“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”
The Frank shaving brushes (I have 3 now) look great, but for some reason I cannot get the lather to persist on them. For me, it’s almost as if the brushes have been dipped in a lather-killing solution. I gave up on this one when, after loading it with lots of soap, I had no lather for the second pass. Life’s too short.
I did finish the shave (using the smallest Frank brush, which seems to do the best job), and it was a good shave. I know the soap is not at fault—I used the Prairie Creations shave stick with great success on the trip (until I forgot it and left it at TYD’s). Just to be sure, I’ll use the same soap tomorrow with the Rooney Style 2. The soap has a fine fragrance.
And my razor is the newly gold-plated Pils stainless. Pils does make a gold-plated razor, but it’s gold-plated brass. I decided to gold plate this one after getting rust spots under the cap. The gold plating will put paid to that. (I’ve heard that Pils has done a recall—a bad batch of stainless—but I know nothing more of that. Contact your dealer if you have a stainless Pils that’s shown rust spots.) I think it turned out extremely handsome, and with a new Swedish Gillette blade it gave a fine shave.
A splash of TOBS Mr. Taylor’s aftershave, and I’m good for the day.
I’ve been reading so many positive comments on Frank brushes over at BruceOnShaving that I was tempted to give one a go. But your experience is certainly a big caveat for me. How strange…a brush that won’t lather!
Steve
20 October 2010 at 11:27 am
It lathers fine for the first pass—well, certainly adequate lather to shave. But that lather’s gone (for me) by the second pass. I don’t understand, but I’m not spending the time to figure it out.
LeisureGuy
20 October 2010 at 12:13 pm
Mike, doesn’t the plating mess w/ the widths of the razor? i’m guessing not but would wonder if the extra layer of material would affect how the blades sit. glad to have you back, sir.
jonathan
20 October 2010 at 4:14 pm
The plating is just 5 microns thick—not enough, I think, to make any noticeable difference. The average size human hair is about 75 microns in diameter, to give you an idea. (I just Googled that fact—who carries things like that around in their head?)
LeisureGuy
20 October 2010 at 4:50 pm
I’ve been hesitant to buy a PILS because of the rusting issues. Hopefully in due time they will sort this out. I mean $240 for a razor and they didn’t quality control the stainless.
J Dogg
21 October 2010 at 7:46 pm
Looks very good in gold! Gold-over-stainless — Your great-grandson will love you!
Tony
22 October 2010 at 7:15 am
I bought the 28mm Frank Shaving brush and after a really good soak and working up a real light airy lather and losing a couple of hairs, its lathered like an absolute champ.
I gave it a good clean as it did have quite a funky smell for a badger but that seems to have banished the anti lather properties!
Lord Razor
26 October 2010 at 7:19 am
I’m very pleased to hear that the brushes will indeed produce good lather after some cleaning and use. They are certainly a great bargain.
LeisureGuy
26 October 2010 at 7:30 am