April 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix&Discussion Thread

But we aaaallll know that to continue as we do in this hobby, sometimes spousal involvement goes a looooooong way!

 

Oh sheesh - Thanks for the save on that. The four shots of vodka I took just before posting that must have had a harder kick than I thought.

 

Humm... OK! I'm in for getting the best shave I can with the gear I own. I hadn't considered the change of angle when adjusting a model 195. Then there is the very different way of working with an injector. That's my trainer for the Bunny Pass Around. Having my name on the Early Release Group in North America, the Rocnel may also happen.

So I'm on my second month of Focus - Attack Angle April it is. My attention will be on achieving maximum beard reduction with minimum irritation.

My brushes are unchanged and used as needed. Three boars, one badger. Some work better with hard soaps, others especially well with creams. Bowls or face lathering as the mood strikes. No new soaps added to my rotation, I don't need to buy any for the next year. Preshave oil seems to help and I may experiment with blending my own. First six months of wet shaving I didn't use my alum block, but the last month with straights I did. That will continue. I'm set for aftershaves, balms, and face tonics also.
So reducing my variables by limiting my RAD,BAD,SAD,& ASAD, and Focusing on angle of attack to maximize my shaving pleasure. Ready, Set, SHAVE!

 

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Today is a momentous day. No, not because it's April Fool's Day. Not because I actually posted a fantastic and wonderful shave instead of some crazy attempt with a ground down bus wheel razor thingy. It's momentous for the reason that two great cartoonists have finally merged for a strip that was posted on Facebook today at the Bloom County 2016 page.

For the newer members, my CT is the sound that Bill the Cat makes in Bloom County, my absolute favorite all time cartoon strip. Bill is a dead cat who, amazingly, still walks, talks, coughs up hairballs and runs for President on the Meadow Party ticket with VP candidate Opus the Penguin. Some of you may be familiar with Bloom County from the 80's and 90's. Berkeley Breathed retired but came back with a vengeance this year. I think the absolute ridiculousness of the political situation drew him back.

Now, @wristwatchb also has his favorite cartoon. That being the classic Calvin and Hobbes. Another classic from the 80's and 90's that finally fell to the wayside. But, I am happy to say, and thrilled to share the momentous occasion of what was published via Facebook today. Drumroll please.

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I will freely admit, I nearly wet myself from the laughing and the joy of that! More please, Msrs. Breathed and Watterson!

 

I love Calvin and Hobbes! By far my favorite cartoon! I need to look into this

 

3/31 & 4/1/16

Gillette New LC
Rapira Super Stainless (1 & 2)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Mitchel's Wool Fat
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



Two shaves under my belt already.
Smooth and comfortable results from the Rapira Super Stainless in the New LC so far. It’s nice to get back to the Fat! Yesterday I had a near BBS. Today I managed to capture the baby. The Clubman stung both days, but not nearly as much as it did last month.

What a difference a blade can make. I'm already appreciating that while Technique can certainly Trump Tools, the right tools make the task much easier.

 

There's a lot to like in that picture. The Rapira blade, the Fat, the New LC! Yeah baby. And yes, technique can overcome almost anything. Almost. But when the tools are right it creates an experience that can't be beat!

 

I forgot to post this morning's shave. Did some work on fine tuning the edge using two natural stones and four different pasted strops, followed by linen and leather. I did get the edge a little more keen, and make it even smoother. This razor is on its way to @mrchick 's house tomorrow, as a winner of the Darkside PIF. Overall, not a bad shave. Didn't last quote as long as a shave with a razor Kevin or Glenn honed. By brush is fixed, and I love this soap. Good way to start the month.

 

That's the spirit!

 

Wait till you see my finale on the last day of the month. I'm going for a challenge shave. 2 pass BBS attempt with a Tech, Derby blade, Arko and the Veg.

 

I know that its really the 2nd but I forgot to shave earlier so now that I'm up and sleepless I'll shave now so I can hit the snooze button at 5am and catch 20 minutes extra sleep. Planned shave is:

Route 66 Sweeny Todd
Semogue boar
CJB
Feather Micro Guard (2)
Florida Water.

I'm going for the full alcohol splash for better or for worse. The heavy lemongrass scent is calming and I feel like it could help my overworked mind relax enough for sleep. Let's hope that the shave is good so I'm not kept up by the feel of lava on my face after the AS goes on.

 

I'm a fan of the Florida Water. Besides having a high alcohol content there is a long history of use by sports teams splashing it over ice water . Dip in a cloth for an evaporative cooling effect. Then there's the use by certain religious sects for the blessing of babies, and other less savory coercive spell casting.
Not to burden you with foreknowledge, but there have been reports of folks having quite vivid dreams when using it before sleeping. Let us know how that works out for you?

 

Thank you

 

I'm looking forward to this razor. Thanks for putting all of the effort into it!

 

I haven't remembered a dream since I was 5 and had the chicken pox. I'll let you know how it goes but, I'm not worried. Scent sticks around on me for quite awhile. Even if I morning shave I still can smell most aftershaves the next morning. I think I have slapped it on and gone to bed before but I can't remember. I'm really only taking a nap before work then sleeping well when I get off work in the early afternoon. I need to start getting to bed earlier but years and years of evening and night shift work is making it hard for me to adjust to these early hours.

 

Arko April!!!
30 Day Rule Edition
Day 1 of 30



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Cake. I will review this razor after day two, but the results today were pretty much BBS. Alum was a but warm in the jaw, no nicks or weepers. Face feels great six hours later, no irritation after the shave. I just got sidetracked by the GSW game. The home streak is over, but this team is one for the ages. Tomorrow is mid sixties with full sun out on the Prairie. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.​

Derby (1)
FatTip Grande
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Arko!!!
Alum
Pinaud Lilac Vegetal

Have a great weekend! ​

 

Rapira should be a good natural match for the mild geometry of the Tech.

 

I use Florida Water as hair tonic, on occasion. It's a great change of pace from the norm, though around 1900 it was commonplace in barber shops as aftershave.

 

Famous last words, as reality slips away....

 

Huge blade gap. Is it aggressive like a C?