Old Sarge's Shaving Journey

Thanks, that sounds like why I went with Thayers. Many guys love the alcohol witch hazel, and I wish I could, too!

Festival of Featherweights!
Menthol Monday!

Cold Water Shave w/ Hot Water Lather
Pre: Aloe Vera Glycerin Soap Face Wash, Noxzema Cream as Pre Shave
Razor: Gem Gen I Featherweight Deluxe
Blade: Gem SS PTFE (4th Use)
Brush: Vulfix 374 Super Badger
Lather: Proraso Green, Face Lathered
Post: Generic Reformed Alum Block, Thayers Unscented Witch Hazel, Jeris Osage Rub, Nivea Sensitive Cooling Balm


I interrupt my regularly scheduled programming to bring you the Festival of Featherweights! Please allow the Mardi Gras like atmosphere to wash over you! 

A moderately adequate two pass shave. No real issues with the first pass, while I got a bit of irritation from the second pass. I struggled a bit in my most challenging area, that which is below the ends of the mustache and above the chin. The whiskers there are the toughest, while the skin is a bit rough. Surprisingly, ATG on my mustache went well. I think I still need to get comfortable with a proper angle. The top cap to me seems so flat. Even if I try to ride the cap, there is still the angular safety bar that doesn't seem to slide the smoothest across my skin.

No issues face lathering the Proraso soap and even thought the Vulfix brush is small, I would have had enough lather for a third pass. However, post shave I really noticed today that the soap left my skin very dry.

On to day two of the Festival of Featherweights!

Great photo and write up - thank you.  BTW I've never seen a Featherweight with the gold bottom cap like that.  It was even more prominent in your Single-Edge thread post.  I like it a lot.    

Great photo and write up - thank you.  BTW I've never seen a Featherweight with the gold bottom cap like that.  It was even more prominent in your Single-Edge thread post.  I like it a lot.    

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe the only difference between a "standard" Gen I Featherweight and the deluxe is the gold finish and gold cap on the end of the handle. Many folks rave that these are mild, easy going shavers. I'm still working on making that my reality! 

Festival of Featherweights!
Tabac Tuesday!

Cold Water Shave w/ Hot Water Lather
Pre: Aloe Vera Glycerin Soap Face Wash, Noxzema Cream as Pre Shave
Razor: Gem Gen I Featherweight
Blade: Gem SS PTFE (5th Use)
Brush: Jayaruh #403 Synthetic
Lather: Tabac, Face Lathered
Post: Generic Reformed Alum Block, T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel, Clubman Pinaud After Shave, Nivea Sensitive Skin & Stubble Balm

Day 2 of the Festival of Featherweights was just a bit more successful than yesterday, but still a work in progress. Today was the standard Gen. I FW and I really focused on using a light touch and fiddling with the angle, mostly trying to keep the top cap on my face. At times it seemed like it was working better, however, it never really felt smooth. I completed two passes, but did end up with some irritation. I'm going to rejigger my schedule a bit and go with the HFT tomorrow, which I've had success with previously. Have no worries, loyal followers...I'll be back to the FW on Thursday!

I've kind of made the Jayaruh #403 synthetic my Tabac Tuesday brush. It was made by Jim Roe (Jayaruh on other neighborhoods) and gifted to me. I know Tabac is one of Jim's favorites, so matching them together makes sense to me. Face lathering was a success story today, and I was able to get enough hydration loaded and had plenty of lather in the brush if I had needed for a third pass.

PS...I love the scent and the burn of the Clubman Pinaud after shave!!!

Cold Water Shave w/ Hot Water Lather
Pre: Aloe Vera Glycerin Soap Face Wash, Noxzema Cream as Pre Shave
Razor: Schick Type J2
Blade: Personna PTFE Injector (1st Use)
Brush: Omega Pro 49 Boar
Lather: Cella, Face Lathered
Post: Generic Reformed Alum Block, T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel, Clubman Pinaud Lime Sec EDC, Nivea Sensitive Balm

This razor was a Black Friday antique store score. BLUF...this shave will do nothing to minimize desire for future acquisitions of injector style razors! 

