Saturday, May 31, 2014

Shave of the Day 5/31


Dove Men's Face Wash
C. O. Bigelow Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Fatboy F2
Shark Super Chrome (2)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
FD Old Spice AS

It was the second flawless shave with my new Gillette Fatboy. The C. O. Bigelow SC face lathered effortlessly with my Semogue 1305 boar brush. Two passes with the fatboy and Shark SC blade with touch ups on my neck left me with a mighty fine close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Family Dollar Old Spice AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Friday, May 30, 2014

Slim vs. Fatboy

The fatboy was made 1958-61 while the slim was made 1961-68. Here are my two Gillette adjustables. My Fatboy is an F2 from 1960, and my Slim is an H1 from 1962.

F2 Fatboy (195): 2.8 oz., 3.45 in.

H1 Slim: 2.5 oz., 3.56 in.

The heads of the slim and fatboy are almost identical. However, the head on the fatboy is more domed shape than that of the slim. The fatboy's handle is a little shorter and "fatter." The fatboy is a little heftier in the hand. They both provide an excellent shave. 





An interesting difference: the numbers on the slim line up with the knurl on the dial
while the numbers on the fatboy line up on the flats of the dial.

Shave of the Day - 5/30


Dove Men's Face Wash
C. O. Bigelow Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Fatboy F2 (first shave)
Shark Super Chrome (1)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Today's was a very nice shave. It was the first with my new Gillette Fatboy. First of all, the C. O. Bigelow face lathered very well with my Semogue 1305 boar brush. With a new Shark SC blade, the Gillette Fatboy (5) took two passes and touch ups to produce a mighty fine shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue AS. I am cool, clean, smooth, and refreshed... This fatboy is already a favorite.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

First Shave: Gillette Fatboy


My Gillette Fatboy came in today, and I got it all cleaned up and ready for its first shave with me. Here is the lineup for tomorrow morning. I am looking forward to using this classic razor. It has a nice feel to it. It weighs in at 2.8 oz. compared to the Slim at 2.5 oz. The consensus is that it shaves just like the Gillette Slim. If that is true, I will be very pleased.

Shave of the Day - 5/29


Dove Men's Face Wash
C. O. Bigelow Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Merkur 37c Slant
Shark Super Chrome (4)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Pinaud Clubman AS

The C. O. Bigelow Shave Cream face lathered well with my Semogue 1305 Boar Brush. Two passes and touch ups with my Merkur 37c slant with Shark Super Chrome blade provided a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Pinaud Clubman after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/28


Dove Men's Face Wash
C. O. Bigelow Premium Shave Cream
Cepillo Jabalí Cholula (the Mexican Wee Scot, first shave)
Merkur 37c Slant
Shark Super Chrome (3)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
FD Old Spice AS

The C. O. Bigelow Shave Cream face lathered well with my Cepillo Jabalí Cholula (first shave). It is a home made brush. Sort of a Mexican Wee Scott. It did a fine job face lathering. Two passes and touch ups with my Merkur 37c slant with Shark Super Chrome blade provided a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Family Dollar Old Spice after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Made Rite Shaving Brushes


I went to the mail today and found I had a shaving surprise.  There was  box with this Made Rite brush inside. It came as a total surprise. A little over a month ago, I was communicating with a fellow shaver in California. He had just got a fat handled tech and this brush in an auction on eBay. He was after the razor, not the brush. Well, I said that if the brush was in the way, I would love to give it a good home. I forgot all about it, and today, BAM, the brush arrives. I am going to clean it up and re-knot it. A guy on Badger and Blade forum restored a similar brush. Click here to see.

Thanks again, Reuben.

Step one: remove the bristles.


Step two: clean up and buff (here I am restoring another Made Rite bursh at the same time)


Step three: order knots from The Golden Nib

  • I ordered a three band synthetic for the red handle.
  • I ordered a boar for the white handle replacing a boar knot.

Step four: fit and glue the knots




Step five: give it a day for the glue to set (I used 5 minute Gorilla epoxy)

Step six: test lather
I didn't test lather the synthetic. I just went ahead and did a shave. I used C. O. Bigelow Shave Cream. It was a good shave. The brush was a little skritchy though.

