Feather still working
Very fine shave today using a previously used Feather blade. Maybe that’s again a best blade for me.
I got a version of Creamy Lather, but it really is more difficult with badger brushes. OTOH, it was a fine lather, and the Mühle brush performed well. Brushes that carry a ring of metal around the handle at the base of the knot can make chilling sounds on glass/pottery shaving mugs, though: thus the invention of the Marvy hard-rubber mug.
Lather well applied, three smooth passes of the Edwin Jagger DE89 with the Feather blade, then a splash of Klar Seifen and I’m ready for the day: getting a bike helmet and taking a hard look at the Bianchi Cortina are on the agenda. (The Brompton is fine, but rather touchy in the steering due to the small wheels and shorter wheelbase—at least that’s what it feels like to me.)
A minor note: I was pleased to see that the eggs from the little PG produce stand were much fresher than supermarket eggs, whose quality suffers from (I assume) the length of the supply chain. Tomorrow I’ll try the Farmer’s Market for fresh eggs as some readers suggested.
Michael,
Can you share a definition and some pictures of Creamy Lather (TM)? You’ve got some great information about how to make it; but it’d be great to know what we’re shooting for.
Thanks.
SimplyShavingForums
16 July 2011 at 9:12 am
Well, I’ve been posting about it regularly and did include one (not very good) photo. I’ll try, but if you simply experiment with a more lengthy and vigorous loading of the brush on the bowl of shaving soap (and this is a soap-oriented procedure: it doesn’t apply to shaving creams), particularly with a boar or horsehair brush, you’ll recognize it when it happens. But I’ll try for more photos.
So far as the definition: the Creamy Lather is significantly thicker with much smaller bubbles than my usual Frugal Lather. I was getting millibubbles, but CL has microbubbles.
LeisureGuy
16 July 2011 at 9:17 am
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/utility/belleville/belleville/#
A bit more than the Bianchi in price point, but with fenders, rack and dynamo powered lighting it is a very nice looking, stable and comfortable utility bike. It is a very good value, but might not be appropriate for anything more than moderate hills. I bought my wife one of the women’s models for farmer’s market runs, and all I had to add was a Brooks B-17s saddle.
Dirty Texan
16 July 2011 at 9:50 am
(I’m going to step out of SimplyShaving and into VagabondJim because this is about *my* results. But I think the answer will still be valuable to the forum community.)
I think I’m getting Creamy Lather — very thick, very smooth, finely bubbled, slightly glossy (in most cases), dense foam — regardless of brush or soap/cream. But before I get too boastful, I want to make sure what I’m getting is in fact Creamy Lather…
My potential “success” has been based on:
* Using more water than seems necessary (but not added all at once.)
* Using a wide mouthed, but shallow, round bottomed bowl. It takes big strokes and a mug can be a pretty tight space.
* Using a lathering stroke that incorporates as much air as possible into the mix. I find I’m actually bring the brush out of the mix as I swirl/rotate (that is I’m not “pumping.)
Essentially, I try to mimic the process of whipping cream by hand. If I get to soft peaks, that’s usually pretty good. Once or twice I’ve come close to stiff peaks but not with regularity. But I never stop until the lather is dense enough to hold my brush upright in it.
I learned of this in an old post on one of the forums. I’m having trouble finding that thread. When I do, I’ll post a link.
If you can post some pictures AND if I’m indeed getting the same result, I’ll make sure to find a way to post some video.
Jim
VagabondJim
16 July 2011 at 10:07 am
@Jim: I know that Mantic and Zach are working on a video now, and I’ll certainly post a link when it’s up. My own “secret” (some secret: doesn’t always work and I’m blogging it) is to extend the brush loading on the soap. In particular with horsehair and boar this seems to be the secret: the lather is, in effect, worked up on the soap rather than in a lathering bowel. I will try the lathering bowl idea tomorrow—well, on Monday. Thanks for the tip. If I get something good I’ll try again to post a photo.
@Dirty: As it turns out, the bike I was actually looking at was the Bianchi Torino, which seems like a good town bike. I do like Treks, though, and my favorite bike ever was a Trek I bought in Iowa City and was subsequently stolen in Santa Cruz when I stupidly left the garage door open. So I’m definitely interested in the link.
I will not be buying a bike immediately: I’ll continue riding the Brompton until I feel reasonably sure this new interest will take, though I did buy a new helmet today to replace the one I last used 10 years ago and who foam insides have turned into something else. Not a very good helmet to begin with. I got a Bell, and the guy fitted me quite well, making all necessary adjustments. A lot to be said in favor of buying from a local dealer when you can rather than over the Internet.
LeisureGuy
16 July 2011 at 2:38 pm
Michael:
What’s the most difficult combo of bush (fluffy/dense) and soap (tallow/veggie, soap/creme) types for you to use to generate Creamy Lather? I’m going to do some experimenting today. I’ll post findings later.
Jim
VagabondJim
17 July 2011 at 2:02 pm
Since shaving creams perform quite differently from shaving soaps, I’ve been treating this as a soap-only option. So that’s one dichotomy resolved.
I think tallow soaps work a little better than veggie soaps, but that’s probably conventional wisdom speaking rather than actual experimental results. I certainly have been able to achieve CL with veggie soaps.
The best brushes seem to be boar and horsehair, I think because the bristles are a bit more resilient than my badger brushes.
Hope that helps.
LeisureGuy
17 July 2011 at 2:10 pm
Ok, I’ll try veggie with badger.
VagabondJim
17 July 2011 at 2:16 pm
Rather bad videos of the effort posted on my Google+ stream. Let me know if the results are creamy lather (in addition to badly filmed…)
VagabondJim
17 July 2011 at 8:43 pm