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SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:46 am
by brothers
About a decade ago one of SMF's finest - D.Irving79 - posted a link to his YouTube channel. Dave Irving is no longer with us, but it seems he left behind some invaluable expertise along with his outstanding personality on video. Dave and Pauldog and many others have posted some meaningful exchanges of information in the SMF archives from ten years ago - more or less - primarily focused on Single Edge blades and razors. I am attaching a link for the YouTube channel. Dave's old shaving forum (The Original Safety) is no longer available.

https://www.youtube.com/user/GemCutlery

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:05 pm
by ShadowsDad
I think it's called the The Original Safety Too (aka TOST) now and under new management, and the old forums posts are still available.

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:22 pm
by brothers
I knew TOST exists, but wasn't aware that it contains Dave's original stuff. That's great! A few years ago I bought an old gold plated English SE razor called "The Yankee". I was browsing around one day and it turned out that TOST contains a thread and some pictures of what was to become my own specific Yankee and a posted conversation between a former owner and another guy about the razor.

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:34 pm
by CMur12
I remember Dave and his forum. I recall PMing him some suggestions on his use of Early Modern English and getting a good-natured response from him. :D

- Murray

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:54 pm
by Pauldog
Nobody thought back then that there would be a new single edge razor made, let alone several.

Gary, your mention of Dave is ambiguous - is he still alive?

(By the way, another one of my favorites, Themba, has been gone a long time, but I assume he's all right, just not posting anything.)

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:07 am
by fallingwickets
an inquiry a few years ago makes me believe that he was ill and passed away. A good dude, to me anyway

clive

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:41 am
by Gene
fallingwickets wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:07 am an inquiry a few years ago makes me believe that he was ill and passed away. A good dude, to me anyway

clive
That is unfortunate. I watched one or two of his videos a long time ago - they were good. Plus, he really loved his Gem razors! I wonder what he would have thought of the modern day General, or as mentioned earlier, any of the other SE's out today?

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2018 10:01 pm
by Z-2
Dave inspired me to try SE razor, and now they are part of my shaving routine. I use GEM 1912 and MMOC very often :wink:

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 11:10 am
by Pauldog
Besides Dave and Themba, we're also missing Phin, an injector razor specialist. All of them shared my love for the thicker blades, so I miss their shared interest in using alternatives to DE blades. My other minority interest is in slant razors, and I don't know if there's anyone here who specializes in them.

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:10 pm
by brothers
Paul, which slants are you currently using in your rotation? Have you had an opportunity to check out the currently available slant head that is sold by Italian Barber? I think he calls it 37 German because it is a clone of the old original 1937 German Bakelite slant razor.

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 12:40 am
by Pauldog
I bought a bunch of heads from Razorock/Italian Barber, including the 37 slant. I've only used it once so far.

Lately, for slants I've mainly been using and liking the Maggard and the Phoenix Alpha Ecliptic. The Phoenix open comb slant has been a little too aggressive so far with the blades I've tried (such as the Personna med preps), so I'm going to try other blades with it, like the Derby and old Wilkinsons.

After a while I'll try the German 37 and the Merkur slants some more.

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2020 6:48 pm
by DIRVING79
fallingwickets wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:07 am an inquiry a few years ago makes me believe that he was ill and passed away. A good dude, to me anyway

clive
I have to laugh at whoever said that...haha. I’m still alive...I think. Had a divorce. Had to get my house in order. Just kinda got sucked into the daily grind after that. Everyone’s words in this post have really put a smile on my face, thank you. Aside from working a lot I’m very much back.

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2020 6:49 pm
by DIRVING79
ShadowsDad wrote: Sun Sep 09, 2018 1:05 pm I think it's called the The Original Safety Too (aka TOST) now and under new management, and the old forums posts are still available.
Fuzzy took over the site completely after I went on hiatus :)

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 7:31 am
by fallingwickets
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

welcome back...you have been missed. FU, ex's :D :D :D :D :D

clive

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2020 8:39 am
by DIRVING79
fallingwickets wrote: Wed Sep 09, 2020 7:31 am YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

welcome back...you have been missed. FU, ex's :D :D :D :D :D

clive
You are too kind my friend. I have missed all of you; very happy to be back :D

Yeah remind me to not get divorced again. What a mess :lol:

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:28 pm
by brothers
fallingwickets wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:07 am an inquiry a few years ago makes me believe that he was ill and passed away. A good dude, to me anyway

clive
Yes, a good guy. David, maybe you can start a thread on SMF to resurrect the heart and soul of "The Original Safety"! It might be a way to start back where you left off when the old TOS was taken down. Just a thought, might not be practical or possible.

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:18 pm
by DIRVING79
brothers wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:28 pm
fallingwickets wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 4:07 am an inquiry a few years ago makes me believe that he was ill and passed away. A good dude, to me anyway

clive
Yes, a good guy. David, maybe you can start a thread on SMF to resurrect the heart and soul of "The Original Safety"! It might be a way to start back where you left off when the old TOS was taken down. Just a thought, might not be practical or possible.
Why thank you, much appreciated.

As it stands Calvin kinda took things over upon my hiatus so that’s his baby now.

I will definitely be blogging at some point soon. And if I can motivate actually printing the book I wrote 10 years ago.... hahaha

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2020 4:46 pm
by brothers
DIRVING79 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:18 pm . . . . that’s his baby now.

I will definitely be blogging at some point soon. And if I can motivate actually printing the book I wrote 10 years ago.... hahaha
What I had in mind was calling it anything SE related that the enthusiasts can habitually use within SMF to discuss and show off their razors, etc., thus the heart and soul that you represent when it comes to the old or not so old SE razors. Not anything to compete with or infringe upon his baby!

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:26 pm
by DIRVING79
brothers wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2020 4:46 pm
DIRVING79 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:18 pm . . . . that’s his baby now.

I will definitely be blogging at some point soon. And if I can motivate actually printing the book I wrote 10 years ago.... hahaha
What I had in mind was calling it anything SE related that the enthusiasts can habitually use within SMF to discuss and show off their razors, etc., thus the heart and soul that you represent when it comes to the old or not so old SE razors. Not anything to compete with or infringe upon his baby!
I like this idea a lot =D>

Re: SE expert an SMF treasure

Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2020 1:18 pm
by Manasse73
DIRVING79 wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:26 pm
brothers wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2020 4:46 pm
DIRVING79 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:18 pm . . . . that’s his baby now.

I will definitely be blogging at some point soon. And if I can motivate actually printing the book I wrote 10 years ago.... hahaha
What I had in mind was calling it anything SE related that the [embedded link removed] can habitually use within SMF to discuss and show off their razors, etc., thus the heart and soul that you represent when it comes to the old or not so old SE razors. Not anything to compete with or infringe upon his baby!
I like this idea a lot =D>
Hi, what is an SE expert?