January 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Next brush up in the brush focus is an Omega Pro. I thought it would be good to follow up the Shavemac D01 with a good boar. In my experience these are similar once the boar is broken in except for the huge price difference.

A lazy Sunday so I had time to really go for an epic shave. Yesterday was an epic shave and having two in a row is a rare occurrence. To improve my chances the soap today is AoS tallow and the razor is a Hart Steel 7/8 round point. For straight shaving I have to say AoS tallow is tops and the boar and the AoS pair well, the lather today was in the goldilocks zone. The edge very sharp and smooth. After 3 passes I knew it would be an epic shave unless I screwed up the final pass. The planets were in alignment and the forth pass was perfect. An epic shave.

There is a common perception that straight razors can not be as sharp as a DE blade because DE blades are machine made. I actually feel the opposite is true, while the DE blade may feel sharper there is a difference in the DE blades are coated and much thinner than straight razor. Also straight razor are honed for both sharpness and smoothness. Straights can be honed to 30,000 grit stone and then stropped on pastes that have grit ratings to 50,000.

I do not know what grit DE blades are finished on.. calling our DE professor @NCoxSTL... what is the finishing grit for DE blades? I have used straights that I would consider as sharp or sharper than DE blades. I usually finish my straights on 16,000 grit Shapton glass stone and the stop on CrOx and FeO3. Today was one of the razors I must have gotten right as it was very very sharp.

Irritation A+ Closeness +- Smoothness A Sharpness A+

 

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Rudy Vey Chief
Route 66 Cranberry Citrus
The General with UFO Colibri SS
Feather Pro #3
Fine Italian Citrus
Aqua Di Parma Colonia Essenza


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I've passed your question on to the research department (in other words, great question and I'm in full search mode) and hope to find that out. I will say that with all of the "secrets" the manufacturers keep, proprietary coating ratios etc., this may be tough info to find. Now, having said that, someone else will probably throw the answer out immediately after I post this.

 

Just a thought as I continue to search, research, and re-research. Given the actual thickness of a DE blade in comparison to a straight razor, I'm wondering if there might be some way of comparing what might be needed. My question would be, what is the thickness of the cutting edge on a straight, where the bevel is set and sharpnened? DE blades are pretty typically .0042 or .0043 thick, so the grinding is done on that thickness to create the sharp edge. Does that give any clues as to what might be required as a finishing grit? Just curious.

 

When trying out a new soap or cream (creme?) I like to take a lather shot. I agree that is interrupts the flow of my shave. If I go back and look at previous SOTD photos it does remind me that the soap was new to me at that particular shave.
How's that suribachi bowl treating you? I like mine so much three Old Spice mugs are getting dusty.

I've only set one - a Tuxedo knot in a B-400 aluminum handle. Home Depot sells this stuff and it's holding great so far. It's clear in case of messy application.

 

It's goods stuff, with a nice clean subtle scent.

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Great brush Doug!

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My take on Tabac - think leather interior of a smoker's car.....after a couple of years. One of my favorites.

 

Happy Anniversary January!!

January 7

Mostly Shavettes

Razor - Feather SS
Blade - (4)
Soap - Route 66 Sweeney Todd
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Witch Hazel

Happy Birthday to today to one of the biggest fans of Gillette razors I ever knew. My Dad was born January 7, 1928. When I was younger I can still remember the Super Speed in the cabinet that gave way to the Techmatic, and finally to the Trac II shortly before he died in 1973. I had just purchased my first razor (a Schick Type M Injector) and he made it known very clearly that I was an idiot. Real men used Gillette razors. It didn't really bother me, as I just thought the whole injector thing was uber-cool, but one had to acknowledge and admire his dedication to Gillette. I have a NOS Techmatic, still in the packaging, in his honor in my collection. One of these days I'm going to buy another one to actually shave with. I've heard they are less than spectacular, but I'd like to find out myself. I'd like to think he's rather amused that I have such a love of vintage Gillettes now. Yep, Dad, you were right. (Although I still have a couple of injectors and no, I'm not giving them up.....rebellious kid and all that).

As for today's shave, it's the sixth shave on a pain stick and the fourth on the Feather Pro blade and my technique is just getting smoother each day. The Route 66 is fantastically slick if you add just a touch of water to the face lather and it provided a great base to work on. It's still not a great DFS but it's getting there. I need to go ATG on my neck and I've yet to take that step but in the next day or two I think I can get it done without any blood. Interesting moment in the shave - I felt the "pre-cut zinger" straight razors are famous for and pain sticks are usually lacking. Normally a pain stick cuts first and tells you about it later. I had that zinger on my left jawline, pulled up, and no cut. Nice! Hope your weekend is going great! Still cold here but getting better.

 

Clearly a case of "not even close to enough vodka".

 

Not even tequila could handle that one.

 

I've got a sample soon to be in the mail from our generous member Perry @PLAla. Leather interior of a long time smokers car... My anticipation is unbearable!

 

Great setup, Neal. I enjoyed reading about your Dad.

 

That's a coincidence. My mother's birthday was today as well. She was born in 1934. I lost her 5 years ago and still miss being able to pick up the phone and call her.

 

I get a patchouli, leather, slight tobacco scent from it. I'm not sure if my stick smells any different than the tub.

 

It keeps getting better and better! I was too young to be a hippy, but I do like certain patchouli EO's. Being a distilled vegetable product the scent varies.

 

The no cut zinger means that your range of pressure is safe and appropriate for the attack angle you were holding. For those who are contemplating taking up the open blade stuff, shaving by feel is a real thing. It takes some time and repetition. Much like hitting a baseball or driving a golf ball, or even splitting a log, a good straight razor stroke has a certain controlled feel to it.

 

Nice word!

My favorite word in the whole word is the USA English usage of schadenfreude, a German loan word. It's what attracts people to things like ufc, Nascar and Neal's Rapira shaves.

 

My truck has the wonderful top notes of Static Guard, forward notes of Fine Danish Virginia Tobacco, with base notes evoking German Short-haired Pointer and aging upholstery accented by just a hint of low carb Rock Star energy.

Kathleen - if you're still reading, this could be a popular scent. "Adams County Special" perhaps!