Finally found the razor that scares me!

So I ordered some Yumas and brushes for my homies and figured I'd throw one of these in the mix. Well it was bound to happen - I managed to find a razor that I am actually afraid to use! It's a 'straight' that takes 1/2 DE blades, made in Turkey. Just getting a blade in it is pretty dangerous, big injury potential before it even gets anywhere near your face! Bestshave has a link to an instructional vid:

How to load a blade

No, it's really NOT quite as simple as that... It's in there good and tight and mostly even, but having that much exposure on a DE blade is pretty terrifying - just imagine what those blade corners could do - a whole new dimension of "gotcha". I'll get around to trying it, but today I'm more tempted by 'safer' options.

The Cranford

These pix are not of my razor unfortunately, but you get an idea of the quality from this restored example.

S. Droeshcher was a wholesaler of various branded Solingen blades which suffered from the anti-Boche hysteria of WWI and the postwar years and opened the Cranford Razor Works which was active for just a few years 1920-1924. Aficionados concur that razors of US steel are as good as anything. I got this razor as a lot with another American straight (Union Cutlery which became Ka-Bar) and I have to say I like the edges they can hold. The only problem is the damned learning curve - if you 'learned' with a pivoting head cart or disposable like I did, you will be a babe in the woods when it comes to wielding a straight. As they say, 'YMMV' but I find the 9/16 size of The Cranford to be about perfect. On a good day I can do a full WTG and a partial XTG. I've experimented with various grips to do ATG but damn! Compared to the utter abandon I have using any kind of safety razor, learing to 'drive' a straight is a BITCH!

I'm one of the freaks who actually enjoys the whole honing/stropping process, getting to a shave ready edge, but I have to date only had one straight shave where I didn't need to use a 'safety' to finish. Hopefully that will change, because let's face it - what could be manlier? A soup can lid? A piece of glass?

Youtube

If you decide to get into shaving like a man, you will find Youtube to be an invaluable resource - use it. You will learn and what to do (and what not to do) through the magic of the 21st century version of oral tradition. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Keepin' it real

One thing you can say about shaving with the marketed brands is that it keeps it real simple, there actually aren't a hell of a lot of choices if you're trying to 'be current'.

There are more dangers than just bleeding when you shave like a MAN. There are so many choices that you can easily spend a TON of money on the various ADs (Acquisition Disorders). Do you know how many kinds of cool/effective razors there are out there? Brushes? Soaps/Creams? Blades? After shaves?

How about the various combinations and permutations thereof?

The good news is that you can indeed keep it real, save money, AND have the closest/best/irritation-free DAILY shaves of your LIFE.

Take Razors: You can spend ridiculous coin on some stupid-assed vintage Gillette 'Fatboy', or just get a Yuma and learn how to drive it. Turn that fucking Fatboy up to 11 and it will not cut closer than a Yuma. Another good DE choice for beginners and experts alike if you can't handle a scabby used razor is the LORD L6, which features 'load-and-go' tolerances for about $10 delivered if you order directly from the vendor on B&B instead of his Ebay store - he will include a variety of blades to get you started. Another ridiculously cheap but wickedly effective razor that is an absolute pleasure to drive would be a 1912, which unlike a Yuma will easily outlast you and your children. Really, really nice minty ones can be easily found for under $15.

Blades: Again, you can spend stupid money and only use Feathers once in your Fatboy, but I have found that really ANY blade works in a Yuma or Lord, some just last longer than others - Any of the Egyptian stainless blades are a great choice, and they feature recyclable/compostable packaging. If you go the 1912 Gem route I think your best blade choice is one of the thick-spined 'vintage' blades - that REALLY takes care of the whole 'carbon footprint' thing. Of course you will need additional gear but you can indeed make your own effective strops...

Brushes: Someday when I strike it rich maybe I'll go for a badger of some kind, but until then I am more than satisfied with a $2.50 Turkish horsehair brush that holds 4+ passes of lather and feels great on the face.

Soaps: You can spend upwards of $60 for some stupid-assed soap in a bowl that isn't going to work any better than a stick of Arko. AND you need to find room to keep it. The 'footprint' of an Arko stick is as miniscule as the price. Besides, face-lathering obviates the need for any additional 'prep'. Better all the way around. At the risk of coming across as a shill for Arko, as a product it really is quasi perfect. Abundant, slick and nourishing lather - and I for one appreciate that there is practically no 'packaging' to end up in the bin. If you can't handle the smell, all I can say is that you have 'issues'. Can you handle the price? The performance?

After-Shave: Here again, you have an opportunity to drop major coin. All you really need is alum and/or witch hazel and maybe a tiny bit of some EV coconut oil from the kitchen if there is a 'dry skin' issue. I have oily skin - all I use is alum and almost never even rise it off. Shit works great and is practically free.

WTF!?!

WTF!?!

This gizmo for heating and dispensing your can of chemical/aerosol goo is one of the dumber uses for 100 USD that I've seen in a while. Are you fucking kidding? Whatever happened to just immersing your can of goo in the sink? What a pantload!!! What kind of a stupid-assed tool do you need to be to buy and use one these? I await your comments.

The prescience of the Onion

From 2004, the Onion calls bullshit on 5 blades before they even existed!

http://www.theonion.com/articles/fuck-everything-were-doing-five-blades,11056/

Ever-Ready "Army Kit"

The Hun never stood a chance against us! This set is pushing 100 and look at the nice shape it's in! The 1914 is a little more aggressive and unforgiving than the 1912, which is not necessarily a bad thing in the right hands. a very fine tool indeed.