New guy here!

Thoughts and input on anything related to wet shaving or men's grooming.
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djr

New guy here!

Post by djr »

Greetings, gents -

New guy here in Washington state. Fully-immersed into wet shaving for about a year and a half now and never going back to using a cartridge razor - ever. I've settled into a comfort zone as far what products I prefer. I only use one razor - my tried and true Merkur 34C with Gillette 7 O'clock Super Platinum blades (black label). Boring, I know, but I have found that my skin cannot handle experimenting with different razors and DE blades - I've found what works in terms of "hardware" and I'm sticking with it - I don't feel a need to try a bunch of different razors and blades anyway - just not necessary. I also use only 1 brush - my tried and true Savile Row 3824 (24mm silvertip). I've also never felt the need to try a bunch of different brushes. I've found what works and I'm sticking with it. I love my Savile Row 3824 - it's never shed a hair and it's just simply a workhorse. Absolutely awesome brush. Where I do like to kind of mix things up, is when it comes to my soaps. I pretty much exclusively use artisan soaps. My favorites are Cold River Soap Works, Mike's Natural Soaps, Barrister & Mann, and Soap Commander. Oh, and I do have a jar of Martin De Candre Fougere that I love (worth every penny). I don't have a huge collection by any means, but I love the soaps that I do have and it feels good to have settled into what works well for me.

I left a different wet shaving forum to come to this one. I know SMF has been around since the beginning - just seems more "cozy" here - which I really like.

Thanks!
CMur12
Posts: 7461
Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:41 pm
Location: Moses Lake, Washington, USA

Re: New guy here!

Post by CMur12 »

Hi David, it's a pleasure to have you join us. All the more (for me), to welcome a fellow Washingtonian!

We have often talked about "fidelity" to a single or small number of products, and it looks like you embody that. It used to be that we bought a razor, blades, and whatever else from what was available at the drug store and we learned to make it work. I did a lot of experimenting during my early years here, but I'm largely settled on favorite tools and I have a lifetime supply of favorite expendables, so I don't buy much these days.

If you don't mind my asking, which part of Washington are you from? I grew up on the west side, but I have lived in Moses Lake, in the Columbia Basin, since 1983. Those of us east of the mountains refer to western Washington as "The Coast." ;-)

I look forward to your presence in our little community.

- Murray
djr

Re: New guy here!

Post by djr »

CMur12 wrote:Hi David, it's a pleasure to have you join us. All the more (for me), to welcome a fellow Washingtonian!

We have often talked about "fidelity" to a single or small number of products, and it looks like you embody that. It used to be that we bought a razor, blades, and whatever else from what was available at the drug store and we learned to make it work. I did a lot of experimenting during my early years here, but I'm largely settled on favorite tools and I have a lifetime supply of favorite expendables, so I don't buy much these days.

If you don't mind my asking, which part of Washington are you from? I grew up on the west side, but I have lived in Moses Lake, in the Columbia Basin, since 1983. Those of us east of the mountains refer to western Washington as "The Coast." ;-)

I look forward to your presence in our little community.

- Murray
Great to meet you, and thank you for the warm welcome. I'm in Puyallup - not far from Tacoma.

Like you, I'm not buying too much stuff now as I seem to have dialed in what I really like. Definitely settled on my razor of choice and my brush of choice. I might pick up another brush (or several) in the future, just to have a little variety, but for the most part I'm set!

It started out that I would use creams exclusively. I had no interest in soaps at all. Then I discovered and opened my mind to the whole concept of artisan soap makers here in the US and haven't used a cream in months. I enjoy supporting the artisans who's soaps I enjoy.
Last edited by djr on Sat Nov 19, 2016 8:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
brothers
Posts: 21514
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:18 am
Location: Oklahoma City USA

Re: New guy here!

Post by brothers »

Hello David. Thanks for joining SMF. Looking forward to your participation.
Gary

SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
djr

Re: New guy here!

Post by djr »

brothers wrote:Hello David. Thanks for joining SMF. Looking forward to your participation.
Thanks, Gary!
ShadowsDad
Posts: 3121
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:13 am
Location: Central Maine

Re: New guy here!

Post by ShadowsDad »

Welcome to the forum!
Brian

Maker of Kramperts Finest Bay Rum and Frostbite
Or find it here: Italian Barber, West Coast Shaving, Barclay Crocker, The Old Town Shaving Company at Stats, Maggard Razors; Leavitt & Peirce, Harvard Square
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Ouchmychin
Posts: 1595
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:03 pm

Re: New guy here!

Post by Ouchmychin »

Welcome and hello David. I live in Eastern Washington too (Pasco). When I first joined about 10 years ago I had an old Gillette DE razor that I hadn't used for years. I got hooked on the posts here and acquired a bunch of razors and hundred packs of various blades as well as half a dozen brushes and more than a dozen aftershaves and cologne/edt's. Your approach is a lot simpler and cheaper, but I still wouldn't trade the long learning experience about equipment. I tend to be nerdy though. :D
Ouchmychin (Pete)
pausted
Posts: 2535
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 5:07 pm
Location: Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Re: New guy here!

Post by pausted »

Welcome, David. Glad to have you here.
Best regards,

Basil
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TheMonk
Posts: 1216
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 4:44 am
Location: Porto, Portugal

Re: New guy here!

Post by TheMonk »

Welcome to SMF, David!
David

“Use any means to keep from being a genius, all means to become one.” John Cage
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Racso_MS
Merkur Man
Posts: 3179
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:35 am
Location: Mississippi

Re: New guy here!

Post by Racso_MS »

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

Come Often and Stay Long
Best Regards From the Deep South...
Remember; It's Not A Race, It's Your Face...
And As Always, Enjoy Your Shave...
(Racso) Oscar...
djr

Re: New guy here!

Post by djr »

Thanks, everyone!
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