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

March 6, 2016

SHAVE DEN SUNDAY
A month with my Schick E types

Hot Shower
Razor: Schick E2 (US)
Blade: Schick (China) (1)
Soap: TSD Unscented
Brush: Rubberset 400-4
TSD Witch Hazel
TSD Aftershave Milk
TSD Acqua Di Gio




Two-pass shave - XTG, ATG.
I’ve had but just one shave with this razor, so was really looking forward to getting to know it.

With its reputation for aggressiveness preceding it, I still fell into the sweet spot angle so instantly and it lulled me into a false sense of security. The razor lightness and easy angle had me zipping across my face helter skelter.

Yes, helter skelter for sure - i lost control on the first pass just as I got to my personal “Deadmans’ Curve” and sliced the length of the blade into my prominent chin. Medic!

Undaunted, I just got right back on it and finished the complete shave. I’ll be more cautious tomorrow, but disaster aside, this first shave gives me great expectations for this razor.

Cheers!
RT

 

Congratulations on reaching 3K posts! I always enjoy your posts, and you bring a lot to our community. I'm sending the boys over to personally congratulate you and pick up the Toggle "by request."

 

Scary looking lot. What Toggle?

 

March into Artist Club Blades

March 6

Razor - Feather SS
Blade - (6)
Brush - Vie Long 12601 The Pony
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold Rinse, Alum, Nivea Original Balm, The Veg

Day six on the Kai Mild with Feather SS and it's back to the Vie Long brush. Last time with this brush I rushed it a bit and didn't get the brush soaked right ending with a difficult lather. Today I made sure it went into the N mug early and got a good soak. Amazing difference. Fantastic lather to start the day. The blade is still performing extremely well, still smooth and effective. Perhaps just a hint of dullness but that may also be my mishandling an angle or two in places. Still got a three pass DFS without any blood or other issues. Alum was slightly hot but not bad and I attribute that to some ATG work on the final pass.

One more day to let the blade show its stuff then on to the sharper Kai Original. For now I will say that the Kai Mild could be used every shave and provide great results and with very low risk of a bloody mess. Nothing wrong with that result at all!

 

Shave 3? I believe 3. My days all wacky right now. Pretty sure it's 3 though. Anyway!
ER 1912
Stirling MITA
Stirling synthetic.
Tried face lathering for a whole shave today. Very hard for me to get the consistency right. Difficulty with the lather tonight did not impede my shave though. Blade still sharpt and smooth for third shave with about 15 Palm strops per side after shave. Dss (dolphin skin smooth) shave. Only one weeper on my bottom lip where I keep shaving without it healing fast enough. No after shave today, looking for something without burn but with plenty of moisturizer. I'm excited to see how many shaves I can get out of this cvs blade! Until tomorrow, may Odin bless you in your endeavours.

 

3/7/16

Gillette Birth Quarter Tech (Y3)
Wilkinson Sword (1)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



First shave with the Wilkinson Sword in my Gillette Birth Quarter Tech.
My 2 typical passes. Very good reduction today. Did a greater than normal amount of touch up after my cold water rinse attempting to catch the baby. My lower neck stung from the cold water so I knew the Clubman would complain as well. I was right. The Clubman stung like fire again today.

My impression of the Wilkinson Sword is that it is perhaps a little sharper than the Gillette Platinum Plus was on its 3rd shave, but that it is not as smooth. I was able to get a couple of spots that the GPP wasn't able to yesterday, but missed another. A near BBS with a slight amount of discomfort from chasing the baby.

I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

SOTD March 7, 2016
March focus shave 6
Menthol Monday!

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Chinese Schick
Razor: Schick G1 Injector (late 1940s)
Brush: Omega 10049 boar
Lather: Soap Commander Vision M-bombed
Post: Witch hazel splash, TSD SubZero after shave, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up



Less than 24 hours of beard growth just needed a quick one pass with touch-up shave this morning. Tried some M-bomb for the first time with the Soap Commander Vision. I could've added more than I did probably - I didn't feel much of the menthol.

I went with a cold water shave again and liked it! It added to the cold theme of Menthol Monday. I think it helps with irritation too.

My technique with the G1 Injector is improving. They're efficient razors and the Chick blades are pretty sharp.

The TSD SubZero after shave is a nice minty complement to the Vision soap, and it's menthol level will cool you off quick!

Nice shave, and I hope yours is too! Have a great Monday.

 

March 6th SOTD
Razor: Genco 5/8 full hollow with Bolivian Rosewood Scales
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Chromexcel Horsehide/ Hemp Linen
Brush: Dubl Duck w/ Omega 10066 knot
Soap: Jeeves of Hudson Street Cherry Blossom
Post: Cold Water Rinse, Alum, Thayers’ Rose Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Lucky Tiger Aspen


At the shave meet this weekend, I met the maker of this soap. It’s his own formulation, and he is a soap maker full time. I like supporting local businesses. He had a lot of scents, and all of them smelled good. I like floral scents, this one is floral, without being cough syrup or candy like. It has a good soap smell, along with the floral notes. Broke out the Genco, but first added some Renaissance Wax to the scales and the blade. I shaved with this razor last time right off the hone, a 20k synthetic and it was a little harsh, so this time I stropped 50 laps on linen and 100 on leather. Smooth shave, very nimble razor. I really like using this one. First pass was almost DFS. Second pass was there, and no touch ups needed. Two weepers, and one small cheek slice. Need to slow down a bit. The lather was very thick and easy to make, and provided good glide and cushion. I may have found another addition to my top five soap makers. Sent was nice but not overpowering, you can smell both the Cherry Blossoms and the soap as you shave, and post shave feel was great. Broke out the lucky tiger, and called it good for the shave. Ready to start what is going to be a really bad week at work, and will have a little more time in the morning. On the plus side, I have two more straights coming back from Mathison Restorations this week, and I think I will have three coming back from Glen at Gemstar Customs either this week or next. Going to keep focusing on two pass, minor touchup shaves regardless of the razor.

