NOVember 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

I quit counting shaves.
Staying with my straight focus. Tonight's shave was with my Russian blade again. After re-honing it yesterday. I had a very smooth and noisy shave. As I am feeling a bit more comfortable with my off hand. Almost second nature. The shaves are starting to really come together.

Time to do a pass is decreasing to the point my lather is staying nice and wet. Getting what I consider a DFS. I have not spilt any blood in a few weeks.

I am starting to feel more comfortable playing with the angle. Changing the angle while mid stroke gives me nice feedback as to what works.

Tom


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Sounds like your Technique is Trumping your Tools

 

I believe I am on the correct path. This is an awesome challenge these straights. I look forward to mastering these one day.


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NOVember!!

November 14

Grand Blade Trial

Razor - 1962 (H1) Gillette Slim (9)
Blade - (3)
Soap - Arko
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Post - Alum

Well, well, well it's about time something worked out as I thought it might. I was beginning to think I'd lost my psychic powers. The Asco Red, or SS blade, has been a decent blade for two nights. On the mild 2 on the Slim it was a bit underwhelming and on 6 last night it seemed to be improving. Definitely a better result with no real added irritation. Is this that mid-sharp blade that loves aggressive razors and gets better as they get more gap and exposure? I had predicted as such and....tonight's shave proves that right!

I went to the big Omega brush tonight and loved the feel. You almost have to work to keep it from over producing lather with Arko. Great lather and feel and I was set up for the first pass. Talk about a nice smooth feel along with audible feedback. Really the ideal combination. And - the reduction was fantastic. Went for the XTG second pass and I had a near BBS at the end of that pass. Only needed a little work on my neck. Went ahead with a full ATG and Slide pass and the baby showed up, yawned and went right to sleep. Perfect result.

Alum was a bit hotter but it usually is on the 9. Still, not a problem at all. With this finish I'll take a minor burn. And, it's settled right down. The Asco Red has proven itself worthy of inclusion in a blade rotation. It would be a great match for the Fatip, R41, Old Style, anything like that, in my humble opinion.

Tomorrow I plan to go pain stick, then three days back on the Rabbit straight. Just want a day with the Feather SS since a few others have visited the pain stick this month. Don't want to let the brotherhood down! The next Trial blade is the V12. It's from GreatWhite Global in India and a total unknown. That begins Saturday.

I was cleaning my desk today and ran onto a razor I had forgotten I had! It's a dare razor that I got when @Drygulch tried to scare me. I'll have to give this one another go one of these days. Maybe something to do in December.

 

What a great concept! We'll have to remember that one.

 

NOVember Focus Renewed

LPL Savon du Barbier & The Brush
Fatip/Muhle Hybrid, Astra SP
Alum and Osage Rub



Set the Stahly aside, back on mostly No Variation Focus. Guess I didn't shake out enough water from the Tuxedo knot. LPL usually gives thick creamy with great cushion. This lather filled the suribachi's 4-1/2 inches with airy fluff. I punched it down and agitated more, finally had to go back to the tub for more product. That made it right, but enough for several shaves. OK! WTG, ATG, XTG, Gillette slides, buffing, & clean up passes. Not like I'm in a hurry during an evening shave. Still not BBS. but an enjoyable DFS+ with no blood. I've reached the point where I get FatBoy-on-9-like results with this 3pc OC setup. All quiet on the alum front. Rather than adjust Osage Rub I let it ride solo.
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

November 15, 2016
Wolfman WR-01 Ti OC with Hempel Ti
Personna 74 (17)
“Los Tres Amigos Dos” CH 2 Synthetic LE
Mystic Water Eucalyptus & Spearmint
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Co Capri

​

Another great shave this morning. With 17 shaves on the blade, about the best I can achieve is a DFS. But that is not bad for a work morning. I finished up the Mystic Water Eucalyptus & Spearmint soap today. I enjoyed the soap and look forward to trying some of the new formula in the future. Finished off the shave with a splash of F&C Capri. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

 

Gillette Tech Bulldog Handle
Gillette 7OC Russian Green (3)
Semogue BC Mistura
Apple Blossom SC
Alum
Superior 70

Another nice shave.

