OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

That could be very true. I was not that impressed with the sharpness of the blade when using it. I wonder if the "extra steps" are being added for the good or for the bad? I am at least impressed with his willingness to talk with you and get the information to you. As you recall from the MD Barber and the Royal Red "Baldes" so companies are just not as open.

 

Yes and I thanked him profusely for the openness. As to the "extra steps" I'm not sure if he'll ever share more on that or not. I know he was holding off completely on talking at first until certain patent issues were settled. I think this is part of that that just isn't finalized. It may be something proprietary, though, that they won't ever want to talk about. I get that. I was also not impressed with the sharpness. And the "extra steps" seem to be aimed at retaining sharpness not adding it. So it may not improve what we're looking for anyway.

 

OCtober Focus Fun

Scentsy #4 & B-400 Tuxedo
B-V3.1 & Chinese Schick blade
Alum and New Old Spice.



New to me, and for the lack of reviews, everyone else Cream sold by Scentsy. They primarily offer air freshener wax and light bulb heaters. My Lady Friend's daughter is a member of the multilevel sales force - think Avon or Tupperware. At $20.00 per 4oz tube it's premium priced. The scent is light, but good. Lime & cedarwood coming through. I use my own dried mint in sweet tea, may be nose blind to the light level in this product. Moistened the synthetic brush, applied a dab directly to the bristles, and face lathered. It's thirsty, had to add more water. WTG pass showed good glide & slick. Put loaded brush to bowl with more water and brought up a decent lather without adding more cream. Plenty to go for ATG, XTG, and clean up details. Rinsed easily from brush, razor, and face. No negative skin reaction, even moisturizing after effects. Alum and P&G Old Spice applied painlessly.
Next I'm off to consult with a local tractor repair shop. The Ford Jubilee needs a clutch - big job. More than I'd choose for this shade tree mechanic.

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Oct. 14
Soap - Proraso Green Tub
Brush - Omega 10098 Boar
Ceramic Suribachi Bowl
Blade - Blade - Gillette Silver Blue - Russia
Razor - 1937 Gillette Sheraton
Aftershave - Proraso Aftershave Menthol & Eucalyptus

Lathered up and took two passes, S to N and E to W. I payed special attention to feeling the cap on my face while shaving and keeping the blade at the correct angle. No drama, no cuts, nicks or weepers. Overall a DFS with a soothing & refreshing aftershave.

 

That's funny - I used my other MW soap samples like a stick as well, just rubbed them on my wet face. This was the first time that I have pressed the sample into a jar

 

Welcome aboard Dave. Great set up!

 

Congratulations on a succesful shave and a pleasant experience

 

you mean - famous last words? Well, let's wait and see

 

If I use MW off the puck with a badger brush, the brush has to have lots of backbone just to get enough soap loaded into the brush. That's one reason I am so impressed with Reef Point soaps. For all practical purposes Reef Point is equal to MW in performance but easier to use.

 

I had a similar experience lathering Mitchell's Wool Fat off the puck. I pressed the puck into a shave stick, and it worked fine. I'd try making a shave stick out of any soap that I found difficult to lather. I face lather and generally prefer shave sticks anyway.

 

This is why I pinch the bristles early into a soap puck as the stiffer bristles don't break but cause the puck to give up its base and make the start of the shaving cream I want on my face. I only pinch the bristles for a couple of swirls and back and forths, then just lather up in the bowl and in the face. Don't want to ruin a brush over new soap puck but I want all the benefits of what the soap puck has to offer my face from the beginning. After a few times I don't pinch any longer as the soap puck is sufficiently broken in and gives up all the tallow and ingredients to the brush that I might lather up my face to maximize the potential of the soap puck.

Like breaking a Colt or learning how to ski downhill the first few times. You have to think a bit unconventional, but the product has to fit to your needs. That is what it's was designed to do.

In all fairness that's what it's manufacturers hope you will do to give their product a fair shake.

Tires are nowhere near their best new it old, but about 1/8 of the way after new as they require a break in period. You can't think of soapy lather as the same as a brand new blade fresh from honing. It's a different thing. Manhandle that soap and get it to grind to what you need.

Maybe this sounds barbaric in the 21st century, but we are talking wet shaving after all. You should see what we do to straight razor steel to get it to work as designed with stones, strops and gritted pastes.

Go after that protective lather.


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Ever rubbed the puck on your face? Dispense with all brush issues and build it right on your face?

 

Shave 9
Eduard Pauls 1

Shave 9 tonight went very good. Another CCS shave. I tried a bit different stroke for my neck. I held the blade like a Popsicle stick with the scales down. I was able to maneuver my head to get a decent pass. Lots more experimenting in this area.

Have a great weekend
Tom


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I am having trouble visualizing the grip you describe. Mine is kinda "kamisori-style" for the neck.

 

November 14

Gillette New LC
Feather blade (1)
Kent BK4 brush
Tabac shave stick
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Fine Platinum aftershave

I have an early day tomorrow, so I went for my first night shave of the OCtober focus. First pass was WTG (face)/ATG (neck), and the second pass was XTG. I have a darn fine shave with the exception of one small weeper on my upper lip (operator error). I'm actually sharper in the morning, so I'm not surprised by the error. The AS splash was quiet, and that's always a good sign. All things considered, it was a pretty good shave.

I'm ready to change either my soap or aftershave for some variety. I plan my next shave to be either Sunday night or Monday morning to celebrate my return to work. I have 11 more weeks in my current job, and then I plan to do something different. I'm still trying to figure out what that 'something' will be. I can hardly believe it, but I am looking forward to the change.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

Yes that would be the grip. I could have described that better. I had Ice Cream on the mind


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Cookie!

 

No German Chocolate Cake.


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Arko! Arko! Arko!