August 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Still alive and well! Still sticking to my rule and sorry for my inactivity but things have been insane. Hoping for some downtime to catch up on everything this weekend.

Overall shave report: BBS

Nothing has changed. Effortless perfect shaves. Starting to get a little bored as I feel like I have nailed everything for this setup and cant learn anymore (I mean BBS is the best thing that can happen and I am consistently getting BBS shaves with this setup) but I don't want to bow out early from another rule so I will see this one through.

 

Interesting combo, tell me more?
Did you apply one after the other, mix them in your hand, or in a container?
What ratio? I have and enjoy both Osage Rub & Florida Water, but no M-bomb to reach your level of Coolness.

 

I put them in little glass spray bottles separately. I first do about 5 sprays of Osage Rub and about a minute later about 3 sprays of Florida Water. Once the medicinal scent of the Osage goes away it's a pleasant mixture. As a bonus, my wife likes it.

I've placed all my aftershaves in these bottles, you get even coverage and I don't seem to use as much AS. I got mine at Vitamin Shoppe but I've seen them elsewhere. They also work great if you refrigerate your AS as the glass helps keep it colder for a longer time over plastic.

 

I could see it in Tapatalk but couldn't post or even "like" posts. Almost went through withdrawals!

 

Awesome Adjustable Arko August!!!!

August 11

Grand Blade Trial


Razor - 1962 (H1) Gillette Slim (2)
Blade - (1)
Soap - Arko
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Alum, Nivea, The Veg

A new blade today with the Timor, made by Giesen & Forsthoff in Germany. Yes, that Giesen & Forsthoff of straight razor fame. At least their older ones. I have a vintage G&F straight that I need to get honed. It's the one decent straight I haven't shaved with yet.

The blade is said to be "ice tempered" and no other coating is mentioned. I used it once before during German month and remember it being a decent blade. Lathered up the Arko and went to work. Mild 2 setting on the Slim. First pass was quite smooth and comfortable and the result seemed pretty good. No issues with feel at all. Second pass XTG and again very smooth. No issues. Third pass ATG and Slide and the finish was a decent DFS. Not the best but far from the worst. Some more touch up and I could have gotten close to BBS. We'll see what it does at 6 tomorrow to show more of its character.

New arrival from Portugal when I got home today. It will be spending a couple of nights in Proraso to break in a bit then I'll give it a try and see if it goes in rotation. It's my second "Brush of Shame" as someone here suggested I should get one and, yes, the Brush Acquisition Disorder kicked in. I've never had a Semogue so I was weak. I'm gure it will be BoS II. Hope you all had a great day. Things at work are crazy at the moment, though it's all good. Lots of communication on the company's sale and how it will and won't affect us. Things look good.

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Sounds like it's going pretty well. I am guessing that you "rolled off of the cap" under your nose, and the blade bevel gouged you. It happens! Have a great time riding, catch you Monday!

 

(My number came up on The PAL Pass Around, through Sunday)




PAL Injecto-matic Pass Around - Day One

Click the above if you'd like to read the details! Long, good, productive day. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

 

Shame, shame, shame...everybody knows your name....

 

August Focus Day 12:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
La Toja Shave Stick
Gem Damaskeene
Stirling Unscented PSB
Clubman AS

I was on cruise control for my shave this morning. It all just came together nicely starting with some great lather from the La Toja. The Damaskeene was super smooth this morning, and I got a DFS with no irritation. It was the 7th shave on this blade, and it is still going strong. I used some Clubman to put the perfect finish on this great shave. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

August Straight Focus
This is my second straight focus and I think I'm finally getting it. I now have about 100 straight shaves, including 30-35 with a Feather, and I'm now getting consistent results.
I am getting DFS with two passes. I might chase the baby a little this month, but will be happy with results like today regardless.
TSD Barber Shop Soap
Wolf Whiskers Brush
Hien 650 Razor
Alum
Lucky Tiger
Fine American Blend AS
Happy Friday!

 

As your confidence grow with daily SR use, you'll be inclined to chase the BBS result. Odds are pretty good with a few extra passes that you'll achieve the desired result. Doing so sort of affirms that you've 'made it' - achieved the goal of every wet-shaver and have done it in one of the more challenging methods (with a self-honed straight razor). I personally will sometimes go the extra distance to achieve a true BBS shave but it isn't an everyday goal for me. Why? Sensitive skin. If I push the extra passes on a daily basis, I find myself prone to some irritation or tenderness. The occasional BBS shave is, for me, an occasional goal just to keep my skills up and hey... who doesn't like a BBS face?

