March 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Butterscotch in the Duke and Chubby are available now on the website.

 

Enablers or us. A Duke 3 Synthetic is very tempting. My dream Simpsons Synthetic would be a Captain 2 Synthetic.

 

So I didn't shave Thursday, which meant Friday morning was the electric. I didn't bother Friday night since I had nothing planned, and Saturday I am going to the symphony which requires effort. Don't want to look shabby. So tonight's shave...

The gear:
-Maggard MR5 handle with V3A head
-blade, I had a single Gillette Nacet sitting out (not sure where it came from) so I decided to go with that.
-Maggards synthetic 24mm brush
-Soap was TSD Gunsmoke, the second in the OK Corral line
-Post was my standard alum+Thayer WH+Conk's Desert Breeze Lotion

So... Don't you hate it when you're not sure what you did to make it work? Tonight was probably my best shave so far.

Three passes, WTG then XTG then ATG. Two nicks on my jawline discovered after my second pass. Three after my third. None required any attention.

So between passes I rewet my face with hot water and run my hands around to see how it feels. I definitely felt like I was getting a closer shave, especially after the third pass. My jawline didn't require as much attention afterwards, just a couple of touchups. And when the alum was applied only a few spots burned but faded fast. It was definitely a good shave, DFS worthy.

I did switch soaps, but it is still TSD which I have been using. I guess it did smell like Gunsmoke, but the scent isn't strong at all. Or my sense of smell truly is shot. It lathered well, but since I was lathering in a mug I had to reload the brush for the third pass. Not a huge deal.

The only significant variable was the blade change. I didn't think I would like the Nacet, as it felt kinda rough on the upper lip. But it seemed to do the job. Maybe better than the Astra SP (which I havent used in this razor).

So I guess we will see what happens on Monday.



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Around 10 AM, I think.

 

Excellent picture and line up.

 

How cool would that be?

 

That could be an Amigo purchase.

 

Three ways it can go;

• Make it happen.
• Watch it happen.
• Wonder what happened.

Congrats on having a Zen Shave Experience?

 

Friday and Saturday's Brushoff scores:



To me, the Edwin Jagger is a "so-so" brush. Nothing the matter with it, nothing great about it. This brush is a medium, but their sizing must be a hat tip to vintage brushes, because the knot is only 21 mm. In today's era of Hulks, Monsters and Kongs, that means a small. I don't say that as a judgement against small brushes, rather that the sizing is somewhat misleading if you don't know what you are buying. The handle has a classic goblet shape, and the ivory is a little darker than a Simpson's. It has a decent, classy look to it. It is a little stubby in the hand for it's shape, and you find yourself gripping it by the pedestal, which is almost awkward. It loads nicely, and the tips are plenty soft, especially considering that this isn't their highest grade of knot. It makes me wonder if their Silvertip line is just much denser, because this Super is lacking in that department. Splay is a bit easier than I would prefer, but all in all it does a fine job getting the lather on your face. It is definitely a bowl latherer in my playbook, though. With the lack of density, you definitely don't get lather hogging; it gives it all ip without a struggle. While it is a perfectly okay brush, I could not recommend it as a purchase, considering for $10 more you could get a Nathan Clark Envy Silvertip, or for $20 more a 3 band Thater in 22mm. So the average brush puts up an average score last night:







The Razorock 400 is definitely one of those brushes that surprises you by how well it performs, considering it is only a $50 brush. The 400 style handle is well made, hefty, and nicely polished. It is one of my favorite brushes to hold onto, and is comfortable with face or bowl. As with other recent offerings, the "butterscotch" is more of a blaze orange. The Silvertip knot made by Zenith, looks great, and has a mammoth bloom to it. It is moderately to quite dense, has soft tips, and meets expectations for backbone in a silvertip. It loads quickly, and easily stuffs itself full of lather. It doesn't hog it too badly either, which is always welcome in a denser feeling badger. All in all, it is a really fun brush to use, and one that sort of sways my opinion about lower end silvertips. This is the first silvertip I have ever owned in that price range that I would say is a really good brush. I highly recommend the Zenith offerings if someone is looking for an affordable 3 band. Its score tonight comes in like this:





Have a great rest of the weekend, everybody.

 

March 18- Weekend Shave

Gillette SA w Sharp Star (3)
Stirling Bay Rum sample
TGN Synthetic/Mahogany Handle
Thayers Unscented
Stirling Unscented w Menthol

Day 13 of the '69 SA 109 focus, day 2 with this Sharp Star. Another nice shave today at 7,5,3- I am getting very predictable, consistent shaves with the Black Beauty. Did miss a spot on my jawline, so I'd call it a close, comfortable shave with no weepers or irritation.
A lot of nice lather with the Stirling sample pressed into a bowl and whipped up by this dependable synthetic. This knot has gone from being a throw in on a TGN badger and boar order to having me think I'll order a few more synthetic knots. Would like to try the tuxedo and cashmere from APShave based on the reviews from folks on this site.I think NB '18 might be in the cards...
Finished with a little menthol as I've been on a bit of a menthol kick the last few days. Unbelievable face feel with this product.
Have a great weekend all!

