Wednesday SOTD Thread - November 27th, 2024 (#535) (sub.wetshaving.social)

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Share your shave of the day!

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[-] absenth@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

November 27, 2024

Brush: Maggard Purple Swirl - 24mm - Synthetic
Razor: Blackland - Stainless Blackbird
Blade: Personna 74 (1)
Lather: Proraso Shaving Cream Tube - Sandalwood
Aftershave: Declaration Grooming - Daemon
Fragrance: Declaration Grooming - Daemon

Super fast shave before the pie social at Church tonight. Tomorrow I'll give myself a good luxurious three pass shave with a carefully prepared lather. Today I just had to rip the hair off my face in short order.

[-] snooting@sub.wetshaving.social 1 points 11 hours ago

Wednesday, November 27, 2024: SLS

Brush: Yaqi - Sagrada Familia 24mm Synthetic
Razor: Merkur - 34C
Blade: Van Der Hagen - Stainless (1)
Lather: Barrister and Mann - Lavanille
Post: Nivea - Sensitive Post Shave Balm
Frag: Stirling - Stirling Gentleman

A late second luxury shave tonight. Good results, no notes.

🍳 Created with Neovim & sotd.nvim 🍳

[-] gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 16 hours ago

November 27, 2024 -- Black Watchday

Brush: Wald Nimbus Bloodline 27mm J3
Blade Holder: Blackland Razors Blackbird Ti
Blade: Gillette Nacet (7)
Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Soap
Aftershave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Aftershave
Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Black Watch - Eau de Toilette
Talc: Yardley Classic

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

The combination of the Blackbird and Black Watch is hard to beat. A luxurious SLS.

[-] djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social 3 points 20 hours ago

GEM Days 11b/14: Heavy Flat Tops, or G and E-Bars – Wed 27 Nov 2024

Brush: Zenith 506B MB (27 mm × 51 mm Manchurian badger)
Razor: GEM Heavy Flat Top a.k.a. the G-Bar
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
Lather: Imaginary Authors – Telegrama
Post Shave: Imaginary Authors – Telegrama

Nice Telegrama shave with the shiny G-Bar.

This was shave 22 of my run through all 14 generations of GEM-style razors:

~~1906-1953: GEM 1912/Star Cadet/Junior/Damaskeene~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1914-1927: 1914~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1924-1933: 1924 Shovelhead~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1930-1932: Micromatic Open Comb Gen 1 (Bumpless baseplate)~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1932-1941: Micromatic Open Comb Gen 2 (double-edge Micromatic GEM blades)~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1940-1943: Micromatic Clog-Pruf~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1945-1946: Micromatic Clog-Pruf Peerless~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1947-1950: Micromatic Flying Wing/Bullet Tip, with guiding eye until 1948, with plastic knob in the last year~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1949-1953: GEM Jewel/Streamline/Ambassador (The beginning of the end IMHO)~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1950: New GEM Feather Weight, renamed to "Slim-V Flat Top" in 1953, British version sold as "Natural Angle" by Ever-Ready~~

1955-1958: GEM V-Slim "Heavy Flat Top" (G-Bar, shiny chrome), New V Natural Angle Heavy Flat Top (E-Bar, less shiny nickel) ← We are here

1958-1965: Push Button
1965-1973: Contour
1973-1979: Contour II (The last GEM razor)

[-] absenth@sub.wetshaving.social 2 points 13 hours ago

I have a G-Bar. I think I've used it maybe twice. I don't think I understand how to use it as I've not enjoyed either of the shaves I've done. Have any tips for me?

[-] djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social 1 points 11 hours ago

I'm not sure, just the usual, really. Wet lather, light pressure, and listen for the feedback. It is on the milder side, so you'll need to get the angle right (rather flat), and once you do, it's a great shave IMO

[-] DaveWave94@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 19 hours ago

Thanks for the series! It's really quite interesting to see how they went with their designs - judging just by looks and mechanisms, I'd have thought the Flying Wing was the last GEM razor ever produced. However, this G-Bar looks very great - combines the clamp mechanism w/ a solid handle that has nice knurling. Kinda gets me in the mood for vintage razor hunting again 😄

[-] djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social 2 points 11 hours ago

judging just by looks and mechanisms, I'd have thought the Flying Wing was the last GEM razor ever produced.

Totally, right?

combines the clamp mechanism w/ a solid handle that has nice knurling.

Both the streamline and the G-Bar fit that description, and I think I prefer the Streamline between the two.

Kinda gets me in the mood for vintage razor hunting again 😄

I'm also happy to loan you a bunch of you want to try before you buy.

