March 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

March 2 (Thursday) - still partly unfocussed

Schick E2 injector / Schick Chromium (4)
Chinese hardwood w/ Maggard 24mm plissoft knot
The Eternal Tub of TOBS Avocado Cream ( croap )
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Aftershave

It's been a couple months since I gave my rather aggressive Schick E2 injector a run, so I took it for a spin today instead of starting in with the Gem-style SEs. I did work on continuing to empty The Eternal Tub, however.

I recently started experimenting with holding my razors lightly at the very tip of the handle to ensure I was really using no pressure during the shave. It seems to work quite well for me so I did that today with the Schick. It seems especially important with the Schick Krona DE and with the Schick injectors because they are such light razors that I find the temptation to "help" them by pressing almost overwhelming. Today I got the best shave I have ever had from the E2 while just holding it with my fingertips. I not only did my usual diagonal passes but also managed an extra ATG pass everywhere except my lower neck.

The result is a near BBS with no nicks, weepers, or irritation, and not a peep out of the alum.

I think I am going to refocus my Focus. I will spend the first part of the month practicing truly truly light pressure with my familiar razors until I have it written in my muscle memory and only then will I go play with the new SE types - possibly not until April.

 

March Madness & Spring Cleaning!!

March 2

Razor - Feather SS &Fatip Piccolo
Blade - (?) (2)
Soap - Route 66 Sweeney Todd
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Post - Alum

Time to get the pain stick involved this month and since it was already loaded with a Dorco blade on a few shaves I figured I'd give it another go and see how the blade has held up while in the plastic cap on the razor. I grabbed the Fatip with Sharp Star as a backup.

Ok, quick question for the soap guys. I grabbed the Route 66 for this shave and it seemed like it went on a bit dry. Actually it went on about like it usually does, not overly wet but very slick and by the time I got to the left side of my face it was dry and sticky. I worked a bit more water into it and got it back to where I needed it but it does beg a question. Do you find that Route 66 prefers more water than, say, Stirling? I'm just wondering I haven't noticed this particular issue with it so far and think I may have just used the brush a bit too dry.

The retouch on the lather was the first issue with the shave, the Dorco blade was the second. This blade, in spite of its name and association with less than excellent DE cousins, usually does well for a few shaves. It's milder than the Feather or Kai blades but is adequate. However, it has reached the point beyond that stage. If I remember correctly I think this would be the 4th shave on the blade. Perhaps 5th. Whichever, it was pretty clear it was one too many. I completed a full pass with the blade and was unimpressed with the result. The feel wasn't bad, just not as effective as a pain stick pass should be. I switched to the Fatip/Sharp Star for the second pass and finished it off for a near-BBS and an overall nice shave. Alum was a bit warm, nothing to worry about. I'll take that for a result.

Friday is up next!

 

The poor man's Voskhod is how I describe it. Now if it would just beep like its namesake.

 

March Madness!
Day Two

Gretsch Electromatic
Super Slinky (nickel 11-50)
Teton 15w Chorus Amp
Livewires
Onespot
ABT-3 BlackTeeth
EHX Memory Man Analog Delay/Modulator


I got a little distracted and skipped shaving while trying to dial in that sweet surf rock sound. It worked. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a fabulous Friday!

 

We hadn't had a run on shenanigans in awhile so we were due. But I like where it's headed in a couple of weeks! Ides and all that.

 

The jawline was my biggest challenge as well. The good news is that after about two and a half years I think it's mastered. Just keep working the angle and direction needed to match the beard growth in that area.

 

In my world if the lather's pink it's definitely not a good sign. Well, for me anyway. For those who follow some of my shaves it's the ultimate goal.

 

Feels right. Keeping it charged up for springtime!

also @COMPNOR

Neal isn't kidding, it also took me a while to master neck and jaw. These are the areas where angle control tends to break down, and it just takes practice to hold the correct angles.

 

If you splash enough do you actually start moving backward in time? That would be cool!

 

1.) mrchick - #8, 92/100
2.) keithmax - #16 Kent BK12 87/100
3.) hodge - #5, 88/100 (#5 was an obvious pick for me.....see avatar)
4.) jtspartan - #4, 82/100
5.) clint64 - #5, 88/100
6.) ryx - #22, 90/100
7.) norcalnewb - #9, 82/100
8.) Fly2High - #3. Rudy Vey 28 mm Shavemac, 88/100
9.) NCoxSTL - #13 Maggard Synth 82
10.) Ob1page - # 11 Manhandled Woods Ubersoft II, 64
11.) Bama Samurai - #8 Jayaruh synthetic, 86/100
12.) Screwtape - #4 Nathan Clark Envy White, 80/100
13.) PLAla - #21, 81.7/100

We are starting to fill up a board now.


If you aren't in this, it ends tomorrow night, midnight. I even went out and bought stuff to add to this, so it isn't just crappy old den hand me downs. Another option I will put out to the winner if they have big dens, or just aren't PIFfy types, is to pick a prize and have it donated in your name to the next newbie giveaway.

Also, I am going to up it to three winners, and do the choosing like our raffles.

Tomorrow, I expect scores to start picking up a bit as the lineup jumps into a run of three top artisan brushes, followed by Simpson Manchurian.

 

Teflon coated blades can beat a platinum anytime for me. I've always been partial to them.

 

I'm beginning to develop a favorite between those two. No, not saying yet. But I'm leaning.

 

Great writeup. I never would have expected the Rapira to have gotten trounced like that.

 

You and Brian. It's a good bet. The handle Jayaruh made for me is going to give this one a pop. I love it, and it has special meaning because it came from Jim.

 

Truly one of a kind with a gen 3 knot! What's not to love?

 

I haven't used Route 66 nearly as much as some of the other guys here, but I haven't found it to need, or be able to handle the water that a Stirling or a Barrister and Mann takes. It seems to me to explode early, need a little bit more, and then it is in its wheelhouse, but will break if it gets pushed too far past that optimal point.

Some of you other guys have it way more dialed in than me, I am sure. I used up four or five samples last year, and am only on my first full tub this year.

 

I load R66 hard (@Keithmax style)with a slightly damp brush, like 20-25 sec, then drip water on the knot and let it run down into the soapy bristles. It only takes like a tablespoon of water.

 

Audio, or it didn't happen?

Drop in a tape, save a bit and share it!

 

You have a rabbit hole there that could make shaving look like a gopher hill.

 

More like a vortex. NB16 has given way to "let's accidentally build a guitar and bass recording station in my office for fun."