I kind of realised this theme the other day and so here it is the shave with the theme 'Dandelion and Murdock'
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Coca Cola - Rocnel SP half blade
Fanta - Half (actually less than half) of a Polsilver Lodz
Tizer - Yaqi Dandelion
Vimto - Murdock's Avalon
Irn Bru - banana republic Neroli
So against my religion and certainly against my better thoughts an advert on the BST for a Rocnel SE threw up this half a DE blade SE. Mmmm? Not an SE as we know it Jim.
In correspondence with
@Tony'schin he described the Rocnel as being perfect for my 'gladiatorial' spirit. Something I never knew I had, but I would have been happy to go along with gross stupidity as an alternative phrase. And as it turned out, very apt. If gladiators were armed with this thing the Roman Empire might have been somewhat smaller, Spartacus an Emperor and Hannibal would have had elephants with slightly shorter legs.
I have to say it is one wonderfully solid, precisely manufactured, hefty piece of shaving beauty. It has a feel of quality and certainly something rather beautiful to hold. I wouldn't look at it for too long though as it would happily gouge your eyes out at a mere glance. I was rather in two minds about snapping blades in half and envisaged removing residual shrapnel from my face in doing so. As it turned out, not too bad but then you have to take out the half a blade left in the razor, turn it around (as it is not much use with the cutting edge on the inside), and then, and then, snap the tabs off! By this point there is very little remaining of the original blade outside of a sharp edge and quite a bit of it at that. The blade exposure is up there with the Ikon Tek and would have been very acceptable to Jack the Ripper. Another one of those razors which asks, 'Why?'
Not one to shy away from a challenge, I'm up for this one. Bring it on
https://giphy.com/jgelsNvS6tYFG
Now there is a girl who has never shaved. Or so I presume.
Murdock's Avalon. Did I ever say one of the best creams on the planet, period? Well just in case I didn't 'it is'. And with the Yaqi Dandelion a sterling shaving barrier. The only problem is the barrier could be doing with being a little more solid. But I still don't think it would prevent the SP from doing its job of removing anything standing in its way.
First stroke was one of those great 'Oh fuck' moments. Immediately it was very easy to feel the Rocnel wasn't going to take any prisoners or tolerate anything less than utmost care and attention. It took about a whole three seconds to draw blood and draw a line at me thinking this was going to be an easy ride. Need a rethink. Angle, angle and angle. What I did find with a bit of playing around is that it has a very steep shaving angle perhaps more so than the Ikon B1. Anything too shallow and this thing will 'dig in'. It also requires more skin stretching than I usually exercise as it simply views non stretched skin as something to remove. I am also convinced it needs something far less sharp than the Lodz blade and I have a feeling a Kai stainless might be a better choice being quite a thick blade and more adapt to the blade securing system of the SP. Some experimenting needed here.
As a passing note as I am a bit behind here, but I did try loading a kai for future use. Not such a brilliant idea at all. Being a thicker blade it resisted being snapped and when it did the edges slightly curled up and the blade proved a sod to remove. I then somehow managed to end up with half a kai stuck in the end of my thumb. Very much an 'Ouch' moment.
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Note to self. Do not try a Kai again.
The anti-rub. Despite me making the Rocnel SP sounding like some kind of a murdering tool it actually went on to produce one very fine close shave. Yes there was blood (including oddly a digit) but I think this razor needs more time to learn the angle and adapt and adjust. It is not straight forward and not for the faint of heart. If you want ease don't go here. If you want what I think might be a wonderful razor underneath its terrifying exterior then it might be just right down your street. I am going to stick with this one as it reminds me of the Ikon B1 where you have to live and learn. It is unlike the tek which was designed with a single minded dangerous attitude, whereas the danger here appears to be more of a side effect than it is a design criteria. It can and will be tamed......once my thumb has healed and I can face snapping blades again.
Certainly a different kind of shave and one which needed more care and attention than I exercised, but certainly pleased with the end results. A bit like Dandelion and Burdock. Strange but there is something to love
https://giphy.com/ZMUw2WFmjpBPG
On a slightly different slant here I really must say a very big thanks to all you TSR folk and for all the very nicely received messages of condolences passed on to me. I think it goes a long way to say not only is this one very fine forum, but what very fine members frequent its pages. I am most humbled by your thoughts and heart.
And in return I give you some very fine Japanese ladies to say it all.