SOTD : Saturday 8st - Friday 14th August 2020.

Just a question about these Valet VC1 razors. They are described as "autostrop" and some of the examples on eBay include a long leather strop. Presumably you don't need to worry about that if you're using modern disposable blades?
That's correct @danielb193 , however, the newer ones do not take the Gem blades, you can use Feather FHS-10's though. The company made the razor to take their own blades.
Try to get a VC1, these can take a modified blade. It's nice to have a full set though with strop.
I have 2 VC1's and a VB3. All shave very well.
 
Thank you
Hi @danielb193 I have taken a few (poor) photos to try to help.Screenshot_20200812-202729_Gallery.jpg
VC1 head, no pin holes
Screenshot_20200812-202803_Gallery.jpg
VC1 with modified blade fitted, basically spine removed & trim sides.

Screenshot_20200812-202837_Gallery.jpg
"Newer" VB3, notice the pin holes and side clamps, specific to Valet blades, or the new FHS-10 (i think these have every possible pin variation, expensive at £1 each and dont last long) also side clamps to hold blade in.
Screenshot_20200812-202904_Gallery.jpg
Original Valet blade, pretty cool to think they did a 1 blade razor probably their demise though.
 
Wednesday 12th August

Executive Shaving Fuar Ach Snog Preshave
Rex Envoy
Gilette Silver Blue
Yaqi Synth 24mm
TOBS Tobacco Leaf
Alum block
Fine Snakebite
Myrsol Emulsion

I've been noticing a little bit of irritation building up on my face this past week or so. So rather than going for total BBS smoothness with 3 passes, I decided to take a different tack today. One pass, plus touch ups, then see where we are.

To that end I loaded up with a fresh Gilette Silver Blue, kindly sold to me by Wingman in a qty of 100 for a song. The idea being if I'm gonna do a single pass, I'll need something a little sharper than my Israeli Reds.

The result? - A DFS or thereabouts. I may not be a smooth-as-ice hairless wonder, but I'm rid of the day's growth since the last time I shaved, and mr alum complained only a little when I was done.

Slowly, but surely, I'm making progress taming this beast.

How you gents shave with the much more aggressive razors with better results amazes me. Humbling to say the least.
Don't underestimate the progress you're making Ed. I've not used an Envoy but I've heard it is the equivalent of an ambassador on #3 which makes it quite assertive. Master the Envoy and you'll easily use any other DE that comes your way. The GSB is one of those blades that gets better with each shave as well.
 
SOTN: 12/08/20
C298AD36-F5D5-4025-BDFA-36363DC63C82.jpeg

*Signature Soaps - Lindis
*Black handle Gillette Superspeed W3
*Polsilver Stainless
*Pantarei Manchurian
*Maisy Plum Shave Bowl

Had not shaved for the past week as I was patiently waiting for my order from Brian.
First time using Signature Soaps and I am kicking myself for not jumping on this a lot sooner, better late than never, I guess!
This vegan soap base is up there with the best Tallow soaps, ticked all the boxes, an absolutely fantastic performing soap, with a pleasing and calming Lavender scent.
Thanks Brian, for the nice additional extras, nice touch!

Also received this delightful handmade shaving bowl, made by UK artisan Jo of Maisy Plum. This palm sized, copper enamelled bowl is in a Duck Egg glaze with glass beads added to create a bobbled texture, to aid in whipping up good lathers.

More of these bowls are available from Agent Shave in various pretty colours, no two bowls are the same and are all unique in their own individual design.
 
Aye aye ye landlubbers. This evening brought along the theme 'The further adventures of Captain Fawcett and the hunt for the lost rose treasures of the mysterious black box'.


