Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

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!

It’s funny that you say that. After I posted yesterday I walked away thinking to myself “why should I stick to a blade that’s not perfect? It’s not like it’s Brussels sprouts or otherwise character building.“ after sleeping on it I’d resolved that I was going to switch to the milder blade. After all, you’d been through the same experience and were kind enough to share both your experience and milder blades just to make it easier for me. I may be dense but things eventually get through. Sometimes. Thanks Eric.

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!

It’s funny that you say that. After I posted yesterday I walked away thinking to myself “why should I stick to a blade that’s not perfect? It’s not like it’s Brussels sprouts or otherwise character building.“ after sleeping on it I’d resolved that I was going to switch to the milder blade. After all, you’d been through the same experience and were kind enough to share both your experience and milder blades just to make it easier for me. I may be dense but things eventually get through. Sometimes. Thanks Eric.

This is too funny and is in contention to win the internet today!

The Octuple Fixed Four Schick Shaving Show

Part 2: The Canadian Type E



For the next five shaves, we're going Canadian, eh! Or rather, the Type E Made in Canada. Along with MacDuff's (western Canada, I belive), and an APSCo knot (eastern Canada). Handle is the Fluffy Industries 86S Copper. Good weight in hand and I am liking the new knot. 

Odd thing this morning was that this 24mm MiG knot feels much smaller than the Shave Forge 22mm Shave Forge high mountain white badger I used yesterday!

For some history fun for Part 2, the Type Es were made during the 30s and stopped in during WWII. In late 1945 or early 1946, Schick Type Gs were introduced in the US. But in Canada, both the new Type G and some Type Es  were made. See the excellent Dummies Guides for more details. During the '30s, and back into the '20s, Gillette razors had many open comb models. Here is a Schick/Eversharp ad regarding combs.



Oh, and it is That Day.

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!

It’s funny that you say that. After I posted yesterday I walked away thinking to myself “why should I stick to a blade that’s not perfect? It’s not like it’s Brussels sprouts or otherwise character building.“ after sleeping on it I’d resolved that I was going to switch to the milder blade. After all, you’d been through the same experience and were kind enough to share both your experience and milder blades just to make it easier for me. I may be dense but things eventually get through. Sometimes. Thanks Eric.

This is too funny and is in contention to win the internet today!

That would be cool. What’s the prize??  

To be fair to Shane, he never said in his video to pick the most aggressive blade you can find and stick with it. What he did say was not to jump around all over the map trying every blade with a different one for every shave.  Puck what you think you’re going to like and try to stick with that one until you figure out if any issues are technique related or blade choice. At least that’s how I remember it. In any case I’m going with a Kai Captain mild tomorrow. Maybe the guarded blade to see what that’s about.

I was surprised that when Shane was comparing SE to DE he didn't mention the Blackland Sabre and the GEM blades (also an SE format and SE razor).

It would have been nice if Shane mentioned TryABlade.com so that people could try an individual AC (or GEM or DE) blade without buying an expensive pack of blades that you do not like. I guess if he did, that would amount to an endorsement.

Eric, I used a Kai Captain Mild Pink today - it was a nice close shave    Its clearly not as sharp as the Feather Pro.  It was a very tight fit on the top cap posts.  I had to very carefully press down pretty hard on the one side to get it to snap into place.  Also removing it required the use of a prying device.  I remove and rinse after every shave so this might be an issue.  Did you find that blade to be a tight fit on your razor?  The Feather Pro just drops into place.  It wouldn't be an issue except that the top cap is such a tiny piece that there isn't much to get a purchase on and nobody likes to have a slip up with a sharp blade.  Also wonder if over time that might wear the post.

Eric, I used a Kai Captain Mild Pink today - it was a nice close shave    Its clearly not as sharp as the Feather Pro.  It was a very tight fit on the top cap posts.  I had to very carefully press down pretty hard on the one side to get it to snap into place.  Also removing it required the use of a prying device.  I remove and rinse after every shave so this might be an issue.  Did you find that blade to be a tight fit on your razor?  The Feather Pro just drops into place.  It wouldn't be an issue except that the top cap is such a tiny piece that there isn't much to get a purchase on and nobody likes to have a slip up with a sharp blade.  Also wonder if over time that might wear the post.

Maybe? I didn't make any notes on it, but I believe I did have some issues with one of the Kai blades. In mid-February, I switched back and forth between the Mild and the regular Captain blade. I know I had to work to remove a blade both times, but I didn't note which one it was. I did note that the Mild was comfortable but not as close as the Captain (and therefore not as close as the Feather Pro, either).

Eric, I used a Kai Captain Mild Pink today - it was a nice close shave    Its clearly not as sharp as the Feather Pro.  It was a very tight fit on the top cap posts.  I had to very carefully press down pretty hard on the one side to get it to snap into place.  Also removing it required the use of a prying device.  I remove and rinse after every shave so this might be an issue.  Did you find that blade to be a tight fit on your razor?  The Feather Pro just drops into place.  It wouldn't be an issue except that the top cap is such a tiny piece that there isn't much to get a purchase on and nobody likes to have a slip up with a sharp blade.  Also wonder if over time that might wear the post.

