OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

OCtober Shave
Route 66 Twisted Tweed Soap
B-400 Brush by Tom
Gillette Aristocrat
Astra SP Blade (1)
Alum
Lucky Tiger
Pinaud Clubman AS
Happy Friday!

 

OCtober Focus Final Few days

Vulfix 660S, Strop Shoppe tallow
Fatip Picollo, Astra SP
Alum, Canoe AS



Should have chosen a soap after I tried samples. Sadly defunct, but I still have a little bit. Brush via trade with @BigCabDaddy. Piccolo does it's job as a razor blade holding device. I must master it's aggressive nature. A nick on my chin, sensitive upper neck all this user learning the angles. Longer handle would help. When in doubt, go Grande.
Good shaves, Y'all!

Tapatalk Via Kyocera

 

Decent but smooth shave, tiniest amount of irritation and I managed to open an old war wound. Putting that down to the fresh blade. Overall a 6/10 on the shaving scale.

Constants - Day 5 - 28-Oct-2016
Pre Shave: Proraso Pre Shave & KOS Oil
Brush: Omega Boar ?????
Soap: La Toja
Razor: EJ DE89
Post Shave: Ultra Pure Witch Hazel with added Lime Essential Oil, Nivea Anti Irritation Balm & Brut Alaska AS

 

A smooth shave is always a good start. You are off to a strong start.

 

Off-focus

Gillette Tech Ball End H4
Gillette 7 O'clock Perma Sharp
Jayaruh #107
Barrister and Mann Bay Rum

A day to test out some of my new arrivals. I have to say I'm really happy with my new brush, lathered great. My new razor will was fantastic, but will take some fine adjustment to get the angle just right. It gave me a DFS in one pass and a BBS in two. I may or may not get this custom replated. And I loved the small of the bay rum soap.

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

 

October 28 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Port-au-Prince SS
Gillette Old Type
Stirling Unscented PSB
Fine Fresh Vetiver

 

Razor: Timeless Stainless Steel Open Comb w/Timeless Barber Pole Handle
Blade: Feather Platinum (1)
Brush: El Druida Manchurian Cocobolo
Soap: Route 66 Perfect Storm
Aftershave: Floid Blue
Just another uneventful excellent shave with the Timeless SS, OC. Three passes with no cleanup. The brush is amazing as is the Route 66 Perfect Storm.

 

Shave 17


Tonights shave was as good as last nights. I followed the same passes as yesterday. I am starting to understand what my face likes with straights.

Have a great weekend.
Tom


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

OCtober-een!

October 28

Grand Blade Trials

Razor - 1962 (H1) Gillette Slim (9)
Blade - (3)
Soap - Arko
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Alum

Final day for the Indian Wilkinson and I was anticipating a very nice shave - or a harsh reminder that some blades can't handle the full aggressiveness of the Slim on 9. Arko and the Wolf for a great lather and the first pass seemed to prove out the really nice shave. As smooth as last night and even as smooth as day one. Excellent result. Second pass XTG also felt just as smooth and the finish of that second pass was awesome. Still needed a little to get the baby on the third pass when, while working on the left cheek, I saw the blood under my chin on the left. Second pass apparently got one nick that I didn't feel. Hmmmmm. No technique issues, everything was picture perfect but there's a ding.

Finished the third pass without further incident and the baby seemed to show up. Alum time. Sometimes smooth feeling on the shave is deceptive and this is one of those times. We're talking an all over burn with a number of really hot spots in addition to the nick. I'm taking the baby back because of that amount of irritation. I can say DFS, and a really smooth one, but not without a price. Clearly this blade, while great on the 2 and fantastic on 6, crosses over to the harsh side on 9. Disappointing, really, as I thought I'd found a great one in the midst of the mediocre.

Many have discounted this blade as being less than the German Wilkinson and I wonder if they have largely used aggressive razors. We'll find out when the German Wilkie comes up for its turn.

Next three days will be a finish to OCtober! I have three OC razors, the 1918, New LC and Fatip, so I'll give them all a day to shine with a Rapira Super Stainless blade. Should be a fun way to end the month! Still debating on what to do in NOVember. Rule or continue Trials? Trials or go to a Rule? If it's a Rule it will be with straights. The debate continues.

Going to stop by the local Indian shop before travelling back to Moscow on the Mississippi. Have a great weekend!

​

 

Day 3 with CF. It is Saturday so time for a leisurely shave and go all out. Used one of my favourite brushes, Simpson Tulip in Super and one of my top straights, PRC Damascus.

After a long hot shower I put a little to much CF in the bowl and it made enough lather for 6 or 7 passes. A little really does go a long way with CF. It took a while to get it the level wetness I like for SR shave. The edge felt oh so smooth, I was worried it was not cutting. Four passes no blood and no irritation so with for what I call a 'smoothing' pass, one last pass with the grain.

Applied the alum, nothing, faceturbating.... smooth, smooth , smooth. This qualifies for epic shave status.

Irritation A+ Closeness A+ Smoothness A+ Sharpness A

 

Hello TSD This is yesterday's shave - haven't found the time to post this earlier...

Shave #16 of my October Focus:



- Barrister & Mann "Beaudelaire"
- The Tuxedo
- Feather Artist Club SS
- Feather Professional Super (#6)
- Speick ASB

Yep - I think I figured out how to use the Pain Stick properly. Another 2-pass-shave without any blood or even the slightest bit of irritation. The key to success: no pressure (blade is sharp enough), proper skin stretching along with a steady hand that can keep the correct angle. And you better avoid any form of slicing movements

The Beaudelaire, along with the Cologne Russe, is my favorite B&M-scent. Great performance as usual. And the Tuxedo is just a fantastic brush.

My skin is still very smooth today, so my last October Focus shave will be tomorrow.

Have a great day

 

Edited for clarity and possible inclusion in my forum signature.

 

Some conversations call for appropriate security measures.

 

Keith, your Mastro Livi straight razor is a beauty!

 

I've learned to literally "chip away at it".

 

And now I have it....I'll be trying it out next week...review will come soon after.

 

I will say one thing-it is indeed a tiny tub(2 oz.), but that's pretty good given the price, IMO.

 

Saturday October 229, 2016

El Druida
Fine American Blend
Wolfman Wri-OC .74 Gap With TRIAD Helix Hex Titanium
Personna 74 #24
Fine American Blend

​

 

wow...what a brush!!!

 

Great All American set up, Mark!