April 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix&Discussion Thread

Thank you for your insight.

 

SOTD April 5, 2016
Russian blade focus

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Gillette 7 O'Clock Yellow (SuperEdge)
Razor: Old Type head on replated Hibco handle (from @Drygulch)
Brush: Satin Tip 'The Purest' synthetic
Lather: Country Club Cahaba Blues
Post: Witch hazel splash, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up



Well, the 7 O'Clock yellow blade seems to be pretty darn sharp. That was my impression at least. I had lots of auditory feedback from this razor, more than the Maggard V2 open comb I use a lot. Or at least it seems that way. It was pretty loud.

I had a little nick right under my nose due to operator error and then a couple of tiny weepers on my chin. That's a little unusual. Then I have a little redness on my lower neck that is dissipating with the balm. I'll chalk it up to using a new razor with a new blade and go from there.

The Satin Tip brush whipped up some incredible lather from the Cahaba Blues. It was nice, rich, thick, yogurty lather. Really good stuff.

Pretty close shave with one pass plus touch-up. I'm interested to see what this razor and blade do tomorrow.

Have a great day!

 

04/05/2016
Cobra Classic
Kai Mild (3)
WDC-8 with Druida Manchurian
Tiki Cabernet Neroli
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Co. Shambala
Whipped Shea Butter

​

Overall a very good shave this morning. The WDC-8 brush whipped up the Tiki easily and the scent as usual was great. Based off yesterday's results with the Kai mild, I mixed things up today going with an ATG pass first followed by the XTG pass. This was just a further illustration that the Kai Mild is a poor substitute for the Feather Pro. After touching up the trouble spots, I ended up with a near BBS shave. I think I will change the blade out for a Feather before tomorrow's shave. Finished up the shave with a splash of F&C Shambala. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

 

I'm about to load it up and shave. Late morning today since I have an unheard of 3 days off in a row. Today is day one.

 

30 Day Focus

Proraso White Preshave Cream
Gillette Heavy Tech / GSB
Omega / TOBS Natural
WH / Proraso Green ASB
This TOBS Natural is really a wonderful product. Super smooth and slick. Great shave.

 

Just finished my shave and I already know what I think about the Feather ProLight.

CJB
Feather ProLight (1)
WD Synthetic
Route 66 Sweeny Todd
Nivea Cooling Sensitive Balm

I noticed right away how little blade exposure the Prolight had. It was much less then the Kai Mild or either of the 2 guard blades I have tried. I understand why this blade isn't usable in the Mongoose. I whipped up an amazing lather with the Route 66 and WD brush and started in on the first pass. This blade is more efficient then the guard blades but the angle need to be greater for the blade to touch skin. I think ATG might be a problem because of this. I need maybe 3 to 4 spine widths from my face with this blade. First pass was great other then one moment on my jawline where I felt the warning of a bite and pulled back. I though that I made it blood free but I'll get back to that.

My 2nd pass S/N did great on the neck where its mostly XTG but it also caught on the jawline. It didn't feel like a cut or like the blade dug any but it did pull and opened up the near cut I had from pass 1. It pulled and tugged on the whole ATG pass. Its not that the blade isn't sharp because it is Feather sharp. I blade the high angle and the scraping feel that gives. I was pretty irritated so I called it quits. I don't believe this blade will get a day 2. Nivea to soothe.

If I was a WTG only shaver this blade would be great. it even works fine for XTG but I like a very shallow blade angle for ATG and this narror blade makes that near impossible. I'll leave this to shavers that like scraping or don't shave ATG.

 

Thanks for the offer, but I'm good ... found 2 Derby blades in a bathroom drawer

 

Soap Focus
I received the straight and strop PIFed to me by @Drygulch yesterday and could barely wait until this morning to try them out. This was my first experience with a hanging strop as I've always used a bench strop. I gave the razor 20 passes with out nicking this beautiful strop. I'm off to a good start.
I did a single WTG pass shave after lathering up with Route 66. I did have to do a little ATG cleanup to get what I would call a CCS on the neck and DFS on the face. It was not the razor's fault it isn't BBS. I'm still a rookie and look forward to doing a May straight razor focus. This one will stay in the lineup. Thank you Adam!
SOTD
Route 66 Lumberjack soap
Rubberset 400 brush
Sensation razor
Alum
Thayers Witch Hazel
Ogallala Bay Rum AS
Have fun!

