NOVember 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

November 18:

Nameless 30-yr-old drugstore boar brush
Decade old tub of TOBS Avocado croap
Rockwell 6s plate 3
Rockwell blade b(7)
Alum
Thayers Witch Hazel

Didn't shave yesterday so a two-day stubble to trim.

Lather was a bit thin but got an adequate glide protection from it. Will load more product and bowl whip longer tomorrow.

Got my now-usual CCS/DFS from my normal one pass diagonally WTGish followed by a second pass more XTGish. Could hear the razor mowing the whiskers; the Rockwell on 3 had no problem handling the job. I could go higher but advice on adjustables has always seemed to be that the object is to find the mildest setting that will provide the result you desire rather than finding the most macho setting you can stand. Makes sense to me so that's what I am doing.

It was a comfortable and irritation -free shave. No nicks and the alum was quiet; I splashed on the Thayers just because I usually do and not because I thought I needed it. However, later I noticed a speck of blood from a weeper just below my lower lip. I guess I was a little overenthusiastic with an xtg swipe there. Felt nothing at the time or later though...

The Rockwell blade is chugging along. I was using a vintage Schick Plus Platinum blade before this. The schick seemed a bit sharper on its first couple shaves than the Rockwell did, but the Rockwell wasn't tuggy or anything and the results were equally comfortable shaves. By now, the Rockwell on shave 7 is pretty much like the Schick was on shave 7. (I switched out the Schick then to start my all-Rockwell focus. I will go back and finish out that blade when this Rockwell is dead.) I think I could be happy using either blade longterm, except of course the Schick is no longer made.

 

NOVember Slightly to the East

Arko, Omega Pro98 boar brush
Fatip/Muhle hybrid, Astra SP
Alum block, Osage Rub

{No photo. Use your imagination}

Yesterday while traveling 600+ miles east & north I scanned thru AM radio stations to hear something besides road noise. Just outside of Atlanta last night I picked up Saint Louis, Chicago, and Cincinnati broadcasts. Clear skies and little construction gave a nice drive. Slept in late today after my 12 hour hind end numbing ordeal.
Today's shave with my limited travel set wasn't lacking any comforts of home. Arko and boar brush performed well. Hybrid OC DE is tuned in, but that'll be last shave on that blade. Started getting a bit tuggy and life's too short for mediocre beard reduction. Alum was a block of glass smooth. Osage Rub with no chaser for a cool medicinal finish to a DFS+ that will be snuggled by my grandchildren when they return from an overnighter elsewhere.
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

Straight Razor Shave #237
SOTD 11/17/16
Razor: Kinfolks The Ace
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Soap: Barrister & Mann Lime, Lavendar, and Cedarwood
Brush: Aluminum Handle/ 28mm Ubersoft II Synthetic
Post: Cold Water, Alum, Thayer’s
Aftershave: Master Lilac Vegetol

Gave my face enough time to heal up after my last few shaves. Goatee is gone. Used one of my favorite razors, Kinfolks The Ace. Glenn honed this one, and I can really tell the difference between my edges and the ones he does. This is the first time since August I have used a razor that I didn’t hone. I have made a lot of progress in my honing, but I still have a long way to go. The B&M soap is still as slick as ever, and the soap eating monster synthetic brush whipped up a great lather. I have a dollar sized hole in the bottom of the soap container, and have been using this soap every other shave, so I hope I will use up the rest of it soon. Overall, a nice smooth shave that was comfortable. I hope to get more of these types.

 

Great setup and picture Adam. Have a good weekend. Good to hear you are all healed up.

 

Razor: Gillette Goodwill 1930's Ball End Open Comb w/ Hempel Handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (6)
Brush: Simpsons CH1 Chubby Best Badger
Soap: Route 66 The Black Pearl
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Capri

I have a few best badger brushes, however, this is the only one I really like. It whipped up a great lather for a 3 pass shave with a clean up around the chin. Route 66 The Black Pearl worked perfectly. The Folsom & Co. Capri is one of my favorite aftershaves. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Snow storm blowing in from the West on Sunday. We are supposed to get 3 days of heavy snow. I guess I got my last round of golf in today.