Made Rite Synthetic

I did do two test lathers with the boar. I bowl lathered with Van Der Hagen Deluxe soap. Being a boar I figured it may require some breaking in time. It did a fine job of creating copious amounts of lather. I used it today and it performed very well. I am looking forward to using it for a week or so. We shall see how it may bloom.

Made Rite Boar
I added o-rings to each of the brushes.

Shave of the Day - 5/27


Dove Men's Face Wash
Williams Mug Shaving Soap
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Merkur 37c Slant
Shark Super Chrome (2)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

The Williams Mug Shaving Soap face lathered well with my Semogue 1305 boar brush.  Two passes and touch ups with my Merkur 37c slant with Shark Super Chrome blade provided a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Monday, May 26, 2014

Cholula Cepillo Jabalí


I've been thinking about this for years. Today, we were eating breakfast at the IHOP, and I got a bottle of Cholula that was almost empty, so I emptied it. The lid was perfect for a little brush handle. It is kind of a Mexican Wee Scot. I call it Cholula Cepillo Jabalí (Cholula Boar Brush). I harvested the bristles from an old Made Rite brush. Now, I have another handle that I can clean up and re-knot.

I removed the threaded plastic lid and cleaned the inside and put a couple of coats of urethane on it. I glued the bristles in with 5 minute Gorilla Epoxy. I finished it off with a 3/4 inch O-ring. I will let it rest a few days before trying it out.

Update: My first shave with this little guy was surprising. I face lathered C. O. Bigelow Premium Shave Cream. I ended up with a close comfortable shave. This little guy will probably not see much action, but it may make the perfect travel brush.

Finally Got My Fatboy

May 25, 2014
I have been on the lookout for a fatboy for about a year now in antique stores and yard sales. It was the last vintage razor on my list of razors to get. I have made a number of bids on eBay over that time, but I was always outbid. I was unwilling to pay the price. Tonight, I was finally successful in landing the Gillette Fatboy (195). It was manufactured from 1958-1961. This one is an F2, which means that it was manufactured in the second quarter of 1960. I can hardly wait to get it, clean it up, and give it a go. The 195 was the first of the Gillette adjustables. It was followed by the Slim. I have a Slim, and it is a great shaver. The consensus is that the Slim and the 195 are almost identical in their performance. The 195 (nicknamed the Fatboy) has a fatter handle that is a little shorter than the Slim. These are pictures taken from the auction.





Estimated delivery, May 31. BUT, I was surprised with a Thursday, May 29 delivery.

Here are pictures: cleaned up and ready to go. It had a couple of alignment issues, but I believe I have corrected them sufficiently. I will find out tomorrow. 





F2 date code, second quarter 1960

Shave of the Day - 5/26


Dove Men's Face Wash
Williams Mug Shaving Soap
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Merkur 37c Slant
Shark Super Chrome (1)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Pinaud Clubman AS

The Williams Mug Shaving Soap face lathered well with my Semogue 1305 boar brush.  Two passes and touch ups with my Merkur 37c slant with Shark Super Chrome blade provided a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Pinaud Clubman after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/25


Dove Men's Face Wash
Williams Mug Shaving Soap
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Merkur 37c Slant
Shark Super Chrome (4)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
FD Old Spice AS

The Williams Mug Shaving Soap face lathered well with my Semogue 1305 boar brush. Two passes and touch ups with my Merkur 37c slant with Shark Super Chrome blade provided a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Family Dollar Old Spice after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/24


Dove Men's Face Wash
Williams Mug Shaving Soap
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Merkur 37c Slant
Shark Super Chrome (3)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

The Williams Mug Shaving Soap face lathered well with my Semogue 1305 boar brush.  Two passes and touch ups with my Merkur 37c slant with Shark Super Chrome blade provided a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Friday, May 23, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/23


Dove Men's Face Wash
Williams Mug Shaving Soap
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Merkur 37c Slant
Shark Super Chrome (2)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Pinaud Clubman AS

