SEptember 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Way to get The Scientific Method working for The Grand Blade Trials! Thanks for taking one for the team Neal! Think The Cartel will understand? I'm guessing you got some kind of *special dispensation* before beginning this project. Your opinion of Israeli blades seems to have turned, but the final results aren't in. Someone slip you a case of Voskhods, or you have to give them vodka?

 

Very classy photo Doug. Bravo!!

 

Well being the Czar of the Cartel helps. It's good to be the king. And, yes, spending this much time away from Russian blades is a bit strange but.....one can't extoll the superiority of one's blade choice without the data that it deserves it, right? To be perfectly honest I had no opinion of Israeli blades before this past week other than I wouldn't buy them. Given the reviews I've seen those who use them write I'm not surprised to find them performing well. And, I am curious about them, as I am all blades, as to whether they are really different or just put in different wrappers. The same could be asked of the Rapiras though there seems to be a difference in coating with that line at least, if not more. I will also say that I am happy the Israeli's are treating me well since it makes it less painful and more enjoyable all around. But, when I'm done with them I'm also sure I still won't buy them. For those who like them or are looking for a really nice blade, though, I can confirm that as being true so far!

I wonder if I grew up partially Russian after all? Back when I was in High School and for a number of years after that you only had to be 18 to drink 3.2% beer. And, during my college years (the first time around) it was legal to drink 3.2 beer while driving a vehicle. I used to make trips across the State with an 8 pack of Miller pony bottles on the seat beside me. Oh the good old days.

 

That is a good one.

 

Thanks very much Clint.

 

SEptember Focus with a side order of Drug Store AS

Cella, suribachi, & Omega Pro 98
Schick M & Schick Twin blade(s)
Alum / Mennen afta Fresh AS


I'm going to put Cella high on my list of soaps to purchase if I ever need to buy another. When SAD hit me I put enough in my cabinet to hold for at least the next year. Being a soft soap it loads easy, whips up lather easy, shaves easy. If it weren't for my flibber de gibbet rotation I'd settle in just fine on the almond sugar cookie scent. The Chick blade I was using in @twhite 's Pass around Type M injector wasn't used up, but I wanted to try a Twin blade for several shaves. Good stuff! Effortlessly functional blade with the adjustable set on #8. I nicked my chin, but that's almost to be expected. Not having used a multiple blade razor for near a year. Three passes; WTG, ATG, XTG & some S-glide with no clean up passes. No complaints because I got as close to BBS as ever. Learning to straight shave taught me about baby chasing - Don't Do It! Alum was nearly silent. Much better than with the Chick blades. afta AS might be tucked away for cold windy winter days. It's more of a balmy gel that takes several minutes to dry. Pleasant scent and a nice face feel but with the weather being humid & hot I'll sweat it off and down my shirt collar. It lacks the Greenness of products that also contain Yellow-5. Sadly only Blue-1.
Good Shaves to Ya'll!

 

Well, Thursday is my official wet shaving anniversary and it looks like I'm going to end up mostly recreating that shave after all. I started this adventure with a J2 (1964) SuperSpeed and the Israeli blades. I had figured on skipping that exact combo, but now you've got me curious.

Any possibility of swapping the Thursday and Friday razors for parity?

Okay, so tomorrow I'll put the FatBoy aside in favor of the Fat Handle Tech.

 

Interesting about the lack of plating loss. I had assumed that the darker gold areas in your initial photo were gold plating and the rest was missing. Pleasantly, I was mistaken.

 

"It's your shave, enjoy it your way!" Rule or Focus, you have Options. No one is going to be upset. This is a special occasion, have a great shave!

 

Neal, do you have a gap measurement for the 48-49 SuperSpeed vs. 60's one? Looking back at my old posts, it looks like the last time I used the supermarket Israeli blades was in early July in a 48-49 Milord.

 

Another photo just taken. Photoshopped for clarity, no light box, using cell phone under florescent lighting. The plating looks fully intact to me. I do see a bit of haze on the under side. A dab of polish on a Q-tip should fix that!

 

For a first anniversary shave I'll switch. So tomorrow it's my Flare Tip SS, then Weishi, then Tech. Got it.

 

'40's Super Speeds are 0.025.

 

Yup, must have been some kind of residue .

 

No... Tech, then SuperSpeed, then Weishi.

 

Ok. Weishi, Krona, Popsicle stick. Got it!

Tech, SS, Weishi. They're lined up and ready to go.

 

You guys slay me!

 

Well i am getting good shaves William, but only one great shave out of 4 so far. First off my razor is a different type than I thought. It's a 1912 Gem, not the 1912 Junior that I thought. From what I've read there is a bit of difference.

My main issue is the chin as you have noted as well. Buffing WTG works, trying that ATG is iffy but I'm still working at it.

The one good experience ATG on the chin was with a lather that was significantly more hydrated. As a face latherer I am sometimes subject to having my lather be more like paste if I'm not careful to hydrate the soap enough. So on one shave I decided to go to close to the other extreme and have a lather that was just before the runny stage. The blade seemed to have more glide.

One other item of note - I haven't tried the Gem Personna blade, that you use. I just use the GEM PFTE blade which is coated and smoother than others, so I've read.

Keep at it brother!

 

Thirty Days Hath SEptember.... 4,5,6 September 2016

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The Personna generics excel in a shavette. Super glide and quite smooth. Sorry if I was conspicuous in my absence, but long hours, holiday weekend and home improvement stuff took all my time until today... In the meantime I had three very nice two pass DFS shaves with the generics. They were honestly as good as anything in the SE configuration. Brut was the choice, borne of laziness, for all three shaves. It's quite Barber Shoppe scented and is kind of like a combo of AV Musk and Clubman. I like it as a change of pace, but it's too sweet on the nose for regular duty in colder months, though I'll enjoy it this month a few times. time to get caught up on the goings-on of the 30DC. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a wonderful Wednesday
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