February 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

How do you like the Mtn Man, Perry? (Or did I ask you that before?).

 

I enjoy it. It's based on a Creed cologne (I think). It's a little more reserved than Executive Man. I like them both and go back forth on my favorite of those two. Mountain Man is nice and I would not be opposed to a full bottle of it in my den. I just have the sample at the moment.

 

The bowl is the bomb. It takes the photo to another level.

 

The Soap: CRSW Limenthol
The Razor: Magic Shavette
The Blade: Polsilver SI
First Aid: Clubman Styptic Pencil
Aftercare: Barbasol Brisk, Osage Rub
Scent of the day: Thallium

I'm starting this month off gangbusters. Today is an excellent reminder of why I usually shave in the evening. It is also an excellent opportunity to appreciate irony and leniency. I got in late from work last night and apparently was so tired that I drifted off to sleep in my chair and remained there for the duration of the nocturnal sleep cycle. So this morning necessitated a quick shave. I was about halfway through my first pass and realized that my focus was off-focus, and that my February single edge focus had degenerated into a rehashing of my January shavette focus. I've been focusing on shavettes for so long that I just picked one up out of habit and went to work. Didn't even think about it. I managed to convince myself that it was ok, in that the shavette technically has a single edge and, therefore, technically meets the parameters of the focus. But whilst convincing/consoling myself, I lost a bit of focus on the shave, and looked up to discover that I had nicked my ear (dang you, (now not-quite-as) attached earlobe!) without even realizing and that it was bleeding like a stuck pig. Didn't even feel it, which I attribute to a sharp blade and the copious menthol in the CRSW Limenthol. I broke out the styptic and mended myself (pain-free, so there's that). All of that being so, and ear de-lobing aside, the remainder of the shave was quite pleasant. The Limenthol smells and feels great. I followed up with some Barbasol Brisk to enhance the menthol numbing, then double down with some Osage Rub about the head and neck. Applied some Thallium and went out to face the world feeling quite refreshed and alive.

 

The Breakfast Club

 

I'm starting to get comfortable with the ATG pass. I know getting comfortable is often followed by blood, but I think I'm figuring it out. A very nice three pass shave today. I'm doing WTG, ATG, XTG with good results.
Dr. Jon's Aphrodite Soap
Stirling Badger Brush
Wade and Butcher Razor
Thayers WH
TSD Iced Egyptian Spice AS
Have fun!

 

Tom did all the labor making the handle. You, Clint supplied the knot. I rubbed a little silicone on the glue plug and stuck it in the hole...
24 hours later A Brush Is Born! I feel like the father of a newborn passing around cigars.

You have independently discovered a process that has a name. I can't recall what others call it. Chipping works until someone with more brain cells still attached speaks the term. Maybe "buffing"?
Vanna, can I get a clue?

 

Whatever Vanna indicates, that's what it is ).

 

I agree. I always like your photos with that bowl (although you could point out that I always like your photos). It is probably the best looking bowl I have seen.

 

2/2/17 SOTD
Razor: Kamisori
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Horse/Linen Barber
Brush: Dubl Duck M2 with Omega 10066 Boar
Soap: Soap Commander Inspire
Post: Cold water rinse, Alum, Thayer’s Toner
Aftershave: Mandom

I am pretty sure this is the first traditional kamisori on the 30 Day threads. Would we consider this a Pain Stick? Between my Russian DE blades, and Russian straights, I know I am good with the Cartel. With my Feather and Kai AC blades, I wasn’t in bad shape with the Brotherhood. I think this puts me in pretty solid standing.

So my rule for this month specifically did not mention a specific razor. There is a reason for that. While my No Buy 2017 Software edition is going well, I am acquiring some new razors. This one fell into my lap, but I have been wanting a traditional kamisori for over a year now. This one was on FB by someone who cleans them up, dips the handle in plasti-dip, and wraps them in twine. Then he hones them. I was expecting a “shave ready” edge, and was pleasantly surprised to have an actual shave ready edge. Didn’t need to shave today, but I got a new sharp shiny thing.

Day three on the Soap Commander Sample. I think it was just very dry, because it actually has a light scent now. I am still way overloading the brush, and have had some amazing lather. The angle on the Kami is a little different than a western ground straight razor. Kamisori are asymmetrically ground, so instead of two hollow areas meeting to make a very thin blade, they have a thicker portion near the spine on one side, a slight hollow one side for most of the width of the blade, and a shorter more hollow section on the other side. It makes an asymmetrical wedge. This type of razor was originally intended to be used to shave someone else, not shave yourself. The side with the short hollow section is supposed to stay on your face, while the side with the writing is supposed to face out. This works well when a servant is shaving you, but when you shave yourself it’s a challenge. I ended up using both sides, and switching hands. The angle on the blade varies depending on what side of the blade is on your face, that threw me for a loop. I did three passes, and have some spots that are DFS, and some that I’m not sure I cut any stubble. My wife said it looked like I was shaving with a prison shiv. After using a Japanese razor, I had to grab my only Japanese aftershave. Mandom. Enough said.

 

Feb 2, 2017
PSO- my own
'54 SS with Voshkod (2)
Soap Commander Endurance
WD HMB 24mm
Thayer's Unscented

Day 2 of my focus with my 40s Superspeed. Soap Commander whipped up a great lather. Continued to have the same issue from yesterday. After 3 passes, I'm not at my usual closeness... looks like I need to continue to do some work on angles. The first pass seems to be really rough feeling, but without irritation. I'm quite perplexed, but it has only been 2 days. The next passes are quite smooth. The good news is no irritation on my neck, but I know from experience (at least with my modern) that if I go truly ATG or a 4th pass on my neck that is when the fireworks start. No weepers either day. One more day with the Voshkod and then will try the Astra SP.
Have a great day all!

 

I think you will have better luck with the Astra, the Voskhod is smooth and the SS is mild so something a tad sharper will do nicely.

* Hiding from Neal.

 

Does the term kamisori refer to the style of grind put on the blade? I know it is generally used to refer to straight handles, but I have never really understood the correct usage of the term.

 

This razor is a kamisori. The handles we use are kamisori style handles, named after this type of razor.

 

Are you familiar with riding the cap? I think that might help you dial the angle in.

 

Kamisori, or "かみそり" is the Japanese word for a razor. Us western world types have co-opted the K word to pidgin hole all asymmetric grind fixed blade no scales Japanese style straights.

 

Click the link in my signature below called "Riding The Cap". While some shavers have experimented with riding the guard I do believe more have had successful shaves placing the top of the DE against their face and tipping until the blade makes contact. Better angle of attack much like a straight razor with less irritation.

 

I didn't want to say it because Neal has been so nice to me...

 

Yes, have tried to use that as a constant, regardless of razor. Still working on that angle with the larger TTO head.

 

February 2, 2017

Razor: F2 Gillette 195 (4)
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: Razorock Plissoft 22
Cream: KMF fragrance-free

So, after a few days of experimenting with various razors and some odd results with a GSB, I'm back to baseline. Not a lot to say, just a bunch of fine performing hardware and software and a DFS+ result.