December 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you Chris! When Tom @twhite told me he was considering The Dark Side we swapped a couple of my dormant straights for a couple DE's he wasn't using. Equitable trade that we both are enjoying.
He has taken one of the straights to the stones. I am happy to see it in his SOTD photos often.
The Muhle r89 Grande cap & handle I received from him mated with a Fatip OC base has served me well. The Aristocrat is user grade with some plating loss on the cap, but it is straight and shaves like a champ.

 

Thanks @RyX for turning me completely to the Dark Side. I am enjoying it emeycly.


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December 3, 2016

Razor: F2 Gillette FatBoy (4)
Blade: GSB(5)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: Mineral Fusion/Dove Hydrating Cream

Not a lot to say, really. Everything worked well though the GSB was a bit tuggy at first (probably time to retire it). DFS FTW.

I'm not sure what direction to take next week. I'm thinking maybe it's time to pull out an Injector again.

 

That's the great thing about the theme this month. It's all good!

 

Razor: Gillette Flair Tip A 3 1955
Blade: Lord Platinum Class (3)
Brush: El Druida Mopane 2 Band
Soap: Maggard Razor Orange Menthol (Sample)
Aftershave: Maggard Razor Orange Menthol

Very close comfortable 3 pass shave tonight. Very happy with the Maggard Razor Orange Menthol soap and aftershave. The Gillette Flare Tip is and excellent razor. Nothing fancy just functional. The Lord Platinum is holding up very well.

 

Something new!

So I was having a conversation with @Bama Samurai a week or so ago, just the usual chit-chat we get into sometimes. He mentions he has some old blades he wants to send my way. Might be good for a little fun, tetanus, you know, things like that. Maybe even BBS. So I say sure, send them on if you don't need them. I'm like the blade disposal site. I'll try anything once then deal with them afterwards. I'm thinking a box with some odds and ends for blades, you know, nothing special but something fun to go through. Well, the box arrived today and I opened it after I got home. Found a tuck of Pontiac blades, made in New York City who knows when. Carbon steel, edges look bad without any help from magnification. Yeah, could be a fun challenge sometime. However, that wasn't the only thing in the box. Many thanks for handing me yet another deadly tool to have some fun with! A nice, random surprise that is much appreciated! I'll give the shavette a try on Monday.

 

Beautiful picture and great set up, Doug!

I am not to sure about what a "3 ass" shave is, though.

 

Saturday, December 3....



-Mongoose
-Jayaruh 400 Tuxedo
-Trumper's Rose
-Stirling Island Man

If there was any decadence in my shave tonight, it was in the brush. I really enjoy the 400 style handle Jayaruh made for me, and the Tuxedo is the softest knot I own. I have heard people say that all you can feel is the lather on your face, not the brush putting it there. That isn't a bad description. It has a great splay to it.

Hope you all have a good evening.

 

Nice choice. The Polsilvers are something of a second generation, following the Wizamet which are legendary in some circles. The times I've had Polisilver in I have had great shaves.

 

Sunday, Decadent December 4, 2016

Paladin Lapis Lazuli Chief
La Savonniere du Moulin
The OneBlade
GEM PTFE SS #6
Floid Blue Chilled


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Nice set up amigo!

 

December 3, Dual Comb Focus

Fendrihan Scientist stainless
Schick Plus Platinum blade (8)
TOBS Avocado croap
Nameless drugstore brush
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Lavender, not need for Nivea Sensitive balm

Screwtape v. Fendrihan Scientist stainless, Round 3

And tonight's winner is .... Screwtape??!!!!

I switched out the Rockwell blade for a vintage Schick Plus Platinum I had previously gotten good to great shaves from in several razors, including the Fendrihan. And that seemed to do the trick.

No nicks, no weepers, alum was medium warm across the face but the Thayers cooled it off with no need for balm and no residual patches of razorburn.

I will do a crisscross experiment over the next couple shaves to see if the old Rockwell blade was just past it or if the Fendrihan Scientist simply hates that brand. Tomorrow I will use the old blade back in the Rockwell 6s to see how the individual blade does, and the following day I will try a brand-new Rockwell blade in the Fendrihan Scientist to see how it responds.

After that, I intend to set the Fendrihan aside for a few days for some Decadent play with fancy soaps, aftershaves, brushes and maybe some different blades. For that I will go back to a "safe" razor like the Rockwell 6s or a Gillette adjustable. Maybe even do a few shaves with an injector or two.

 

Thanks Neal. I look forward to trying them. However, it will be tough to beat the Astra SPs. Were the Astras and Polsilvers manufactured in the same factory? I say "were" because I read on the vendor's website (www.polsilver-blades.com) that the Polsilvers are now out of production.

"With great regret, we would like to inform you that the rumors about End of production of Polsilver Super Iridium is true. Our information is that they are not in production as of mid-September."

 

Decadent December!!

December 3


Razor - Soviet Mladost 2
Blade - (3)
Soap - Proraso Green
Brush - Semogue 620
Post - Alum, Nivea

Third and final shave on this setup for the month. I'm actually having fun with the Mladost as I try to fine tune it for as little irritation as possible. It's just an aggressive razor to begin with, so it seems, and you add the slight irregularities that Soviet engineering bring and it turns into a fun little bundle of potential pain! Using the Voskhod with it has kept it very effective and less than its potential dangerousness.

Two passes again tonight for a nice DFS and no real issues with blood. I did have a magnificent lather from the Semogue 620 and Proaso. Decadently thick and slick. The alum at the end was still pretty hot, but the Nivea cooled it down and will hopefully keep my face in shape this month.

Tomorrow I'm going to start three days with the Sharp Star in the Rapira razor. Yep, gotta do it. The Sharp Star is a magnificent example of Moscow blades at their best. The Rapira razor - not so much. I'll be working to get them balanced and working together. I will take a day on Monday to try out the Magic shavette from @Bama Samurai . I'm having a bit of an uprising on the pancreatic level at the moment so need that to calm down before I approach my face with anything like a straight or pain stick. When those sudden sharp pains hit I sometimes can't keep from flinching. Bad news with the wrong razor.

We're headed for the first real cold snap of the year in the coming week. Gotta love winter.....even if it isn't here yet.

Keep those decadent shaves coming! Loving it all!

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Yes. Polsilvers were made in the Gillette plant in St. Petersburg along with the Astras and GSB's. One can hope they will put them back in production.

 

Thanks Neal. You know your Russian blades, my friend.

 

If this isn't decadent I don't know what is.


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You don't get to be named Blade Czar and run the Cartel by being a dummy you know. Well, not ONLY by being a dummy anyway.

 

Out here on the prairie, I can never get more than two mules hitched up to my straight at one time. Decadent, and aggressive.

 

Decadent December 2016 - Day 3



A very nice two pass from an old Sheffield Blade. @Drygulch is right...these blades are heavy and mow it down. I stayed on the Vintage Williams, and I really like it, will go one more day. And as always, when I break out the Osage, I am sure to not get nuts with it! Praise God and Roll Tide. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a superb Sunday!