Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

I would nominate Bill Murray to play the part of Alfred E. Neuman in the upcoming  MAD Magazine movie. If there actually was an upcoming movie and Bill Murray were 20 or 30 years younger like in that picture.

An excellent shave this morning!

Yaqi Romulus 
Schick Proline P-30 (1)
Stirling Sheep 
DSC Blue with APSCo 24mm Titanium fan
(many thanks to Paul mrdoug for the handle!)

An excellent shave this morning!

Yaqi Romulus 
Schick Proline P-30 (1)
Stirling Sheep 
DSC Blue with APSCo 24mm Titanium fan
(many thanks to Paul mrdoug for the handle!)

Nice looking setup Eric. Good to see the handle has found some use. In my mind, the color is reminiscent of artsy stuff - Van Gogh Starry Night or something. Unfortunately, they didn't drill it enough for a proper 26mm knot. It looks good with your Titanium fan. Nice choice.

I should be back on the Sheep myself in a few weeks. A good soap, for sure. I need to run it through its paces again, to see if it'll be a reorder type soap (like the Zingari and Macduffs is). My den needs more cost efficient choices. Lol. Heck, I've been back on the fence about trying Soap Commander, again. I just keep going back to how well their Vision worked, for such a 'no frills' soap.

I noticed the handle, too. In the picture it's hard to discern the finish difference (this was the unpolished one, right?). Is it fairly close in person... or more noticeable? Either way, that pattern is cool and unique. Good choice!

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

An excellent shave this morning!

Yaqi Romulus 
Schick Proline P-30 (1)
Stirling Sheep 
DSC Blue with APSCo 24mm Titanium fan
(many thanks to Paul mrdoug for the handle!)

Nice looking setup Eric. Good to see the handle has found some use. In my mind, the color is reminiscent of artsy stuff - Van Gogh Starry Night or something. Unfortunately, they didn't drill it enough for a proper 26mm knot. It looks good with your Titanium fan. Nice choice.

I should be back on the Sheep myself in a few weeks. A good soap, for sure. I need to run it through its paces again, to see if it'll be a reorder type soap (like the Zingari and Macduffs is). My den needs more cost efficient choices. Lol. Heck, I've been back on the fence about trying Soap Commander, again. I just keep going back to how well their Vision worked, for such a 'no frills' soap.

I noticed the handle, too. In the picture it's hard to discern the finish difference (this was the unpolished one, right?). Is it fairly close in person... or more noticeable? Either way, that pattern is cool and unique. Good choice!

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

The handle isn't polished but you are right, it isn't too noticeable, but more importantly, I like it!

Now I'm looking for another 24mm or 25mm handle, as that Cashmere knot you sent feels so good!

A brush/knot comparison

Over the last few months, I have added some really great synthetic knots to my brush collection. I wanted to record my thoughts on these knots, and maybe throw in some others as well. I got my first synthetic knots during a Black Friday sale at Maggards back in 2015. My favorite and most used in those early days was the Purple Swirl with a plissoft knot. I have it here somewhere but couldn't find it! I obviously put it somewhere safe that I'd never forget!! The other was an Omega S-brush, that was like soft fishing line and way to springy. 

Here are the recent additions:


From the top, 
Titanium 24mm fan from AP Shave (Simpson Platinum?)
Independent 24mm fan from AP Shave (Simpson Sovereign?) 
Muhle STF 25mm from AP Shave
Wald 27mm A1
SynBad 26mm bulb from AP Shave

Top view, in the same order

From the top, 
Titanium 24mm fan from AP Shave.
Independent 24mm fan from AP Shave.
Muhle STF 25mm from AP Shave
Wald 27mm A1
SynBad 26mm bulb from AP Shave

In 2018, I discovered the SynBad (synthetic badger) from AP Shave Co, and it become The Knot to Rule Them All. I found the 26mm is my favorite size, and today have both it and a 24mm in the brush drawer. These knots are so soft and feel so luxurious on my face. I have tried many AP Shave offerings since then, and have a few still in active rotation (2BED, MiG, Cashmere). 

In the last couple of years, I believe, Andrew at AP Shave has added some wonderful knots. i tried the G5s and kept returning to the SynBad. Then the MiGs came along (Made in Germany) and I found them softer than the G5s. An issue I had with both G5s and MiGs is getting the loft right, as they are shorter (less lofty?!) than what I was used to and less loft meant less splay. Splay is a factor I really enjoy in lathering up for the shave. 

