March '16 - 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix and Discussion Thread

Didn't want anyone to worry. There have been inquiries. We were worried you would slip into acting like @NCoxSTL and need medical attention.

 

The Ides of March

March Madness 2016



CJB - aka "the Pain Stick"
Kai Captain Blades
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Route 66 - Lumberjack
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash
Pinaud Lilac Vegetal
Patience
Care​

I had no idea how this was gonna go. The strategy I chose was just pretend it was the Aust folded open, don't think about disaster, and just shave....real smooth and easy like. It turns out that it's very doable, but only because I read all the other guys and learned SR before trying. Did the NBSP per usual and just did it. It did have two very minor weepers, I attribute that to the thinner blade. I like straights better, they aren't as sharp and scary, but will definitely do it again tomorrow. More 45mph wind today! Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a nice evening!

 

Neil is a pioneer, innovator, Russophile extraordinaire, and a big time shot caller on the Rapira neighborhood. But you're right, his shaves are pretty much all or nothing, and an inspiration, if not a warning.

 

Just two minor weepers!! Well done. I also like straights better but every now and then we need a hold my beer bottle of Souther Comfort moment. When I first tried a shavette it cut me pretty bad and delayed my entry into the dark side by a year. Now that I have been using straights I can use the CJB, but I strongly prefer a SR.

 

I sent Neil something very special to attempt in his pain stick.... I am waiting to see it.

 

I'm not much better then he is. I do some pretty extreme things for the art of shaving. I'm going to try honing a tiger 3H into something shave worthy at some point. I have it on hand but I havent figured out how to hold it correctly without cutting myself while I hone.

 

I'm waiting for it too. It proves to be interesting.

 

ShaveSecret PSoil / Strop Shoppe S.E.
Cataraugus B-hone / Torrey 5/8
alum block / Pinaud Lilac Vegetal

After using PreShave oil for better than a week I have to say it does make a difference for me. Not knowing the ingredients of the product, I ought to research making my own. Maybe lime patchouli instead of bay rum scented. Still have several uses left in this discontinued tallow soap. Good stuff & I should have bought a full sized rather than six samples. Poking through my straights, I spotted a Torrey I had forgotten. Amazing what a barbers hone will do in a couple strokes. One day I'll invest in the Norton 4k/8k but for now I can refresh an edge. Stropped up and shaved for a very smooth DFS! One nick on my chin closed quickly, no noise from the alum. Being Chosen, I enjoyed a goody handful of the green.

 

Straights Focus March 16:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Latha SS
Ralf Aust 5/8
Stirling Unscented PSB
Latha Post Shave

I had a nice one pass shave this morning. When this puck of Latha is gone, I am going look at another scent. The performance is great, I am just not a huge fan of the scent. It does provide some nice slick lather to work with. The Aust just wiped away the lather so easily taking whiskers with it. A great CCS this Wednesday morning. Have a great day.

 

3/16/16 - Blade focus - Derby Dash

The Derby blade continues to provide a nice shave on Day 4. It didn't start out as smooth as a GSB or Persona, but is not rough. I only needed 2 passes to have a near BBS shave and that is always good enough for me.

 

03/16/2016
Wolfman OC with Hempel Ti
Feather (3)
WDC-6 “Bear” with Sunrise Synthetic
Mystic Water Orange Vanilla
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Co Capri
Whipped Shea Butter

​

This morning was my first use of the WDC-6 "The Bear" prototype shaving brush. A friend sent the brush handle for me to test. I decided to use a Sunrise Synthetic knot set for a finished loft of 26mm x 50mm. I did set the knot with silicon and I might decide to increase the finished loft to 52mm. The brush whipped up the Mystic Water Orange Vanilla into a reach slick lather with very little effort. For those that have had trouble lathering Mystic Water soaps you might want to give a synthetic brush a try. Going with a 2 pass shave with minor touch ups allowed me to catch the baby with no weepers, nicks or irritation. Finished off with a splash of F&C Capri. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

 

SOTD March 16, 2016
March focus shave 14

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Personna lab blue (2)
Razor: Maggard MR1 with V2 open comb
Brush: Satin Tip 'ThePurest' synthetic
Lather: Proraso Red shaving soap
Post: Witch hazel splash enhanced with Fine American blend, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up



Nice, efficient shave again this morning with Proraso Red and the Maggard MR1. I'm really enjoying the scent of the Proraso soap and figured that Fine American blend would be a good complement. The Satin Tip brush is perhaps becoming my favorite as it performs really well.

One pass with touch-up is sufficient for the weekdays. I had a little stubble on my neck that needed some more touch-up, but that's okay. I'll get it tomorrow.

Have a great day!

 

Good write up @clint64.

 

SOTD
March 16, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89lbl
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Beaver Woodwright Captain's Pipe
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Beaver Woodwright Captain's Pipe
Great shave. You'll hear that the Edwin Jagger DE89 is a good starter razor, it's a great razor period. The Captain's Pipe is awesome! I love it! The wife, not so much.
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try

 

I agree on the Latha soap. Performance was great but by the end the scent turned my stomach.

 

Hey y'all, watch this...

 

Kerry,

Is that a tobacco scented soap? I also agree about the 89 type razor heads, they work very well!

 

SOTD 3/16/16
Razor: Union Cutlery Co. KA-BAR 5/8 Round tip
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Brush: Dubl Duck M-2 with Omega knot
Soap: Jeeves of Hudson Street Cherry Blossom
Post: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Bar, Thayers’ Rose Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Fine American Blend

Did a second shave with my KA-BAR today. Tried repeating the pattern I used yesterday of N/S for the first pass, and L/R on the chin, jaw, and neck, with S/N on the cheeks. Ended up having to do a third pass, S/N on the neck, chin, and jaw to get everything. I don’t think this razor is quite as keen as the W&B was. I will be taking it to the pasted strops before I use it again. Soap was awesome. Easy lather with a great feel and scent.

Brush performed well during the shave, but as I was shaking the water out over the tub I heard a thunk. Apparently, I didn’t use the right stuff to secure the knot, as it came out. I had grabbed a tube of caulking. I looked at it this morning, and it is not 100% silicone. The edges of it were dry, but most of the remaining stuff had not cured, so the knot came right out. I was able to easily wipe out the rest of the caulking. I found my tube of 100% silicone, and I will reset this knot once it dries.

 

Injector Focus
Day four on a Chick blade and going strong.
SOTD
Arko
AoS Pure Badger brush
Schick G-5
Chick blade (4)
Pitrulon Polar AS
Have fun!

 

Break time! Good morning 30DC!

Update: face is feeling great and still pretty smooth! Will do the pain stick again, very late afternoon.

Happy Wednesday!