February 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

February Fattie Focus

Cella Crema Sapone, B-400 WD/HMB
'59 Gillette #195 & 7 O'clock Black Blade
Alum block and Avon Bravo aftershave



First lather with Whipped Dog High Mountain Badger since it got a cider vinegar rinse. I haven't used Cella in a bit and I'm thinking I may have left vinegar in these brushes during the cleaning process. I loaded heavily, went to the suribachi bowl, and the soap just laid there. Loaded more for just the beginning of a lather. Another grab for soap and to my face for a thin dissipating coat. The slick was there, but not the visual evidence. Took my WTG at 9, 6 for ATG, G-slides, & chin buffing. Either I'm becoming accustom to the harsh feeling of a Gillette Black blade, or it's mellowing. I'll go back to a Yellow when I change blades; smooth from the start and great longevity. Alum was warm under my neck. Today's efforts yielded SAS for the less than close comfortable nature. I expect better! The Bravo AS did bring the sweet keeping almond cookie soap scent alive.
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

well so much for 30 day rule,this month.i had purchased a g-1 fatboy a year or so ago as a display for the man cave at work,really clean shape but a blade would sit funny due to an alignment problem.any how thanks to a member on this forum who gave me some great adjustment techniques i was able to fix it.roadtested last night on setting 3 and awesome.still have to get used to the different settings but looking forward to it.will try the 30 day focus/rule in march?......

 

That's up to you. The bottom line is improving your results. While the conversation moves to a new thread each month your technique becomes your own. It's part of the process to adopt either a Rule or a Focus and you can change as suits your needs, wishes, or desires. I don't think Neal or any of the other Fat Boy users would be upset if you chose to start now.

 

'specially if he goes on about Russian blades and The Veg.

Agree fully. Anyone is invited to join anytime. Pass the cookies.

 

@mrchick and his merry band of straight razors! Road Show '17 - coming to an arena near you!!!!!

 

Apparently this bunch likes variety and the surprise of what they'll decide every day! Honestly, when I'm not on a Focus I can spend 15 minutes staring at my razors deciding which one to use. Then, another 15 minutes staring at blades. Either too many choices or, according to my wife, I'm just being my Libra self.

 

There is no hard and fast rule that you have to wait until the first of the month to start. Nor is there any rule that says you can't change the Focus at any point in the month either. We just change the thread then out of convenience and it's easier to keep track of the days that way for some of us old guys with questionable memories. The main thing, as Rick said, is to decide whether you're doing a Rule or Focus and then make it happen! It's all about learning the gear and the technique to achieve the best shave possible!

 

Hey, anybody who sings the praises of the "holy relics" gets extra cookies. That's a given.

 

Nice photo, Rick!

The B&W photos have been great this week!

 

Glad to be of service

 

February 17 (Friday ) - equipment focus - Krona #3

Schick Krona / Topaz Platinum (3)
Kent woodhandled boar brush
The Eternal Tub of TOBS Avocado Cream ( croap )
Alum and Thayers Astringent Witch Hazel Aftershave
Styptic pencil

My lather sucked today. I skimped on the product the first time and it ended up too little and too thin. I had to add more product and rebuild to get to a result that was merely "not so bad". In fact, it provided adequate protection but the razor did not glide everywhere as smoothly as it should.

(As Sir Percival Blakeney, Baronet said in The Scarlet Pimpernel when discussing fashionable clothing with the Prince Regent: "There is nothing that is quite so bad as something that is "not so bad".")

I tested the qualities of the Krona today by trying it with a "not so bad" blade. The Topaz Platinum is close to a "one and done" blade for me as it very rapidly becomes rough and tuggy after being not very smooth from the start. The one I used today already had two shaves on it.

The shave actually seemed pretty good. It felt throughout as if the blade was trying to be rough but the razor wasn't letting it. The overall result was a DFS for closeness. The alum was a touch warm in a few spots but overall quite quiet. However, when I was all finished with everything and did a final check in the mirror, I discovered a splot of blood on my chin where the blade nicked a pimple bump. It had wept even after the alum, rinse, and aftershave; I had to dig out the styptic pencil to get it to shut up.

Despite the Topaz Platinum's victorious end run on my chin, I think I have now determined which of my razors will be used to use up my remaining 87 blades. I have used the Topaz in a preWar Tech, my Rockwell 6s and a Gillette Black Beauty, and it is smoothest by far in the Krona.

Tomorrow I move on to the Fatip Grande.

The other new thing I tried today was a different Thayers product specifically marketed as an aftershave rather than a tonic. It felt a bit more invigorating and a shade drier than the unscented Astringent Tonic I usually use (and a lot more than the unscented Non-Alcoholic Tonic), so I compared the ingredients. For those interested, the chief difference is that both tonics contain glycerin and the aftershave doesn't. Beyond that, the difference is in the alcohol amount -- none in the straight Tonic, 10% in the Astringent Tonic and 20% in the Aftershave. I like all three.

 

Hope the band comes my way

 

love the avatar.!

 

Beautiful photo Mark. The brush looks great.

 

Razor: Timeless .95 OC w/ Hempel Titanium Handle
Blade: Personna 74 Tungsten Steel (17)
Brush: El Druida Cocololo Manchurian
Soap: Reef Point Soap Classic Barbershop
Aftershave: Fine Platinum
Fendrihan Shave towel

Another excellent 3 pass shave this evening with is combination of products.

 

What is a shave towel? I did not know there was a specific towel for shaving.

 

I'm going to need a shave soon, haven't shaved in a few days. Because of his arrival!

Sent from my Galaxy S6 using Tapatalk

 

Shave towels are slightly larger than a hand towel and usually are very absorbent. You can find them in packs of like three or four. People will warm them up and use them on their face. So towels like from West Coast Shaving are monogrammed.

I just use old hand towels to wipe my hands off and clean up when I'm done. I put a 3M hook on the wall to hang it.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

Good luck with that! Drive safe, and if you get tired pull over and take a nap. The life you save maybe your own.

 

That is a really cool photograph Jim.