Considering a plane to be a device holding a sharp blade in such a way that the blade’s exposure and cutting angle are carefully controlled so as to avoid cutting deeper than desired, I found myself this morning going over my face with such a tool. It is commonly known as a safety razor, and was invented by King C. Gillette, whose company brought the razor through many phases of evolution.
Qualities mentioned in evaluation of wood-working planes can be applied to razors: quality of finish, ease of adjustment, mass, and ease of use. It’s my contention that as was true of many other tool manufactures, Gillette, reached the peak of development about 50 years ago, with the adjustable razor (Knob at base of handle opens double doors to expose the blade for exchange, knob just below the head adjusts blade angle.). Since that model they went to plastic razors, very cheap and very light, and using multiple cutting edges in a futile effort to make up for the loss of mass.
As with wood planes, reduced mass leads to “chatter”. A disposable razor weighs 1/4 oz. the Gillette “Track II” wighs 1 1/4 oz. My 50 year old Gillete Adjustable weighs 2 3/4 oz. The comfort of shaving with the massive old razor must be experienced to be believed.
Though no longer produced, Gillette Adjustables can be found in all sorts of second-hand sales. I advise watching for these old razors with the same zeal that we all have in watching for the Stanley Bedrocks.
Tom Higby, Fowlerville MI.
Replies
Hi Tom,
You are SO right.
I have several as I used to be a barber way too many years ago. Every once in a while I induldge myself with Hot towels, old fashioned shaving cream with the mug and a splash of Witch Hazel.
What do you use for blades?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Tom,
You've described my old razor, but I bought it new no more than 40 years ago. Harder and harder to find blades for it. I feel very old now...
In a not unrelated vein, I was having a little difficulty buying cup soap (to put in my "Old Spice" shaving mug) and ended up in a barber/beauty salon supply business, where I got my last (badger hair) shaving brush, and bought a case (dozen) of very thick, long lasting, lanolin impregnated cakes.
Anybody ever used the old "British Sterling" brand cup soap? It came in its own wooden cup, and was the most luxurious shave I ever had. I wish I had a dozen of those.
Ray, who hasn't used an electric shaver since high school and Norelco "floating heads, floating heads, floating all the way"
Ray:Kroger here in Roanoke carries Williams shaving soap, it fits the Old Spice mug, I started using Williams when I couldn't find the Old Spice soap anymore.You might also check Walgrens and CVS.Best,Leon
Thanks Leon,
2 hrs is a long way to drive for cup soap, tho. I've used the Williams brand, but liked the one in the red and white box (Palmolive?) better. That British Sterling spoiled me for sure.
Ray
I used to use Palmolive's tube lather for my travel kit, haven't seen it in years.Leon
You'll thank me:http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos6/group.php?group=27&cat=1Yep, it's a cake of soap that costs 26 bucks.
Edited 7/14/2009 4:30 pm ET by CStanford
Charles,
You're back! Good to see your name.
Must be good stuff. Maybe when my ship comes in, I'll give it a try. Interesting that the teak bowl costs less than the soap inside.
Thanks,
Ray
I remember the British Sterling soap - one of my older brothers used it all the time, Dad Old Spice soap and mug of course. My oldest brother was in the Navy in the Vietnam era and I think I remember that they wouldn't let them shave with anything but Noxzema shave cream in a can - or maybe that was the only thing available onboard ship or in the PX.I'm using the Williams crap and Dad's old Gillette. I usually get a cake or two of the good stuff from the Art of Shaving around the holidays but that supply runs out about this time of year. My wife discovered the Art of Shaving when she traveled to New York frequently for her BIG CORPORATE JOB (yuk!).
Edited 7/15/2009 9:14 am ET by CStanford
Charles,
Welcome back.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Thanks.
An interesting website some of you old coots might enjoy http://www.classicshaving.com
Hmm. You obviously haven't experienced the L-N low-angle bronze razor with the cryo-treated blade yet.
Although you can be forgiven for that -- it's not due out until next April 1. ;-)
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Everything fits, until you put glue on it.
Mike,
You've just given me an idea - I'll use my straight razor and shave the wood with it! Nah I aint gonna mount it in a jig, I'll just free hand it.
:-)
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Unless I'm mistaken, the idea's been taken. Wasn't it Groz or some such who was selling planes that, for lack of better description, used utility knife blades? I remember seeing something like that at Woodcraft a couple of years ago.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.
LV sells the Razorblade Block Plane: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=56750&cat=1,41182,41188 Doesn't work as well as a razor blade with tape over one end.
Jim
Until I looked, I thought you were kidding. Sheesh.
That obviously wouldn't work. It ain't bronze. ;-)Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.
Mike,
Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
You may be thinking of Blum planes. But they're not utility knife blades; they're custom-made for the planes.
-Steve
That's it! I know they're not really utility blades, but the same idear.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.
Mike, It is a Swiss company,whose name I've now conveniently forgotten! They have a block, a #4 ish and a larger one,if the fast fading wetware still works....which it obviously dosen't, or not very well !
Robin
Per Steve, it was Blum. Sounds right.
Or just wrong, depending on how you look at it. ;-)Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.
I'll go with that :-)
but what a dog's breakfast of an idea?
No wonder I forgot the details!
R
Rali.
Rali!
Dang, no wonder Google couldn't find it!
I was typing Bali. Kept gittin adds with polynesian women dancin in grass skirts. OK, I'll go put the dunce hat on............... after I take a long trip.
:-)
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Thanks for that. Have to say that despite my best efforts,it still wasn't happening!Must be further down 'The Track' than I had thought!!
I DO remember the device however, Gem blades an' all...enough to make ye escape to Bali with K'sville Bob to get away from such heresey!
I wonder what their sales book looks like?
:-)
Robin
Mike:
We got a prototype L/N razor from Tom the other day and all I can say is it makes a girls legs shiver with delight.
Still crazy out in the Rockies
Madison
;-)
And I'll bet it's that nice L-N bronze, too. And it comes in a box so nice you don't wanna toss it out ever, and packed with anti-rust paper.
But enquiring minds wanna know -- what's the angle of the standard frog, and is the hi-angle adapter available for those, er, trickier shaving tasks one may occasionally encounter? ;-)Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.
Ahh sweetie, a girl's gotta have some secrets!
Madison
I only shave if my grandbabies get afraid of the old man trying to hug them. Or I get all itchie!
Which ever comes first...
You need to make sure sure the China babies are well secured. Make no apologies.
Do you still sharpen your Gillette Blue Blades (Don Dumfey announcing the heavyweight fights) by rubbing them on the inside of the sink?
Frosty
"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
Yes, I remember honing the blade by rubbing it on the inside of a streight-sided glass.My beard is quite rough. For the first few years I took a hammer and drove the stubble back in, where I could chew it off. I eventually gave up the problem of finding a good razor by letting my beard grow. No, I do not look like a member of ZZ TOP, I've just trimmed it to a comfortable length for the past 43 years. As the years progress, I now have more hair on my chin (chins) than on the top of my head.
SawdustSteve.... Looking more and more like Santa every year
I'm fortunate. I have blond, now grey whiskers. I can skip a day (I don't for fear it will become a habit) and nobody notices.
Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
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