What I got in the post today!

beardybrewer

Wow, that bottle is impressive. Pity that Bay Rums all seem to have short-lived scents. Have you tried Barbershop Bay Rum made with real rum? I wasn't sure if I should splash some on or drink it.

Genghiz Cohen

newkie wrote: »

Wow, that bottle is impressive. Pity that Bay Rums all seem to have short-lived scents. Have you tried Barbershop Bay Rum made with real rum? I wasn't sure if I should splash some on or drink it.

Why not a "One for you, one for me" after shave routine.

Amalgam

newkie wrote: »

Wow, that bottle is impressive. Pity that Bay Rums all seem to have short-lived scents. Have you tried Barbershop Bay Rum made with real rum? I wasn't sure if I should splash some on or drink it.

I had 'real stuff' back in the 90s, a relative had been over to Trinidad\Tobago and purchased it in a.. plastic drinking bottle. Way too strong for my tastes. I think cloves and various other plant matter were involved.. (what looked like tree bark was in the bottle) very very spicy, after a quick splash, it felt like you'd shoved a couple of Trebor Strong Mints under your eyelids.

Amalgam

Early Santa.

I've acquired something in quite possibly the strangest way, from cat show grooming --> to shaving.

A family member goes to cat shows, she socialises with cat show people, they show their cats.. some of them use the following product on the cats, to make their pelts shine. The relative was tipped off by the cat person, aware of my shaving 'habit' and had this ordered into a Chemist in South County Dublin, Dalkey.

The pricing is pretty much in line with other Foran Chemicals LTD. products, in the same 500ml bottle (Isopropyl Alcohol etc.), €12.50.



I have seen it mentioned on Badger & Blade, by an Irish member, no less. Someone out there is using: Ingredients: Methylated Spirit, Aqua, Bay oil, E155.. and is still alive to talk about it.

Not had a chance to even smell it yet. I'm just uneasy with the words, Methylated Spirit. I've lit BBQs with something similar.

hitemfrank

Do you smoke by chance? I'm just really concerned about your safety after putting on that as aftershave

Well, if it all goes wrong at least you have a bay rum scented fire starter.....

Amalgam

Evaporates easily, which makes it dodgy to handle. I think I'll decant it into a smaller bottle.

OK, I've smelt it. [pained expression]

Off to store it beside the de-icer and white spirit, in the garage.

Oh well.

Raoul

Amalgam wrote: »

Evaporates easily, which makes it dodgy to handle. I think I'll decant it into a smaller bottle.

OK, I've smelt it. [pained expression]

Off to store it beside the de-icer and white spirit, in the garage.

Oh well.

That looks ridiculous

Frank, I will post up my whipped dog on Thursday or Friday, so you aren't the only one posting in here.

hitemfrank

Raoul wrote: »

That looks ridiculous

Frank, I will post up my whipped dog on Thursday or Friday, so you aren't the only one posting in here.

Thanks. It did seem to be all about me for a while

My offer still stands to rehone that straight for you when needed.

Raoul

hitemfrank wrote: »

Thanks. It did seem to be all about me for a while

My offer still stands to rehone that straight for you when needed.

Thanks very much!

As I said my gf is getting the whipped dog for me for xmas. I don't know if she has opened it or not, but I will wait until I am alone to open it. I would be a bit embarrassed for her if it doesn't look great. I did explain to her about how maybe next xmas if I still like straight shaving she could get me a better one.

Will post up soon!

hitemfrank

Expect to not look great. They really are basic but they are great to learn with. But you never know, you might get a half decent one.

You should also explain to the other half that you know it wont be the prettiest of razors, just so she doesn't feel bad if you are a little underwhelmed at the razor. That's if you haven't done so already.

Well, if/when you need it honed just send me a PM.

Raoul

hitemfrank wrote: »

Expect to not look great. They really are basic but they are great to learn with. But you never know, you might get a half decent one.

You should also explain to the other half that you know it wont be the prettiest of razors, just so she doesn't feel bad if you are a little underwhelmed at the razor. That's if you haven't done so already.

Well, if/when you need it honed just send me a PM.

Yep, have all this explained already. ha. She got the strop from shaving.ie though so hopefully that will look nice anyway.

Wiggles88

Christmas came early in the wiggles household!

Going to try out the new razor now...hope I don't do any serious damage :P

hitemfrank

You jumped in at the deep end didn't ya?

Nice gear you picked up.

Wiggles88

Ha yeah I had to stop myself getting carried away with some beautiful japanese style ones that were way out of my price range

Had my first shave with it today, it was great fun, although I may have been a bit hasty and gave myself a few nicks here and there...and a bit of a cut on the right side of my face (I'm a lefty so the right was quite a challenge). Smaller and slower strokes are in order for the next shave :P

hitemfrank

Did you try using your right hand for the right hand side of your face?


Which style of Japanese razor? A kamisori?


That one is mine and it's awesome - and a rare size too which I found out a long time after buying it.

Raoul

Was going to ask the same thing about using the right hand for the right side of your face.

