December 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Happy birthday Clint!

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Thank you. I pretty much do the same whether face or bowl; the biggest thing that improved things for me is flicking the brush under the faucet to add water. If I dip the tips, the way I learned originally when I was a kid, invariably I add too much at once, or not enough and it takes forever.

Merry Christmas Eve!

 

Thank you Andrew.

 

Have a great day bro!!

 

It's a mild gritty earthy MDC scent. Same great performance.

 

Thank you.

 

Someone was a good boy this year.

 

December 24, 2016- Christmas Eve Shenanigans

Razor: Junjie
Blade: GSB(5)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: Mineral Fusion

Yesterday, I mentioned in "The Haul" that I had picked up a Junjie three-piece razor at a local dollar store. Throwing caution to the wind, I decided to try and shave with it today. For the most part, I've pretty much avoided the low-end Chinese razors except for the version of the Sterling Tech that Gillette sells under their Super Blue Blade branding. My one exception to this was a single pass with a YingJili three-piece which somehow managed to be both aggressive and ineffective at the same time.

Unlike many of the low-end Chinese razors, the Junjie is not a three-hole razor. Rather, it appears to be a rough clone of the late Tech design with the most notable difference being the presence of four small openings behind the safety bar rather than two larger ones. The overall finish, though shiny, is clearly inferior to even the Sterling. (Exercise for the would-be MBAs in the audience: Imagine the Sterling and now figure out how to make it for even less money while providing an all-metal handle.) This would be obvious at various points during the shave.

The blade for today was the same GSB that I have been using all week. Sorry, but I'll be saving the Tian Fu "disobedient" "painted" blade that came with the razor for another occasion.

By eye, the key dimensions seem close to that of the Sterling with minimal blade exposure and a reasonable gap. By feel, I'd say that we were definitely in the mild range of razor design. Two or three times during the shave, though, I felt like I was going to cut myself but never did. Towards the end of the second pass, I realized that what I was feeling was actually the point of the safety bar digging into my chubby cheeks. This is what I was referring to earlier. Basically, the baseplate is of such cheap material and poorly finished enough that it almost feels like you could cut yourself with the safety bar rather than the blade. FWIW, the handle, while nice looking, can also get too slick.

The good news is that there was no blood. The bad news is that it was definitely not the closest shave. I'll call it CCS+. I'm not sure if the issue was the razor, the blade having seen too many uses, or just my trepidation at the whole thing.

I imagine that the Junjie is a fine razor for its target audience and would be okay as an emergency travel razor. I don't think it's going in the rotation any time soon, though.

BTW, I do have another one in case someone wants some Sino-shenanigans.

 

Great picture, Clint! Your Christmas themed photos have been terrific.

Happy birthday!

 

Too funny!

 

-PAL Injectomatic
-DFS Nathan Clark w/Envy White
-Stubble Rubble Pirate Cowboy
-Ogallala Bay Rum Limes and Peppercorns

Very nice peaceful shave this morning. Got up at 3:30 to help my wife off to work, then did a little last minute grocery shopping. Kids were still sound asleep when I shaved up, so it was just me and the shepherd.

I have to say that the Stubble Trubble soap I was gifted by Secret Santa is as good as anything I have in my den. It's lather can stand up with Stirling, B&M, Soap Commander, with no trouble. It loads and lathers as easily as (very similar to) Chiseled Face, but is twice the performer. (IMO) The scent of the Pirate Cowboy is a bay rum mixed with something (according to the maker, he doesn't say), but it is a very light bay with no clove, which I love. It is a complex scent, and I am a bad describer of scents.

I know there are a million good soaps out there; too many to try them all, but if someone is looking for a good vegan soap, this one is TOP notch.

Happy Christmas Eve.

 

Merry BIRTHDAY!

 

Developing a case of bleeding left finger tips?

 

[GRINS]

 

Thank you Jim.

Thank you Chris

 

Don't like Flat Wound strings?

 

My hands aren't in playing shape anymore is the real issue.

 

I'm so sad that I've lost my guitar/Mando calluses. Gotta build em back up!

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Working on it!

 

I want to thank each and everyone who has donated goods towards the Newbie Give-Away!
You have been extremely generous, and for that I am forever grateful.
Merry Christmas and a Happy Happy New Year!
Kerry