The Williams Mug Shaving Soap face lathered well with my Semogue 1305 boar brush.  Two passes and touch ups with my Merkur 37c slant with Shark Super Chrome blade provided a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Pinaud Clubman after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/22


Dove Men's Face Wash
Williams Mug Shaving Soap
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Merkur 37c Slant
Shark Super Chrome (1)
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
FD Old Spice AS

Today's shave featured Williams Mug Shaving Soap in my wife's grandpa's shaving mug. It face lathered well with my Semogue 1305 boar brush. I also broke out my Merkur 37c slant. The slant with a Shark SC blade gave me an excellent shave in two passes and little touch up. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Family Dollar Old Spice AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...


Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/21


Dove Men's Face Wash
Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Super Speed '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

It was a nice shave this morning. The Proraso Green face lathered well with my Semogue 1305 boar brush. Two passes and touch ups with my '47 Gillette SS and an Astra SP blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/20


Dove Men's Face Wash
Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Super Speed '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Pinaud Clubman AS

It was a very nice shave this morning. I face lathered the Proraso Green with my Semogue 1305 boar brush. Two passes and touch ups with my  '47 Gillette SS with Astra SP blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After my cold water rinse (which feels great after using Proraso green) I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Pinaud Clubman after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...


Monday, May 19, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/19


Dove Men's Face Wash
Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Super Speed '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
FD Old Spice AS

The Proraso Green face lathered well with my Semogue 1305 boar brush. One pass and touch ups with my Gillette SS and an Astra SP blade is all it took for  a close comfortable shave. That's because I am doing a morning shave, and I last shaved yesterday afternoon. A cold water rinse followed by Thayers Cucumber WH and Family Dollar Old Spice AS left me clean, smooth, and refreshed...


Sunday, May 18, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/18


Dove Men's Face Wash
Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Super Speed '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

It was an excellent shave. I face lathered the Praraso Green with my Semogue 1305 boar brush. Two passes and touch ups with my Gillette SS and an Astra SP blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/17


Dove Men's Face Wash
Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Super Speed '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Pinaud Clubman AS

The Proraso Green face lathered easily with my Semogue 1305 boar brush. Two passes and touch ups with my Gillette SS and an Astra SP blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After the customary cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Pinaud Clubman after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Friday, May 16, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/16


Dove Men's Face Wash
Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Super Speed '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
FD Old Spice AS

The Proraso Green face lathered well with my Semogue 1305 boar brush. Two passes with my Gillette SS and an Astra SP blade left me with a close, comfortable shave. I finished off with a cold water rinse followed by Thayers Cucumber WH and Family Dollar Old Spice after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/15


Dove Men's Face Wash
Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Super Speed '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

The Proraso Green face lathered well with the Semogue 1305 boar brush. It was very refreshing. Two passes and touch ups with my Gillette SS and Astra SP blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/14


Dove Men's Face Wash
Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Super Speed '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
Pinaud Clubman AS

The Proraso Green SC face lathered well with the Semogue 1305 boar brush. Two passes and touch ups with my Gillette Super Speed and Astra SP blade left me with a clean comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Pinaud Clubman after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/13


Dove Men's Face Wash
Proraso Green Shave Cream
Semogue 1305 Boar Brush
Gillette Super Speed '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Thayers Cucumber WH
FD Old Spice AS

I am back to my Proraso Green today. It face lathers well with my favorite boar, the Semogue 1305, and I like the way it rinses cleanly. I did two passes and touch ups with my Gillette '47 Super Speed with Astra SP blade. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Cucumber WH and Family Dollar Old Spice after shave.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/12


Dove Men's Face Wash
TOBS Lavender Shaving Cream
Frank Shaving Finest Badger
Gillette Aristocrat '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Dickinson's WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

The TOBS Lavender face lathered very well with my Frank Shaving finest badger brush. Two passes with my Gillette Aristocrat and Astra Superior Platinum blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After my cold water rinse, I finished off with Dickinson's WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue after shave. It was a very nice shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/11


Dove Men's Face Wash
TOBS Lavender Shaving Cream
Frank Shaving Finest Badger
Gillette Aristocrat '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Dickinson's WH
Pinaud Clubman AS

The TOBS Lavender face lathered very well with my Frank Shaving finest badger brush. Two passes with my Gillette Aristocrat and Astra Superior Platinum blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After my cold water rinse, I finished off with Dickinson's WH and Pinaud Clubman after shave. It was a very nice shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...


