Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

Vector 
Schick Proline (3)
Trotter Handcrafts The Old Forest/SynBad 
MdC Nature 

For the first time, I loaded the brush from a sheet of paper! 



Very pleased with the lather. But the sample sheet was about the same price as a tub of other soap. But maybe, some day! 

Have a great day!

This week will start the Era focus. Soap will continue to be the NO Bare. It had a half inch wide ribbon running along the edge of the tub, so I condensed it down to small puck in the center. Went from thinking it was almost done to now thinking I have at least a couple of weeks yet! Brushes may vary, but I think I may use the SOC Mistura and an AP mixed knot. I just don't recall which handles have that knot! I believe my Fluffy Industries 86S is one of the handles. I used mostly a G5A synthetic last week and noted that synths don't seem to hold heat well, or maybe not as long as natural fibers. Given I want to enjoy warmer lather, I am going with the mixed knots for the week.

I did have a surprising find this morning, though. While the Era did a great job and is easy to use, I think that the Ti Vector shaved a smidge smoother! What?! Compared to the last four days of Vector/Proline shaves, shave #2 with a Viking's Sword blade in the Era seemed just a little bit harsh? Could be all in my head, could be the friggin' acne/rosacea. Could be a lack of coffee. The Era shave was great, but for whatever reason, I felt like yesterday's Vector shave was a tad more comfy. Which is what surprised me so much. With the SS Vector, by day 3 I was crying uncle! In fact, I have a note that says trying using it only every other day!

Thats my shave news. Oh, I did find a new home with an appreciative guy for my Green Ray brush with the Tribble knot.


This guy absconded again with the brush!



Sylvester shows no interest in SynBads, cashmeres, badgers, boars, not even Tuxedos! But that Green Ray Tribble knot, that he has now carried away twice, so I gladly gift it to him! (But being a cat, now he probably won't play with it any more!! 

One day into my weekly shave setup and I switched it up already. I am substituting the Vector for the Era. This is from yesterday's post, in order to give some insight into the thought process:

"I did have a surprising find this morning, though. While the Era did a great job and is easy to use, I think that the Ti Vector shaved a smidge smoother! What?! Compared to the last four days of Vector/Proline shaves, shave #2 with a Viking's Sword blade in the Era seemed just a little bit harsh? Could be all in my head, could be the friggin' acne/rosacea. Could be a lack of coffee. The Era shave was great, but for whatever reason, I felt like yesterday's Vector shave was a tad more comfy. Which is what surprised me so much. With the SS Vector, by day 3 I was crying uncle! In fact, I have a note that says trying using it only every other day!"

And Benjamin (posting in a thread elsewhere that I participate in) posted this comment yesterday that really stuck around in my head for a while, even if not consciously thinking about it (you know, how sometimes your brain doesn't dismiss the thought but you don't actively participate in evaluating the thought, but some strange brain property does it for you in the background? Or am I a weirdo?!):

"My past overindulgence in purchases of shaving supplies is what got me into trouble, not the kilo of Cella. I'm much better now in regard to my shopping habits and I've learned my lesson."

And lastly, Dave posted this earlier today:

"I just had a shave that will rival the Vector and has me wondering if I should keep it or not..........WHAT?!?!?! Yes, that good of a shave result. Is it as sleek and maneuverable ? NO. Is the head as small and easy to get in tight spots ? NO. But it works and I got a great shave using a new Feather Pro blade with a dot 2 plate and for a fraction of the cost of the Vector....Has Dave thinking hard as he wants to minimize his modern razors in each category in the den. Have a great day Everyone!"

All the above factors gelled into a cohesive plan this morning: get the Vector back out as I really wanted to use it more. I think, even with only 2 shaves in, that I don't *need* an Era. I have the new Overlander that knocked my socks off, as well as the Yates 921 and my trusty Karve CB and Slim razors. That's 4 DEs that are tops for me. The Tech and the NEW long comb are fun, but not often reached for.


Thanks for reading and thanks to the guys above, as well as many others here, for helping me sort out the stuff in my little gray cells!

See this post for what the sample soap from MdC in the envelope looked like. I carefully cut the sheet and tried to get as much as possible of the soap into an empty tub.

That brain thing where stuff gets processed in the background is the reason the phrase “let me sleep on that” exists. Soak time, cogitation, leave it with me and I’ll get back to you. I’m retired now but I spent 30 years as an in-house lawyer for energy corporations. If I learned nothing else, I learned to (almost) never give a client an immediate, off the top of my head response when they came to me to run some “brilliant”scheme by me usually late in the afternoon. Things always look clearer after sufficient soak time or, even better, sleeping on it.

A fresh Personna Platinum Chrome (aka the Israeli Red) was already in the Era, so I decided to shave with it this morning. And the Fat was present for lather duty. What a delightful shave! Easy peasy! However, if I were to get an Era, I would like to try the Level 4 SB plate. The 3 is great, but I am getting stubble much earlier than with other razors. 

And I think our BST has its first Era posted; good luck seller, I don't think you will have to wait too long to sell it! 

In work news, I got to point a young man to the shaving section. "See that sign with the guy with foam on his face? Kind of funny, but that is where we put all the shaving supplies!" 

An update on Sylvester and his Tribble brush. In typical feline fashion, little wads of paper have become more interesting than the Green Ray, so a quick wash/rinse and it is back in the pen with the other brushes!

An update on Sylvester and his Tribble brush. In typical feline fashion, little wads of paper have become more interesting than the Green Ray, so a quick wash/rinse and it is back in the pen with the other brushes!

A fresh Personna Platinum Chrome (aka the Israeli Red) was already in the Era, so I decided to shave with it this morning. And the Fat was present for lather duty. What a delightful shave! Easy peasy! However, if I were to get an Era, I would like to try the Level 4 SB plate. The 3 is great, but I am getting stubble much earlier than with other razors. 

And I think our BST has its first Era posted; good luck seller, I don't think you will have to wait too long to sell it! 

In work news, I got to point a young man to the shaving section. "See that sign with the guy with foam on his face? Kind of funny, but that is where we put all the shaving supplies!" 

Eric, when will we see the plastic orange Bic razor in your SOTD photos? It's technically a SE, right?

I mentioned over in Paul D.'s Journal about having a mustache up until 2004. Here is the promised photo of the 'stache and my mullet.
You Have Been Warned!

This was 1996, school yearbook faculty photo. Several of us "young-uns" took it into our heads to "dress up" according to our subject matter. The principal had us take serious shots later, as he didn't think it was appropriate for the year book!