was front left...