Maybe? I didn't make any notes on it, but I believe I did have some issues with one of the Kai blades. In mid-February, I switched back and forth between the Mild and the regular Captain blade. I know I had to work to remove a blade both times, but I didn't note which one it was. I did note that the Mild was comfortable but not as close as the Captain (and therefore not as close as the Feather Pro, either).

Ok, I’ll try the Captain next. The Mild did give a very close shave. I’ll be able to tell how close as time goes by. The Feather Pro Shave doesn’t start feeling stubble for over 12 hours. This past weekend I shaved around 9:30am Saturday and was still feeling presentable enough that I went to Mass at 5pm Sunday without shaving again. Despite the blades being more expensive, if I shave every second day consistently, I reckon I get a month out of a blade so $12/year which is pretty reasonable.

Eric, I used a Kai Captain Mild Pink today - it was a nice close shave    Its clearly not as sharp as the Feather Pro.  It was a very tight fit on the top cap posts.  I had to very carefully press down pretty hard on the one side to get it to snap into place.  Also removing it required the use of a prying device.  I remove and rinse after every shave so this might be an issue.  Did you find that blade to be a tight fit on your razor?  The Feather Pro just drops into place.  It wouldn't be an issue except that the top cap is such a tiny piece that there isn't much to get a purchase on and nobody likes to have a slip up with a sharp blade.  Also wonder if over time that might wear the post.

Maybe? I didn't make any notes on it, but I believe I did have some issues with one of the Kai blades. In mid-February, I switched back and forth between the Mild and the regular Captain blade. I know I had to work to remove a blade both times, but I didn't note which one it was. I did note that the Mild was comfortable but not as close as the Captain (and therefore not as close as the Feather Pro, either).

Ok, I’ll try the Captain next. The Mild did give a very close shave. I’ll be able to tell how close as time goes by. The Feather Pro Shave doesn’t start feeling stubble for over 12 hours. This past weekend I shaved around 9:30am Saturday and was still feeling presentable enough that I went to Mass at 5pm Sunday without shaving again. Despite the blades being more expensive, if I shave every second day consistently, I reckon I get a month out of a blade so $12/year which is pretty reasonable.

I have found the Captain to be nearly identical in experience as to the Feather Pro. I have an opened pack of Supers that I got when I bought the Pros on our BST a while back. This was when I found the the Proline P-30s I had did not fit the Ti Vector. It was worse than what you described above!

And I have notes that say I went 14 shaves on an AC blade, changing it only because I wanted to try a different blade! (It was a Proline, and I was trying a Kai ProTouch guarded blade.)

Maybe? I didn't make any notes on it, but I believe I did have some issues with one of the Kai blades. In mid-February, I switched back and forth between the Mild and the regular Captain blade. I know I had to work to remove a blade both times, but I didn't note which one it was. I did note that the Mild was comfortable but not as close as the Captain (and therefore not as close as the Feather Pro, either).

Ok, I’ll try the Captain next. The Mild did give a very close shave. I’ll be able to tell how close as time goes by. The Feather Pro Shave doesn’t start feeling stubble for over 12 hours. This past weekend I shaved around 9:30am Saturday and was still feeling presentable enough that I went to Mass at 5pm Sunday without shaving again. Despite the blades being more expensive, if I shave every second day consistently, I reckon I get a month out of a blade so $12/year which is pretty reasonable.

I have found the Captain to be nearly identical in experience as to the Feather Pro. I have an opened pack of Supers that I got when I bought the Pros on our BST a while back. This was when I found the the Proline P-30s I had did not fit the Ti Vector. It was worse than what you described above!

And I have notes that say I went 14 shaves on an AC blade, changing it only because I wanted to try a different blade! (It was a Proline, and I was trying a Kai ProTouch guarded blade.)

OK, I didn't use the Captain today because it didn't fit but the ProTouch Guarded blade dropped in nicely - thats odd and I wonder if its just this batch of blades or all of the Kai Captain and Mild blades and if so, why is the ProTouch different?  Maybe a different factory, who knows?  In any case I got a good shave with the ProTouch, probably a little too mild for me but  still gives a decent shave.  Much less risk of injury to the point that I might call it a technique destroyer - a razor/blade that is so comfortable and forgiving that you end up swiping away like Errol Flynn in a pirate movie and of course when you switch back to a more aggressive blade its (Captain) blood time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Blood_(1935_film) 
The Rockwell 6s on plates 1-3 can be a technique destroyer too.  I do appreciate the opportunity to try a wider range of blades in the Vector sooner than I otherwise would have - also the low cost (free!!) nature of the blade trial is really appreciated.  What is with the Schick blades that are mentioned in the Vector thread P20 and P30 - are those unavailable now?  I think you mentioned above that the P30 didn't fit the razor.