When the Independent and Titanium knots became available, I bought some and now, set in the right handle, I am thoroughly enjoying these knots. The Independent has the softness and splay I prefer, and the Titanium is more dense, but can splay well for me, altough not as easily splayed as the SynBad. 

More recently, I acquired a Wald A1 27mm in the Calyx handle. This knot is the softest and densest I have come across! It will splay, but I have to coax it with either wetter lather or by using my chin or jawline. 

And last month, I got the Muhle STF knot. This is a knot I find myself returning to often, as it is a joy to use. 

Can I pick a favorite? Yes. The one I am using that day!

That's a great write-up Eric!  Thanks for the 411.         

A brush/knot comparison

Over the last few months, I have added some really great synthetic knots to my brush collection. I wanted to record my thoughts on these knots, and maybe throw in some others as well. I got my first synthetic knots during a Black Friday sale at Maggards back in 2015. My favorite and most used in those early days was the Purple Swirl with a plissoft knot. I have it here somewhere but couldn't find it! I obviously put it somewhere safe that I'd never forget!! The other was an Omega S-brush, that was like soft fishing line and way to springy. 

Here are the recent additions:


From the top, 
Titanium 24mm fan from AP Shave (Simpson Platinum?)
Independent 24mm fan from AP Shave (Simpson Sovereign?) 
Muhle STF 25mm from AP Shave
Wald 27mm A1
SynBad 26mm bulb from AP Shave

Top view, in the same order

From the top, 
Titanium 24mm fan from AP Shave.
Independent 24mm fan from AP Shave.
Muhle STF 25mm from AP Shave
Wald 27mm A1
SynBad 26mm bulb from AP Shave

In 2018, I discovered the SynBad (synthetic badger) from AP Shave Co, and it become The Knot to Rule Them All. I found the 26mm is my favorite size, and today have both it and a 24mm in the brush drawer. These knots are so soft and feel so luxurious on my face. I have tried many AP Shave offerings since then, and have a few still in active rotation (2BED, MiG, Cashmere). 

In the last couple of years, I believe, Andrew at AP Shave has added some wonderful knots. i tried the G5s and kept returning to the SynBad. Then the MiGs came along (Made in Germany) and I found them softer than the G5s. An issue I had with both G5s and MiGs is getting the loft right, as they are shorter (less lofty?!) than what I was used to and less loft meant less splay. Splay is a factor I really enjoy in lathering up for the shave. 

When the Independent and Titanium knots became available, I bought some and now, set in the right handle, I am thoroughly enjoying these knots. The Independent has the softness and splay I prefer, and the Titanium is more dense, but can splay well for me, altough not as easily splayed as the SynBad. 

More recently, I acquired a Wald A1 27mm in the Calyx handle. This knot is the softest and densest I have come across! It will splay, but I have to coax it with either wetter lather or by using my chin or jawline. 

And last month, I got the Muhle STF knot. This is a knot I find myself returning to often, as it is a joy to use. 

Can I pick a favorite? Yes. The one I am using that day!

What a fun walk down memory lane. It sounds like you are enjoying the discovery.

I'm with you: many days I'll call one brush my favorite, only to change my mind when I use a different one. It's absolutely not a horrible situation to be in, lol.

That's a Nice lineup, too. I told myself that all I needed was five 26mm brushes. Now that I've reached that, I'm pondering getting a 6th. The current (bull) excuse I'm using... I don't have a brush in purple. Lol. We do hone our reasoning skills in this hobby, eeh?



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Nice write up about the brushes Eric, and nice brushes.
So didn't you have a 30 mm Synbad, as I remember, a pillow of cloud type brush?
A cloud of pillow maybe?

Nice write up about the brushes Eric, and nice brushes.
So didn't you have a 30 mm Synbad, as I remember, a pillow of cloud type brush?
A cloud of pillow maybe?

Great memory, Keith! Yup, it was a great brush, but the 26mm worked better for me. 30mm is HUGE! And yes, it was a pillow of cloud! I honestly can't remember what crazy description I used, but I do recall our exchanges over brushes and if anything was better than the SynBad! Only recently would I say that *maybe* something is better. But then I use the SynBad and I am back to square one!

This morning's wonderful shave (Saturday, 2/10)