March 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

I'm sure you'll get that trip to Hawaii if you take mattress into your own hands.

 

March 6, 2017
Mongoose B2 with Triad Ti
Feather Pro Super (2)
Simpsons Chubby 2 Synthetic
Route 66 Lumberjack
Fine Fresh Vetiver

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Sorry for the later post but I had a very rushed morning trying to make it to Physical Therapy on time. Mornings like this make me really appreciate the size and efficiency of the Mongoose. A superb 2 pass shave completed in quickly with no drama. I finished off the shave with a splash of Fine Fresh Vetiver. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

looking forward to your review and comparison of the Astra vs. the Voskhod. Is the Astra an SS or an SP? If you asked me today, I think I like the Astra SP better than the Voskhod, but tomorrow is another day. they are both very good blades.

 

Great set up for your Monday shave, Clint! I'm a big fan of the Goose with the Triad Ti handle! How's the PT going?

 

Have used both these blades a lot in other razors, vintage and modern. My focus for the past couple of months has been to run the Voskhods, Astras and Polsilvers through some vintage razors that I was trying for the first time. This month starts with the '69 SA. I just received some SharpStars as well, so will throw them in the rotation for this razor too.

 

I did go a little nuts. Trying to use up a sample

 

Thank you Charlie. I love the Goose in general and even more so on a rushed Monday morning. The PT is going pretty good thanks for asking. I am down to 1 day a week with a lot of work in between. It is going to be a long haul I am afraid.

 

Clint, my Bride suffers from lower back pain and an arthritic knee. She does PT exercises and Yoga at home twice a day. It has been a long road for her, but it has helped her tremendously. She saw a Physical Therapist for quite awhile, and she has recently found some helpful Yoga videos on YouTube. Stick with it, and I'm sure all the hard work will be worth it!

 

Thank you for the support. I will stick with it.

 

Great picture, Clint! I hope the PT is going well.

 

Thank you Jim. PT is going just slowly.

 

Clint,
glad to hear PT is going forward. Remember for PT, it is not a race, it is about reaching a destination. you will get there in due time.
All my best in reaching your destination.

 

Thank you, Frank.

 

It is rainy, drizzly, foggy, muddy and crappy here. The bottom is supposed to fall out of the thermometer tomorrow so it can snow and freeze up again.

I love the pictures you take in your yard. Helps me remember that outside isn't going to be an armpit for much longer.

 

Thank you Jared. We have been lucky with a very short winter with higher than avg temps. I hope that doesn't mean a super hot and humid August.

 

-JA Henckels 13/16 FH
-Simpson Duke 3 Manchurian
-Stirling Glacial Margaritas in the Arctic
-Stirling Grapefruit, BOMBED

Today was the first time I shaved with an actual straight instead of the shavettes I have been using. It was interesting, and I suppose quite successful, considering I am DFS'd and blood free.

I guess I have been doing the AC shavettes for enough shaves, that there weren't any real surprises in using the razor, but some big differences. The razor felt heftier, even though it is virtually the same size and weight of my Kai folder. The full hollow razor sings like nothing I have ever heard, except maybe a Futur. It is cumbersome to clean up with around the neck and jawline, the blade being 80mm long, opposed to 50 on a Feather or Kai. For me to go ATG on my neck, I need to go straight sideways, which is difficult with these razors. With stretching and a 3/4 ATG scything stroke I can clean it off, but the overall length of the blade doesn't help my cause.

The other big difference, which I have nothing to relate it to is the sharpness. I know that one shouldn't expect quite the same level of sharpness as out of a Feather, but somehow I didn't expect the difference to be so noticeable. The gentleman I bought the razor from is the "Go To" guy on Reddit, and has an excellent reputation, so I can only assume that it was pretty sharp. I know that after my shave, I stropped it on the leather for 20 passes, and did the hanging hair test. It was popping hairs really easily with a really audible ping. Kinda fun. I have another razor gifted to me by @Bama Samurai (thanks!) on its way to Brad Maggard right now. When that one comes back, I will have something to compare it to.

My initial thought is this: I think how much I use straights going forward depends on how long they hold their edge, and how good I end up being at refreshing them. I would say that the performance of this Henckels today was probably the minimum of what I want to shave with. Also perhaps my stropping technique will improve enough to make a difference. There is a lot to learn in the upkeep of it, (or at least to get good at it) so we'll see. I'm in no hurry to figure it out.

The end result was very close to what I would have gotten with a Kai or Irving Barber. I didn't push my luck on final cleanup, just from it having a little different feel.

 

You and me both!

 

Good lookin' straight, Jared! The Henckels tang stamp and the cracked ice scales are cool! Congrats on a nice shave with it!

 

The Big Brush Off, day 6:




The Duke 3 is a mid sized handle in a classic design, with only a couple of rings adorning it, just over the finger groove. It is comfortable to hold, and just the right size in diameter to get your hand wrapped around it in a good grip. This particular brush is in the Italian Marble pattern. To be honest, I am pretty lukewarm about it. I really like the traditional ivory handles, or else I like stock that POPS. This is neither. As nice as it is, it could end up on the auction block one day, because to me a brush that expensive really needs to wow. Subjective I know, but this one just doesn't for me.

The knot really feels fantastic on the face. The tips are right about on par with its competition, not uber soft, but not so much as a hint of a scratch. The scrub is excellent, it exemplifies backbone in its most traditional sense. It still manages to splay easily though, and the density is obvious. Like most brushes so fully packed, it likes to hang onto its soap. It loads enough that you can coax out all you need for a full three passes, but is still hoarding what's easily another pass in there. All in all a very fine knot, in a very fine brush.

The Day 6 score: