December 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Sure got me by the short and curlies.

 

I never had one go bad just sitting. I have no idea.

 

If you said a year or something, I could see it, but only a few days I have never heard of. Is your wife using it on your dog as a joke or something?

 

I'm the only one with access to the razor, so nobody did anything to it. It's definitely a dead blade though -- I just tried test shaving a patch on my forearm and didn't cut a single hair. So then I got reckless and tried dryshaving my cheeks with it with the same result. Weird....

Oh well, I junked that blade and will just have to hope this was a one-off. If they all start dying on me this way, I suppose I'll have to give up on the seven razor weekly rotation and go to a week at a time or something instead to keep the blades in use.

 

Monday Morning....



-Irving Barber Company Shavette
-Jayaruh 400 w/Tuxedo
-Tabac
-British Sterling

So, the day before yesterday when I pretty much skinned my neck trying to figure out just how in the heck I was supposed to fit that razor handle cross ways on my neck, I actually got it.

I have to do an off handed downward 45 in a scything motion, but it does take it off without going fully ATG.

I am definitely sporting a DFS today. There aren't any stupid weird spots I can't get to, now I just need to actually get to them all in the same shave. I do not really have a routine established yet for this. I am kind of here and there, then "oops! I missed a spot", then back to clean it up, etc. It is leaving me with some rough spots here and there.

I estimate that I probably had 20-30 shaves on my old Artist Club, and today was the eleventh on this one. I think I am sitting pretty for a great focus next month.

 

Good for you keeping Focused, and looking ahead. I want to like my Weck. Almost healed up from the last misadventure. Having a unstructured December has let me wander through my different razors including a couple new to me units. This 30 Day thing has improved my technique when I can make me stick to it. Still not ready for a Rule. I need more Peer Pressure!

 

Enjoy your last 3 days of work Charlie. Enjoy the memories. Retirement is a blast!

 

Classic!

 

Familiar setup, usual routine, virtually new blade plenty sharp last time you used it, heard lots of feedback, no mention of excessive tugging, has not been secretly used on the dog, and no beard reduction. That's a real puzzler.

I use a Mongoose and a Feather AC. I've never had a problem leaving an SE blade in the razor and coming back to it a few days later. I'm not an injector shaver, but you're sure the blade was installed properly with the cutting edge toward your skin? I know that sounds silly, but nothing else makes sense to me. I remember one time not installing a blade properly in my Goose, and the shave was extremely aggressive.

I'm curious. Please keep us posted on what you learn. I'm sure tomorrow's shave will be better.

 

If I get lots of audible feedback from an Injector, it usually means my angle is off. When it is cutting it's best, there isn't as much audible feedback in my experience. Were you riding the cap heavily?

 

Fantastic set of photos. You are getting the hang of the Shavette quickly.

 

Congrats on both your retirements! To bad you don't live close by...hubby teaches beginning and intermediate guitar at our local YMCA.

 

Thanks Clint!

Thanks! That's funny. I'll use that line on my teammates tomorrow!

Thanks Jared. Yes, 32 years for me, and 39 for my Bride. Time flies when you're havin' fun, and we were both blessed to work with wonderful people in great jobs.

Thanks Jim. I appreciate the kind words. My Bride and I are likely part of the last generation to say that we stayed with the same companies for our entire careers. It has been fun, and as I'm sure you know well, engineers move around a lot these days.

Mark, thanks for the encouragement. Most of my my friends that have retired are having a blast. Regarding the fond memories, I have many. I stay in touch with several life-long friends that I've made through my work. Thanks again!

 

Thanks Kathleen. I appreciate the kind words. That's cool that your hubby teaches guitar. I'm sure he brings joy to his students. I've always wanted to learn to play, but I haven't remained committed to on-line lessons. I think I'll do better with in-person lessons. I like interacting with people too much to learn in front of the computer.

I hope you and your family had a fantastic Christmas!

 

December 26 - Round 2

Rather than wait, I lathered up for a fresh shave now. Exact same setup as last time, except a freshly loaded Personna blade in my Schick E2 (from the same cartridge the last blade came from). Same soap lathered with same brush.

Result: A fast single XTG pass giving me a DFS+ shave. Alum was a tiny bit warm in a couple spots, and this time I used Thayers Witch Hazel Lavender to finish off.

Absolutely no comparison to this morning's attempt and clearly no problem with me forgetting how to angle the razor or something over the last week. This morning's blade had somehow just become dulled to the point of not cutting at all.

The only thing I can think of is that the first and only time I had used that blade 6 days ago was with Dr Bronner's Magic Organic Shave Gel - Lavender. Maybe part of the magic is that it kills blades dead?

 

I started at the flat of the cap and rotated down a bit as usual. And then tried higher and lower angles as the shave progressed, or rather didn't progress. I've used injectors for years and occasionally had problems with razorburn but never with no stubble reduction.

 

I've had it happen on a bad angle and a bad blade as you describe, but never on a blade that I had successfully shaved with previously. This is a new one for me.

 

I went to the Post Office today and found a package of shaving goodies from a dear friend that I met through work. He's a wet shaving enthusiast who lives in Houston. His business travels recently took him to California, and he made a pit stop at West Coast Shaving. The cologne was a gift from my sweet Sister-in-Law. I'm excited about these new items going into my rotation. My friend told me that I need to stay clean-shaven even though I don't have to go to work anymore.

The Aramis cologne is an old friend. Every time I use it, I remember my Dear Father-in-Law and a Dear Uncle. It's bold, so one spray is plenty. I've never used a T&H shaving cream or an SOC badger brush, and I'm excited to try them. I immediately thought about Jim when I saw the Stirling Barbershop. I've used Stirling soaps, but this will be a new scent for me. And of course, I'm a big fan of Thayer's WH.

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Congrats on such an impressive package of shaving goodies. I am looking forward to your reports on the brush, cream and soap.

 

Enjoy it! My dad has long been an Aramis guy so I am quite fond of it. And the Stirling Barbershop has become one of my top 3 soaps.

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