Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

The big nor'easter is looking like it will miss us! Which is fine by me, as I saw my first bunch of robins (flock? herd? passel?) and I always worry about them when they show up this early. Actually, this is probably the earliest I've ever seen them. But Maine Audubon says not to worry, they know what they're doing! If only I did, ha ha!!

I have taken a couple of days off this week, so I plan to get the Christmas decorations down and stored today. Just kidding. Big stuff is down but I missed the fireplace; got too used to seeing the stockings hung with care. (Waiting for Santa's after Christmas clearance trip!   )

Shaves have been fun lately. Since DecemBoar, I've gotten away from any sort of fixed four and have been enjoying the variety of options I have for every shave. It is a definite attraction and so fun to revisit a razor without feeling locked in. I find this interesting as the big reason I went to a weekly set up was to not worry about what I'd use the next day. On some days I'd realize instead of enjoying the shave I was thinking about what to use the next day. And constant switching seemed to affect my learning. I am happy to say that now I seem to be able to switch anything out and shave with confidence, ha ha. Not that other times were with no confidence, but instead I would go into a new week's setup planning on the first shave not being great as I figured I needed to get in the groove with that new setup. Funny how 10 years ago I just saw the whole thing as a chore and didn't really give two hoots about anything other than trying to get as many tug-free shaves as I could out of each cartridge.

Today was the Fatboy set to 5, a vintage Rite Aid Personna PtCr blade, Canada Shaving Soap, and an APSC Independent fan in the Trotter Quasar handle. A wonderful shave! This iteration of the Fatboy (1958) is the smoothest of the 4 fatboys I have had. Others seemed chunky, clunky, and harsh feeling, even at lower settings. I got this one off the BST, and it had been cleaned, tuned, and replated by Chris at BRG, and is now one of my favorite razors. It is similar to the one my Dad bought himself when he left home for teaching college, to go to UW-Stevens Point in the fall of '58. 

Great talk of your strategy and what it accomplished Eric

Thursday 2/15/24



Enders Speed Shaver
Schick Proline B-20 (2) and the mild adapter from HC&C
Muhle STF XL knot in Trotter Supernova
Canada Shaving Soap

Friday, February 16, 2024



A new brush moved into the brush drawer yesterday, a Wald Nimbus with an A1 fan. Many thanks to the member here that was willing to part with this brush so that I could have it   This is the Deep Sea Wave color pattern.

Like it's smaller sibling, the Calyx, this brush feels fantastic to the face. To me, it's like a Cashmere knot but so much for dense and so soft. I am amazed that so dense a knot isn't pokey or stiff, but instead feels amazingly soft. I am learning to lather it, and did pretty well this morning, but I started too dry and then went too wet! (Similar to how my wife says I season food: either too little or too much!) But I look forward to learning how to do it right with whatever soap I am using!

Other gear: Stirling Sheep, Tatara Masamune, Tatara Platinum blade (6).

Here's to a great weekend for us all!

Stink, I was hoping for a negative review to save my wallet......Congrats on a gorgeous brush and setup !

Stink, I was hoping for a negative review to save my wallet......Congrats on a gorgeous brush and setup !

I did have to think about it, and finally decided to post a WTB rather than figure out the ordering process. And my instant gratification was pleased as once I sent money, the brush was on its way, no 4 week wait, ha ha! My fall back plan was to place an order at the end of the month for the color/handle I wanted, but a member here had one of my preferences! We do have some great folks here!

Negative review notes: Some find the handles odd shapes off-putting, and I can say I don't care for the look of the "reverse keyhole" handle, but I have never held one so I am speaking through my hat on that. The knot loads differently, preferring not to be soaking wet. But I have followed Leisure Guy's method of starting drying and tip dipping as I go for almost all my knots, so I know that I can adjust to this knot's preferred lathering.

My last negative is that this one and the Calyx could cause a brush purge, like the Overlander did with my razors. We'll see, but I already am thinking that between these and the new Muhle STF knot, I may need to let some other synths and lesser used badgers go. Especially since my wife was rooting around my side looking for more shampoo and seemed astounded, and not in a good way, ha ha, at all the brushes!!

Stink, I was hoping for a negative review to save my wallet......Congrats on a gorgeous brush and setup !

Especially since my wife was rooting around my side looking for more shampoo and seemed astounded, and not in a good way, ha ha, at all the brushes!!

Based on your experience and sale of a few razors, my Calyx just cleared US Customs at 11:15 this morning. Do you notice a difference in the two knots, the Calyx being 2mm smaller? (Please say they are exactly the same)

Congratulations Eric.  Your Wald is a beauty!

Hey Dave in KY:  Resistance is futile?

Based on your experience and sale of a few razors, my Calyx just cleared US Customs at 11:15 this morning. Do you notice a difference in the two knots, the Calyx being 2mm smaller? (Please say they are exactly the same)

Hey Eric,

I can honestly say that I didn't notice any difference! There most likely is, if I were to use both at the same time, but after this morning's shave, I'd say the only difference I noted was the feel of the handle. The knot itself doesn't look huge, which at 29mm it should, in my opinion. And that is the same for the Calyx. It is 27mm, also a fan, and looks about 24mm. The Nimbus looks between 24mm and 26mm to my untrained eye and felt smaller than my 25mm Muhle STF knot. This is most likely due to how other knots that I have splay so much. 

The Calyx was my first, bought here from a member who didn't like it. The handle style worried me, as I wasn't sure what to think of vertical ridges when I am used to smooth handles, but I was pleasantly surprised to how "normal" it felt in my hand. I liked it enough to have an internal debate with myself on whether I should get the Nimbus in the color pattern I liked best. I strongly expect that you'll be more than happy with it!