February 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

February 8 (Wednesday) - Fatboy Focus

Gillette Fatboy on 3
PAL Gold Thin Hollow Ground carbon (35)
Kent woodhandled boar brush
The Eternal Tub of TOBS Avocado Cream ( croap )
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Original Astringent

Everything worked well today. The blade was starting to get a bit rough again on its 5th shave since its last honing. I ran it through the Stanford 5 - Second Sharpener after my shave, which should prepare it to deliver another five good ones. Beyond that, nothing much to report.

 

Feb 8th is Best Shave Ever Day!!! BUT.... I think I cheated a little. I am doing a Rule month for February.

Yesterday, my order of TOBS Sandalwood came in. It smelled wonderful. Some got on the edge of the can and immediately I felt how slippery it was. I was so impressed I knew I had to try it at the next opportunity.

Still using my 34HD with the same Wilkinson Classic blade from Sunday and AOS Pre and Post shave and the $30 AOS Pure badger brush.

I know I should have stayed with AOS but TOBS was so nice I just had to try it.

Lather:
I kept the brush wet but not sopping. I did shake more out than last time. If I squeezed it, it would drip but otherwise it would not. I put an almond sized amount in a splashed lightly bowl and got to work. Lather always looked shinier than AOS and the scent was great. It was awesome and a bit stronger. I added water several times and it never went limp. I think TOBS can take lots more water than AOS. It still looked very thick and creamy but did soften in the 'peaks'. I think this easily will cause me to no longer grab AOS and only use TOBS. Of course, I have some Stirling Sandalwood samples on the way so this may change again. I now understand all the talk on TOBS. Also at $11 and change, it is also less than half the price of AOS. The lather went on like one coat covering paint. It was not a thick layer but covered very well. It does not seem to need a thick coat to work. Very happy.


Shave:
Felt very slick. I think the sound of cutting hair was further reduced. the blade glided along as if it was brand new. This is the 4th shave with this blade! I did get some weepers but they were probably more form by technique than. they closed up quickly. I kept the blade light on my skin. Still did a 3 pass: WTG, XTG and ATG. I made it a point to do a single pass over an area and try to keep my strokes long where possible. In areas where angles changed, I went to fewer and shorter strokes than before.

Best I can tell I am BBS. I feel nothing in all directions.

Alum:
Light tingle to nothing at all. Good indications of minimal irritation. Support to having a good shave.


Recount
In all, best shave ever. Very close and minimal irritation. Reducing the number of strokes and keeping light pressure helped but I think TOBS is what really made the biggest impact. It could be that TOBS is easier to hit the lather sweet spot than AOS, I do not know. It did produce a better shave. Further testing is needed.

 

Quick question. Does anyone else find that wet shaving is making their hair seem to grow slower? Today's shave was stubbly but it was almost low enough to not needing being done. Having to go to work, this wasn't an option but it could be a pass day on a weekend. It felt today like 3-4 hours after an electric shave. OK, for the rest of you, that is more like 7-8 hours later .

 

Great photo, Clint. I think I am in kind of the same camp as you as far as old Gillette TTO's. In my own little made up efficiency/comfort index, I don't think they score all that well.

It must be a shaving style, because I seem to be in a very small minority.

 

Great set up. I want to get a bottle of that AS when I use up my current bottle of sandalwood. Curious how long it holds up..??..

 

I'm sorry the Jr isnt working out for you Clint. But the photo is marvelous!

 

Crazy number of shaves on that old blade. Still tuned in.

 

Good job! it only gets better!

 

Topic #3 I recommend starting with a 3" wide strop
Topic #4 vodka and or shaving with a popsicle stick razor

 

You are most likely cutting those hairs off more cleanly and closer. An electric rips your hair off, which very likely makes it feel rougher.

Guess which pic is a whisker cut by an electric?

 

Congratulations! The shaves will just keep getting better.

 

SOTN February 7th


F1 Fatboy
Bic Chrome Platinum (7)
Blades Grim "Cinder"
Satin Tip The Purest
Crown King Scuttle
Homemade Tangerine AS

This is officially the most shaves I have ever gotten out of a blade. My previous best was 6 out of a GSB before I implemented my 4 shaves and out policy. It is still smooth and I am not noticing any tugging. I did notice that had to do a little extra clean up in a couple spots but that was no issue, so we will continue on with the Bic and see how many more we can get out of it.

Have a great day my friends!

 

Congrats on the shave! Sounds like great progress!

 

I put a Personna Platinum Chrome blade in the Mühle Rocca R96 razor this morning. Very smooth combination. Due to the relatively high weight of the razor, it makes the PPC blade perform better for me than in very mild razors.

Mühle Rocca R96 razor
Personna Platinum Chrome blade
TGC synthetic brush
Klar Kabinett soap
Pitralon Classic aftershave

 

Thanks, Jared. I am a little over two hours post shave, and the scent is still there. Definitely faded quite a bit, and a little powder scent coming though now, but it is still there.

 

Rick, what a cool shave bowl. You had so much fun with this shave that it's probably illegal in 19 states and 47 municipalities.

 

Don't fear TOBS Avocado. It's good as well.

 

Is that the leader of Green Man Group?

 

That razor really surprised me. I don't have an interest in collecting French razors, but I mainly got this so I could have one in my collection. I would put it up there with my Filly and Cattaraugus for smoothness. The former owner said it is a very hard steel that holds an edge for a long time too.