 

Great review. Yeah, when you have to get the angle that steep to make it work you're asking for trouble with an AC razor. I wondered what they did to make it that mild. Small blade exposure would do it and yes, that explains why it's no good in the Goose. Thanks for taking that one for the team. I feel indebted now!

 

SOTD 4/5/16
Razor: Genco Easy Aces
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Chromexcell Horse/ Hemp Linen
Soap: Route 66 Sweeny Todd
Brush: Dubl Duck M2 with Omega 10066 knot/ Ubersoft II 28 mm in aluminum handle
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum, Thayers’ Rose Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Lustray Blue Spice

Did a fast shave today. Kept with my two pass no touch up rule. Calling it a DFS. I am BBS everywhere except my trouble spots on my neck. One cut today from setting the razor down to fast. It bled, but didn’t hurt. Keeping up with more aggressive skin stretching on both passes. I really think this is the secret for me getting great shaves on only two passes. Rt. 66 was outstanding as usual. This month, I am trying to use up one of my soaps, so I only have three in my rotation. This one will come up every forth shave. My knot fell out of my brush again, this time while face lathering. I need to clean up the inside of the handle to get a better adhesion. Had to switch to the synthetic. The Blue spice was a nice compliment to the spice notes in the soap.

 

Glad you like both the strop and the straight!

 

So after your experience with Straights, what are your thoughts on DE shaving now? Has your definition of an Aggressive razor changed?

 

I have kept a few DEs, but I am not looking for new ones anymore. I looked at getting a couple of the high end ones, but honestly would rather get four or five more straights for the same money. I plan on getting my go to DE re-plated. It is a pre-war Tech, with an additional baseplate for a Gillette New. Two razors in one. If you ever need a fast shave, with minimal risk of cuts to your face, you will be glad you kept a DE or two around. I am also keeping a few that I don't really need, but don't want to get rid of.

I will second Chris's recommendation to avoid the Glacial with a straight. It can be done, but you loose the feeling of the edge on your face, which for me is part of the fun of SR shaving.

 

SOTD
April 5, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Gillette British Rocket
Blade: Voskhod
Lather: Route 66-The Black Pearl
Brush: RazoRock Boar 26x64mm
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH.
Aftershave: Route 66-The Black Pearl. Folsom & Co. Muir
Today would have been my moms 88th birthday.
I rotate a couple of razors from the front rack to the back rack, the Gillette British Rocket is an excellent razor! A tad bit more efficient than its American cousin. Route 66 TBP is AWESOME!! Route 66 is so slick my razor ice skated across my face, post shave is fabulous. The balm is out of this world. I love this RR boar brush, it's become my favorite natural hair brush.
Hey I'm not sure if you noticed that Folsom & Co website is closedown, word is John from F&C graduated from college and may or may not be making anymore aftershave, if he does it'll be very limited.
Be a blessing to someone else

 

I'm going to try these Robert, I'll get some this weekend. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

Your welcome buddy, let me know how it works out.

 

Chris,
I admire your dedication to the Plisson, boy is it a fantastic brush, and I'm reminded every time you use it. My next brush rotation will include the Plisson

 

You know I will.

 

Arko April in Russia!

April 5

Razor - 1959 Gillette Super Speed
Blade - (2)
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Soap - Arko
Post - Cold water rinse, Alum, The Veg

Magnificent. That's really all I need to say. But you know me, I'll say more. I would say that today's shave was the best I've had in, well, a long time. Not that there haven't been great shaves but today.........:wave:

The result was a two pass BBS, so there's that. Here are a few highlights.

1. The Wolf Whiskers with the TGN Silvertip is almost decadent. I think that every time I use it, but with the Arko face lather, it can't be beat. I said a year or so ago I didn't like badgers. Well, I spoke too soon. I want another one.
2. The Sharp Star blade was as smooth today as I've felt in any blade I think. And the audible feedback.....I turned the bathroom fan off just so I could hear it better. Tactile feedback? Butter smooth.
3. The post shave was absolutely sting free. Nothing from the alum, and nothing from the Veg.
4. Speaking of the Veg, man on man does that add a perfect finish. SWMBO loves it, but then, all those who are chosen do.

I'm as content and happy as my crew after yesterday's minor snow shower in the Motherland. They don't want to come back yet!

​

 

I may need to order some more F&C before vendors are out of stock.