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  1. Rigidman

    Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

    Well that makes sense. Some tests I think need improvement. They're too easy. I think we need tests for lots of other things too. Far too many people screwing things up because they don't care, are stupid, or just plain lazy.
  2. Rigidman

    Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

    I know what you mean...
  3. Rigidman

    Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

    DE? Do you mean safety razors? Oh you mean double edge. I've always called them safety razors. I've been looking for a couple of good carbon steel straight razors on eBay. I've seen some listed as carbon, but they were stainless. Or carbon stainless. Not sure how I feel about carbon stainless...
  4. Rigidman

    Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

    I don't think it can be illegal. I believe it might be against the constitution.
  5. Rigidman

    Replacing Cork in Calabash Pipe.

    I have another question, can the cork be doubled up? The 2 calabash pipes I'm restoring used to be gypsum/plaster lined. At the top of one it looks like it may have had a cork gasket at one time. The top of the bowl is tapered. May have just been that makers way of doing things. If I use 1/4"...
  6. Rigidman

    Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

    I love my beard too but sometimes I like to change things up. Even when I go to restaurants I try new things. Depending on if I'm craving something or not like Carnitas or Chimichangas.
  7. Rigidman

    Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

    Yeah I've had to tell several barbers that their razor either needed stropping or sharpened and asked, sometimes I had to demand, they use a different straight razor or get a different person all together to do the shave. I wonder if they still train barbers with the balloon shave technique...
  8. Rigidman

    Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

    I went to a wedding out of town. Looked for a place to get a shave. Didn't think I had to ask for a straight razor shave but apparently I did. I got to the shop and she pulls out a gillette 5 blade and I asked about the straight razor. She didn't know how. I left. Finally found a place after...
  9. Rigidman

    Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

    You made laugh. Don't forget Edward Scissor hands
  10. Rigidman

    Other Woods Article

    Not really an apocalypse type scenario. I don't know how much meerschaum there is. My guess its like oil, one day it'll run out. Probably won't be for some time. It is used for an amazing number if products. Pipe making is just a small percentage of that production. I'm basing that on the...
  11. Rigidman

    Other Woods Article

    Yeah it's the most common. I prefer it too. But a lot of makers and amateurs are looking for less expensive stuff. One could make a pipe out of a 2x4 for practicing, but all that work and you can't use it. So I can understand the want or need for other woods. The real test of a pipe is in the...
  12. Rigidman

    Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

    Yeah it's a job to sharpen and hone a razor. That's why I have a couple so I can send them out. Plus a couple to practice sharpening and honing. I use the stainless ones to practice sharpening and honing. The others are tool steel, carbon steel, and Damascus. Some places won't bother sharpening...
  13. Rigidman

    Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

    I still get them. Just 5 years ago you could still get one for $10. Now they're all boutiques and it costs $20+ for a shave. A lot of the old barber shops have closed up around here. I've started using the original type razors. They make one that holds 2 blades. It was in the testing stage when...
  14. Rigidman

    Other Woods Article

    Just finished reading this piece. http://www.naspc.org/archives/otherwood.html Found it really informative. But there are some woods I'm still curious about like Morta and Paorosa. There's probably many others I can't think of or simply don't know of that may be fine for pipe making. I'm not...
  15. Rigidman

    Replacing Cork in Calabash Pipe.

    I have several draught hole brushes, bowl brushes, and mortise brushes. Also have some nylon brushes from several gun cleaning kits. Looking at other type brushes on eBay and Amazon too. The brushes I have have limited reach due to the length of the handles. So I'm looking at bottle brushes and...
  16. Rigidman

    Replacing Cork in Calabash Pipe.

    I had another pipe I stripped for parts it was a calabash that was smoked without an insert. Someone glued a tenon in to join the two halves. I decided it wasn't worth saving. Pulled all the silver off to hopefully use in the future. Thanks
  17. Rigidman

    Replacing Cork in Calabash Pipe.

    Has anyone tried the synthetic cork on their calabash? It may be worth it to test it out. Since I have several of these pipes, if I can restore them to working condition, I may keep 2 of them. One can have a synthetic cork, the other natural cork. I'll keep track of how they age. I can give...
  18. Rigidman

    Replacing Cork in Calabash Pipe.

    Oh hell no!! Don't need that. After spending hours reaming, sanding, trying not to screw up or scratch the finish with the sandpaper. If it needs refinishing then no big deal as long as its not deep scratch or sand marks. But after all that, cleaning, polishing the stem, possibly making...
  19. Rigidman

    Replacing Cork in Calabash Pipe.

    Ok did some research found out about regular cork and instrument cork. As I mentioned its just much more refined. Its not as course, more durable. Quieter as well, apparently the regular stuff squeaks. The other thing is they suggest using the synthetic cork. Its cork with rubber as a binder I...
  20. Rigidman

    Replacing Cork in Calabash Pipe.

    Why? Was there an issue? Or do you just prefer the cotton balls? Probably a lot cheaper. I'll have to try it side by side to see what happens. Thanks