December 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Discussion in 'Shave School' started by NCoxSTL, Nov 30, 2016.

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What is your most decadent item/product in your collection?

  1. A vintage straight razor

    8 vote(s)
    18.2%
  2. A modern straight razor

    5 vote(s)
    11.4%
  3. A magnificent and hyper-expensive soap

    3 vote(s)
    6.8%
  4. A magnificent and cheap soap but man does it lather

    2 vote(s)
    4.5%
  5. A vintage DE razor

    12 vote(s)
    27.3%
  6. A modern DE - Stainless baby

    6 vote(s)
    13.6%
  7. An incredibly soft and luxurious brush

    8 vote(s)
    18.2%
  8. An incredibly stiff and scritchy brush

    1 vote(s)
    2.3%
  9. It's all decadent when I use it

    7 vote(s)
    15.9%
  10. Seriously, this poll just gets longer all the time. Pass the cookies and let's go.

    14 vote(s)
    31.8%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. clint64

    clint64 Blind Squirrel

    Thank you Jared. Cool Avatar. :happy088: Happy New Year.
     
  2. wristwatchb

    wristwatchb wristwatch "danger" b

    Clint, have a great time at the game with your daughter!
     
  3. wristwatchb

    wristwatchb wristwatch "danger" b

    That was a wonderful annual summary, Clint! Happy New Year, my friend!
     
  4. wristwatchb

    wristwatchb wristwatch "danger" b

    Happy Birthday, in advance, and Happy New Year! I've enjoyed riding along with you this month. :)

    1.jpg
     
    clint64, Keithmax, Drygulch and 4 others like this.
  5. RetLEO-07

    RetLEO-07 likes his penguin deep fried, with pink sparkles

    Thanks Charlie, the pleasure was all mine. Looking forward to 2017 here in the Den.
     
  6. wristwatchb

    wristwatchb wristwatch "danger" b

    December 31

    Muhle R41 head (2013) & Weber Bulldog handle
    Perma-Sharp Super (3)
    Edwin Jagger XL Synthetic
    Tabac
    Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, Pinaud Clubman, and Aramis EDT


    I enjoyed a two-pass shave this morning (WTG and XTG) for an easy Darn Fine Shave. I've learned this month to go easy with the R41 when it's my daily razor...not so much ATG or extra touch-ups...and it's allowing me to complete my shave with no irritation or weepers. One pass is typically good, and two are plenty. I finished with Pinaud Clubman, my Saturday aftershave, and Aramis EDT for an old school finish. I'm down to the last bits of my Tabac. Another shave or two, and the rest will get pressed into my bar of facial soap.

    Today has been filled with a few chores, basketball, football, and soon a New Year's celebration with my Bride and her dear Aunt. Neal, thank you for leading us through December. It has been a blast following everyone's progress and seeing all the fantastic gear displayed in such creative and well- executed photos.

    I'm wishing all my friends here a Happy New Year!

    [​IMG]
     
    Linuxguile, clint64, Keithmax and 6 others like this.
  7. Screwtape

    Screwtape A Shaving Butterfly

    December 31 - brushing out the old year

    Gillette Black Beauty ( 3 ) / PolSilver (2)
    Shoddy Chinese boar brush followed by vintage Culmak boar brush
    The Eternal TOBS Avocado croap
    Alum and cold water

    It's not even January yet and I got a start on my planned month of brush test rotations by eliminating 2 of my 14 contenders. Am I efficient or what?

    First up was a Chinese brush with a shoddy knot of questionable bristles. For some reason, I gave the bristles a light tug before putting the brush to soak, and the entire knot popped cleanly out in my hand. After ascertaining that it was indeed a rotten quality knot, I garbaged it. However, on examination, the handle is nicely turned birch hardwood with a properly centered and inset metal socket. The socket is the perfect size to fit a spare Maggards 24mm plissoft knot I have, so I am reknotting the brush as a synthetic.

    In the meantime, I still needed to shave, so I pulled out a small vintage Culmak boar brush and set it to soak. It is quite a stubby little brush, with a thin, candleflame-shaped knot of white bristles.

    The Culmak did its best. The bristles loaded the soap well and whipped up a good lather. And unlike yesterday's Rubberset, the brush felt still-pliable and comfortable on the face. It was also barely able to hold enough lather for a single pass. The knot itself is 22 to 24 mm thick but just seems to have lost too much density over the years. It's willing enough still but is now just too weak and weedy to make it off the bench onto the playing field anymore. Time to retire it for good.

    I have one Maggards knot left and am debating whether the Culmak is worth using it in. The Culmak has a plain, cylindrical cream-coloured plastic or nylon handle with a screw-on brown base. At a guess it probably dates from the late 1960s to early 1980s. Nothing much to look at and probably sold by the thousands for a pound or two in British drugstores. Really the only reason to use it would be because it's an available handle for the knot...

    Oh, how was the shave itself, since this is a shaving thread? Just fine. The Gillette Black Beauty and PolSilver combination delivered a one pass and cleanup near BBS with quiet alum and no need for Thayers witch hazel or an aftershave balm.
     
