Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

A classmate of mine posted this and having heard it too many times when I taught, it made me laugh. If T. Jefferson had been a student today, would this have happened?!


Happy Independence Day, Americans! (Although it would be over 8 years until the colonies finally were independent.)

I have been working my way through soaps in hopes of reducing the denizens in the drawer. I only have 14 soaps in active rotation, with 3 benched as PIF, Sell, or Trade. Of the 14, seven (7!) were purchased in 2021!! So I decided for the summer and maybe fall to use only those soaps, with the occasional day off to use a recent purchase. I am liking swapping out razors (albeit there is a sort of schedule being followed) and the brush/knot choice is kind of random.

But I haven't fully backslidden into using 4 different pieces of kit every day! My sort of schedule has been to use a more efficient razor/blade combo on work days and use something else on days off. I stick with the work razor for a couple of weeks (that gives 7 shaves based on my rotating schedule).

This week has been a Vector with a Feather Professional blade (which I may not like as much as I thought, as I get a bountiful bevy of weepers in the van Dyke area some days!). I had 7 shaves with the ProGuard and was really impressed. I remember not liking the feel of the guard with the Kai ProTouch, but the ProGuard seems nicer, so back to it soon. My Karve Overlander gets many of the day off shaves, and a bit of work day as well, as it does such a great job and feels so wonderful. And the injectors are taking many of the non work days as well. Basically, I am having fun with a sort of set kit for work days and enjoying my other bits and bobs on days off!

I do read the posts and try to hit the like button when I remember it's there! Take care and stay well!

There's that overworked Northeastern Pharmaceutical Scholar, sounds like you're busy but having fun Eric!

There's that overworked Northeastern Pharmaceutical Scholar, sounds like you're busy but having fun Eric!

Thanks, Dave, made me smile!

Another one bites the dust!

Saw the 1st pic and was going to call a foul but then saw the 2nd pic Well done Eric !

Thanks, Dave in KY! This tub was purchased in late January 2021!! And I have 6 or 7 more purchased that year. No new soap for me!

Wow, I had to clean out the Journal of dust and cobwebs!

The soap used these last few shaves has been from a tub I purchased at the end of 2021, Zingari Man Unscented. Paul mrdoug brought it back to mind when he wrote glowly of it in a recent post. And as Paul was responsible for me bumping a late '21 purchase ahead of 3 or 4 others purchased earlier that year, I decided to use the Overlander with it. Bottom line, Paul was not pulling your leg! The combination of the Overlander with the wonderfulness of Zingari Man's soap has given me some most excellent shaves!

In other news, I have been looking at the Tatara Masamune for a couple of years now, and never did anything about it. Why? Because I was having so much fun with injectors and GEMs, and having an Overlander has really dampened my interest in buying any DE without a dang good reason. I did pick up an Era and a Gentile Testina earlier this year, and have already sold both as the Overlander is pretty much the best in my modern collection (now consisting of it and the Yates 921). However, last week I saw a Masamune with a stand for what I believe was a great price. And today it arrived.



A negative exposure and a gap similar to the Overlander. I am hoping for good things. DanLaw has posted some great reviews and I thought the time was now right to buy.

I really only have one other razor on my wish list: the yet-to-be-released Blackland adjustable DE (I have been a sucker for adjustable razors!).

Hope you all are well and staying safe, whether from heat, floods, or fire. (Climate change? Pshaw, poppycock!) (sarcasm implied for the doubters).

Awesome Eric, was that the one with extra Nodachi plate and Cap and OC Plate also ? That was a steal that had me tempted to pull the trigger too. If so, glad you got it and looking forward to your thoughts !!!

Wow, I had to clean out the Journal of dust and cobwebs!

The soap used these last few shaves has been from a tub I purchased at the end of 2021, Zingari Man Unscented. Paul mrdoug brought it back to mind when he wrote glowly of it in a recent post. And as Paul was responsible for me bumping a late '21 purchase ahead of 3 or 4 others purchased earlier that year, I decided to use the Overlander with it. Bottom line, Paul was not pulling your leg! The combination of the Overlander with the wonderfulness of Zingari Man's soap has given me some most excellent shaves!

In other news, I have been looking at the Tatara Masamune for a couple of years now, and never did anything about it. Why? Because I was having so much fun with injectors and GEMs, and having an Overlander has really dampened my interest in buying any DE without a dang good reason. I did pick up an Era and a Gentile Testina earlier this year, and have already sold both as the Overlander is pretty much the best in my modern collection (now consisting of it and the Yates 921). However, last week I saw a Masamune with a stand for what I believe was a great price. And today it arrived.



A negative exposure and a gap similar to the Overlander. I am hoping for good things. DanLaw has posted some great reviews and I thought the time was now right to buy.

I really only have one other razor on my wish list: the yet-to-be-released Blackland adjustable DE (I have been a sucker for adjustable razors!).

Hope you all are well and staying safe, whether from heat, floods, or fire. (Climate change? Pshaw, poppycock!) (sarcasm implied for the doubters).

  Congrats Eric!!  I don't think you will be disappointed.  Five of my last eight shaves have been with a recently acquired Masamune, and I bought it for what I think are the same reasons as you.  In any case, the gap (0.63mm) and deeply negative exposure (-0.13mm) generate an uncannily efficient, yet smooth and forgiving razor.. --  Enjoy!!