[-] DaveWave94@sub.wetshaving.social 1 points 2 hours ago

Yeah, I thought the TTO/Butterfly mechanism was something that only came to be way later. Both the MMOC that I got from you as well as my Flying Wing are such solid razors.

I can see your point in the Streamline. Definitely looks really solid too. There's just something I really like about the G/E-Bar razors' conic handle shape. Kinda makes it look like a knife handle and I dig that. Weird, I know 😅

Thanks for your offer - I might get back to you once the postal service Christmas chaos here in Germany is over!

[-] PorkButtsNTaters666@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 23 hours ago

Septidi 7 Frimaire an 233 de la Révolution, jour de Chou-fleur

Preshave: Proraso Green Preshave
Brush: Semogue Owner's Club Boar 🐗 'Taj'
Razor: GEM MMOC
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (14)
Lather: Barrister & Mann Death
Postshave: Naissance 702 Witch Hazel
Postshave: Epsilon Blue Mediterranean
Postshave: Nivea After Shave Balm

Death has the same base accord like War and Plague, but it is fresher (maybe some ozone in there?). I definitely prefer Death to War and Plague - I will have to check Famine, too.

On this note, have a good evening!

~Shared via emacs & sotd.el~

[-] walden@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 21 hours ago

That whole series never appealed to me, and I never even looked at the scent notes. A small part of me wishes I had at least gotten samples, though.

[-] PorkButtsNTaters666@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 20 hours ago

It is a rather conceptual thing. I cannot say I like it, but I can appreciate the idea. I certainly don't think that anybody should get a full tub of the horsemen, though.

[-] snooting@sub.wetshaving.social 5 points 1 day ago

Wednesday, November 27, 2024: FLS

Brush: Grizzly Bay - v24 Fanchurian 26mm badger
Razor: GEM - Micromatic Clog-Pruf
Blade: Personna - GEM PTFE (3)
Lather: Barrister and Mann - Roam Two
Post: Barrister and Mann - Roam Two Aftershave splash
Post: Stirling - Glacial Unscented Aftershave balm
Frag: Barrister and Mann - Roam Two EdT

Yet another shave with Roam Two where I got to the end and thought to myself "damn, that's a nice scent." It's probably in my top 3.

The Clog-Pruf still bit me a little ATG, but my technique is improving. I'm definitely glad I picked this little razor up; it's definitely whetted my appetite for more GEM razors.

Traveling this afternoon to spend the holiday with family. I'm not looking forward to fighting my way through the airport, but at least I smell good.

🍳 Created with Neovim & sotd.nvim 🍳

[-] gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 1 day ago

Safe travels, though I don’t envy you. GEM razors are worth the experience. My favorite is the MMOC, but I have only tried a few.

[-] snooting@sub.wetshaving.social 5 points 23 hours ago

I've only tried this Clog-Pruf, but I can definitely recommend it! It was also pretty inexpensive and easy to find one in good condition.

[-] walden@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 1 day ago

Safe travels.

[-] snooting@sub.wetshaving.social 3 points 23 hours ago

❤️

[-] gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social 5 points 1 day ago

November 27, 2024 -- WestMan Wednesday

Brush: Wald Stratos Haunter 29mm A1
Blade Holder: Gillette Slim Aristocrat H4 (setting: 5)
Blade: Gillette Nacet (6)
Lather: WestMan Shaving - Alma - Soap
Aftershave: WestMan Shaving - Alma - Aftershave Balm
Talc: Yardley Gold

2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.

Rose, musk, oud. Great way to start the day!

[-] walden@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

November 27, 2024

Brush: Chisel & Hound "Rob's Finest" w/25mm Paragon Synthetic
Razor: GEM Damaskeene
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (3)
Lather: House of Mammoth - Santa Noir - Soap
Post Shave: Pinaud - Clubman Special Reserve - Aftershave
Post Shave: Goodfellow & Co. - Face Lotion - Kelp & Sea Mineral
Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - Aftershave

Great shave with the Damaskeene. I wasn't keen enough to follow along with day 1 of @djundjila@sub.wetshaving's NovGEMber, but now is as good a time as ever!

I love shaving with this razor, but it's admittedly not as efficient as any of my other GEM/Ever-Ready razors.

Some "fun" updates on the Lemmy server: some of you might have noticed a small amount of down time yesterday. Sorry about that. I thought it'd be quick, but it was less than quick.