 

March Madness & Spring Cleaning!!

March 18

Razor - Delta Echo Steampunk Gillette New LC
Blade - (3)
Soap - Stirling Sandalwood
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Alum

Time for a bit milder touch for a day or two so it's back to the New LC, Delta Echo edition. Of my three OC razors this one delivers the mildest shave. And with the Perma-Sharp it delivers one fine shave as well. The Stirling sandalwood scent still amazes me and the lather was great. Three full passes, mostly because I just wanted the extra time with the razor, and I was baby smooth and much more relaxed than the rest of my day. Great way to end the day.

I'll likely stay with the razor tomorrow and switch to a different blade. Not sure which one yet because, hey, I haven't decided. We aren't married. I have to explain nothing.

Hope your weekend is going great!

 

March Madness
Barbasol and Barber Blade Edition
Day Eighteen



Derby, y'all! Two passes. About to settle in and catch up with you guys. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.


Have a super Sunday!

 

Thanks.

Thanks?

 

The shave where everything aligns with the universe. You become one with your brush, soap, razor, and stubble. When you've finished you realize there were no errors, only beard reduction. Your shave becomes a meditative experience. You didn't think shaving. You became shaved. Ommmm.

 

Nice work. Congrats on a good day!

It's easy, you can do it. You just did. Don't ponder it. Just do it, focusing on the process. Your results will naturally begin to just drift toward near BBS and irritation free as you get more practice. It gets really good from here.

 

Also Exhibit 337 in "Blades Don't Matter as Much as We Like to Think!"

Your ability to control angle and pressure with that hardware setup won the day, not the blade.

 

Well, like any good experiment will just have to see if things can be repeated and then what happens when you change a variable.

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One thing that can happen is that the variable itself may have little effect, but a different outcome can now not be pinpointed precisely. What I am really saying about blades is that we overemphasize the differences, and in reality, those differences are not very significant. Especially when newly converted and presented with 128 blades brands at a click. The 128th best blade is probably 95% as sharp and smooth as the best blade.

What I mean when I wrote that it's about to get really good is simple. You know are getting the baseline technique to a point where blades matter less, but actual blade selection can mean more than when new.

It takes a fundamental level of skill to be able to maximize the differences in equipment. It's like golf, in that, equipment only matters if you know how to play.

Welcome to the fun part! You're not really "learning" any more, but rather, developing finer and finer skills, that's why they're sometimes called fundamentals.

 

March 18 (Saturday) ) - And now for something completely different

My face is healing up from the mangling it got over the last few days from the EverReady 1914 and the 1924s. Commonly abbreviated as ER1914 and ER1924, and now I think I know the real reason... I did, btw, read a thread on B+B from a user who uses (and regularly strops) the really old carbon blades. He claims the shave from all the 19xx Gem models is much better with them because the carbon blades were thicker and the modern ones are a tiny bit too thin. Other users do use the modern blades but shim them with an extra blade backspine (or one side of one at least). I might actually look into that before I ditch my 1914 and 1924s entirely...

Anyway, for tonight, I abandoned my SE focus and my new soap tests and I JUST SHAVED!!!

I grabbed a random soap (Arko) and rubbed my wet face since it was a stick, then grabbed a handy brush (Alluminati Envy White) and face lathered the Arko into a good lather, then grabbed a random DE out of my testtube rack (Schick Krona loaded with GSB (5)) -- And I Just Shaved.

Total time from start to cleanup with near BBS with no nicks, weepers, irritation or complaints from the alum and no need for postshave products -- about 5 minutes.

Almost enough to make me wonder why I am bothering with trying out these vintage SE razors or experimenting with new soaps... Except the truth is, before I joined the Crew in October 2016 and started doing month-long tests of different aspects of technique and different kinds of equipment, the exact same shave with the exact same tools would have taken 15 minutes, gotten me maybe to a CCS if I was lucky, and required a styptic pencil...

Occasionally, it's good to step back and see just what you have accomplished with your effort in any endeavour - even one as simple as shaving.

So if I haven't said this before, thank you, everyone, for your help, tips, support, jokes and shenanigans over the last 6 months. I can see that the Crew really and truly has made a difference to my personal grooming. And it has also brightened up more than a few days that were otherwise rather grey and depressing.

 

I have some catch up posts. Two shaves with the new set up, Koraat 7/8 'Splash", Simpson Tulip 2 with Crown and Crane Lavender & Cedar.

I enjoy the C&C veggie soap but the tallow C&C is just plane awesome. This is why tallow has such a good reputation. I got wet, slick, creamy lather and great aftershave feel both shaves.

The first shave was excellent, the edge smooth and sharp and no issues. An epic shave.

Irritation A+ Closeness A+ Smoothness A+ Sharpness A

The second shave and the razor started to show it is time for a refresh, it has allot shaves on it for me beard. Still a nice shave but it is time for a refresh.

Irritation A- Closeness B+ Smoothness A- Sharpness A-