 

Blackbird blade trials continue. This morning I popped a Feather blade into the Blackbird. It was not overly smooth, but it was very loud. 3 passes and the results are a near BBS with 1 small weeper on my chin. I only loaded my brush for about 10 seconds with the Dusy Kabinett soap and had plenty of lather for the 3 passes. I really like what the Plissoft brush is doing. Is it possible I've found not only my ONE razor, but also my ONE brush?

 

Very possible. And add Dusy or Klar as the ONE soap..

 

You might be on to something there Kerry!

 

SOTD
March 7, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Blackland Blackbird
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: TFS Sottozero
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Pitralon Polar
Really nice 3 pass shave. I really like the sound the blade makes when I tighten down the Blackbird head. Its a crackling sound..
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

Klar/Dusy are in my top 3 favorites!

 

March 2016 Focus--Gillette Tech

March 7

Razor: Gillette Tech
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Maggard 24mm Synthetic
Soap: Stirling Ozark Mountain
Post: Cold water rinse, Alum block, Fine Fresh Vetiver


I did not shave over the weekend, it was one of those. So today I had 3 day's growth. I decided to go for a brand new GSB in the tech and see what would happen with 3 passes. I went WTG on cheeks, XTG L-R on chin and neck for the first pass. Good reduction, seemed to be off to a good start. Second pass was XTG R-L everywhere. Again, really good reduction and a nice comfortable shave. Final pass was ATG everywhere. Did a cold water splash to see how things looked and they looked really nice. Did a little touch up and ended up near BBS. Not quite BBS, but the fact I got near BBS with three day's growth is impressive. Now for the interesting part, the alum was cold as ice. No flare ups at all. Nothing. Even the Fine Vetiver was quiet as a mouse. However, on my neck, and only on one side, I had what looked like razor rash. I have not had red razor rash since shortly after I stopped using carts. But it was there. It was just surprising with it as red as it was that neither the alum nor the AS made any noise. I guess this is my neck's way of telling me not to wait so long in between shaves.

I took the advice of several people on here including @clint64 and @wristwatchb among others and turned my Stirling Ozark Mountain into a shave stick. I really like using the shave stick and may have to do this with the majority of my soaps. The tube came from Maggard when I ordered the brush. The Ozark sample from Stirling was easily pressed into the tube and just spread great. The Maggard brush is an excellent one for face lathering and the lather just exploded this morning. Hope everyone has a good week this week!

 

03/07/2016
Wolfman OC with Triad Ti
Feather (3)
Rudy Vey with Shavemac Finest
Route 66 Lumberjack
Witch Hazel
Fine L’Orange
Whipped Shea Butter


​

A very good Monday morning shave. The Shavemac Finest whipped up the Route 66 Lumberjack into a rich, thick protective lather. I really enjoy the scent of this soap. Since I had time this morning, I went with a 3 pass shave ending in a near BBS. I finished up with a splash of Fine L'Orange. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

Question for the 30DC:

I am getting married the end of April. I have to purchase groomsmen thank yous and was thinking about putting together a DE beginning shavers kit as part of their thank you gifts. I have two options, either put it together from scratch or using one of the kits out there like the Maggard Razors kits. Right now I am leaning towards the Maggard Razor Basic combo. It includes one of their closed comb razors and I am leaning towards the MR18 handle unless someone thinks there is a better option in their list (the list includes either the 1, 9, 11 or 18 as available options). It includes the Maggard 24mm brush, which I love and think would be an excellent starting brush. The kits also has a 2 oz sample of Maggard Barbershop soap and a few packs of blades (Astra SP, Shark, and Gillette Yellows from what I recall). Do y'all think this would make a good kit for a beginner? If you have other suggestions, or kits you would put together, let me know! Thanks guys for any advice (advice on the shaving kit, not marital advice @NCoxSTL ).

 

Sounds like an awesome gift, does it have a decent brush too? I have gifted a few people Omega 10066 brushes to get them started. Those seemed to work well. On a side note, I probably wouldn't ask @NCoxSTL for advice on what gear to give new wet shavers, unless you don't like them. Just sayin...

 

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, I haven't used anything you mentioned so I can't comment but I almost bought that exact same kit. I'd be willing to fill in for one of them if needed, that's a great gift

 

Injector Focus
Today is day three with the E-4. While I'm getting great shaves, I think I prefer the E-2 just a bit. I'm consistently getting BBS with two passes and a little cleanup on the jawline. These are very nice razors.
SOTD
Route 66 Retro Spice
Vie-Long Horsehair brush
Schick E-4
Chick blade (3)
Alum
Ogallala AS
Have a great week!