Either way, the part of Lemmy that handles pictures now has its database handled through PostgresQL. Previously it used something called SLED which was fine, but postgres is better. This also streamlines the backup strategy a bit as the automated backup commands (run with a cronjob) are the same as the main Lemmy database. More importantly, backups can be taken while the software is up and running. We were taking backups without shutting things down before, but we weren't supposed to.

[-] snooting@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I thought it’d be quick, but it was less than quick.

This is the story of my life at work...

As always, thanks for the work you do to keep this place running smoothly!

[-] djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

GEM Days 11a/14: Heavy Flat Tops, or G and E-Bars – Wed 27 Nov 2024

Brush: Zenith 506B MB (27 mm × 51 mm Manchurian badger)
Razor: Ever-Ready Natural Angle Heavy Flat Top a.k.a the E-Bar
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE
Lather: Declaration Grooming – Peaches + Scream
Post Shave: Ariana and Evans – Peach & Cognac
Fragrance: Imaginary Authors – Saint Julep

This is shave 21 of my run through all 14 generations of GEM-style razors, and I have reached the E-Bar/G-bar, or Heavy Flat Tops, or the better-made Featherweight

The E-Bar/G-Bar

The Heavy Flat Top is to the Featherweight what the Streamline is to the 1912: It's the same razor, but built heavier and arguably prettier, except that they only changed the handle this time around. They retain the 1912 style mechanism, the Micromatic Flying Wing base plate-geometry, but they ditch the hollow plastic handle for a heavy cast handle (I'm guessing brass, given the weight?). The GEM version (a.k.a. G-Bar) has a shiny bluish-bright chrome-plating, while the Ever-Ready (a.k.a. E-Bar) has a duller yellow-tint nickel plating.

The two versions of this razor were packaged in almost identical display cases.

Compared to yesterday's Featherweights it is visible that both the British and the American Version have the same head this time around, and it's the one of the Ever-Ready Featherweight, with the lower outline of the top cap and the thicker base plate (as befits the name Heavy Flat Top).

I don't know whether the GEM version was produced at much higher volumes, but nowadays, the G-Bar version can be found relatively easily while the E-Bar is rarer than a Streamline in my experience. I have referred to them as Elusive-Bar in my vintage safety razor self help group with u/EldrormR, u/Semaj3000 and u/VisceralWatch and it took me a long time watching eBay to source one.

The shave

Perfect boozy shave with Peaches + Scream, Peach & Cognac, and the E(lusive)-Bar. This razor has a nice heft to it and the little hook at the end of the handle is a surprisingly nice touch and gives a strong feeling of control when resting the tip of the ring finger on it. The head being identical to the Ever-Ready Featherweight's, this thing is an efficient and intuitive razor (the "Natural" Angle in the name isn't all marketing speak).

The timeline

~~1906-1953: GEM 1912/Star Cadet/Junior/Damaskeene~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1914-1927: 1914~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1924-1933: 1924 Shovelhead~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1930-1932: Micromatic Open Comb Gen 1 (Bumpless baseplate)~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1932-1941: Micromatic Open Comb Gen 2 (double-edge Micromatic GEM blades)~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1940-1943: Micromatic Clog-Pruf~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1945-1946: Micromatic Clog-Pruf Peerless~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1947-1950: Micromatic Flying Wing/Bullet Tip, with guiding eye until 1948, with plastic knob in the last year~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1949-1953: GEM Jewel/Streamline/Ambassador (The beginning of the end IMHO)~~
- FLS
- SLS
~~1950: New GEM Feather Weight, renamed to "Slim-V Flat Top" in 1953, British version sold as "Natural Angle" by Ever-Ready~~

1955-1958: GEM V-Slim "Heavy Flat Top" (G-Bar, shiny chrome), New V Natural Angle Heavy Flat Top (E-Bar, less shiny nickel) ← We are here
1958-1965: Push Button
1965-1973: Contour
1973-1979: Contour II (The last GEM razor)

[-] walden@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 1 day ago

Similar to a Flying Wing?! Sounds like I need a G-Bar in my life.

[-] djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social 3 points 1 day ago

I thought the conclusion would be the exact opposite 🙃

If they shave the same but the Flying Wing is a glorious Micromatic, and this one is a regression to the dark ages, why not stick to the Micromatic?

[-] walden@sub.wetshaving.social 3 points 1 day ago

Because more is better!

[-] gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social 5 points 1 day ago

Did Eld, Semaj, and VW source these razors as well?

[-] djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social 4 points 1 day ago

I think Semaj has one, and mine was found by VW. I don't think Eld ever wanted one

this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2024

7 points (100.0% liked)

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