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

This 30-day focus has been one of the best things I've done since I started wet shaving. I'm 20 days into the focus and things couldn't be better for me. I've become so much more comfortable using my razor. I hope I can become this comfortable using the other razors in my collection and others I acquire in the future.

 

March into Artist Club Blades

March 20

Razor - Feather SS
Blade - (6)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold water, Alum, Nivea, The Veg

Happy First Day of Spring!! Woke up this morning, found the coffee, looked out the patio door and said hello to a typical STL first day of Spring. Everything was nice and snow covered with snow still coming down. By noon, though, it was just wet and cloudy out so we know the season is changing.

Day six on the Feather Pro and the last day for the blade as well. Another fine shave without any difficulties but a bit hot on the alum. The Pro tends to create irritation if I don't really watch the angle and pressure so I'm used to it. Two passes to a near BBS and off to work for the afternoon. I'm happy to say that in three weeks of pain stick I've only had a couple of fairly minor issues. Clearly my technique with the razor is improving all the time.

As for the blade comparison so far I think it's safe to say that the Kai Mild, Kai Captain Original and Feather Pro are all worthy of being everyday blades for a pain stick. The main difference between the Captain Original and Feather Pro is just that extra sharpness the Feather brings to the table that makes it easier to draw blood, though I didn't have much problem with it this time. Also, the irritation is increased from the Original. That feeling of "shaving on the edge" of disaster can creep in too with the Pro, but focus and technique keep it well under control. Honestly, for my tastes, I think one of the Kai's would be best suited if I went to this razor as my everyday shave. I like the fact that the mild is as forgiving as it is, allowing me to make some stupid mistakes without paying the ultimate penalty. On the other hand I fear that could lead to a bit of laziness on technique so I would probably choose the Captain Original as my choice of everyday shaves. Gets me past that laziness but keeps me just shy of constant irritation. I still have the Feather Super Pro to try but that will be delayed a bit. Tomorrow it's the Dorco AC blade as requested and made possible by @Keithmax. He's the reason I even started down the pain stick road with the PIF of the CJB last year so how can I refuse his request to put my face and neck on the line for shaving science? And as always, what's the worst that can happen? Besides, Monday is a day off for me so the stitches can start healing before I have to go to work.

Hope you all had a great first day of the new season!

​

 

March 20

B2 Mongoose
Feather Super Pro (7)
Kent BK4 silvertip badger
Route 66 Lumberjack
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Fine L'Orange Noir

This was the seventh shave on the blade, but it had been in the razor for nine days. It was done. I had a super close two-pass ATG, XTG shave with a bit of irritation. My Route 66 Lumberjack soap is nearly gone. I added some Jabonman Eufros soap samples to the container, and I'm looking forward to several super duper "mixed" lathers this week. The Kent BK4 is officially now on brush vacation after several consecutive weeks of service. Enter the Semogue 830 for service starting tomorrow.

We enjoyed a beautiful, sunny first day of Spring. I hope you all did as well.

 

Korea tries to be number 1 in as many fields as possible, so the Mr and Mrs Kim are ready for the challenge with Ivan.

Remember Soju, CJB shavettes and Dorko blades come from Korea. Pic 1 is an export, a Korean business man in Tokyo.

 

I use prior to my shower so it has time to soak in. I have used it like a pre-shave oil in past but found it too thick.

 

Looks like a lot of prime candidates for cartel crew.

 

On the chopping block today is Merkur slant, 34C. I have not used this razor in a long time so it is time to see if it stays or goes. I loaded with a Gillette Silver Blue and whipped up lather using AoS Tallow soap and AoS cream.

Now I remember why I have not used this razor, it felt a little rough. Still I went through 4 passes with just a small weeper. I thought I nailed the BBS but I fell just short. The alum block revealed a little bit of stinging. The razor will get one more shot, tomorrow I will shave with a SR and then compare it to the slant.

Irritation A- Closeness B+ Smoothness B Keenness A-

Definitely staying:
Genco Easy Aces SR, hard to let go of cool looking, great shaving piece of vintage American steel just because it is smaller than I like. It is also my only vintage American SR.

Leaning toward staying:
Wade and Butcher will stay in the SR stable until a much nicer specimen can be sourced.

Leaning toward releasing:
Jerry Stark 5/8 SR. Looks great, shaves great just to small a blade. I would prefer to sell this and trade up for a larger blade

Will be released:
Sight unseen Whipped Dog SR. This shaves great but I want to PIF it to someone who wants to get started with SR.
Merkur Vision - despite major coolness she can't compete with an aggressive Futur.
BBS-1 - Give my move to the dark side it is just not aggressive enough to remain in my DE stable. (sold)
Mongoose

Sorry it is no pic Monday.

 

Here is our 'application fee' to the cartel.

But the delivery maybe a little delayed. It seems our deliveryman decided to do some QC:

 

This calls for some Flair.

 

I'd be scared to go out drinking with salarymen in Tokyo. Ouch.

 

@NCoxSTL

Everything looks up to par here.

 

That was fantastic!

 

Ric is the best there is, the best there was, and the best that there ever will be.

Woooooooooo!

 

80s NWA/WCW

Magnum TA
Dusty Rhodes
The Midnight Express
The Road Warriors
Nikita Koloff
The Andersens
Flair
The Rock and Roll Express
Jim Cornette
Tully Blanchard
Chief Wahoo
Rick Rude
Lex Luger

Oh yeah I did.

 

Anybody wanna change our avatars to Pro Wrestlers? @ob1page has dibs on Flair, I call Macho Man.

Oh, yayuh.....! (grumble voice)

 

That's so awesome! I found that after mastering one razor, all the others became progressively easier to learn. The biggest benefit is likely that you know now what a good shave feels like, and have developed your individual system to get there consistently!

 

Any particular reason to relegate the BK4?

 

This is really good news. I was hoping that when I try another razor it wouldn't be like starting over.

 

Blade angle is an ideal that carries across almost all razor designs. The feeling of correct pressure against the bevel (not the razor, but the blade itself) is almost universal as well. Since you know what this feels like, just make the new razor type "right", simply by adjusting the angle of attack and/or pressure. Learning what good shaves feel is way harder than switching razors.

 

Done!