I brought out the Yardley because someone on Wicked_Edge just scored a tub, and I wanted to show solidarity. It’s a wonderful shaving soap, and the Vie-Long horsehair brush had no trouble at all in getting an instant fragrant, thick lather. Very enjoyable.
LonesomeWhistle on WE was wondering about alternate handles for the Standard. The rule for razor handles, I’ve discovered, is that a heavier handle is no problem, a lighter handle can be iffy: the lighter handle can make the razor feel head-heavy and awkward. For example, I tried an Edwin Jagger DE86bl (faux-ebony handle) handle with the Shavecraft #102 slant, and it didn’t feel right at all. OTOH, the Parker 24C handle and the iKon Bulldog and OSS handles worked fine because they had more heft. A heavy handle moves the center of mass back down into the handle, and the razor feels agile; a light handle moves the center of mass toward (or even into) the head and the out-of-balance feeling is evident.
The UFO handle in the photo, an aluminum bronze number, was quite comfortable and the razor felt even better than with the Standard handle—this new configuration will be permanent. Three passes using an Astra Superior Platinum blade to a perfect BBS result. That means no roughness found in any direction and no nicks or razor burn.
A good splash of TOBS Sandalwood, and the day begins.
Filed under: Shaving
