I thought I recognised your face, Babylon5 - must have seen you in Cowes or Newport!
Chopper - the mosy important thing to take to the Island is a car! Life without one is all but impossible - unless you enjoy standing endlessly at bus-stops, waiting for buses that stopped running an hour ago, or yesterday.
Ahem! As-D1. What can I say - I'm afraid to say it after reading the posts here since I logged off last night - but - the Emporer has no clothes! He's bollock naked, bare arsed and nude! What a complete and utter let down and disappointment!
I used my standard test rig - a Fido silver tip to ensure good lather and a green 7 o'clock because I know how my face at it get on. The only variable is the razor. The As-D1 shaved as smoothly as smoothly can possibly be; need to be precise with angle but no surprise as the razor is a precise piece of kit. 1st Pass WTG no problem though I thought it had left a bit much stubble still attached. Oh! had to rinse and dry my hand to get good grip on the handle - slippy with just a tad of soap and wetness. 2nd pass XTG as smooth as smooth but having to consciously resist the powerful temptation to press in order to get closer. Way too much stubble still attached! but ever onward. 3rd Pass ATG easy and smooth again but now we have the result - a hopelessly poor shave, no cuts, nicks, weepers , soreness - none of those problems at all, it had been smoothness itself throughout. Just plain not a close shave.
Thoughts of Feathers are made for one blade only - so we'll give it a go (note the shave was so irritation free that I could contemplate a second 3rd Pass ATG). My only previous experience with a Feather blade was a bloody affair so I loaded one with some trepidation! Much better - immediately I could feel and hear it cutting whiskers so I went right around, whole face. This was a vast improvement but still did not give a result good enough to put anywhere near a woman's face! The razor absolutely tamed the blade, though - nothing at all to fear and still no irritation even after a second ATG Pass. I'd happily hand this razor loaded with a Feather blade to my Grandson, just learning to shave.
So we'll try again tomorrow, Featherblade all the way, and see if I get a better result. I can't help remembering my first shave with a Pils - and comparing - it just gave me a perfect shave right out. The Weber was not as good but still fantastic. The Feather? Well - will it ever be able to climb out of the hole it's in just now? A long, steep climb!!
Anyway, I was feeling all glum and disappointed, flicking hot porridge at the cats when the postman brought me this and cheered me up no end .....
Rod has set the sixpence under clear acrylic resin for me. The Forest Flame seems to be burning as the light falling on it shifts. So maybe a variation in the test rig for tommorrow's all Feather shave!