OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Razor: Geo W. Korn The Real with OC guard
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Brush: Troth handle with Envy White 24mm
Soap: Route 66 Twisted Tweed
Post: Cold Water, Alum, Thayer’s Lavender
Aftershave: Lucky Tiger Aspen with Menthol Crystals

I planned this shave for Friday, but didn’t get to it until today. I touched up this edge on my Welsh slates, and really worked at it. Did a little bit on Chromium Oxide, and a lot of laps on linen and leather. I have used this razor several times, but it has been a little tuggy. Nailed it on the touch up this time! Getting much more comfortable using these stones for finishers. I haven’t used the guard for the razor before, so didn’t know how that would go. I just wanted to be one of the cool kids, and join OC October. This counts, right? Honestly, once the edge was dialed in, and the angle sorted out, the only time I noticed the guard was when I wanted to switch hands. I did one pass S/N, one pass N/S. I couldn’t figure out how to use the razor with the guard under my right ear and on the right edge of my neck, so I took the guard off to finish that up, and to do an XTG pass. Result was BBS everywhere but the neck, and DFS on the neck. Very little feedback from the alum. I might have put too much menthol in this aftershave, it was almost painfully cold. I washed my hands carefully after applying it.

 

No....

Well if you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way
Take the highway that's the best
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it winds from Chicago
To LA
More than two thousand miles
All the way
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it goes to St. Louis
Down to Missouri
Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty
You'll see Amarillo
Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona
Don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino

If you get hip to this kind of trip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it goes to St. Louis
Down to Missouri
Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty
You'll see Amarillo
Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona
Don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino

If you get hip to this kind of trip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66

 

Great looking razor and picture Adam. The razor looks dangerous.

 

Thanks-I had a chance to listen to The Manhattan Transfer do the song-someone here sent it to me. Now I remember, it was @wristwatchb

 

Speaking of Rte 66, as some of you know I am considering a move out west in the future-perhaps to Colorado. As any Coloradoans must be aware, Rte 6 goes right through the city of Lakewood, just west of Denver. It's tops on my list of cities to consider. It's THE SAME ROUTE 6 THAT I CAN PICK UP DRIVING JUST AN HOUR OR SO SOUTH OF ME, HERE IN METROWEST MASSACHUSETTS. Probably a "Long And Winding Road", but I'm glad to know this.

 

True! Sixth is a main road in the Denver Metro.

 

It begins at the edge of Cape Cod and ends I think in northern California. I may study this route seriously when the time approaches for me to make my decision.

 

Thanks Doug. It's actually one of my most fun razors to use.

 

I'm glad you picked up on "dangerous" as having a positive meaning, too .

 

Someone on here a few months ago said that a 4 oz. bottle of aftershave can last quite a long time. I think I had just told the person that I could never manage with a bulk size aftershave, given that I like to rotate(as I know many of us do). I am indeed finding out how right the person was about the 4's.

 

Oh it could always be scarier...... I feel pretty

 

October 29, 2016- Milord Mini-Focus

Razor: '48-'49 Gillette Milord
Blade: Astra SP (6)
Brush: Floppy Chinese Pure Badger
Soap: Nutragena French Milled Soap

Stayed with the same setup to finish out the week. Pretty much the same great results as the past few days.

I'm thinking about what to do for November. I like the idea of the no-variation focus in principal, but I know I don't have the fortitude to carry it out. I'm thinking instead of something along the lines of "No Expectations" November. The idea here being that I'm wondering if I've started to overthink things and/or try to hard in my shaves so, instead, I'm going to go back to a favorite razor or two, a favorite blade or two, and just keep things on the mild side for a bit.

 

Thank you, one of our Den brothers hooked me up with it.

 

The subject of the No-Focus Focus has been discussed. Rather than concentrating on specific hardware, use what you like to get some really good shaves. You have been developing Technique so focus on using it?

 

Now that I have found the sweet spot on this Merkur 34C, I just love it. Even found a bit of love for the Omega boat brush again. Dragon's blood by RPS makes such nice lather too. Loving the feather blades still.

I'll try some different blades this next month. Just need to find the right combo.

DFS with little irritation showing on the Alum pass after cold water rinse. Used BBW Noir aftershave balm. Feeling the love.

Have great shaves this weekend gents.


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I decided that I want to keep my primary focus on straights so I spent the afternoon honing seven razors. Today's shave was an evening test shave. It was a very nice shave with a razor that I picked up for ten bucks last weekend. This thing honed like a dream.
SOTD
Route 66 Rum Runner Soap
B-400 Brush by Tom
Dubl Duck Dwarf Razor
Alum
Lucky Tiger
Old Spice Cologne
Have a nice weekend!

 

Shave 18

Wow 3 very nice shaves in a row. I continue to take baby steps. Sticking with my current 3 pass shave. I am getting consistent results. These are CCS+. This is a type of shave that would be fine by me for a daily shave.

I am getting Zero feedback from my Osma block. I have to be ever vigilant as not to slice myself. I almost had 1 cut and felt it. I was able to stop and avoid blood.

I did notice tonight when I have s good stroke going. I will ride it out. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not.

Tom




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OCtober-een!

October 29

Grand Blade Trials - OCtober shave

Razor - 1918 Gillette Old Style
Blade - (1)
Soap - Proraso Green
Brush - Semogue 620
Post - Alum

Three days left in OCtober so three days of OC shaves with a surprise ending! I had a package in the mail today just in time to finish the month on Monday. Tonight ws the 1918 WWI Gillette that is as aggressive as they get, and a personal favorite. Don't use it enough. And, I added the Rapira Super Stainless blade as one of my top Russians to go along with it. Add Proraso Green and the Semogue 620 to make buckets of lather and I was ready to go.

This razor never ceases to remind me that it demands just a bit of respect. As an early model of the safety razor it wasn't built for the comfort people today expect. It was already a huge improvement over the traditional straight razor. By that I mean the teeth actually do provide some safety instead of a bare blade. Other than that, not much.

Three passes to an outstanding BBS as this razor misses nothing if you just relax, ride the cap, and leave the pressure in the other room. Even the hint of pressure brings danger. I did suffer two very minor nicks on the first XTG stroke as I applied just a hint of that pressure. Right on the cheekbone, but no real issue and no bleeding other than just a quick glance. Alum is hot all over, which is pretty normal for this razor so I'm not even worried about it. I probably need to get some Snake Bite A/S to finish with when I use this one.

Tomorrow I'll give the Fatip Piccolo one more run in OCtober using the same blade. My two most aggressive razors, and then, on the 31st, well, you'll see.

Have a great rest of your weekend!

 

Have you reached the point where you are "shaving with a straight" rather than "trying to avoid injury with a straight"?

And nice work heeding the razor's warning!

 

Good question. If I am really honest. I would say 75% of the way. I still have some moments using my off hand.

I must say that I really look forward to using the straight. It is the challenge of trying to master it.

Tom


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