July 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Flare tip is .001 less than setting 2 so that is very close. Red tip is .029 compared to .035 so a bit milder still but yes, close. The New is actually the same gap as a flare tip...but....I agree that the open comb makes it a more aggressive feel and result. I'd say you're matching up nicely using those three as far as the feel they'll deliver.

 

Rockwell 6s/R2/Ladas (3)
Stirling 24mm Finest 2 Band Badger
Stirling Glacial MITA
Thayers
B&M Arctique


Another day with the Rockwell (don't give me a hard time I have still been using the CJB for my head shaves and getting great DFS/BBS shaves so I am still sticking to my focus....kind of....) and seeing as it is Menthol Monday aka @Drygulch...opps sorry.... Snowballs favorite day I decided to haul out the big guns to freeze my face. Switched the base plate out to number 2 (so far I have used 4 and 5 if I remember correctly and am making my way around to trying each plate before I form my over all opinion and write up a review) and while a little more mild then what I am use too and sometimes care for I got a great shave. The Ladas is quickly becoming a favorite and don't tell @NCoxSTL but it is fast approaching Voskhod level to me. 2.5 passes and I am BBS with no nicks or irritation. I did however noticed that by dropping down to the 2 plate I did have to change my angle in some trouble spots that the 4 and 5 plate just mow down (guessing that has to do with the smaller blade gap?) but was able to achieve great reduction and ultimately a BBS shave. Finished off with Thayers and after cleanup splashed on some B&M Arctique.


PSA- For those of you who may like cold aftershaves... if for some reason you foolishly decided to pick up B&M Arctique be warned.... this stuff is dangerous. I have tried Osage Rub, Stirlings Glacials (Bath soap, Shaving soaps, Witch Hazels, and Aftershaves), and Cryogen and this trumps them all. You have been warned.

 

I'll take Ladas over Voskhod any day buddy.

 

I didn't hear you say Ladas was as good as Voskhod. Your secret is safe.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

I would never say that... imply it heavily but never say it...

 

If it's from Moscow it's a good blade. Can't fault anyone for liking a Ladas.

 

Day one of Blade Palooza was much the same for me as it was for Neal. I had originally thought to use 3 different razors for the follow along, but in the end decided to keep it somewhat more comparable and use the Slim on the same settings as Neal. I'm not going so far as to use the same soap every time, but I will use the same manufacturer, in this case TSD. Today promised to be another hot one, and as I write this it's 5 PM and 95° so I picked Iced Sub Zero. And of course a fresh Sharp Star, loaded in the Slim set on 2. The shave was very smooth, and irritation free as attested to by zero feedback from the alum block. I would classify it as a DFS, but if I had made 50 passes I couldn't get a BBS with this setup. 2 is far too mild for me, at least with this blade. I'm looking forward to bumping it up to 6 for the next shave, which will probably be Wednesday as I don't shave everyday as a rule. I'll have plenty of time to catch up though, because I probably won't join in again until blade 6. So to sum up:
Sharp Star in Slim on setting 2. DFS, Smooth, zero irritation.

 

Very nice!. I agree that BBS would be a long shot at 2 on the razor. Very mild on this blade.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

Well I guess I'm number three for Blade Palooza, same song third verse.

SOTD
7/11/16

Pre: Nivea face wash
Razor: Gillette Fat Boy E4 (2)
Blade:
Brush: TGN Finest
Soap: Arko
Post: cold water rinse, alum, witch hazel, The Veg

Honestly if you read the other posts on this blade it's almost the same here. I guess I got a little better shave I was little better than DFS, but I normally shave on 3 or 4 anyway. Tomorrow will be a different story for me in that respect, I think I'm going to be more careful of my angles on the higher setting than than I was tonight. First pass was WTG, I noticed I did get as good a reduction than I get with a higher setting. Second pass was XTG, although I got good reduction it was still not what I am used to despite blade buffing a lot. Third pass of course was ATG, and I did what I could and not get irritation on my neck. I rinsed off with cold water and applied the alum, which I could of skipped for all it did. I splashed on my witch hazel which also said nothing, so I fanned my face dry with a hand towel and patted on a little Veg. Finally something gave feedback, I felt the slight tingle and my skin tighten up. I am using my Fat Boy for these trials as according to @NCoxSTL they have the same blade gap, so no real difference there. It all boils down to the blade and technique for the rest of it. Till next time, hope you all had a Great shave today!

 

July 2016 Blade Focus

July 10

Razor: Lord L6
Blade: Dorco 300
Brush: VDH Boar
Soap: Stirling MITA
Post: Cold water rinse, Alum block

I gave it the old college try. It had a fair chance. But the Dorco just isn't for me. I can get a DFS shave using it but it is just not a pleasant shave at all. The blade just cannot handle my coarse beard. I have no more of the Dorco blades and it will never reappear in my den.

Next shave I move on to a blade I was afraid to try when I first started with the L6 so I never did . . . The feather.

 

Dorcos haven't been spectacular for me either, but I'll have 3 days of the 300 starting Thursday to figure it out better. Feather blades are really great blades but, yes, they are sharp and can be killers. In the past they've done their best work in milder razors for me. You'd think the L6 would be fine since it's usually a starter razor. As you may already know, that would be a false assumption. Blade gap on the L6 is .043 - in between an 8 and 9 on the Gillette Adjustables. I was a bit surprised to see that. It's actually on the more aggressive end of blade gap. I'll be watching to see how you do!

 

Thanks for the feedback! Glad to see another confirmation of how it worked for me. You have identified one of the challenges as you get more aggressive settings in play.....more possible angles to attack with. It's amazing how much user input to the angle grows with each gap addition. Such a tiny difference in the overall scheme of the universe, but with pretty good consequences if not adjusted for.

 

I agree with you there I'm not concerned with most of the blades, well most of them I have to join you with except the Feather. I will know more when I get through all 3 settings with the Sharp Star.

 

Gods seem to have a strange relationship with facial hair. The Egyptian ones wanted it shaved off. The Hebrew one doesn't want it to be touched.

Would you dieties please make up your mind!

 

Doing Sharp Star in a shavette.... Back later.

 

Or is it that ancient people had a strange relationship with their Gods?

 

The correct setting for any adjustable I wide open!

Go get it!

Good point about angle variation.

 

Now that is totally unexpected. I honestly would put the L6 somewhere around a 3 to 4 in comparing it to my Executive adjustable. And in using it the L6 really seems only a notch or two more aggressive than the tech and not even as aggressive as my super speed. I may have to look and see if I can find something to measure the blade gap with because maybe there is a significant difference from one razor to another. Or maybe something else about the head geometry makes up for the large blade gap making it seem much milder.

 

Also @NCoxSTL

The radius of the curve in the top cap is what tames it down and makes it feel mild. It effectively closes down the blade exposure.

 

You'll get a great be from Feather now, and day 2 should be smoother than day 1. Days 2-4 are my sweet spot on Feather blades. Hope it treats you right!