First time shave with an injector razor was a successful two pass affair. I started out on the first pass experimenting with my technique. I quickly realized that "riding the cap" was not the optimal angle and adjusted to a less shallow angle. Even then, I still felt like I wasn't shaving off many whiskers. I also found myself rinsing the razor more often, as the lather port area appeared to clog up more easily. The shave came into its own on the second pass while going ATG on my neck. Though I feel like the Type J2 is a mild razor with minimal blade exposure (please correct me if I'm wrong), I was able to find the sweet spot that afforded an efficient pass. I was most pleased while going ATG on my chin and mustache, it just seemed to work well. The most odd thing I realized with this razor was during cleanup. I'm accustomed to removing all blades to do a quick cleaning of the razor...no such action required here other than rinsing off and drying.

I've been using a rubber o-ring on the Omega 49 for a short while to increase backbone. I added a second o-ring and it felt even better. Before soaking the brush, I slide the o-ring's down onto the knot. During clean-up, I slide the o-rings back onto the handle for storage and to allow the knot to dry out more easily.

This was also a first time use of Cella. I found it to work just fine, nothing spectacular...just solid. I think the Italians have the croaps nailed on!

As I've previously struggled with the Gem Featherweight, I'm announcing that beginning tomorrow I will be participating in the Festival of Featherweights. This will be a week long adventure where I attempt to become simpatico with these fine razors. I'll be shaving with a Gen. I Deluxe on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday...a Gen. I on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday...and since I don't have a Gen. II I will use a Heavy Flat Top on Thursday.

Feel free to pull out a Featherweight this week and join in on the festival atmosphere!   

A late response, but your post today (Tuesday) reminded me of something regarding Feather Weights. There seems to be two camps, one that states they are the mildest and therefore new GEM users should start here, and the other side says, No, the Contour is the mildest and the one to start with. I have a Feather Weight on the BST right now, as I am in the second camp and love my Contour (version 1. The Contour II came out as the last (?) GEM sold, I think). Just wanted to throw that out there for your consideration.

Cold Water Shave w/ Hot Water Lather
Pre: Aloe Vera Glycerin Soap Face Wash, Noxzema Cream as Pre Shave
Razor: Schick Type J2
Blade: Personna PTFE Injector (1st Use)
Brush: Omega Pro 49 Boar
Lather: Cella, Face Lathered
Post: Generic Reformed Alum Block, T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel, Clubman Pinaud Lime Sec EDC, Nivea Sensitive Balm

This razor was a Black Friday antique store score. BLUF...this shave will do nothing to minimize desire for future acquisitions of injector style razors! 

First time shave with an injector razor was a successful two pass affair. I started out on the first pass experimenting with my technique. I quickly realized that "riding the cap" was not the optimal angle and adjusted to a less shallow angle. Even then, I still felt like I wasn't shaving off many whiskers. I also found myself rinsing the razor more often, as the lather port area appeared to clog up more easily. The shave came into its own on the second pass while going ATG on my neck. Though I feel like the Type J2 is a mild razor with minimal blade exposure (please correct me if I'm wrong), I was able to find the sweet spot that afforded an efficient pass. I was most pleased while going ATG on my chin and mustache, it just seemed to work well. The most odd thing I realized with this razor was during cleanup. I'm accustomed to removing all blades to do a quick cleaning of the razor...no such action required here other than rinsing off and drying.

I've been using a rubber o-ring on the Omega 49 for a short while to increase backbone. I added a second o-ring and it felt even better. Before soaking the brush, I slide the o-ring's down onto the knot. During clean-up, I slide the o-rings back onto the handle for storage and to allow the knot to dry out more easily.

This was also a first time use of Cella. I found it to work just fine, nothing spectacular...just solid. I think the Italians have the croaps nailed on!

As I've previously struggled with the Gem Featherweight, I'm announcing that beginning tomorrow I will be participating in the Festival of Featherweights. This will be a week long adventure where I attempt to become simpatico with these fine razors. I'll be shaving with a Gen. I Deluxe on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday...a Gen. I on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday...and since I don't have a Gen. II I will use a Heavy Flat Top on Thursday.

Feel free to pull out a Featherweight this week and join in on the festival atmosphere!   

A late response, but your post today (Tuesday) reminded me of something regarding Feather Weights. There seems to be two camps, one that states they are the mildest and therefore new GEM users should start here, and the other side says, No, the Contour is the mildest and the one to start with.  I have a Feather Weight on the BST right now, as I am in the second camp and love my Contour (version 1. The Contour II came out as the last (?) GEM sold, I think). Just wanted to throw that out there for your consideration.

Thanks, Eric!

I'm sure not sitting in the first camp at this point! The irony is that I've got no issues shaving with the MMOC...go figure! I've got about a dozen Gem razors and the only other one that I've not exactly gotten a smooth shave from is a 1912 from a travel set with a squat head. I need to revisit that bad boy in the near future after the current festivities conclude! 

BTW...better late than never...I mean...Better Nate than lever! (Google it)

PS...I've seen both Featherweight and Feather Weight as the model name. I've been using Featherweight, but not sure why. Can we get a judge's ruling on this?

Cold Water Shave w/ Hot Water Lather
Pre: Aloe Vera Glycerin Soap Face Wash, Noxzema Cream as Pre Shave
Razor: Schick Type J2
Blade: Personna PTFE Injector (1st Use)
Brush: Omega Pro 49 Boar
Lather: Cella, Face Lathered
Post: Generic Reformed Alum Block, T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel, Clubman Pinaud Lime Sec EDC, Nivea Sensitive Balm

This razor was a Black Friday antique store score. BLUF...this shave will do nothing to minimize desire for future acquisitions of injector style razors! 

First time shave with an injector razor was a successful two pass affair. I started out on the first pass experimenting with my technique. I quickly realized that "riding the cap" was not the optimal angle and adjusted to a less shallow angle. Even then, I still felt like I wasn't shaving off many whiskers. I also found myself rinsing the razor more often, as the lather port area appeared to clog up more easily. The shave came into its own on the second pass while going ATG on my neck. Though I feel like the Type J2 is a mild razor with minimal blade exposure (please correct me if I'm wrong), I was able to find the sweet spot that afforded an efficient pass. I was most pleased while going ATG on my chin and mustache, it just seemed to work well. The most odd thing I realized with this razor was during cleanup. I'm accustomed to removing all blades to do a quick cleaning of the razor...no such action required here other than rinsing off and drying.

I've been using a rubber o-ring on the Omega 49 for a short while to increase backbone. I added a second o-ring and it felt even better. Before soaking the brush, I slide the o-ring's down onto the knot. During clean-up, I slide the o-rings back onto the handle for storage and to allow the knot to dry out more easily.

This was also a first time use of Cella. I found it to work just fine, nothing spectacular...just solid. I think the Italians have the croaps nailed on!

As I've previously struggled with the Gem Featherweight, I'm announcing that beginning tomorrow I will be participating in the Festival of Featherweights. This will be a week long adventure where I attempt to become simpatico with these fine razors. I'll be shaving with a Gen. I Deluxe on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday...a Gen. I on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday...and since I don't have a Gen. II I will use a Heavy Flat Top on Thursday.

Feel free to pull out a Featherweight this week and join in on the festival atmosphere!   

A late response, but your post today (Tuesday) reminded me of something regarding Feather Weights. There seems to be two camps, one that states they are the mildest and therefore new GEM users should start here, and the other side says, No, the Contour is the mildest and the one to start with.  I have a Feather Weight on the BST right now, as I am in the second camp and love my Contour (version 1. The Contour II came out as the last (?) GEM sold, I think). Just wanted to throw that out there for your consideration.

Thanks, Eric!

I'm sure not sitting in the first camp at this point! The irony is that I've got no issues shaving with the MMOC...go figure! I've got about a dozen Gem razors and the only other one that I've not exactly gotten a smooth shave from is a 1912 from a travel set with a squat head. I need to revisit that bad boy in the near future after the current festivities conclude! 

BTW...better late than never...I mean...Better Nate than lever! (Google it)

PS...I've seen both Featherweight and Feather Weight as the model name. I've been using Featherweight, but not sure why. Can we get a judge's ruling on this?

Guess I'm in the undiscovered third camp , I don't think it necessarily follows that one has to start with the mildest razor. I started with the MMOC and perfectly happy I did.

Sent from my Pixel 5a using Tapatalk

Can I join you in the third camp please!