1. User
2. Padre OBrien

Here's a brief history and record of my wet-shaving endeavors.

This journey began with disappointment in my electric shaver. I went to the electric many years ago in an effort to stop the constant irritation from cartridges. But increasingly I became less and less satisfied with the closeness of the results. All of my dress shirts show wear and pilling in the neck area. So I did what anyone else would have done. I bought yet another foil and cutterhead to start fresh. In my amazement, the new one was not any better than the old one. 15 years of electric frustration sent me on a search for a solution.

Possessing a curiosity addiction I'm pretty good with research. I hit on an article in "the Art of Manliness" entitled, "How to Shave Like Your Grandpa." That sealed it for me. Within a week I had an EJ89, some proraso red, an escalli brush, and a full arsenal of a large blade sampler in front of me. Wow! Epiphany might be too big a word, but it's in the ballpark for what I experienced. It has led to a new ritual that continues to bring new discoveries and enjoyment to an otherwise utilitarian task.

But let me go a bit deeper. I was also moved to try something new because I was just emerging from a low point in my life. I'll spare the details, but burn-out, low testosterone, seratonin deficiency left me feeling the malaise of depression. I was on my way to recovery to the point where I began to care more for my body and my looks. I needed something to boost my self esteem. Caring for myself was part of my healing process so this hit a very deep place in my soul.

Acquisitions



Double Edge Razors

• EJ89l - Amazon
• 1920 Open comb - garage sale of a nice old guy between Lino and Blaine. He has a continuous sale going on and off all summer out of his garage. His home is one of those old farm houses that obviously was there long before the new developments. Note: always stop at a garage sale of old farmhouses.
• Super Speed
• 1961 Fatboy - This and the one above I found at a garage sale and paid $5 for 5 razors. They were pretty dirty, but cleaned up well. I didn't know what I had until I looked it up on B&B. I later tried to PIF this to my brother (it's his birth year), but he gave it back and continues to use cartridges to this day. To his credit, though, he did keep the Proraso cream and the Escali brush.
• 1960 Fatboy Replated in Rhodium - I picked this up off of BST for $50. It doesn't have the endcaps, but I don't notice that anymore. This is my favorite razor in my modest shave den.
• 1960 Flare Tip - bought on a whim on EBay, but it came from Northern Minnesota.
• Gillette New - I have two of these. One came from the $5 for 5 garage sale. BTW, the woman mentioned that she also has a box of old shaving stuff somewhere in the basement. I drove by that house on my way home from work for more than a year, but no sales again. I now drive a different route, but still drive up there on occasion just to check. That mystery box holds an unbelievable haul in my mind and has become my Moby Dick.
• 1950s SuperSpeed - found by a friend at a garage sale for $10. I wouldn't have bought it, but it was a very nice gesture by a friend so I accepted it as such.
• 1964 Slim - an EBay purchase that was mislabeled as a Fat Boy. I knew the difference and so did the rest of the EBay world, but at $27 it was still a good buy and in its original case with blades.
• There are a few more, but they've been PIFed or are in storage waiting for refurbishment if I choose to go that route. I prefer to hang on to some user grade pieces to share with curious friends.

Soaps

• AoS Sandalwood - nice, but took a while to dial it in. I finally grated it and added glycerin and repacked it in a tin.
• Pre De Provence - great stuff and a lovely fragrance - like sheets hung outside to dry
• Cade - another winner that lathers easily and smells great
• Tabac - great performance with a fragrance that's OK. I tolerate the smell because of the performance. This is a winter soap for me
• Grim Smolder - interesting soap with vanilla undertones
• C&E Limes - great scent but lots of work to get good lather. I grated this one too and added glycerin to help it out.

Creams

• AoS Lavender, Ocean Kelp, and Lemon - all great performers with wonderful scents. If I could only have one cream, one of these would be the one.
• Proraso Red and Blue - great stuff! Red is winter, blue is other seasons or when I don't want an overwhelming scent.
• CO Bigelow - nice, refreshing, and cheap. I like to have these on hand to PIF to friends wanting to try wet-shaving.
• Nivea - new to me and only used a couple of times. Its nice and a German source for when I want to go all German
• Musgo Real - orange amber. Wanted to try it. Good performance, nice citrus fragrance, but more than I want to spend for for a tube.
• I have yet to buy any English Soaps or Creams - when I get low on something I'll move in this direction..

Straights

• Henry Sears covered tang - pretty beat up but my first straight. Awaiting rescaling..
• Henkels 50 5/8 - a nice light daily driver with a nice built-in smile
• Henry Mueller Soingen 5/8 - new to the rotation. Nothing special
• Heljestrand MK31 - currently needs bevel reset and time on the hones. Could become a favorite 5/8
• The Cranford 5/8 - useable and nice American blade. This one is calling for Red acrylic scales to replace the white
• DoubleDuck Special no. 1 5/8 - I'll keep it and rescale it, but its nowhere near the GoldEdges 5/8 and 6/8 that I've sold. Those were very special blades that I really enjoyed.
• Alfred Krank St Paul Blue Belle 5/8 shortie - rescaled in blue acrylic - so-so but a local blade to hang on to.
• Henkels Twin (unnumbered 5/8) with nice bolsters - great shaver but needs more work to rid it of some water stains.

Now for the current favorites

• W&B shoulderless 6/8 - rescaled in Olivewood from my Israel trip
• Torrey 6/8 - rescaled in Wenge
• Heljestrand 14 from Buenos Aires - 6/8 that I got from EBay because it was from Argentina and Heljestrand was misspelled ($17)) needs rescaling in something nice. I'm thinking horn or bone because I haven't tried that yet.

The Restoration Queue
I picked up a sack-o-razors 21 for $100 off Craigslist. Most of them are user grade but a couple nice ones I restored and sold to start honing (Boker w worked spine, DD Goldedge).

Brushes

• VDH boar - sat around for along time because I was leery of boar. But after using for a while I really like! I'll give some nicer boars a try.
• VDH pure badger - a $5 garage sale find - acceptable when it comes in the rotation. Its purpose seems t be to make me appreciate the others more.
• EJ Best Badger - a great little brush that I enjoy - a tad sparse and scritchy
• an EBay LJ silvertip - nice and soft, full loft, but too floppy. I currently have an O-ring on it to add stiffness..
• TGN -- best in a handle turned by a friend of Randy's
• Plisson Synthetic - had to try it and love it!!