OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

October 3 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Frozen Tundra
Gillette Rocket
Stirling Unscented PSB
Kramperts Finest Frostbite AS

I almost didn't need to shave this morning after yesterday's great shave. So, it was relatively light growth for my first shave with the Rocket. The Rocket made quick work of whatever growth there was. I have a nice DFS plus. I also used some Frostbite for the first time, and the post shave feel is great. I really like the scent as well. A great start to my Monday. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

October 3, 2016
Wolfman WR-01 OC with Triad SS
Feather (3)
Rubberset 400 #3 with WSP HMW
Route 66 Twisted Tweed
Witch Hazel
Floid Blue

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Happy Monday. Another automatic near BBS shave using a tried and tested setup. Everything just clicks with this shave. I hope everyone has a great day.

 

Great setup and picture with a beautiful brush. Have a great day.

 

Thank you Doug.

 

October 3, 2016- SEptember Epilogue

Razor: Gem 1912
Blade: Gem SS (1)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: Williams

Third day of the month and already I'm take a diversion from my focus, although this was a planned one. Last week, I won a PIF for a 1912 over on another forum and it arrived on Saturday. I didn't shave yesterday, so this was my first chance to try it out.

Back in the '70s, when I was first starting to shave, I seem to recall that I shaved a few times with a Gem (probably a Micromatic) that I had picked up at a flea market. I think I liked the results from the Gem, but all I seem to remember is the blades (which came in a green dispenser) rusting at the drop of a hat. Needless to say, I'm older and a bit wiser on blade materials than I was then.

Today's blade is a Gem by Personna SS blade purchased at the local Shop-Rite. I'm not sure if this is normal for other areas, but around here the chain stores tend to carry the Gem SS blades while the local, independent drug stores carry the Gem Blue Star (carbon steel, right?) blades.

I was a bit worried about finding the right angle, but that was definitely not a problem. Lots of audio feedback, as well. The small handle makes for an interesting experience, though; I had a moment where I felt like I was using a razor from a more genteel time.

The result- probably the closest I've ever come to a BBS and no special steps in trying. A little low-level complaint from the Alum, but more to remind me just how close this shave was. I'm just in awe at the moment and can tell I'll probably need to resist a new round of RAD.

 

That sounds like an adventure. Is this your first shave with something other than a safety / cart razor?

 

Oct. 3
Soap - Proraso Green Tub
Brush - Omega 10098 Boar
Ceramic Suribachi Bowl
Blade - Blade - Gillette Silver Blue - Russia
Razor - 1937 Gillette Sheraton
Aftershave - Proraso Splash, Menthol & Eucalyptus

I need to work on loading this brush as I made enough lather for 6 passes. So, I loaded up the brush and whipped a bowl FULL of lather and proceeded with a 2 pass shave, WTG & XTG. Yet another DFS bordering on BBS. I'm loving this razor. I find that a very minimal change in angle while riding the cap can give you a more aggressive shave where my whiskers are more stubborn like on my jaw line. This adjustment in angle during the shave is what is helping me get good results; however, I am adjusting very subtly and always while the razor is moving XTG. The aftershave is perfect for a light fresh scent and good for conditioning the skin.

 

Monday, October 3, 2016

Shavemac Silvertip D01
Fine Platinum
Gillette New Deluxe with TRIAD Aristocrat Titanium
Polsilver SI #3
Fine Platinum Aftershave


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SOTD OCtober 3rd


Cooper MonoBilt
Voskhod
Satin Tip The Purest
Blades Grim Smolder soap and AS

Good morning friends. This morning I was reminded why the MonoBilt was one of my favorite shavers. I decided to bowl lather this morning so that I could bask in the luxury of consistently creamy lather for all the passes. Also this was the first time trying the Voskhod, it felt a little rough for the first stroke on each side of the blade but after that it was buttery smooth and impressively sharp. I did my normal 3 passes and afterward the alum was dead silent and I caught the baby to boot. Have a great morning my friends!

Sent from my Galaxy S6 using Tapatalk

 

Great picture, Mark! That brush handle is fantastic.

 

Great setup Andrew.

 

Thank you Doug!

Sent from my Galaxy S6 using Tapatalk

 

Thank you, Doug. I appreciate the kind words!

 

Good to see you again Charlie!

 

Thanks Jim! It's a mean machine and has the most backbone of all my brushes.

 

Great set up amigo!

 

October 3

Gillette New LC finished in Gun-Kote Bronze by Delta Echo Razor Works
Feather blade (3)
Kent BK4 brush
Tabac shave stick
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Fine Platinum aftershave

Hello everyone.

Depending on how you view failure, I either missed my expectations of getting a great shave, or I learned something new today.

On a positive note, I took twice the time I normally take to do extra warm water prep and build a great face lather. On a normal day, I typically overload my brush in order to "compensate" for a quick lather build. I always have a good lather, but you really can get a great lather using a relatively small amount of soap or cream if you take your time.

Two passes this morning (WTG face/ATG neck and ATG face/XTG neck), and I have a nice, close shave...except for a few weepers and some irritation. The root cause is operator error. As I started my second pass, I accidentally grazed the blade edge across a finger nail. It was the nail of my right finger (I'm a lefty) used to stretch the skin on my cheek for the ATG pass. I was thankful the blade edge didn't catch the flesh of my finger, and intuitively, I knew my nail damaged the blade edge. I'm thankful now that I decided to skip the touch ups. I just didn't feel the damage as it was occurring.

So with everything you guys have taught me, what did I do? I kept shaving. Neal, not only can't I spell Voskhod, but I can't spell STOP, either. Unaware and obviously more than a bit dense, I effectively completed my second pass with the equivalent of Russian steel (shenanigan alert). I saw some weepers on my neck well into the second pass, but I didn't "appreciate" the irritation until the the AS splash. I'm still appreciating it now. It's not bad, and someone else probably wouldn't notice, but I'm disappointed. Not sure, but I may delay or skip tomorrow's shave to give my skin some rest.

So my big lesson learned just three days into OCtober: blades damaged while shaving get replaced immediately. As I always tell my Bride when I goof up, "I'll know just what to do next time."

Oh well, danger is my middle name. I hope you all have a smooth start to the week.

 

I'd say I'm still at the "exhibition season" phase of loading and face-applying, after my first two soap shaves.