Saturday, May 10, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/10


Dove Men's Face Wash
TOBS Lavender Shaving Cream
Frank Shaving Finest Badger
Gillette Aristocrat '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Dickinson's WH
FD Old Spice AS

The TOBS Lavender face lathered very well with my Frank Shaving finest badger brush. Two passes with my Gillette Aristocrat and Astra Superior Platinum blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After my cold water rinse, I finished off with Dickinson's WH and Family Dollar Old Spice after shave. It was a very nice shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Friday, May 9, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/9


Dove Men's Face Wash
TOBS Lavender Shaving Cream
Frank Shaving Finest Badger
Gillette Aristocrat '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Dickinson's WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

I am really liking the TOBS Lavender SC. It face lathers so easily with any brush, but especially with the Frank Shaving finest badger brush. Two passes and touch ups with the Gillette Aristocrat and a new Astra SP left me with a close comfortable shave. After the cold water rinse, I finished off with Dickinson's WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/8


Dove Men's Face Wash
TOBS Lavender Shaving Cream
Frank Shaving Finest Badger
Gillette Aristocrat '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Dickinson's WH
Pinaud Clubman AS

The TOBS Lavender face lathered very well with my Frank Shaving finest badger brush. Two passes with my Gillette Aristocrat and Astra Superior Platinum blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After my cold water rinse, I finished off with Dickinson's WH and Pinaud Clubman after shave. It was a very nice shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/7


Dove Men's Face Wash
TOBS Lavender Shaving Cream
Frank Shaving Finest Badger
Gillette Aristocrat '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Dickinson's WH
FD Old Spice AS

The TOBS Lavender face lathered very well with my Frank Shaving finest badger brush. Two passes with my Gillette Aristocrat and Astra Superior Platinum blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After my cold water rinse, I finished off with Dickinson's WH and Family Dollar Old Spice after shave. It was a very nice shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/6


Dove Men's Face Wash
TOBS Lavender Shaving Cream
Frank Shaving Finest Badger
Gillette Aristocrat '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Dickinson's WH
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

I switched over to TOBS Lavender SC today. It face lathered very well with my Frank Shaving finest badger brush. Two passes with my Gillette Aristocrat and Astra Superior Platinum blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After my cold water rinse, I finished off with Dickinson's WH and Aqua Velva Ice Blue after shave. It was a very nice shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Monday, May 5, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/5


Dove Men's Face Wash
Cella Shave Cream 
Frank Shaving Finest Badger
Gillette Aristocrat '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Dickinson's WH
Pinaud Clubman AS

I had a colonoscopy today, and everything came out all right. I did have a senior moment though. I showed up this morning after my Sunday prep to find out I was scheduled for tomorrow morning. UGGH! They were nice and moved me to the end of the schedule, so I went home and watched three hours of Chicago PD and went back. I am happy to have that all behind me.

The Cella shave cream face lathered easily with my Frank Shaving finest badger brush. Two passes and touch ups with the Gillette Aristocrat and Astra Superior Platinum blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Dickinson's WH and Pinaud Clubman after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Shave of the Day - 5/4


Dove Men's Face Wash
Cella Shave Cream 
Frank Shaving Finest Badger
Gillette Aristocrat '47
Astra Superior Platinum
CWR
Dickinson's WH
FD Old Spice AS

The Cella shave cream face lathered easily with my Frank Shaving finest badger brush. Two passes and touch ups with the Gillette Aristocrat and Astra Superior Platinum blade left me with a close comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Dickinson's WH and Family Dollar Old Spice after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed.