Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

Hey Eric and guys. I’ll chime in here. For the first few years of my times on the forums. My brushes were all synthetic. Then the cheapskate in me. Sparked by places like this. Got me wondering about the “virtues” of other means by which to make lather. I went and “splurged” on my omega boar. Once I got the piggy smell worked out and it broke in. It is now a valued part of my small by some standards brush rotation. 
The along comes my buddy John DeepSea He sends me a Yaqui Badger. And then I find that all these dudes spending IMHO a lot of money on brushes. Might not be as foolish as I once thought. They (badgers) are pretty skippy. 
Then another guy MaineYooper sends me a synthetic knot. So I gotta make brush for that. 
Then I get my other buddy to make me some brass handles. That’s two more. Now I just got two new synthetic knots. One of which is set to be used tonight. This crap is getting out of hand. And it is all of you guys’ fault. 
This Amelda Marcos collecting syndrome stuff must be stopped.

Tuesday Shave Thoughts: That's not a boar, but it's not your typical synthetic, either. And special musings triggered by Fluffy      

AP Shave Co has found another synthetic knot that is different from anything else I have tried. When I first dabbled in synths (brushes, not instruments! Rush got into them heavily in the 80s, and thankfully pulled up and out, getting back to using them as seasoning instead of main course!). Where was I? Oh yeah, synthetic brushes. November of 2015, Maggard Razors Black Friday sale. I got an Omega S, which was a synthetic boar. Hokey Pokey!! Ditched it fast on some unsuspecting person responding to a PIF!

I used the SOC boar for over a week, and that was the slippery slope into buying knots and looking at other Omegas, Semogues, and Zeniths (Thanks, Tim!).  Then on Meta (the social platform formerly known as FB), Andrew posted about these new boar synths. So I ordered 2, as the price seemed right and I was flush with cash after the sales of a couple of razors. Today the 26mm got to do the job of creating and applying the lather. 

It did well. If I hadn't been using a boar lately, I would be super impressed. The bristles are scrubby, but have enough splay to not be pokey. There is no springy sproing catapulting lather at my wife's sink or ceiling (catapult thanks to Paul D!) Flow through is nice, like a synth. 

Differences from the real deal: no heat retention, softness is not the same, but is more like a synthetic softness. Now I only had the one use, but I find the softness of the SOC to be something entirely different from what I think I recall a badger softness feeling like. The SynBad and the 2BED are the closest to my memory of a nice badger brush, but I don't have a badger brush to compare to. Maybe Paul (either one, toss a coin!) or anyone else with both could give a better compare and contrast!

Bottom line: I am happy with the synthetic boar but won't buy another, not given that a real knot or even full brush isn't that much different in price to the synthetic. But if I hadn't been gifted 2 boars recently, I would buy it and be totally happy. It's just that my face likes the real boar (last 2 badgers I tried seemed to irritate my face, like allergy type reaction), and I like the heat retention and feel of the natural bristle. 

The other musings? Ken brings up an interesting point, which I interpreted as acquisitions. When I first started this journey back in the Fall of 2015, it was about a better shave and saving money, to boot! Ha, what a laugh! Then in 2018 I purposefully hit the brakes, and worked to reduce to what I liked and reached for most, and stopped chasing "the next best thing." I became a Minimalist: 3 razors, 4 brushes, 3 soaps. Now over 2 years later, I am seemingly back in acquisition mode! I am trying to temper it with the knowledge that if I don't see myself reaching for it, move it on! It's those dang handles that I see that make me want them all, they look so nice. So minimalism is not going to be the key, Contentment has got to be the key. I need to learn what Contentment looks like in my shave collection. It can't be "just one more [object] and then I'll be content." And I don't think it is a number that limits things. That seems too arbitrary. It needs to involve enjoyment of use, joy in beholding, even remembrance of past times or of good friends. That I think would work for me. I had already thought that if Trotter Handcrafts posts some handle that just speaks to me, like several have, then I should examine what I have first, see if any don't speak or have a connection, and consider moving it along to make some room. And think about that new one, is it really speaking? or is it the voices in my head?! Enjoyment is involved in acquiring. Enjoyment is involved in sharing, and selling, and gifting. So many ways to not be a hoarder! (inside joke, based on an exchange of messages with Rob, in which he summed up something I'd written as "I see, you are a hoarder!")

Okay, that wall of text is enough. It's only Tuesday, whether you have Tabac or not! Thanks for reading, for sharing, for enabling, and for allowing uncool kids to play along!! 

Just because you have allergies to the scents used in soaps. Doesn’t make you “un-cool” Eric. 
The positive way I would look at it is. The allergy prevents you from succumbing to SAD. 
That frees up surplus funds for brushes and razors.  
I think you are one of those kids that can blur the lines between the cool kids, jocks, preppies and stoners. My $.02
Fluffy

I really enjoyed the musings Eric ! Nice thoughts.

Thanks guys! Ken, you are right on! I was accepted amongst all groups, except the upper inner circle of cool kids. And we had burn outs, not stones! Same idea, sort of.

I still try to accept everyone, without being two faced. Can be difficult in my work setting, but I will call a spade a spade. I just have to impose filters and develop an ability to think "you're entitled to wrong opinions!"

Very nice writeup Eric.  

I few days ago, I ran across a Facebook meme that went:  "Love people and use things, because the opposite never works."  Turns out it's the title of a book by two minimalists.  Anyway, if you are looking for contentment, then you are on the right track, and it is only human if your search ebbs and flows.  Chances are your contentment will grow as you age.

This was in the case that the GEM Clog Pruf was in. Any ideas what this is?



It has printed on it "J. R. TORREY RAZOR CO."

It was tucked into the case like it belonged. Seller did not know either and included it as it was received.

This is the one of the listing photos showing where it is located. 

Very nice writeup Eric.  

I few days ago, I ran across a Facebook meme that went:  "Love people and use things, because the opposite never works."  Turns out it's the title of a book by two minimalists.  Anyway, if you are looking for contentment, then you are on the right track, and it is only human if your search ebbs and flows.  Chances are your contentment will grow as you age.

Thanks Mike! Great sentiment and one to practice.

As for shaving, I don't feel greedy, nor needy. I want to explore stuff. And I am not looking for a Grail razor, brush, or soap, you know. I am enjoying the journey, but I recognize that I am accumulating a tidy amount of stuff. That can bother me, as I have a tendency to think that I to use all of it. No, I don't. I need to know what I like, and what I can move on to the next person!

Not sure what your “widget” is there Eric. Torrey made straights. Not sure if they did any safety razor items. They were in Worchester Mass. 
I might guess maybe a strop related buckle? 
Someone may know or have seen that piece of brass used in its proper form. 
I’d be curious to know as well. 
Fluffy

Ya got me scouring the interwebs trying to figure that out.

I know nothing about straight or their accessories. Still, what Fluffy suggests has merit. Would be cool to find a picture, and some history / details.

Definitely watching this as it unfolds.

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