 

Another beautiful photo!

 

Thank you Jim. We bought a DSLR camera when the girls were younger. I decided to pull it out and try to use it. I still have a lot to learn but I am enjoying trying.

 

November 15 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Latha
Schick Type E3
Stirling Unscented PSB
Latha Post Shave

After a couple of great shaves with the G3, it was time for the E3. I can feel the slight differences in the razors. The G3 is a razor that I can almost go on cruise control and end up with a great shave; this razor definitely needs a little more attention. I can feel it cutting, and it has that feeling it will bite if you don't watch it. I got a great shave with it, with no problems, but I definitely had to maintain focus.

I hope everyone has a great day!

 

Great filter on the photo. What do you think about the Latha soap? I enjoyed the performance of Latha but was neutral on the soap. I need to try some of the newer scents.

 

I have decided to join you gentlemen in a Focussed (or maybe it's a Ruled?) November. I have been using the same kit since the beginning of the month and will continue to the end:

TOBS Avocado Cream
Now-nameless drugstore fake-badger boar brush
Rockwell 6s on plate #3 (plate may vary)
Rockwell blade
Alum
Thayers Witch Hazel followed by Nivea Sensitive Balm if required

Four aims for the month:
1. Using one soap, learn to make thicker and better lather consistently.
2. finish off my decade+ old tub of TOBS croap
3. get my technique dialled in on one razor -- ride the cap, no pressure, shallow angle.
4. See how many shaves a Rockwell blade will last.

 

Thanks, Clint.

I am about like you in the Latha. The performance is very good, but the scent is not my favorite. I don't dislike the scent, but I don't really like it. At some point I would like to try one of the other scents.

 

Welcome to the thread. The guys here have definitely helped me improve my shaves.

 

SOTN NOVember 15th


'82 Gillette Black Beauty @ 6
Shark SC(4)
La Toja
Satin Tip The Purest
Crown King Scuttle
Homemade Tangerine AS

Good morning friends. I have been getting really good shaves out of the Shark SC. It has performed really well in my Schick Krona and now my birthyear Black Beauty. I am glad that I revisited this blade. It has proven itself worthy of being on the "good blade list" a complete turnaround from the first time that I used it when I had no clue what proper technique was. Have a great day my friends.

 

They've also already helped me improve 100% over where I was three months ago just from what I picked up while lurking (stuff like "thicker lather", "ride the cap", "no pressure", and "shallow angle" as not-so-random examples...)

Today's shave was a good example: a pleasant, drama-free shave. Two passes sort of diagonally wtg/xtg ending up with no nicks, no weepers, no irritation, virtually no sting from the alum and no need for the Nivea balm.

The overall result is probably what you would call a CCS, maybe even a DFS and approaching BBS on the cheeks. Personally I call it a highly satisfying result. In 30 some years of shaving with electrics, I don't think I ever got shaves this close without a lot of redness and irritation from having to "buff" or "sand" with the shaver.

The lather was workable but not fabulous. I think tomorrow I will try loading more product.

Shave 5 on the Rockwell blade was very comfortable.

 

Good picture!!!

 

Brush Jayaruh #94 with Whipped Dog high mountain badger knot
Soap Proraso Red Tub
Razor Rockwell s6 #4 plate
Blade Feather (3)
Old Spice Aftershave Splash with a good amount of Florida Water

That brush can sure make a pile of rich lather out of the Proraso soap. I took a N/S pass and then an E/W pass. the blade is providing more audible feedback than it did on day 1. It also knocked down some extra stubble from yesterday in an efficient manner. I may give it another day just to see how it performs, maybe not. I'll just have to see how I feel about it tomorrow morning. As an aside, I find the combo of Old Spice AS splash and Florida water as a cologne to be very complimentary.

 

Thank you Doug!