February 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Considering what I was getting six months ago this is major progress.

I used the scuttle the first day but after watching the video yesterday I decided to just try it on the puck.

And really I'm only using it because I have it, it came with the kit. I actually have some Arko that I'll probably try next month, and I'm waiting for some TSD soap to come and that will get added in to the mix. Also eyeballing some Stirling that I'll probably order in a few weeks to sample.

I do like the smell of Col Conk though.

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Whether building on the puck or finishing in the scuttle, I would take that soap, melt it, and pour it into something with more surface area. Give yourself some room to get busy. You can heat it up right in the microwave and pour it into whatever you want.

(For future reference, that only works with glycerine based soaps, so don't do that to anything with animal fat base.)

And I know I said it before, and Rick just did too. It isn't the easiest soap to work with, so you are doing a pretty good job. Looks like a good start, you just need a lot more product.

 

Fatboy February!!!!!

February 3

Razor - 1959 (E4) Gillette FAtboy (9)
Blade - (3)
Soap - Arko
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Alum

I'll be completely honest. I have always considered the Fatboy to be a bit overrated. I had never tried one but, just based on the hype and the chatter and the noise around it, my opinion was that it was the style and just general reputation that was somewhat overblown and, therefore, what kept the price high on the bay. I have the Slim and the gap is the same etc., so hey, nothing to write home about for the 195. Well, I was wrong. After only two shaves I am very well aware I'm using a fine instrument with this razor. Is it better than the '46-'47 Aristocrat? I can't say for sure but I will be finding out.

With the razor full open on 9 for the final day of the Gillette 7 o'clock black I was expecting some harshness and irritation. This isn't the world's best blade, though it's far from the worst. By the way, I'll go ahead and give the blade an "A" rating given its performance over all three shaves. All smooth, no major problems. But I feel that much of the success on the 6 and 9 settings is due to the razor. The head is a bit higher on the Fatboy than the Slim and that forces the blade into a bit of a different angle. That changes exposure, even though the gap remains the same. That creates an incredibly smooth and effective pass, or so it seems after two shaves.

All I really know for sure is I just nailed the baby down on two passes with no touch up. That doesn't happen. At least rarely if ever. This thing knocked a home run with a less than home run blade in my universe. I'm sticking with it but delaying the Grand Blade Trial for about a week to play with some other blades to test it more fully, but I may have a new favorite on my hands here.

By the way, as mentioned earlier this week, the designation "195" comes from it being sold for $1.95 back in the late 50's. If you convert that to today's dollars (well, 2016 as that is the most recent available) it would sell for $16.71 today. So even back then it wasn't priced out of range for the average guy, based on the economics of the day. Wouldn't it be nice if you could buy it for less than $20 today!

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I think Neal likes his new razor Didn't I say something about distractions?

"I'm sticking with it but delaying the Grand Blade Trial for about a week to play with some other blades to test it more fully"

 

No shave....I am just a reader today. Too much wind and 16 hours did me in.

 

It's not hype. The 195 is arguably the finest TTO design ever. It's a BBS machine on 9. Try it with GSB.

 

Mühle Rocca R96 razor
Rapira Platinum Lux blade
Edwin Jagger Silvertip Fibre brush
Klar Kabinett soap
Pitralon Classic aftershave

It seems to me that a chromed razor head feels slicker than a stainless steel one. Correct observation?

 

Good morning Mark. Good setup of fine gear. The brush and razor are made for each other.

 

I honestly don't know that I have ever been able to notice a difference. I suppose it is somewhat a matter of the user's shaving style. The concept makes sense I guess.

 

Day 3, day 4 and the wrap up for the M&F Blonde Badger:

The last shave using Tabac was a fail so.... I have to use Tabac again. This I worked the Tabac according to my usual method, like it owed me money and was a month late. This time also made some collection calls between passes. This brush really doesn't like to give up the lather so I just made allot of lather. The razor was a Rocnel adjustable with a Super Iridium. Four passes and a successful shave, almost no irritation and BBS.

Irritation A Closeness A+

For the wrap up shave I went with Aos tallow and AoS cream super lather. This combo always delivers for me. Since I know this is a stingy brush I loaded very heave and was rewarded with lots of slick lather. Today's razor was a Hart Steel 7/8. The edge was smooth and sharp so combined with the slick lather I decided to turn up the aggressiveness for the first two passes. I could tell I already some irritation so what should I do, make the final two passes aggressive too. I was going to have some irritation so I might as well get that extra long BBS. So I finished with some irritation but A+ on the closeness.

Irritation B Closeness A+ Smoothness A Sharpness A

While this brush is good looking, has strong backbone with soft tips it pisses me off. It makes lot's o' lather but does not release it. It will go on the block the next time I do a den clearing sale.

 

So the playful old Korean women over there like the Tabac too, huh?

 

February 4, 2017
Timeless OC .95 Gap
Feather (2)
WDC-6 with Sunrise Synthetic
Route 66 Rum Runner

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Another excellent shave this morning. Throughout the past 35 days, the Timeless OC has been a joy to use. While the razor has a large blade gap and serious blade feel, the Timeless has proven to be a very smooth and efficient shaver. Route 66 soaps have been the software of choice for each of these 35 shaves. As expected they various Route 66 soaps were easy to lather. The lather is very slick and protective with top notch post shave feel. Hardware and software worked well together and allowed for consistent drama free shaves during. I hope everyone has a great Saturday.

 

It ain't bad with loaded with a Feather on 9, either. I've not tried shaving with mine on 9 yet using Russian steel.

 

February 4 (Saturday) - in sharp focus

Gillette Fatboy on 3
PAL Gold Thin Hollow Ground carbon ( 31)
Muhle silvertip fibre synthetic brush
The Eternal Tub of TOBS Avocado Cream ( croap )
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Original Astringent

Everything clicked today. I concentrated on riding the cap lightly while skin stretching. It felt good enough that after my usual diagonal crisscross passes, I relathered and made an additional pass XTG even on my neck. No complaints from Mr. Alum and when I checked after putting on the Thayers, that elusive creature the fabled Baby had finally put in an appearance for me!

I originally said I slightly preferred the Black Beauty to the Fatboy with its slimmer head and longer handle. However, as I use the Fatboy for consecutive shaves, it is increasingly growing on me. I now think I prefer the Fatboy for its slightly greater weight and short handiness. Of course, next time I do a Focus month using the Black Beauty, I will probably change my mind again. And then I will do one using the Rockwell 6s and declare it to be superior to either...

Alas, I fear I am that fickle lover infamous in song and story, a mere shaving butterfly, flitting and sipping from bright blossom to bright blossom in the garden of razors (and blades and brushes and soaps...) but never remaining for long with any one. Except when forced to do so briefly by a Focus month.

Which is the reason this Shave School idea is so useful for me as it forces me to stay with one tool long enough to learn how to use it properly ... Oooh, look! Shiny! Gollum want New Preciousss! ... Uhm, what was I saying?

 

Very nice, Clint!

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Thanks, Charlie!

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Good morning amigo! Thanks for the words of kindness. Have a great weekend my friend.

 

Hi guys-well, I put aside the Slim for today's shave, figuring I would work on it today, putting another Astra blade in, and oiling/cleaning it. The Jayaruh 59 produced a nice amount of the TSD Lanolin w/Russian Leather soap. 2 passes. TSD splash w/Russian Leather finished off a solid shave.

 

I agree, get that soap in a larger container. Loading it of that 2.5" container doesn't give you much surface area. Our you could try this method:


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