    Drygulch, NCoxSTL, Linuxguile and 6 others like this.
  8. Norcalnewb

    Norcalnewb Magnanimous Moos

    IMG_4671.JPG

    New Year's Eve SOTD:

    Stirling Synthetic Brush
    Musco Real Classic SC
    Gillette Black Beauty
    Stirling Unscented PSB
    Musco Real Classic AS

    Last shave of the year, so I broke out one of my favorites: Musco Real Classic. It was a great shave after taking a day off, as this cream does a terrific job of lathering. The scent is fantastic, and it is definitely protective. The razor did it's job, as I just went for a simple two pass. It was one of those days where I didn't feel the need to get a perfect shave, I just wanted to enjoy myself. I ended with a CCS, which is certainly good enough. The AS is a great way to end a shave.

    I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and also say thank for another fun month and a terrific year of shaves!
     
    Drygulch, NCoxSTL, Linuxguile and 8 others like this.
  9. RyX

    RyX DoH!

    This thread is unhijackable. Doesn't mean you can't try!
    D.B.-Cooper-wanted.jpg
     
    Drygulch, Norcalnewb, clint64 and 5 others like this.
  10. NCoxSTL

    NCoxSTL AAACK!

    Thanks for the continued participation! Couldn't have this thread without you and everybody else!!
     
    Drygulch, Norcalnewb, clint64 and 4 others like this.
  11. RetLEO-07

    RetLEO-07 likes his penguin deep fried, with pink sparkles

    FBI closed the case on D B Cooper. No longer actively looking for him.
     
    Drygulch, Norcalnewb, clint64 and 5 others like this.
  12. cmorris357

    cmorris357 catching flies.........

    I blew right through that period and thought you were spending the evening with her dear Aunt Neal.
     
    Drygulch, Norcalnewb, clint64 and 4 others like this.
  13. RyX

    RyX DoH!

    Decadence? Yes, Thank you!

    SCS Bulgarian Lavender, Opal #12
    Weck Bantam, Personna blade
    Gillette Starburst (I1), Feather NH-S
    Alum, Soap Commander Respect lotion

    SOTD 12312016.gif
    Of interest to Neal @NCoxSTL , using more product & gradually adding water while agitating in a textured bowl with a boar brush I produced a serviceable lather. No dissipation, creamy, slick enough for a light weight shavette's needs. Even better under a DE's cap riding clean up passes.
    The ole Opal dropped a few bristles. I might replace the knot, but I have more deserving handles I prefer. I picked up the Lady Gillette couple days ago and don't recall trying the first one that came my way. With a later model Flare Tip head and the long well knurled handle it took a Feather well. No user error brought cool alum passes. I snipped the corner off the sample of Lime & Patchouli Moisturizing lotion from Louis @dustmite . Received a double dose of great scented product. If I can slow it's flow that ketchup packet delivery system could last a dozen more uses. The scent is everything that Mod at B&B banned me for. I should share this with a Hippie. :happy088:
    Be safe on the roads tonight folks.
    Good Shaves Y'all!
     
  14. NCoxSTL

    NCoxSTL AAACK!

    Maybe bowl lathering is part of the solution. I nearly always face lather.
     
    Drygulch, Norcalnewb, clint64 and 3 others like this.
  15. RyX

    RyX DoH!

    Could be. I'd consider it a Thirsty Soap for the water I added to make an acceptable lather. Coming out of the package it's soft, squishy even. More like Cella than Arko. I left a dribble of water in the container to make next use quick to load.
    The makers website makes they are a Contributing Vendor at B&B. They aren't the only lavender soap around, just my first.
     
    Drygulch, Norcalnewb, clint64 and 4 others like this.
  16. NCoxSTL

    NCoxSTL AAACK!

    Well you know, I have a couple of Lavender scented pillows for sale here if you really decide to go all in. They're discontinued so I would make you a really good deal. Trust me!
     
    Drygulch, Norcalnewb, clint64 and 5 others like this.
  17. cmorris357

    cmorris357 catching flies.........

    How do they lather?
     
    Drygulch, Norcalnewb, clint64 and 5 others like this.
  18. NCoxSTL

    NCoxSTL AAACK!

    Good if you add enough water and use an industrial mixer to break down the fabric.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk
     
    Drygulch, Norcalnewb, clint64 and 5 others like this.
  19. wristwatchb

    wristwatchb wristwatch "danger" b

    Dear Aunt Neal! :innocent
     
    Drygulch, Norcalnewb, clint64 and 4 others like this.
  20. PickledNorthern

    PickledNorthern Fabulous, the unicorn

    [​IMG]

    -Supply SE
    -Thater 4125 3 Band
    -Stirling ~ Route 66 ~ Barrister and Mann ~ Dr Jons ~ Maggards ~ Mickey Lee Soapworks
    -Stirling Gentleman

    After such an awesome month of decadent shaving with all of you guys, I decided to go out with my softest badger, my favorite injector, and my special Frankensoap made up of all of my samples that didn't quite have another shave left, and a couple of pucks I have finished.

    It worked. Holy cow for a lather. Of course it is all scraps, so I loaded a lot more than I guess I needed. The scent was pretty great actually.

    Thank you all for a fun month, and I look forward to bleeding with you in Shavette January.
     
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