April 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix&Discussion Thread

"Arko Urinal Puck Smasher"

 

Maybe we should think this through. Do we wanna hang Arko or Osage on him for eternity?

 

If we can get the Veg worked in there I say we go for the trifecta.

 

Teamwork makes the dream work!

 

Lilac Turkish Menthol Perfection

 

I'm in but only if we follow that with Alum and the Veg.

 

For the amateurs. On the pro side of the tourney, the traditional finish is an Alum infused Rock Salt dry rub. It separates the true ninja killers from the boy scout pretenders.

Which game you playing?

 

This is Aggressive Arko April, and the plan is to open the month with a shave inspired by @Robyflexx and @swarden43, and it's guaranteed to be interesting. How long does a Derby last in a FatTip? I will do it twice, using a total of two blades. Supposedly, the FatTip punishes sloppy technique with an incredibly poor post shave feel. They're rumored to bite. And just for fun, I've never used a FatTip before.

Two pass dfs plus touch up is the parameters. Cold water shaves only.

I just changed my mind. @ob1page is doing a rule, so will I.

Arko
Plisson Synthetic
Derby (have 6, will GSB if needed)
FatTip Grande

All month.



Welcome back everyone!

 

Very cool to see you trying straights! These guys helped me do it, and I only got cut a little! It's gonna be a lot of fun.

I'm no expert:

1. It's sharp. Wear shoes.
2. Be patient, take your time.
3. It's sharp. No safety bar.
4. Don't get SRAD just yet. Be sure this is for you.
5. Be patient. It takes a little practice.

You're right about menthol, and the only thing I might add--stick to one soap for the first two weeks. Use your best lathering soap and make it wet. It matters more here than with a safety razor. Other than that, just pick it up and commit. You'll know when you get it right, it will feel like dragging the back of a butter knife over your face. Just simply try to wipe the lather away with the edge of the blade. Don't worry about results at first, clean up DE style until you get used to shaving straight style, or that's what I did anyway. It's not really hard, it's just intimidating at first. You can do this, You're gonna love it!

 

Thank you @Bama Samurai for leading the way into another 30 day rule/focus. After spending the month with OC DE razors I am ready to get back to my SE razors. During the work week, I will use modern SE razors with the end goal of taming the Cobra. On the weekends, I will be using my GEM 1912 Damaskeene razor. I will continue to thin down the soap inventory during April and with some luck will add another to the RIP bin.

 

04/01/2016
Cobra Classic
Kai Mild
WDC-8 with Druida Manchurian
Mystic Water Orange Vanilla
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Co Shambala
Whipped Shea Butter

​

I was so impressed with the WDC-8 handle when I used it last week, that I decided to upgrade the knot. Luckily, the Druida knot arrived after months of delay in time to make this possible. The brush whipped up the MW Orange Vanilla into a wonderful slick lather. I have found that I get my best results using SE razors when the lather is very slick.

Since the Cobra bites hard, I did slow down and pay more attention to the shave. The stylized handle is somewhat difficult to grip. I have found that rubbing my fingers on Alum helps with the grip and my confidence on the ATG pass. Ended up with a near BBS shave and no nicks or cuts so I will call that a success. Finished up with a splash of F&C Shambala. I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday.

 

I am back for the month. I have skipped a few shaves over the past few months, so I have fallen short of the 100 shave mark. I am going to keep moving forward with straights this month. I have found that I seem to get a SAS to CCS on one pass, but often requiring some clean up. I am going to make it a goal to get to at least the SAS without the touch up.

I also acquired a couple of Rolls Razors a while back, so I may work these in this month. They are supposed to be straights on sticks, right? I will have to clean them up a bit, but I am looking forward to trying them out.

 

Okay guys - I'll join you again this month.

My April focus will be straight razor shaving as well. I have 4 straights at the moment, but the only one that's available for shaving right now is my Gold Dollar 208. Two razors are being honed (might have them back next week) and one has to be put together I found this stuff for only 5€ at a local junk shop:



I cleaned it and now a very nice guy from the german wet shaving forum is putting the blade from the top into the still quite usable scales of the other razor. Im am really excited about it - love the blade shape

My goal for this month: I want to improve my straight shaving technique of course. And at the same time I want to figure out what I like better - full hollow or wedge straights. One of the razors that is being honed is a 5/8'' wedge, have never shaved with it before and I am quite curious how it will perform. The guy who hones it for me already said that it is a fantastic steel and can be honed to incredible sharpness.

To minimize other variables I will stick to one soap and one brush for the month. That will be

- Jeeves of Hudson Street "Conservatory" and
- Mühle STF

AS will be Tüff sensitiv most of the time, though a little variety won't hurt here

I guess I will shave every other day - though there might be a day or two over the course of the month when I don't find the time for a straight razor shave. I'll just switch to my Rockwell 6S then (as a noob I don't want to rush a shave with a straight razor).

 

Straights Focus April 1:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Ben Franklin SS
Joseph Rodgers & Son
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Ben Franklin AS

Day 1 of April, and I am starting off on a good note. It was a very pleasing and relaxing, yet somehow very quick, shave. I managed a CCS on one pass. I hope this Friday starts everyone's month off right.

 

April Focus

Thanks a lot to Chris @Bama Samurai for continuing his tradition. These focus / rule threads are really helpful and a lot of fun. Last month I tried new blades in 3 different razors. This month I'm going to revisit my best performing blades in the razors where they shined, and toss in a couple of razors where they were never tried.



I'll run the Rapira Super Stainless through my New LC and Birth Quarter Tech, and try it in my Super Speed Flair tip for the first time.
I’ll use the Gillette Silver Blue in the New LC, the Super Speed flair tip, and my Birth Quarter Super Speed.
The Astra SP will be loaded into the Super Speed Flair tip, my Birth Quarter Tech, and for the first time, in my Birth Quarter Super Speed.

I'll have some free days at the end of the month so I may end up extending my time in the Birth Quarter Super speed or trying something else. My goal this month is to reconnect with a comfortable shave. I'm not only going back to the razors that these blades worked well in, but also trying to use the shave soap or cream that produced the most enjoyable shaves. I'll still try for a BBS, but I hope to be a little quicker stepping away from the razor if things get uncomfortable.

Looking forward to a great month with you all.

 

Welcome to the dark side. What cookies do you prefer?

 

GD require allot of work and removing of metal to prepare them to be shave worthy. If you are good with tools then they are a good choice. Whipped Dog razors are more likely to be shave ready and if not Larry will fix it up for you.

 

The dark side is looking strong again this month.

 

My April foci are:

1. Finish the den clearing. I will give some DEs and SEs a shot at keeping their place in my den.

2. The fools pass, I will add a south to north pass on my upper lip...... Yep that is right I will be shaving towards my nose with a straight razor. If this doesn't get the Russia. Mafia to accept I don't know what else will.

I'll take Arko in a stick or a puck.