Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

Some odds and ends

Back in December I needed to replace my winter outerwear. I took me several tries, but thankfully you can try jackets at home and return them. I wanted a warm winter jacket with a removable hood, and the jacket needed to not deplete the check book! I also was unhappy with my winter hat. Now I grew up a Yooper, so the go to winter hat is the tuque, otherwise known as a knit cap. I wasn't digging the look. Bomber hats are little too much. I considered a scally cap, but my wife vetoed that, saying it didn't work for me. Then a guy stopped in the pharmacy with what turned out to be a Tilley hat. I like it and ordered one a couple of days later. It has thermal ear flaps that not only keep my ears warm but help to anchor the hat in high winds. 


The hat and the new coat.



My wife says it makes me look old, but I reminded here that I have completed 58 circuits around our primary, so I can be old now! Honestly, she is okay with it and is slowly getting used to me in it.



An Enders Speed Shaver arrived yesterday, courtesy of a trade with Dave. He also put in 2 adapters made from original Enders Speed blades that allow one to use modern Schick Proline B-20 blades. My bargain bin calipers show one to be 13.2mm and the other to be 13.5mm. I put 1 dot on the back of the 13.2mm and 2 dots on the other and used the level 1 for the first pass this morning. Pretty darn good! I finished up with the Type E and will probably substitute the Enders for the Type M, as I did a week with that injector in January, if memory serves. 

The head on the Speed Shaver seems large, and I didn't find the handle easy at first, but I was overthinking it. Patent diagrams show the handle was designed to be held naturally and I was trying to hold it with my finger tips. I found the patent diagram and notes on the handle very interesting. Here is a link to Safety Razors info site showing how the inventor envisioned the razor to be held.

Thank you, Dave in KY, for trading with me!

I think the bomber hat would’ve been cool.  

I think the bomber hat would’ve been cool.  

I rest my case…

One more day with this "fixed four" then on to the next installment of the Octuple Fixed Four Schick Shaving Show.

What I have noted is that the E2 (above) is a bit more aggressive than I prefer. Today I went for my normal passes and, even with being attentive to pressure and not repeatedly going over a patch, I ended up with some irritation and a couple of red spots. Cold water and a balm tamed that down, allowing to end feeling refreshed (a goal for each shave) but not able to say a really comfy shave. By no means a bad shave, but one that lets me know I need to find the right style withs this razor. Going back to earlier in the week, I skipped various passes on various days for a good shave that checked all the boxes. I will repeat one of those tomorrow.

Mail call!  Thanks Eric, you’re very kind and generous. I look forward to trying these out once I get through about 10 shaves on the Feather Professional. I think I’ll take a break after that and shave DE for a week or two then try a 10 day cycle on one of these. Which one would you recommend I try first?

Mail call!  Thanks Eric, you’re very kind and generous. I look forward to trying these out once I get through about 10 shaves on the Feather Professional. I think I’ll take a break after that and shave DE for a week or two then try a 10 day cycle on one of these. Which one would you recommend I try first?

The Yooper guy has a generous spirit for sure !

 I look forward to trying these out once I get through about 10 shaves on the Feather Professional. I think I’ll take a break after that and shave DE for a week or two then try a 10 day cycle on one of these. Which one would you recommend I try first?

I found the Kai Captain blades to be very similar to the Feather Pros. I found the Protouch MG guarded blade to be pretty good, but not needed, for me, with the titanium Vector. The Kai Captain Mild is very nice for a more casual feel. But if you handed me the razor to me without telling me what was in it, I bet I'd only be able to ID the guarded blade.

I think, if you are getting on with the Feather Pro, try the Captain Milds and see if a step down is more comfortable, or just less efficient. It is fun to try all these and compare, but when I use other razors in between Vector shaves, it was harder to tell differences. I may buy more Kai Milds, or the Feather equivalent, just to have some for those weeks I want to be more carefree than what the Ti Vector allows.

And I am very glad you find this helpful! Over 7 years ago, I was the newbie looking for help and this community was so helpful for me. I am enjoying paying back to our community!

This is a great community for sure. I do appreciate the blades so I can try all the different ones to see what works. I’m sticking with the feather pro for now because that’s what Shane suggests-stick with one until you figure out your technique. Maybe I should try a milder blade next shave. I haven’t had a completely blood free shave yet but it’s coming along. I have problem spots on the corners of my  chin/jaw. I just have to remember to be more careful in those spots. I can nik myself there with a DE too if I’m not careful and I’m using an aggressive razor and blade combination. I’m really liking the shave I’m getting from the Vector and it’s kind of fun being a novice again. I appreciate your advice and support. And the blades.

I have the same problem spots, Marko. And I understand where Shane is coming from. I think switching to a mild or even to a guarded blade is warrented, in order to help you get confident with the AC format.

It is my experience that that the guarded blades feel odd on my face, when in the Vector or Hawk, but feel much better in a shavette. Others say guarded blades are outstanding performers in the Vector. So it seems that it depends on the individual. I bought the Mild blades for a better face-feel, back when I had the stainless steel Vector. 

Hope my early morning and pre-coffee thoughts are at least coherent, if not also helpful!