OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

All these use the same fibers.

 

Thanks for the info!! Placing order now! Any other recommended goodies I should throw in the cart?

 

Lets see if we can give him a run on bags
http://redheadedtshirts.com/wade-and-butcher-shaving-bag

 

OCtober-een!

October 23

Grand Blade Trials
Razor - 1962 (H1) Gillette Slim (9)
Blade - (3)
Soap - Proraso White Tub
Brush - Semogue 620
Post - Nivea Original

Well after a good day at work and some extra time just doing nothing this evening shave time arrived. I'm enjoying the night shaves if only because it affords me plenty of time to concentrate and not feel rushed to get on the road. It's good for relaxing as a whole as well as working on blade trials to give them their best shot. Tonight is the final official shave with the Gillette Platinum Plus, the apparently newest offering from Gillette for the U.S. market. So far so good but the Slim is wide open and ready to slice and dice.

I changed up on soap tonight, mainly because I just wanted a different scent and since the first two shave with the blade were successful I figured I had consistent enough data. Decided to go with the Proraso White, which is for sensitive skin. Something I've never tried. The lather seemed just like Proraso Green and Red. No issues. I can't really describe the scent though. Anyone have a good description of it?

Three passes on 9 concentrating on riding the cap produced the baby tonight and.....no blood. So, it would appear to be a slightly better result than yesterday. However, I can tell without Alum that it is highly irritated in areas, especially on the Gillette Slide. It also didn't feel as smooth which tells me that this blade acts more like an Israeli Red by giving a fantastic shave and feel at 6 but 9 is a bit much. I could easily have stopped after two passes with a near BBS and normally would have, but the Trial demands the third pass. And I went straight to Nivea to cool things down a bit.

This is a fine blade that is available now in most areas, from what I'm gathering, to compete with the generic Personnas and other second-rate DE blades in the drug store market. I don't know that I would make it my preferred blade and use it exclusively, if only because of cost compared to the blades that are in my top 5. However, if I was travelling or just ran out of blades (not likely with my current inventory and supply line on the slow boat from Russia) I would choose this one over the generic Personna. Now, I say that knowing I will never buy a generic Israeli blade in the first place, but I'm making that statement based on comparison of the shave, not my personal economic policies. Hopefully that's clear. If not, well, maybe I can figure out a better way to say it.

Anyway, that's it for the new Gillette. I may or may not throw it into some other razors to test longevity over the next week or so. What I do know is the next blade up in the Grand Blade Trials is the Indian Wilkinson - and that starts Wednesday.

The World Series starts Tuesday! And the matchup......Indians vs. Cubs.

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I sent a messenger down and no, there are no icicles or snowballs in the nether regions. I'm pretty fired up about the matchup if only because of the tradition of the two teams. Of course, as a Cardinals fan I'd much prefer to see the birds on the bat there but.......I have to choose a team. And for me, well, if you didn't see this coming you don't know STL baseball and its fans!

In 6!​

 

Shave 14
Went nice with this razor

Before

After taking WD40 and 150 sandpaper to start. Then moved on to 320 and finally 600. I was only attempting to remove the rust and save the etching. I then just buffed the blade and scales. 1-1/2 hours total on that part.

Then I spent 3 hours setting the bevel and honing. The edge kept getting into little rust
Pockets. Finally got a clean edge.

I will shave with it tonight.

Tom




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Sorry I missed this earlier. Alum block would be good. The most important thing at this point is simply mastering the tools. If you master the tools you have, future purchases will be both more informed and enjoyable than buying blindly now. Take some time to develop your own style and routine while discussing it with others. Then you'll know what you need versus what you think you might want. You'll be super happy with your new brush, can't wait to see your reaction.

 

Hmmm.... Another one full bore into the Darkside. Love it!

 

23 October 2016

Detour Adjustable Two Pass DFS Baseline



This razor is on loan from @twhite via his Passaround thread. A classic of modern design, it was a capable and efficient razor, easily hitting the benchmark DFS on its highest setting. The plan is back down the dial until the razor becomes so mild as to be annoying. PAL adjustable will be here soon, and the plan is to do the heads up comparison for the rest of the month. Arko was slick, blade was sharp and the Veg is still only for the heroes. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a marvelous Monday!

 

Is it possible to tighten the hinge pin with a ball peen hammer (or something)?

 

Day two with the L'Occitane Cade. Today I bowl lathered using a M&F blond badger, more back bone that I usually use for this cream. It is also a bulb shape, this is usually a brush I use with my soaps. Didn't have allot of time and it was less than 24 hours since the last shave so I went with an ATT H1 with a GSB with a shave already on it.

The brush wonder find but I can say I prefer a fan with less backbone for this cream, it doesn't take make to make the lather. Smells and great and provide lot's of cushion. I stopped at 3 passes due to time. Zero irritation and just short of BBS.

 

Wow, that razor looks NOS

 

It may have been. He sent quite the specimen, it has a nearly flawless finish.

 

Great Job, Tom - that razor looks fantastic.

 

Do you want to know the weight? My kitchen scale says: 77g (2.7 oz). And no, the handle isn't solid, though the whole thing feels pretty substantial:

 

SOTD October 24, 2016

Blade: Chinese Schick
Razor: Schick L1 injector
Brush: Vulfix 2006c badger
Lather: Stirling Barbershop
Post: Witch hazel splash, Stirling Barbershop aftershave, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Stirling focus continues. Excellent lather this morning using a Vulfix badger brush. It's a little scritchy but worked up nice lather nonetheless. Two days growth was mowed down efficiently and quickly with the Schick L1. Not much else to say other than a nice shave to start the work week.

Have a great day!

 

October 24, 2016
iKon B1 OC with Hempel Ti
Feather (1)
Doug Korn DK7 with Druida Manchurian
Route 66 Twisted Tweed
Witch Hazel
Floid Blue

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Changed things up a bit this morning and went with the iKon B1 OC. After whipping up rich slick later with the Route 66 Twisted Tweed, I proceeded with a traditional 3 pass shave paying attention to my trouble spots as I went. After minimal touch ups, I ended with a near BBS. It was just not worth chasing that one spot on my lower right neck. Finished off with a splash of Floid Blue. A great start to the work week. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

The scales are nice and tight. I am just using the tee to hold the razor up.


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Menthol Monday, OCtober 24, 2016

PAV Brushworks with Envy White
Krampert's Finest Frostbite
Timeless OC with UFO TiTAN Fine
Personna 74 #21
Mentholated Witch Hazel
Krampert's Finest Frostbite Aftershave


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October 24, 2016- OC Focus

Razor: Gillette 160 Goodwill
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: VdH Luxury

Back to the New LC-based Goodwill and a mild Astra SP blade. Two days growth neatly erased for a DFS+.

Two small weepers, though which stopped with cold water and Alum. I seem to be in a bit of a paradox, though... I've been getting some of my closest shaves ever lately, but it seems to be at the cost of nicking every pimple or other imperfection on my chin. Kind of frustrating, really...

 

I meant to comment after yesterday's shave and the surprise blood, but didn't get a chance.

I'm curious how you would characterize the Platinum Plus in terms of the usual adjectives (e.g., sharp, smooth, etc.)? I'm not sure I'm good at using the terms correctly, but what I have noticed is that while I have gotten some really great shaves with both the Platinum Plus and the generic Personna, I also seem to be more likely to draw blood with one of those two blades. Admittedly, much of that is probably technique failure on my part, but I was curious if you noticed some attribute that might make them more bloodthirsty than, say, a good piece of Russian steel?