IMG_20200812_190153.jpg


Admiral of the shave - Master Enoch of Occam
Captain of the good ship lollipop - Captain Kai



Bosun brush - The Groom Room wee whiskey barrel
'I said 24 mm not 24 inches'

Black box of treasures - Captain Fawcett soap
Treasure of the siren rose - Czech and Speake 88

'Give us some of those big 'Aye Ayes' ye hopeless motley crew to get this shave rolling on the waves'
'Indeed hopeless'

After over a week of giving it some RazorRock Hawk, this evening I decided to reach for the Enoch being as everything else had been overlooked and looking dejected. It doesn't quite shout 'me me me' being a small characterless object compared to its bigger neighbours on the shelf flexing their oversized muscle and bulk, and to be honest it remains an arse to load which gives it a 'I can't be fucked' appeal. But this evening I could be 'fucked' and so risked fingers, limbs and whatever else you could cut off with a sharp blade.


End result razor with a blade. Few

The last few phew days have seen me trying face lathering for a change and to be honest I am rather enjoying it. Certainly quicker and one less object to clean at the end of a shave. 20 minutes to load a blade and 2 minutes to lather. Not bad

I couldn't recommend this Captain Fawcett's highly enough. If ever anyone is looking for something different, a great soap and a great scent, then it is well worth a punt. A quality product in a sexy wooden bowl. Okay, more a sultry lady in black leather with a big whip kind of bowl. Laverly. Even more latherly when the brush duties are given to the Groom Room's super little brush.

Everything being in great order so give it some splish, splash, whip me, whip me, whip me, slice me, slice me, slice me and, 'Kazam!' and as if by magic a most divine and wonderful shave. Smooth? Too bloody right. Heavenly? Aye Aye. A lady killer aroma? I haven't got there yet. Patience you lot.

To finish it all off a good spray of C&S 88. Now as you may have noticed the 88 is not in its usual bottle and looking more like a urine sample in a bejewelled glass bottle. Unfortunately while removing the cap on the usual bottle the whole of the neck sheered away. I was gutted. Perhaps more so as I absolutely love the scent and I lost quite a bit down the sink. C&S have been absolutely wonderful with their customer service and everything has been made good without me even asking. All I did was write to let them know what had happened and just to be aware as they may want to revisit their scent bottles.............and a whole new bottle is on its way to me! Super service and so impressed I went back and bought another one of their products for my wife's birthday just around the corner. 10/10 in every way for C&S.

A great shave all round and so bloody happy you can have some more of the mad Japanese tub thumper and her wonderful band





Be well everyone out there and yes I do still love you
 
Tubs of TOBS
Over the last three evenings I have been testing out three TOBS flavours:
Grapefruit, Peppermint, and Lavender...
DSC_0921.JPG

I've used the same setup and process with each cream:
  • Glyce pre-wash
  • Yaqi Dandelion 24mm Cashmere
  • EJDE89 with Nacet blade on a Razorock Titanium handle
  • Alum and cold rinse
And the following AS splashes:

  • Pitralon Classic with the Lavender
  • Proraso Menthol & Eucalyptus with the Peppermint
  • Le Pere Lucien Cologne Fougere with the Grapefruit

As I expected the creams all performed superbly. Each shave required only 2 passes and left me with no razor burn or nicks etc. Very comfortable and marvellous fragrances, perfect in this hot UK weather we're experiencing.
The AS splashes seemed to combine very well too, but I will no doubt be experimenting further!

Happy shaving and a good evening to all;)(y)
 
Don't underestimate the progress you're making Ed. I've not used an Envoy but I've heard it is the equivalent of an ambassador on #3 which makes it quite assertive. Master the Envoy and you'll easily use any other DE that comes your way. The GSB is one of those blades that gets better with each shave as well.

Thanks Boycie
They really do seem to be very nice blades.
I like the Personna Platinums ok enough, but sometimes I find them a little weak.
The silver blues seemed to be stronger but without any added harshness. Thankfully I have a hundred of them!
 
Thanks Boycie
They really do seem to be very nice blades.
I like the Personna Platinums ok enough, but sometimes I find them a little weak.
The silver blues seemed to be stronger but without any added harshness. Thankfully I have a hundred of them!

