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Post by Trout Whisperer on Jan 25, 2012 17:29:31 GMT -6
As I mentioned on the old forum, I got to use a Valet Autostrop for the first time. It seemed mild compared to other single-edge razors I have tried, especially considering I was using a Feather blade. I auto-stropped the blade after two shaves, and it appears to have had no effect for the third shave...or maybe that's what is supposed to happen. Anyway, my beard laughs at mild razors, but I'll keep playing with this thing to satisfy my curiosity.
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Jan 25, 2012 17:58:04 GMT -6
The VAS is a fun razor to use, and the Feathers are very sharp. My complaint with them is they only seem to last for about 4 shaves and then they're done for. I have a medium beard, it's not real heavy plus I have a full van Dyke so I'm only shaving 1/2-3/4 of my face but it sure uses up the Feathers quickly. I'll be curious to see if stropping helps the blade last longer.
I like the older ones with a modified SE blade.
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RocketMan
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Post by RocketMan on Jan 25, 2012 19:19:20 GMT -6
I have to agree on the Feather blades. HT, if you are getting four shaves you are doing better than me. I find really after the second shave even that it is not really a comfortable shave - it feels sluggish and 'thick' on the slice. Unlike most SE blades that get downright bouncy almost once they are dull, the Feather seems to just feel like pulling a garden rake through wet soil. I have had very little success also in retouching an edge on the Feathers. Hi end steel is tricky to coax into behaving. I have stropped the heck out of carbons and have managed to stretch out the mileage, but I'm not convinced it is worth the effort after the first two or three nostalgic tries! I am still on the fence on this though and have been known to rant on about sharpening/stropping NOS vintage Valet blades from time to time. I'm sure I will try again!!
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Post by wchnu on Jan 25, 2012 20:10:49 GMT -6
I have never found that stropping them help. I have tried the VAS stropper and have a ever ready for regular blades. It seems to have no effect at all. If you strop a new blade it seems to kill it actually. Maybe there is a trick that I dont know about.
Fuzzy
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Post by Trout Whisperer on Jan 27, 2012 17:05:46 GMT -6
Well, that's three shaves, stropping after each. Fuzzy had mentioned on the other board that stropping had a negative effect, but the Autostrop is so mild I have a difficult time determining the rate at which the blade is losing its edge. But tomorrow is shave #4 so we'll see. The stropping itself is a pain and requires a careful technique to rotate the blade edge upward before switching directions. If I had been using this setup back in the day, I wouldn't have bothered unless the whole process significantly increased blade life. But at this point in time, I'm thankful for an opportunity to use this curious example of machinery to whack at my whiskers in the morning. I'll let you fellers know how far I can stretch the usefulness of that blade. Stay tuned for more exciting Valet Autostrop adventures! ;D
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ShadowsDad
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"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
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Post by ShadowsDad on Jan 29, 2012 18:29:13 GMT -6
The different AS models shave differently. The VC1 & 2 are a bit more aggressive, the VC3 & 4 are fairly mild. I'll post a review here in a bit that shows this.
I've tried stropping twice.
The first time I waited for my super duper $30+ kangaroo strop to come in from England. Then went at a blade that was in my razor just waiting for this day. The blade didn't flip once and I was holding one end of the strop and the other end was still on the towel ring. I figure stropping that blade cost me just over $1 per stroke.
The second time was just recently. I saw a VAS for sale and it had a useable strop, and the razor looked OK. All for $10. The razor was a freebie IMO (the razor was cherry). "So I know I can get 2 shaves from a Feather, so I'll strop the blade every shave and see if I can keep the blade aligned and how long it'll last.", was what I was thinking. After the first shave I stropped it and the blade wouldn't cut hair. But the strop survived to trap yet another person sometime down the road.
I wonder if the metallurgy of the original Valet blades would tolerate stropping better? Carbon steel vs SS. I have a few original blades. Maybe some day I'll try it, but right now my plate is more than full of things I need to test.
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Post by Trout Whisperer on Jan 30, 2012 20:57:45 GMT -6
You guys are right about the Feather blades. The fourth shave made me think I was shaving with a spoon. So, either the stropping doesn't work on "high-end steel", or I'm not the vintage autostroperizer I imagined myself to be. Rocketman mentioned NOS Valet blades--that would be the only way to test the effectiveness of stropping. At this point, though, I've done all the non-straight-razor stropping I care to. ;D Other than the mild shaving characteristics and the false hope of refreshing the blade edge, what's not to like about a vintage safety razor with built-in gears?
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Post by wchnu on Jan 30, 2012 21:53:46 GMT -6
They are really cool tools. Anyway you look at it.
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rob72
SE Super Freak
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Post by rob72 on Feb 6, 2012 8:21:04 GMT -6
Hi, I just followed a reference to "here" by RocketMan. I recently picked up a nice Kriss Kross razor & stropper, and will report (at least with my specimen) the KK does a fantastic job on OEM AS blades. I had used an E strop with grossly limited success, but the KK seemed to work extremely well. I will report back with continued use...
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RocketMan
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Post by RocketMan on Feb 6, 2012 9:17:23 GMT -6
Hi, I just followed a reference to "here" by RocketMan.
MUaaaaHhHHHhaaahahahahhaaaaa!!!! There is no turning back now!!
Welcome to the Sharp Side!!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2012 22:29:16 GMT -6
Wow, here's where all the cool kids are hanging out.
I'm an avid autostropian for sure. I have at least a couple dozen, but my current love affair is with the VC4 w/a Feather. I get a consistent 4 good shaves with the Feather. The shave is so good that I don't mind the relatively short blade lifespan.
Anyway, I've refurb'd some of my strops back up to good usable condition, but have only used them a few times on some vintage Valet blades. I like the Feathers more, but am prepared for the day that (God forbid) the Feathers are no longer available.
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Post by wchnu on Feb 7, 2012 22:31:00 GMT -6
Wow, here's where all the cool kids are hanging out. I'm an avid autostropian for sure. I have at least a couple dozen, but my current love affair is with the VC4 w/a Feather. I get a consistent 4 good shaves with the Feather. The shave is so good that I don't mind the relatively short blade lifespan. Anyway, I've refurb'd some of my strops back up to good usable condition, but have only used them a few times on some vintage Valet blades. I like the Feathers more, but am prepared for the day that (God forbid) the Feathers are no longer available. Welcome.. will be great to hear about all the autostrops you have. be sure to check in over at the welcome center and say hi
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RocketMan
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Post by RocketMan on Feb 8, 2012 0:14:08 GMT -6
Wow, here's where all the cool kids are hanging out.. Hell yeah!!! I'm an avid autostropian for sure. . AWESOME!!!!! WE BE NEEDIN SOME AUTOSTOP LOVIN ROUND HERE!!!!!Welcome Autostropian!!! (LOVE the name!) Great to have you on board! I am real partial to the AutoStrops myself. Looking to forward to some good old fashioned AS yak!!! C4 huh - yeah that can give some real explosive shaves!!! You should think about posting a Model C thread with some pics and maybe we can all muscle through identifying and properly catologuing those babies. It would be a project!! But worth it. Welcome To The Sharp Side!
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