 

Doug a great photo. Maybe you'll get a few more outdoor photos before winter fully sets in. Which one of your other knots is similar to the Simpson Best knot? Just trying to understand how it compares to the Envy White or Druida Manchurian etc.

 

Doesn't compare to the knots you mentioned, however, it is the best of the other best badger's I have.

 

Here's what I set up for a little visual appeal in my little corner. I'm using the Slim for every shave this month as it is my birth year razor. I'm also using the Omega silvertip every day I'm not traveling. The Seaforth mug serves for a quick soak. The Seaforth cologne is just there for visual balance.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

NOVember!!

November 18

Grand Blade Trial - NOVember shave

Razor - Rabbit
Soap - Proraso Green
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Post - Alum

Final night with the Rabbit this week and I grabbed the big Pro 48 and Proraso Green to see if I could make enough lather to paint the house. The answer? A resounding YES!

I had stropped the Rabbit while the brush was soaking and got another great smooth feel. Maybe I'm getting this stropping thing down finally. First pass was really good, second was ok as I worked on a few awkward feels to go XTG and the third, well, let's just say it was a bit less than successful. Seemed like my left hand especially was lost tonight. Not sure what caused that but....clearly a Rule would help tighten up technique with this and other straights as well. Something to think about.

Anyway, no blood, nice DFS-ish finish so I'm calling it a success. Tomorrow I'll return to the Grand Blade Trial for the V12 blade. Should be interesting.

Woke up to early fall weather, watched the wind kick up, the rain fall, and the thermometer dropped. No snow here like some have had and are having but one thing is definitely for sure...........

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Nice Seaforth mug! Mine is a bit less pristine but I do like the mugs.

 

Next up in the soap trials Crown and Crane Lavender and Cedar. I picked this one because it has tallow. I will test the veggie formula next.

Faced lathered to start with a big Rooney and to wack the whiskers was a Hart 6/8.

Ah tallow goodness. The first pass was a little thicker than I live but that usually happens when I face lather. Second pass and on it was wet lather. The shave went smoothly, the edge was just refreshed and smooooth. One small cut when I set the razor down to hard at a steep angle. I am curious to see how the soap performs over the next few days. The scent is wonderful and aftershave feel was good too.

Irritation A Closeness A Smoothness A+ Sharpness A

 

Gillette Tech Bulldog Handle
Rapira Swedish Supersteel (3)
Semogue BC Texugo
AOS Lavender SC
Alum

Same shave as yesterday. Good enough for my 13th day in a row of work...

 

November 19, 2016 ​

Wolfman WR-01 Ti OC with Hempel Ti​

Personna 74 (21) ​

“Los Tres Amigos Dos” CH 2 Synthetic LE​

Route 66 Rum Runner​

Witch Hazel​

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This morning was the 21st shave on the vintage Personna 74 blade. I still managed to get a smooth DFS shave. I am sure I could push the blade for a few more shaves but at this point I am satisfied with the experiment. I have one more 74 blade so I will do another such run in the future. I hope everyone has a fantastic Saturday.

 

Amazing picture Clint. I think I'll try and see how many shaves I can get out of a 74. Getting 21 Shave is great.

 

Thank you Doug. The back ground for the photo is a small hand carved table we shipped back from India. Before 9/11 it was easier and much cheaper to ship things back.

I think I did great getting 21 shaves on the blade even though Mark got 28 shaves on the 74.

 

It is a great looking table. I wonder how the vintage 74's compare to the new 74's?

 

The vintage 74 blades were made of tungsten steel which I understand holds an edge longer. This is an article I found on the vintage 74 blades.

http://www.bruceonshaving.com/2010/07/30/personna-74-the-ultimate-razor-blade/

 

Beautiful shot amigo!

 

Looks great! A beautiful autumn picture. Man the sno shovels!

 

Thank you Mark and also thank you for the Personna 74 blade. Sorry I just couldn't stretch it out the number of shaves as far as you did.