Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

Here is the setup I've been using so far this week.



GEM Junior with last week's PTFE blade
Stirling brush handle, APSCo mixed badger/boar
Stirling Unscented with Beeswax

Some great shaves in so far!

That was a good experiment about your water Eric. 
Three or four years ago I got some of a buddy's softened water, not enough difference, if any, on that test.

I also think it was a good experiment - so good that I plan to try it.  

Geologists divide Virginia into three regions: Coastal Plain, Piedmont (foot hills), and  Mountain.  Our reservoir is just above the fall line, i.e., the dividing line between the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain.  That means every metal ion in the Virginia Piedmont and Mountains has a shot at rolling downhill into our reservoir.    I have been using a level 1/8 tsp of citric acid crystals per basin full of shave water, and that does make a notable difference.  But I still wonder if things could be better.

Eric MaineYooper:  Do you heat your distilled water? 

That was a good experiment about your water Eric. 
Three or four years ago I got some of a buddy's softened water, not enough difference, if any, on that test.

I also think it was a good experiment - so good that I plan to try it.  

Geologists divide Virginia into three regions: Coastal Plain, Piedmont (foot hills), and  Mountain.  Our reservoir is just above the fall line, i.e., the dividing line between the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain.  That means every metal ion in the Virginia Piedmont and Mountains has a shot at rolling downhill into our reservoir.    I have been using a level 1/8 tsp of citric acid crystals per basin full of shave water, and that does make a notable difference.  But I still wonder if things could be better.

Eric MaineYooper:  Do you heat your distilled water? 

Hi Mike,

I don't heat it actively, but passively through conduction in the basin of my scuttle. I am only using the distilled water for the soaking and wetting of the knot. I am still rinsing it out with tap water. For years I have used, like you, an 1/8 tsp of citric acid in the sink basin to prevent soap scum. Using commercially produced liquid hand soaps hasn't ever resulted in soap scum. But artisan soaps do. Must be due to the lack of long chemical names in the ingredients that causes artisan soaps to be prone to making scum!

I really didn't want to add an additional step or item to my shave routine, but it allowed me to easily lather with my favorite boar brushes. I should add that no other knots have had any issues with making or keeping lather for the shave.

Hope that gives a better idea why and how!

Thanks Eric MaineYooper.  Over the years, plumbers have confirmed that the water in our area is exceptionally hard.  I am not sure that 1/8 tsp is sufficient to sequester all the metal ions in my water, and I am concerned that the lowered pH might have immediate effects on lathering and/or long term effects on some of my gear.  Nor am I knowledgeable enough to rule out the possibility that the sequestered ions themselves, present in high enough concentration, could be impeding performance.  In any case, a few gallons of  distilled water is a cheap way to satisfy my curiosity.

FWIW I tried the distilled water yesterday, including an extra 1 qt presoak and rinse to get things off to a clean start. The results are encouraging, and I am cautiously optimistic. Part of the uncertainty is due to having only one (1) trial.  Part is due to having used some of my best/favorite/most familiar gear: a Kodiak base soap, Timeless Aluminum w Wizamet, and Omega EVO synthetic.  That roster should do better than average.  In any case, the lather performed excellently, and building it was a pleasure.

FWIW I tried the distilled water yesterday, including an extra 1 qt presoak and rinse to get things off to a clean start. The results are encouraging, and I am cautiously optimistic. Part of the uncertainty is due to having only one (1) trial.  Part is due to having used some of my best/favorite/most familiar gear: a Kodiak base soap, Timeless Aluminum w Wizamet, and Omega EVO synthetic.  That roster should do better than average.  In any case, the lather performed excellently, and building it was a pleasure.

I cleaned all my brushes over the last several days using the PAA brush cleaner exactly as the directions stated, as before I used it how I figured it was to be used and over did it! At the beginning of the shave, I give a brief soak in a mug of dH20 (if using a synthetic), and longer for either badger or boar. I am very pleased with the results so far. My biggest issue to date is starting with the brush too damp/wet and all that entails. This morning, I shook the synthetic knot a bit after giving the knot a squeeze and had a fantastic lather. 

Also, I am using Stirling, and it lathers so easily. I need to try this with one of the "tougher" crowd and see how it goes. An mainly, this was just to get my boar knots doing better. It's not like a big thing, having to reload the brush, but dang if it doesn't feel wrong!! ha ha

Hope your "studies" continue to go well!

Thanks for the 411 Eric MaineYooper, and good luck to you too.  It's helpful to compare notes.

Spent the week with the Vector and either a Feather ProGuard or the Kai Captain Mild (unguarded) blade for some great shaves. But as I have a few days off now, I decided to spend some time with my Gillettes.

Today's shave was with what I call my Shave-Year razor, a razor I could have started with back in 1979 if I didn't go with whatever cartridge razor Gillette sent in a cardboard tube! This is the black handled Super Speed, a likely candidate as it is simple and likely inexpensive back then.



Gillette Super Speed Z-?
NOS Personna PtCr (1)
TGN 20mm silvertip badger in Ever-Ready 100T handle
Stirling Unscented with Beeswax

That's the beauty and fun of this Eric. Pull out whatever the mood strikes you with. Nice shaves !

Thanks Dave in KY that does keep great shaves enjoyable!