My Grande Journey

[Esox]

(you know who you are).

I resemble that remark

Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision,
Rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
Come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shiiiiiiine!

This,



and these



with this.



Makes for one hell of an afternoon, too early or not.

 

[Esox]

A quick update to this mornings shave.

8 hours later and still BBS everywhere except left side jawline and just to the right of the right corner of my chin.

My entire neck, swirls and cheeks feel like they've never had hair growing on them. Nothing wrong with this blade at 19 shaves, but bourbon makes me backspace and correct typos more often haha.

 

[Esox]

Polsilver shave #20.

Blade flipped.

52 hours since last shave. CC North cream.

ATG first pass buffing like usual and I wondered why it felt a bit tuggy. I guess at 52 hours growth and starting directly ATG thats allowed lol. Still not bad though and the blade did fine.

One ATG buffing pass, one clean up pass and two little touch ups with water only. BBS without issue.

All is well in crazy town lol.



Shaving every other day, call it 183 shaves per year. I have at least 140 Polsilver blades left. Even using one blade a month I have an 11 1/2 year supply of Polsilver blades alone, not to mention 190 Derby Extra and 190 Feathers and this one blade is already past the one month mark and I'm still shaving first pass ATG. I had thought the sharpness might fall off and I'd need to start a more traditional shave first pass WTG/XTG, but not yet.

I started this blade Nov. 28.

Polsilver shave #1.

I'm now on the 5th week and it shows no signs of slowing down and in fact, has improved. Its still very nearly as sharp as it was fresh and a whole bunch smoother.

The 200 blades cost me CAD$43.16 total. Thats $0.216 per blade. At 20 shaves this blade has cost me $0.010. A full 5 weeks shaves for a penny. People say this type of shaving doesnt save money. Think again.

I dont remember offhand what the total cost of my Grande was, but it was close enough to $50 to call it that. Under CAD$100 for the best DE razor made in my opinion and 200 of one of the best blades made, and you're good for ten years.

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

Polsilver shave #20.

Blade flipped.

52 hours since last shave. CC North cream.

ATG first pass buffing like usual and I wondered why it felt a bit tuggy. I guess at 52 hours growth and starting directly ATG thats allowed lol. Still not bad though and the blade did fine.

One ATG buffing pass, one clean up pass and two little touch ups with water only. BBS without issue.

All is well in crazy town lol.

View attachment 849774

Shaving every other day, call it 183 shaves per year. I have at least 140 Polsilver blades left. Even using one blade a month I have an 11 1/2 year supply of Polsilver blades alone, not to mention 190 Derby Extra and 190 Feathers and this one blade is already past the one month mark and I'm still shaving first pass ATG. I had thought the sharpness might fall off and I'd need to start a more traditional shave first pass WTG/XTG, but not yet.

I started this blade Nov. 28.



I'm now on the 5th week and it shows no signs of slowing down and in fact, has improved. Its still very nearly as sharp as it was fresh and a whole bunch smoother.

The 200 blades cost me CAD$43.16 total. Thats $0.216 per blade. At 20 shaves this blade has cost me $0.010. A full 5 weeks shaves for a penny. People say this type of shaving doesnt save money. Think again.

I dont remember offhand what the total cost of my Grande was, but it was close enough to $50 to call it that. Under CAD$100 for the best DE razor made in my opinion and 200 of one of the best blades made, and you're good for ten years.

Plus, we've invested in vintage razors which will increase in value over the years.

If we live to be 1000 we might use all the blades, and will be very likely to have to buy more shaving soap, but I don't believe I can wear out my razors or my brushes.

Am I saying I'm all set? Well, not hardly, but my wife would surely disagree.

Happy shaves,

Jim

 

[Raven Koenes]

Here's my new old stock Mk1 Fatip Piccolo and Mk1 Grande from the German vendor (he still has some left). The German vendor is very prompt, and he threw in a Lindor Chocolate Truffle along with two Astra SP blades (no, not in the chocolate ). I loaded each to check out the alignment, and both razors are spot on. They sure do have a lot of blade exposure. It's official, I've now bought umpteen Fatips, and not one of them have ever had alignment problems or bad plating. Fatip perfection!

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

[email protected] Koenes. Rave, those are really cool looking razors. Haven't I seen something like that before in your collection. It's beginning to occur to me that you must like a certain type of razor.

Pictures of Mk1 and Mk2 parts side by side for comparison?

Pictures showing the blade exposures of the two caps?

Shave reports (well, I know they're coming). Can't wait.

Happy shaves,

Jim

 

[Esox]

Here's my new old stock Mk1 Fatip Piccolo and Mk1 Grande from the German vendor (he still has some left). The German vendor is very prompt, and he threw in a Lindor Chocolate Truffle along with two Astra SP blades (no, not in the chocolate ). I loaded each to check out the alignment, and both razors are spot on. They sure do have a lot of blade exposure. It's official, I've now bought umpteen Fatips, and not one of them have ever had alignment problems or bad plating. Fatip perfection!
View attachment 849924 View attachment 849925 View attachment 849926

 

[Esox]

It's beginning to occur to me that you must like a certain type of razor.

Yep, I think he's a Fatip fan. Maybe he needs to change his name to Mr.Fatip haha.

 

[Raven Koenes]

View attachment 850047

Gollum only wanted his precious. I must have all, forged deep in the mines of Premana, nine and the one that binds them (plus any and all prototypes). It's all part of my master plan, ha ,ha, ha.

 

[Esox]

plus any and all prototypes

...and with that you've entered the 'serious collector' stage.

 

[Raven Koenes]

...and with that you've entered the 'serious collector' stage.

Yes, the illusive 12 prong 1980's Fatip eludes me.

 

[Esox]

Lets not the forget the R41 made by Fatip, or is that the one you mean?

 

[Raven Koenes]

Lets not the forget the R41 made by Fatip, or is that the one you mean?

No, that's an eleven prong Fatip head. It's on my list, but the original Fatips Ilario Fazzini made in the 1980's had 12 prongs or teeth on the comb.

 

[Raven Koenes]

This picture is courtesy of alex2363.

 

[Esox]

Perhaps another email is in order to them. I'd bet someone has a few stashed away somewhere..

I've never seen a Fatip razor that had completely lost its plating. I've seen a few gunmetal finished Fatips with the black coming off, and they look grey under it. Are the Fatips made from white brass?

 

[Raven Koenes]

Perhaps another email is in order to them. I'd bet someone has a few stashed away somewhere..

I've never seen a Fatip razor that had completely lost its plating. I've seen a few gunmetal finished Fatips with the black coming off, and they look grey under it. Are the Fatips made from white brass?

Here's a clearer shot with the 1980's 12 prong on the left.

I believe it's not white brass.

 

[Esox]

Hmmm. So these razors have been around in one form or another for about 30 years, and yet I havent seen a picture of one thats lost its plating.

I have read about several EJ's, Muhles and Merkurs that have lost their plating in places and....dissolved lol. I'll never understand why more people arent buying Fatips.

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

View attachment 850047

And, that's me on a good day. Notice the great shave, too.

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

Rave, you must also have all the Plisson razors. If they've changed to nine teeth you'd better be buying up the 11 teeth models while you can or your collection will be forever incomplete.



Note: Do not under any circumstances give my name and address to your wife!

Happy collecting,

Jim

 

[Esox]

Rave, you must also have all the Plisson razors.