So, for @COMPNOR AND @Paul Turner , I took some pictures of building lather today. I don't really have a way to do a video, but maybe these will help. I don't know if Tapa is gonna let me upload all the photos in one post, so bear with me if I have to do it in two.

With a badger or synthetic, I don't specifically soak the brush, but I do submerge it in water to make sure it gets saturated. Then I shake the brush out firmly so that it is damp but not dripping. I just want the inside of the knot to be wetted.

So I go to the puck and keep flicking the brush under the trickling tap. Here is what the puck and the brush look like after a few runs under the water:





When it gets that pasty, smeary look is when I add more water.

A few more trips under the water and on the puck. Notice how the soap is working deeper into the knot.





A few more trips (I don't really count, it all depends on the brush). Look how the soap is almost completely worked down to the handle.





Now it is time to go to the face and finish. In this case I will use a bowl so you can see.



See how the soap is pasty looking? I keep adding the water trickles and working it until it looks like this:



By this point the brush is so stuffed full of lather that it is holding more than enough for two passes, without touching what's in the bowl.

I should have used a Maggard synth for this, I didn't really think about it. I could tomorrow.

And Paul: you might have an easier time if you would use your Jayaruh brush until you hit your stride. It has an exceptionally easy knot to lather with.

Anyway, hope maybe seeing what the puck and the knot looked like helped. That's kind of something that never really shows up in a video.

This isn't the fastest way to do it, but it builds good lather every time.

Focus Shave #45:



-Irving Barber Co. w/Feather Pro
-Edwin Jagger Super
-Stirling Ozark Mountain
-Stirling Gin and Tonic

Fantastic shave with Irving tonight. I pretty much have a routine figured out, and now I'm just counting shaves til I completely nail one. Tonight was SO close.

Great lather from the Stirling Ozark mountain, whipped up by a new to me brush I swung a trade for with @Screwtape . This soap is a scent powerhouse, and it fills your bathroom. Just an awesome "foresty" scent. Gin and Tonic is the only aftershave I want to use when I shave with a woodsy soap, and is always a good finish.

Have a good evening everyone.

Thanks for this Jared. I'll be using Route 66 "Rum Runner" and my 10098 in the morning. Can't wait.

Just remember that you either need to load a TON of soap to compensate for how big that brush is, or you might need to squeeze it out of there to finish your shave. For that knot I easily use a couple of grams of soap.

Razor: Timeless .95 OC w/ Aluminum Handle
Blade: Personna 74 Tungsten Steel (11)
Brush: El Druida Mopane 2 Band
Soap: Reef Point Soaps Classic Barbershop
Aftershave: Old Spice Fresh Lime
Last shave with this brush this week. It is an amazing brush.

Great pic Doug. Have you played for a long time, or is it a more recent thing?

Another beautiful photo Doug. How is the scent of the soap?


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If you think about it, there are 7 months of the year that have 31 days. We can apply 2 of those to February to even it out. That leaves us 5 days where we can lose all focus (tradition dictates that Cinco de Julio be one of those days) of course on leap year we get an extra non focus day.

Thanks for the tip.

Lovely post Jared!

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Thanks very much. I have been playing for a very long time.

Thank you Clint. I really like the scent of this soap. A real old time barbershop aroma.

First go with Proraso? Great soap.

Sunday, February 12, 2017


Elite Razor Kingman Turquoise w TGN Silvertip Grade A
Cold River Sopworks Lavish
Wolfman WR1-SB w TRIAD Helix Hex Titanium
Feather HS
Cold River Soapworks Lavish Aftershave
Burberry For Men


​

Very helpful!! Question-how long should I wet the brush the first time? I do get it wet, but ,maybe not long enough.

Are you in the "Veg Haters Club" by any chance?

With your badger or synthetic, I would just dunk them in a mug until the bubbles stop. With your boar you should actually soak the knot for a few minutes at the least. The boar bristles actually absorb water and soften. The others just trap and hold the water.

That has a Maggard synthetic, so just give it a dunk. That brush will actually trap a fair amount of water, so shake it out well, then you could give it a squeeze to make sure it isn't dripping.

Great post, Jared! Very informative.

Oh, you DID see the Jayaruh question! I think we had some simultaneous actions working there(your answer, my delete).