June 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you Comrade! Now, that's enough for Ivan....we need about 4 more.

 

Finally, a good use for vodka. Other than cleaning car parts

 

Vodka has many uses, it even has more than Duck Tape, and WD-40, but be warned using top shelf Vodka for anything other than drinking will bring the Czar and the cartel down on you!!!!

 

So someone else found the true use of Popov vodka! Excellent comrade!

 

I got my second BBS shave tonight!!!!

SOTD
6/6/16

Pre: Shower, Nivea face wash
Razor: Gillette Fat Boy (set on 2)
Blade: Sharp Star (thanks NCoxSTL)
Brush: TGN Finest in Olivewood handle
Soap: Soap Commander Passion

Post: cold water rinse, Maggard alum block, witch hazel, Nivea sensitive cooling after shave balm

OK, I agonized over posting this here tonight in fear I would cause a run on Sharp Star blades. Let me say to start off with, this was the smoothest blade on a first day of shaving that I have ever experienced ever! I could not tell I even had a blade in the razor except for the reduction of my beard. I'm not going to go into my usual details tonight but just saying this, two passes WTG, and then ATG plus clean up and it was BBS nirvana! I can't believe it two passes and a clean up and done. Took me longer to get everything set up, and finished up than it took to shave! As soon as I can I'm going to get me at least 100 of these blades maybe more!

A+ smoothness, A+ closeness, A Irritation, just an all around A++ shave
This is my new favorite blade of all!

 

Best kept secret among the Russians. It's a NOS blade, no idea how many may be there, only know of two places to get them at the moment. And yes, one of the finest. Rivals Voskhod in my book. Voskhod, Sharp Star, Rapira Super Stainless...the big three.

[Edit to add information] Finally some clarity on the Sharp Star and why it's so hard to locate. And I offer this with about a 95% assurance it's accurate. Chasing down obscure blades is a rather daunting task. But, apparently the Sharp Star was actually issued in a limited edition for a company in Asia in 2012. Haven't discovered the company or the reason behind the purchase, but that is its origin. That also would explain why the packaging is a bit different on the Sharp Star. The display cards do not feature the Mostochlegmash logo like all other Rapiras/Voskhod/Ladas. What is the Mostochlegmash logo you ask? I use it as my avatar. On the top of all display cards you will see that logo near the blade name. Sharp Star, however, does not have it. Apparently they had a contract with the buyer to produce blades that were not obviously Russian. I'm working on more info but discovering any history from the Russian side of things is a bit like digging through a water filled mudhole with a spoon. Just when you think you've found something it slips away again.

 

Well MAYhem certainly created havoc in my den. Changing gear on a daily basis, and randomly at that, left quite the pile of blades, razors and other assorted items to be put back in proper order. I'm happy to say I think the task is done. I need to do a complete inventory of blades again, and double check the rest of my inventory as I know I've added a razor or two since I last did it, but that's all that is left.

@John Ruschmeyer you will be happy to know that the Marvy brush now sits on my brush shelf.....not to be in rotation.....but as a momentum of a "marvy month". It is a totally cheap piece of plastic crap with those short and poorly placed bristles, but hey.....mine still has bristles. So it earned its place on the shelf. The Marvy soap? I'm happy to say that it has been put into storage as befits its incredibly bad nature.

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Razor: Geo. W. Korn Razor MFG
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Brush: Dubl Duck M2/ Omega boar knot
Soap: Dr. Jon's The Bandit
Post: Cold Water, Alum, Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Beaver Woodwright The Bandit

New software tonight. Soap and aftershave is a collaboration between two artisans. Scent is awesome. The Dr. Jon's soap is a very soft soap, almost a cream. Added water slowly and got an awesome lather. Did a two pass no touch up shave. Spent a little time on two hones before the shave, and smoothed it out quite a bit, but not done yet. Beaver Woodwright aftershave is nice. Scent seems to be subtle, bust good. Just a little menthol. Shave is a DFS.

 

Don't get nuts with it.

 

Jolly June!




I'm back.... Broke out the Aust and focused on wiping away the lather at a two spine-width angle. Two passes later I was smooth! Alum was a bit warm, but that's why I am doing this focus.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

 

People--

We don't call him the RBC lightly.

 

Same Brush, #2 soap sample, different other stuff!

Saponificio Varesino Manna di Sicilia
TBS Russian Birch handle synthetic brush
Rotbart model #100 3pc DE razor
Sputnik CNYTHИK Teflon coated blades
Pacific Shaving Co Caffeinated After Shave


Ruling this brush, my first synthetic.
Focusing this week on a triple milled hard soap sample that has been compared by others to the performance of Martin De Candre. The scent is subtle for the complex blend; Orange, Bergamot, Sage, Tobacco flower, rose, cloves, hydrangea , Cedar wood, Amber and sweet patchoully. Face lathered well, those Italians know their stuff.
The razor is new to me & my first shave with it. The Rotbart #100 was made either in the late 1950s or the early 1960s. Very lightweight, aluminum handle and clear plastic baseplate. The shave compares to a Gillette 3pc Tech; nick free and mild.
Sputnik ; St.Petersburg ; Gillette. Хорошая вещь.
Caffeinated AS lotion? Think mild spearmint scent in a thick cream. Amongst the ingredients it contains glycerin, oils of argan, jojoba, spearmint, olive, & avocado, shea butter, and green tea extract. It's decent stuff, but might be better during lower humidity days.
Coming down off a visit with The Bunny, I must thank @Marverel for setting me up with a pleasant shave.

 

I use 100proof vodka as a solvent to clean tobacco pipe stems and bowl shanks.

Play the fight song.

 

I have seen some for sale by a Pakastani dealer on alibaba. Maybe they were sent there. Knowing the quality of Pakastani straight razors I could see that. Then again, Treets are made there, and they're not the worst. Can't compare to Russian steel, but who knows.

 

I use Everclear to clean my pipes.

 

June Focus Day 6:

Frank Shaving Pur-Tech Brush
Arko
Injector Type J
Stirling Unscented PSB
Canoe AS

A shave from my parents place this morning. As has become the norm for this razor, two passes for a DFS. The Arko was as slick as ever, and I added a little Canoe to top it off. I am in meetings all day, so could be a long day. I hope everyone has a great day.

 

Very Nice!

 

SOTD June 7, 2016
Injector/SE Focus month 2



Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Chinese Schick
Razor: Schick G1 Injector
Brush: Satin Tip 'The Purest' synthetic
Lather: Williams Mug Soap
Post: Witch hazel splash, Mennen Skin Bracer, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Nice shave with Williams Mug Soap this morning. I've been trying some tips from a thread in the Shave Soap area about how to deal with Williams. I've always had good lathers that dissipated on my face but have known others who have been successful with it. So I tried a few tips and got a nice, dense, slick lather that didn't evaporate! It was a really good shaving lather.

The G1 performed magnificently again. One pass with touch-ups is all I needed. The witch hazel felt good, the Skin Bracer cooled me off some, and the Nivea always tops it off in great fashion. Nice, enjoyable shave for this Tuesday.

Hope you all have a great day!

 

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