Another follower of your progress and you seem to be going down the rights roads. It ain't something you master overnight, but it isn't rocket science and just needs patience and a little determination.

Have you tried the Polsilver Lodz blades yet? If you haven't then I could send some your way with a few other blades. Just drop me a PM and I could sort something out.

A lot of generosity has been given to me recently and I would be happy to show the same.
 
Another follower of your progress and you seem to be going down the rights roads. It ain't something you master overnight, but it isn't rocket science and just needs patience and a little determination.

Have you tried the Polsilver Lodz blades yet? If you haven't then I could send some your way with a few other blades. Just drop me a PM and I could sort something out.

A lot of generosity has been given to me recently and I would be happy to show the same.
Brilliant, well done mate!
 
View attachment 58287

SOTD Wednesday 12th August 2020

Razor - Paragigm SE
Blade - Schick Proline P.30
Soap - Officina Artgiana Milano
Brush - Alpha Outlaw V1 Ti with Rhodium Silvertip (fan)
Post - Thayers Astringent
Frag - Tabac EdC

This was my second use of this soft soap from Italy, the first time I used too much water and didn't get a great lather but this time I was able to get a good lather, for the money it's a good enough soap but it doesn't stand up to my other soft Itallan soaps like Panama 1924 or Mondial but then again they do cost a little more, maybe this one I will put on BST! :)
A good close shave was had and I was left with baby smooth skin, just how I like it! :)

Untill the next time,

Paul.
Hi Paul

Amazing Razor !

On the Mondial I have this one that I enjoy a great deal, is this the one or is there a higher end Mondial ?

crema-afeitar-viaje-mondial-tabaco-verde-50ml.jpg
 
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Tubs of TOBS
Over the last three evenings I have been testing out three TOBS flavours:
Grapefruit, Peppermint, and Lavender...
View attachment 58304

I've used the same setup and process with each cream:
  • Glyce pre-wash
  • Yaqi Dandelion 24mm Cashmere
  • EJDE89 with Nacet blade on a Razorock Titanium handle
  • Alum and cold rinse
And the following AS splashes:

  • Pitralon Classic with the Lavender
  • Proraso Menthol & Eucalyptus with the Peppermint
  • Le Pere Lucien Cologne Fougere with the Grapefruit

As I expected the creams all performed superbly. Each shave required only 2 passes and left me with no razor burn or nicks etc. Very comfortable and marvellous fragrances, perfect in this hot UK weather we're experiencing.
The AS splashes seemed to combine very well too, but I will no doubt be experimenting further!

Happy shaving and a good evening to all;)(y)

Thank you for this.
I love the TOBS creams because the ones I have (Sandalwood, Tobacco Leaf and Lemon/Lime) all small great and lather effortlessly, even with my lack of experience.

I have to say the Tobacco Leaf at the moment is my absolute favourite and it's seeing constant usage. The sandalwood will forever be the smell of "starting into DE shaving".

I think I need to try the Peppermint
 
Thank you for this.
I love the TOBS creams because the ones I have (Sandalwood, Tobacco Leaf and Lemon/Lime) all small great and lather effortlessly, even with my lack of experience.

I have to say the Tobacco Leaf at the moment is my absolute favourite and it's seeing constant usage. The sandalwood will forever be the smell of "starting into DE shaving".

I think I need to try the Peppermint
As a big fan of P&B Denali and Proraso Eucalyptus and Menthol, I always assumed I'd like the peppermint and I wasn't disappointed. You should enjoy it! The other TOBS cream I've recently tried is Royal Rorest...more difficult to define but it has a mild citrus 'top note' (I'm no expert but that sort of comes through first) and a very relaxing, luxuriant feel.
I agree with you about sandalwood...probably my first cream after moving from Palmolive classic when I started but I have a TOBS sandalwood hard soap that I use occasionally and it's always excellent;)
 
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