 

Thank you Kevin. Your posts and encouragement have been a big part of this journey for me. I appreciate it!

 

Adam, have you made any progress with this razor ?

 

Funny, I am actually writing another email back to MD Barber right now. I wanted to see what they offered before I started honing it myself. According to the company, they receive these razors in bulk from the manufacturer already honed to a 10k level. (Like the DE blades, they won't state where they are manufactured.) They then do three more stones to finish them, 12k, 20k, and 30k. They occasionally find a razor that isn't up to standards in the honing process, and don't offer it for sale. Mine must have slipped through the cracks, and is the first report they have gotten of a razor not being shave ready. They have offered to exchange it for a new one. The sharpness tests that most of use to check a razor aren't something they can do, because the razor would then have to be sterilized before they could sell it. Gentleman I am talking to is a wet shaver, and is very passionate about their products. Very good customer service.

I think for this razor, I am going to see if I can get the bevel set myself, and get it polished up to a shave ready level. Time is kind of a premium, so I don't know when I will get it done, but I will keep everyone posted. If it will take and hold an edge, I would say we might have another option for a shave ready straight. If it turns out to be a Razor Shaped Object (RSO) then at least we know before anyone else buys one. Without getting this done, and purchasing another one, I really have no way of knowing if mine was a fluke or an example.

 

I lost count on the Sharp star. I think I'm over 20 shaves and it doesn't feel like there is a difference.

 

The Sharp Star should still be in production. Absolutely one of the top two or three Russians - or maybe overall - ever made. I'd rank it with the Gillette 7 o'clock Blue or better.

 

It is absolutely loving the Tech with a ride the cap technique. 2 pass near BBS with an undieing blade. Doesn't matter whether I use barbasol or soap and brush. Zero irritation so far and Florida Water would let me know if I had any.

 

Awesome Adjustable Arko August!!!!

August 12

Grand Blade Trial


Razor - 1962 (H1) Gillette Slim (6)
Blade - (2)
Soap - Arko
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Post - Alum, Nivea, The Veg

Boy these late nights need to stop. Or, rather, the busy days need to stop. Seems like I'm way off my normal schedule but.....I have a plan to catch up and get ahead. More on that later. For now, the second shave on the Timor was this morning and it was a bit less than I had hoped. Arko was great, first pass seemed just a bit harsher than on 2, so I adjusted to ride the cap and it smoothed out. XTG pass was also not too bad, if a bit less smooth than the first day but then.....one small nick appeared out of nowhere. I didn't feel it happen, just spotted the blood as I finished the pass. Went ahead with the ATG/Slide and didn't see it again so it wasn't horrible but.....any blood definitely drops the shave rating unless it was caused by technique. In this case, technique was perfect.

The fact that the ATG/Slide was no rougher and didn't produce any other problems does make me delay in being too harsh on the blade, but we'll know more after tomorrow's shave on 9. The alum had a bit of sting to it but, again, nothing serious enough to deduct points. Yet. I'm also going to have a fresh Timor on standby tomorrow just to check any differences. If the shave seems to be going totally wrong I'll stop and try the fresh blade to make sure it isn't blade fatigue that is the problem.

Hard to believe it's already the end of the week. Well, your end of the week. Wednesday for me. Two more to get through. Have a great weekend and I'll start catching up around here.

 

Todays a Towa Takahashi frame back (1st shave) is auditioning for a place in the den. This came not shave ready so I had to hone it from the bevel up. I am able to maintain an edge but not allot of success when I have to set the bevel. Fortunately this was a success.

The edge felt smooth and sharp but not super sharp. The razor felt good in my hands and is pinned super tight. Four passes and BBS with just a little feedback from the alum.

Irritation A- Closeness A Smoothness A Sharpness A-

The razor is beat up looking but it did shave. It is one of two frame backs I recently purchased, I am not sure if I will keep both so this will J West Vs. France (TI).

 

PAL Passaround Detour



Two passes to DFS. It's a lot like a Schick G, the main difference is the angle of the handle in relation to the blade. Took the time to really hold good angles and had a much better shave than yesterday. I hope everybody had a great Friday, it was another long one for me! Will be back on the Rule Monday. Time to actually read TSD again! Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a great weekend!