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Post by wchnu on Dec 18, 2009 6:36:48 GMT -5
WOW.
That is the best way to describe these things. I have some of the Feather SE blades to use (thanks Kevin) and these things are great. I got one of my best shaves just a little while ago. I will not go so far as to say that these are better then my Lather Catchers..nothing is in my opinion, but the shave is very comfortable and close. And let's face it they look cool as all get out.
If you get a chance pick one up. Some of them can use a slightly modified SE blade.. while some need the blades with the cutouts..which is the type I used this morning. Either way they give a great shave.
Fuzzy
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Post by specialk on Dec 18, 2009 15:50:25 GMT -5
You know I love them!!!!
They are cool looking and give great shaves. I have 3 different versions of the VAS and all 3 are different in aggressiveness. I'll try and get a post up on that this weekend or next week.
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Post by wchnu on Jan 20, 2010 10:06:36 GMT -5
Any of you new guys use these? Some seem to love them. Some think they are more MEH.
Fuzzy
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Post by mbwhoosh on Jan 20, 2010 14:04:09 GMT -5
I got a model "C" VAS and agree that they are very cool looking  The version I have gives a mild shave IMO, I tend to prefer aggressive razors so I don't use it as much as I would like to. I do think it is good idea for new SE shavers to own one though as it teaches you so much. You learn to modify a blade (remove its spine), how to use a stropping mechanism (this knowledge comes in handy when learning wedges). Also in order for me to use the VAS I had to learn to hold it at an extreme angle laying flat on my face which was new for me. Although it didn't give the most aggressive shaves I learned so much from it and as was already mentioned they look very cool  |
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Post by wchnu on Jan 20, 2010 14:40:27 GMT -5
I got a model "C" VAS and agree that they are very cool looking The version I have gives a mild shave IMO, I tend to prefer aggressive razors so I don't use it as much as I would like to. I do think it is good idea for new SE shavers to own one though as it teaches you so much. You learn to modify a blade (remove its spine), how to use a stropping mechanism (this knowledge comes in handy when learning wedges). Also in order for me to use the VAS I had to learn to hold it at an extreme angle laying flat on my face which was new for me. Although it didn't give the most aggressive shaves I learned so much from it and as was already mentioned they look very cool Should we mention how cool they look? Fuzzy |
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Post by etoyoc on Jan 21, 2010 6:00:26 GMT -5
Yup... real cool razors. I haven't found a real sweet spot with them yet. I get some overly aggressive shaves, and I get some overly mild shaves. However, as I have used a VAS 6 times in the last two weeks and I am mucking about with trying to hone the edge of a blade, I would have to guess that they are in my rotation. And the shaves are getting better with them.
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Post by specialk on Jan 21, 2010 12:04:27 GMT -5
Justin,
Did you try my tip on using the aggressive blade but not pushing all the way down on the lever?
They do look cool!
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Post by etoyoc on Jan 21, 2010 13:58:11 GMT -5
Justin, Did you try my tip on using the aggressive blade but not pushing all the way down on the lever? They do look cool! Not yet... but now that I have located some more carbon SE blades, I will load one up in the modified VAS in the near future. |
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Post by etoyoc on Jan 23, 2010 5:51:45 GMT -5
OK I shaved with my modified VAS and a GEM Blue Star today. This is the same razor that tore me up with a Pella. Maybe my technique was off that week, maybe not.. However, excellent shave with the Blue Star. I only wish it held the blade more securely when stropping. I wish I could get a hold of one of the VAS that Dave modified for that purpose. My one attempt works, but isn't ideal and I don't feel like sacrificing another VAS yet. The one I modified had a somewhat broken gate, bad plating on the gate, and messed up threads on the the handle mount, so it was destined for oblivion anyway.
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Post by etoyoc on Jan 24, 2010 11:38:51 GMT -5
Crud... gate tab just broke on my modified VAS... I can still shave with a regular SE blade in it, but it can't hold the blade to strop anymore. Guess all regular SE blade stropping will have to be done with the ER stropper. The VAS stops with more pressure..
Well on second throught.. without the gate, it doesn't look like you can even safely get the blade to be clamped straight. Oh well, this VAS was destined for the trash anyway.. it got another set of shaves out of it before the gate broke. now to think about how to modify another.
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Post by rocketman on Jan 25, 2010 1:23:21 GMT -5
You must be from the ModSquad!! Sounds like the VAS you are talking about has lived its last days!  I am quite happy reading about your progress though. What mod did you do to the VAS? Do we have good working names for these models yet? I'd like to say what model VAS are you referring to (?), but they are tough to describe. (We need a list!!) The glossary is lacking for me a little too. Describing valets is not easy! Especially that one later model with the closing front door thingy with the nubs sticking through - or do they?? One nubby? Two?? (Need a good read through some of the patents and then a list of terms would begin to form). I like reading about your VAS endeavours because I find them intriguing razors that also have a pretty big 'cool' factor. The president of Valet ended up taking over Gillette - a 'giant' in the razor industry!! (No, it isn't my uncle or anything! ha!) I am interested in the mods you made though. Prey tell!!  |
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Post by etoyoc on Jan 25, 2010 18:06:36 GMT -5
Picture is from Stropper.com.. according to that site it is a VC2 variant.  The blade is was held in place with a piece of metal that hinged on one side and swung across and was held in place by the small tab on the opposite end. This piece was in rough shape and the handle was cross threaded (if unscrewed it was near impossible to put back on). There were plating issues like I said before, so I decided it was acceptable to operate. First, on the V and the copyright mark there were tabs which were bent in to pass through the cut outs on the blade. I bent the tabs that poke through the letters back and then sanded them flat. I then ground/cut out the lower half of the swinging gate. I had to cut enough off that the gate didn't hit the thicker spine of the normal SE blade. It was messy and not easy work. I was holding onto the metal while grinding away with a dremmel. It got quite hot. When I was finished, I could load a regular SE blade in the VAS and shave. Stropping was another issue. The "gate" had a tendency to open up and release the blade while stropping. The other morning the gate popped open, I lost the blade. When I finally found the blade and went to put it back in the valet, I discovered that the tab had snapped off and the gate (bent, warped, and ground down as it was) wasn't about to stay closed without the tab. I might do it again; however, I don't have one of that model to sacrifice to try with. At least not at the moment. |
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Post by specialk on Jan 26, 2010 11:56:46 GMT -5
Do we have good working names for these models yet? I'd like to say what model VAS are you referring to (?), but they are tough to describe. (We need a list!!) The glossary is lacking for me a little too. Describing valets is not easy! [glow=red,2,300]Especially that one later model with the closing front door thingy with the nubs sticking through[/glow] - or do they?? One nubby? Two?? (Need a good read through some of the patents and then a list of terms would begin to form). That is a "Million Dollar" Model C (circa '28-'35). The one Justin has a picture of too. The source I use for the VAS IDs is the Waits Compendium CD. |
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Post by bjorney on Nov 15, 2011 20:06:27 GMT -5
I've got a Valet model C. It was just OK for me... It looks cool, but I didn't think the shave was any better that my 1924 ER or my Micromatic.
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Post by wchnu on Nov 18, 2011 6:02:50 GMT -5
I love the shave from these things. What blades do you have to use in yours?
Fuzzy
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