Santa gave me Le Grelot for Christmas, but I am not reaching for it very often and I have been wondering why. I just don't enjoy shaving with it as much as my other razors, almost all of which are Ebay specials of one ilk or another. This razor is highly regarded and Chimensch chose it for his amazing 7 day set, so I am thinking I should be happier with it than I am. So I decided two days ago that I would shave with it every day for two weeks to see if it was my technique that needed adjusting to the large, heavy blade to bring out the best in it.
Three mornings into it I just don't think my technique explains why I can't get no satisfaction. I have other blades as large, even though not as heavy or the exact same grind. I like that the wide (7/8) blade gets into places more easily than my smaller razors, especially that I can reach spots with the heel easily. The balance is fine and it feels good in my hand. But the shaves, although they feel good while in progress, leave a harsh feeling and I nick myself once or twice a shave, not my usual outcome.
So, now I am left thinking the most obvious thing, that the factory edge isn't for me. I bought the razor from Jarrod at Superior, and he said his experience was that these razors came shave ready sharp from TI and didn't need touching up. So I have shaved on the factory edge, only stropping on fabric and leather between shaves. I was hesitant to hone this one as I wanted another professionally honed blade as a baseline against which to compare my own efforts. I've shaved on two from Larry at Whipped Dog and the rest are my own efforts using a coticule and modified dulicot. It is good to have a standard from outside to compare, but I'm thinking I get better shaves off my own edges on blades with much less of a pedigree, so perhaps it is time to put the Grelot on the coti. Maybe, having shaved mostly on coticule edges I've just become accustomed to how they behave and my technique is adapted to that. Arguing against that is the fact that I shave quite well on Larry's edges. I don't know what he finishes on, but whatever it is I find it comfortable and comparable to my own.
Anyone else have any experience with the factory edge on Le Grelot? I know the standard answer is have it honed, but Jarrod seemed confident that it would come ready to go and he has never steered my wrong. There is always the chance that it was a Friday afternoon in France when mine was sharpened and the gent's mind was on his date for that night.....Perhaps I should have more confidence in my honing and less trepidation at my impudence in thinking I can do a better job than the pros........
Three mornings into it I just don't think my technique explains why I can't get no satisfaction. I have other blades as large, even though not as heavy or the exact same grind. I like that the wide (7/8) blade gets into places more easily than my smaller razors, especially that I can reach spots with the heel easily. The balance is fine and it feels good in my hand. But the shaves, although they feel good while in progress, leave a harsh feeling and I nick myself once or twice a shave, not my usual outcome.
So, now I am left thinking the most obvious thing, that the factory edge isn't for me. I bought the razor from Jarrod at Superior, and he said his experience was that these razors came shave ready sharp from TI and didn't need touching up. So I have shaved on the factory edge, only stropping on fabric and leather between shaves. I was hesitant to hone this one as I wanted another professionally honed blade as a baseline against which to compare my own efforts. I've shaved on two from Larry at Whipped Dog and the rest are my own efforts using a coticule and modified dulicot. It is good to have a standard from outside to compare, but I'm thinking I get better shaves off my own edges on blades with much less of a pedigree, so perhaps it is time to put the Grelot on the coti. Maybe, having shaved mostly on coticule edges I've just become accustomed to how they behave and my technique is adapted to that. Arguing against that is the fact that I shave quite well on Larry's edges. I don't know what he finishes on, but whatever it is I find it comfortable and comparable to my own.
Anyone else have any experience with the factory edge on Le Grelot? I know the standard answer is have it honed, but Jarrod seemed confident that it would come ready to go and he has never steered my wrong. There is always the chance that it was a Friday afternoon in France when mine was sharpened and the gent's mind was on his date for that night.....Perhaps I should have more confidence in my honing and less trepidation at my impudence in thinking I can do a better job than the pros........