OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

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.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

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




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

You are right on schedule. Many on this thread think the "accomplishment" of a successful straight shave is a big part of the draw. Straights really put the skill into shaving.

 

Keeping the faith in OCtober!

29 October 2016



How about a Fatip close-up? Got you covered! This razor produced the grail today! A Grail Shave for me is DFS on one pass. Went full skin stretch mode and treated it like SR and was rewarded! Gonna cruise on the Fatip until November, then back to the shavette for a real rule to commerate two years of shaving shenanigans. No other scheduled activities to cause me to deviate next month. Did make a minor switch to La Toja today, by accident actually. I've been busy lately and a bit tired, so I just went with the mistake...note a post photo, water droplet on razor. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a superb Sunday!

 

"Accidental" La Toja. Not sure I'm buying that but hey.....whatever you say. The plisson? GSB? Veg? Looks like fate may be more to play than an accident.

 

Day 4 and the last day with Castle Forbes. It's Sunday so I have plenty of time to go all out. I used warm scuttle, not hot and added lanolin today to see if there would be any change to CF. The hardware today was a Takehana Feon 172 and Simpson Polo 8.

Ah the joys of warm lather on a cold morning. I did not feel any difference adding the lanolin either in performance or aftershave feel. Then again CF always performs great for me. Mu usually 4 pass shave and the Feon is just of the finishing stones (touch up) and felt like silk. No blood, no irritation and smooth face, a great start to Sunday.

Irritation A+ Closeness A Smoothness A+ Sharpness A

 

My stepson is at the University of Granada, Spain, studying Immersive Spanish abroad for his degree in hospitalities/management. My wife knew La Toja was from Spain, and sent him a pic of the label because it reminded her of him when she saw it on the counter. She left it next to my razor, and I honestly just used it through thoughtless action.

Or fate, your call.

"The accidental la tojist"?

 

Does Japanese steel take a keen edge like Sheffield or Solingen stuff? Dare to compare for us?

 

Now who can we get to play you in the movie?

 

Very nice setup.

 

Can't compare it Sheffield as I don't have enough experience with them. The edge seems similar to vintage American steel like Genco.

 

Sunday OCtober 30, 2016

Doug Korn D-7 Omega Boar
Nuavia Verde
Timeless OC .95mm Gap with Stork Aristocrat 2 Titanium
Personna 74 #24
Folsom & Co. Shambala

​

 

Great picture, Mark!