Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

You can get all the Hario stuff including filters on Amazon. Not the grocery store but still readily available and under $0.08 a filter which isn’t bad.

Coffee first!



This is my JavaPress branded mesh pour over cone. It gives a rich, full taste and mouth feel, like good French press, but only slightly less messy to clean up. The biggest reason is the clean up. I have a septic tank and no garbage disposal in the sink, so I've always dumped the bulk of the grounds in the trash, and wipe with an old napkin or paper towel, then rinse the rest down the drain and hope for the best (i.e., not clogging the line). But some great cups for sure!

Now the shaving. For the last week of vintage focus, here is the line up.
 
The Type G on the left, Peerless Clog Pruf center, and the Damaskeene on the right. And because my decision making skills this week are like a squirrel crossing the road, here is the brush line up!


So far this week, Sunday was the Peerless and the SOC Mistura on the left. Great shave, very smooth and reminding me why I love this GEM. Monday was up and out for Boston surgery consult. After the cancer scare, it was highly recommended that she have her gall bladder removed. The consult went well, the surgeon is one of the cancer team members so is (hopefully) familiar with my wife's history. Date will most likely be end of June to coincided with a planned stay-cation. Otherwise, I cancel the staycation and get a week off when the surgeon says so!

Tiring day of driving (7 hours round trip with potty breaks), so today is R&R, then Tyler sees the animal dermatologist, so he and I are road trippin' to Portland tomorrow morning. I hope he enjoys the music and the book I'm listening to!

Today was a superb shave with the GEM Damaskeene from Dave.  Here is what I wrote in another neighborhood: "This is an amazing mild feeling yet very efficient razor from over 100 years ago! The head is a little bulky, but easy to get the hang of when used daily. Notice, too, the early safety bar style design that looks like an open comb! The company changed hands and names several times over the next few decades and many styles were tried and tinkered with, all to sell more razors and compete for the market that Gillette was blanketing. But in my humble opinion, they (GEM) nailed it with this razor. I would like a longer handle, and I can do that, but the purist in me wants it to be as intended. Maybe I should look for another and make my own FrankenGem!"





This razor could easily be my desert island razor. But, variety! It is an amazingly smooth and efficient shaver. I did some research (read Google. It's on the internet so it must be true!) and found that Damaskeene most likely refers to Damascene steel, i.e., Damascus steel) for the blades. I assume for the razor, too, but we all know what assuming does! In any event, Dave very kindly gave me a GEM Cutlery one, probably the second iteration of the Damaskeene. The first was an open comb. I am seriously thinking of hunting down another, even though I don't do "back up" razors! This little guy delivers in spades, and I love that it is over 100 years old, no matter what version you get. I think I am understanding Dave's love for vintage more and more. The GEMs and the injectors have been outstanding for me.

Okay, the coffee is cooling too fast and I have a video on the Hydromagic to watch! Later, froods!

The last days of Vintage April have seen and will see the following used. They give me some great shaves! 



And the middle two brushes have been outstanding these last days! 

Hi Eric, I thought I’d post here on my first Overlander shave. It was very nice. I think Chris has made some improvements over the Christopher Bradley with the Overlander. It’s just a nicer razor. Don’t get me wrong, the CB is very nice but the Overlander is nicer. I used a Feather blade and B&M Leviathan (omnibus) for the first shave and it went very well. It’s efficient without really any significant blade feel.   I like it. I might have to buy another one as I think I’d like to gift an Overlander to my son. I think he’d appreciate such a fine piece of hardware.

Hi Eric, I thought I’d post here on my first Overlander shave. It was very nice. I think Chris has made some improvements over the Christopher Bradley with the Overlander. It’s just a nicer razor. Don’t get me wrong, the CB is very nice but the Overlander is nicer. I used a Feather blade and B&M Leviathan (omnibus) for the first shave and it went very well. It’s efficient without really any significant blade feel.   I like it. I might have to buy another one as I think I’d like to gift an Overlander to my son. I think he’d appreciate such a fine piece of hardware.

Thanks for the report! It's a remarkable razor for sure. I find myself thinking about backups! I bet your son would love it.

First use today. I am hoping it was the blade, as I had multiple leaks appear, mostly near my chin. 


Ever-Ready Streamline 
Personna GEM (1)
Samish Dusk badger 
PAA Scentsless soap

Sorry Eric, I did say it's considered more aggressive than the 1912. Less pressure due to extra heft and correct angle with a slow steady stroke. Hoping it gets better for you.

Sorry Eric, I did say it's considered more aggressive than the 1912. Less pressure due to extra heft and correct angle with a slow steady stroke. Hoping it gets better for you.

Thanks, Dave. I appreciate your help, especially with all you have going on. I think that the blade may have been seated odd, as when I was moving it to the Sabre, I noticed a lot of dried soap on the left side of the blade, and some collected on the base plate as well. More experiments are needed!

Take care, my friend!