Wiggles88

Yeah I switched hands so left for left side, right for the right. The right was very shaky to say the least :P but sure practice makes perfect! That is a beauty of a razor where did you find it?

The one I was looking at was the iwasaki razor. I just love the simplicity of the Japanese razors. Gorgeous.

hitemfrank

I was looking for a certain type of Japanese razor when that popped up for sale on a forum. After a couple of days I finally decided I'd get it instead of what I was looking for. The guy who sold it to me even refunded money to a guy in Italy to sell it to me instead (Italian customs can be a nightmare).

He messaged me a few months later and offered me a razor of the type I was originally looking for too. Twas an expensive few months to say the least but I love the Japanese style of razors so I'm still happy about it.


RE: what hand to use on each side of the face.
Some people find it easier to use the right hand for the right side and left for left. Some people can use one hand for both sides so just try out both methods and find out what's best for you.

Wiggles88

Congrats on the great find. Down the road once I'm comfortable with the razor I'll probably get myself a nice kamisori to play with

Yeah with the hands I was planning on using both for a few shaves and then just the left for a few and see how they feel, but so far so good. One of the reasons I am trying both hands first is because the kamisoris are asymmetric and I've heard that they're designed to be used with the right hand only so it might be a bit of a waste to get one if I cant use my right hand.

hitemfrank

Traditionally the stamps on the kamisori are supposed to face away from the face when you are shaving. I've done it before and it's just awkward.

I don't bother using it that way. Use both hands and both sides of the kamisori and it's nice and simple.

Raoul

So looks wise, it looks pretty good.

Had my first shave with it today though, it really didn't seem that sharp at all, pulled the hairs more than anything. I am hoping that this was my technique more than anything however, I felt as if not matter what I did I would never cut myself with the razor (not that I tried or anything). It said that the razor was shave ready and not to strop it before shaving so I didn't

So used a safety razor to get a close shave. Will try again soon.

Stropped the razor afterwards and there is like a little bit of the razor that is slightly flawed and when coming onto the strop there is a slight resistance, really hope it doesn't ruin my strop. Hopefully, after the razor is stropped my next shave will be a bit more satisfying.

EDIT - Fixed images, hopefully.

hitemfrank

Pictures be broken, Raoul.


If it's still not right after you strop it, send it to me in the New Year and I'll give it a look over.

Raoul

Think the pix are working now. Very generous offer and I am sure I will be taking you up on it if its still the same.

Thanks! Let me know if the pix work

hitemfrank

Yeah the pictures are fine now.

The bevel doesn't look the best from the pictures but that may be camera trickery.

The scales look like they may be horn judging by the last picture.

Amalgam

Raoul, nice bit of character to your straight.

hitemfrank

Amalgam wrote: »

Raoul, nice bit of character to your straight.

I'm a fan of razors that have had a bit of a hard life and have developed some patina and war wounds.

It makes them more appealing to me than most brand new razors for some reason.

Raoul

Amalgam wrote: »

Raoul, nice bit of character to your straight.

Not sure if you mean that in a good or bad way. Will probably have my second shave with it today, so will see if it is just a good stropping it needs or what the story is. I am worried though by the little bit of a flaw in it that is sort of catching on the edge of my strop.

Shave 2. Thought my stropping was pretty good. Beard was pretty heavy, I tried the straight it was still pulling rather than shaving. So decided maybe my beard was too heavy so I shaved with the safety razor and a last pass with the straight, no idea how to evaluate it as there wasn't much to shave off cept under the chin and I ended up using the safety to get that. Stropped the razor then tried the hanging hair test, it just pushed it away and eventually cut one strand of the hair off, if that makes sense.

Amalgam

In a good way of course.

€1 or €1000, doesn't matter with a straight, what matters is the method and maintenance an owner of the straight puts into it. That's what'll shape the experience.

hitemfrank

Raoul wrote: »

Shave 2. Thought my stropping was pretty good. Beard was pretty heavy, I tried the straight it was still pulling rather than shaving. So decided maybe my beard was too heavy so I shaved with the safety razor and a last pass with the straight, no idea how to evaluate it as there wasn't much to shave off cept under the chin and I ended up using the safety to get that. Stropped the razor then tried the hanging hair test, it just pushed it away and eventually cut one strand of the hair off, if that makes sense.

With a straight razor you can't really have a beard that is too heavy to shave. See this video for a good example.

Also the hanging hair test is fairly useless for you unless you did it before you tried to shave with it or strop it. They will have an effect on the result of the test. I say it's useless in this instance as you don't have anything to compare it to.

Peronally I don't bother with the HHT. I've honed each of my razors a fair few times and don't think I've had a razor cut a hair when I tried that test. They feel fine when I shave with them though.


So, how was the stropping? Was there still something catching when you were stropping?

MadsL

hitemfrank wrote: »

Peronally I don't bother with the HHT. I've honed each of my razors a fair few times and don't think I've had a razor cut a hair when I tried that test. They feel fine when I shave with them though.

Use a wet chest hair, or something 'lower'. I can never cut my head hair. I figure chest hair is a closer approximation. I am however a hairy bastard.