March 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

That is some serious brush. I love it.

 

That's because you struggle with the proper application

 

Thanks Jim!

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Beautiful brush Doug!

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So tonight was the next shave... and the results were probably a step below last time.

Kit was the same, MR5 handle with V3A Head and Gillette Nacet blade, TSD Gunsmoke, but for the brush I went back to try the Simpson Case badger. It took me a bit to figure out how to get a good lather out of it, but I was able to. And while I still didn't really smell any "gunsmoke", I felt that the the scent helped mask (or improve) the scent of the new badger brush. So it is still shedding, but I think it will work well for my travels.

The alum burned more than last time, but in spots it was to expected. The jawline (especially under it) is still giving me problems. I haven't figured out the right way to stretch it get the razor good and in there.

But overall I'm satisfied.

 

How many shaves do you have on it? We are just talking a few, not lots? You can also comb it out gently after you rinse it and shake it out. It helps shake free the hairs that are in the knot, but not glued. A perfect knot won't lose any ever, but if it takes this one a half dozen shaves, no worries.

 

It is only my second shave with it so I'm not terribly worried. As long as I can lather it will work for traveling. And then be used for three weeks

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Silvertip, Day 5



The Simpson Commodore is another brush that has one foot stuck in two worlds. The Best Badger isn't quite a Silvertip grade, and it's a little too soft for a finest. Whatever you want to call it, it deserved a chance to compete, and since the Classic plated with the two bands, it is going up against the Silvertips.

Like most Simpsons, the handle has that classic look to it, a take on a goblet style. The hybrid/fan shape looks nice, and with its shorter loft, holds the bloom in a bit. It just looks well proportioned in general. The handle isn't especially comfortable to hold onto though, it needs to be a little bigger or a little smaller. The tips are one of the softer Bests I have had, but considering it is playing with the silvertips, it falls a little short. It has excellent scrub though; probably closer to a two band. It loads soap like a big dog, and while dense enough to call it a high end knot, it isn't so dense it hogs lather. This is an excellent brush, and one I would recommend to someone wanting a higher end brush, but wanting to stay under $100. It is definitely a brush that could serve everyday, multipurpose duty. The score wasn't quite up there high enough to keep it in the money though.

 

It will likely stop. Still a nuisance either way.

 

Next set up: Mastro Livi, Razorock Zi' Peppino Etsy silver tip

The razor is just back from Italy where it had the scales replaced. Customer service from the Masto was excellent.

I don't remember the name of the seller but I bought two silver tips in this handle style and I do enjoy the handle and the knots. Zi' Peppino smells great and the quality is solid. The edge just back from Italy was very smooth. This razor is a pleasure to shave with, I love the weight and feel. Four passes zero irritation and zero blood, just short of BBS.

Irritation A+ Closeness A- Smoothness A+ Sharpness A

 

I have the same brush. I have been considering getting rid of it, but I may give it another go after reading your description.

 

That razor turned out gorgeous!

 

Best knots can have so much different of a feel to them too. This is probably my softest one. My first Simpson was a Colonel, and wasn't anywhere near as soft.

 

March of the Soaps Focus

Pre de Provence Cream, Vulfix 2235 S
Schick G-1 and Schick Chick blade
Alum, Pre de Provence Shea AS Balm


Oo, la la! French shave cream. Light on the scent that's supposed to have a Sage aura. I'm not a fan of Savory soaps so it's just as well. When the Soap Pass-around box came through my den this was another I have to try it products. Being a cream I used a badger brush. No worries about trying to load from a triple milled hard soap with a 23mm X 56mm flopper. I think Jared's @PickledNorthern formula is (diameter times two) = best performance. Ten millimeters too lofty, yup. Not going to attempt digging the knot out until it starts shedding. For now being a fat handful of badger fur it serves well. I moistened the brush, shook it out well, and applied it to the snurdle of cream. Several dribbles of water later it produces a modest lather. On my face it covered well, under the SE plenty of glide for a WTG pass. Being a small sample I gathered the shaved up lather and went back to the bowl. Couple more dribbles of warm water and it cream frothed up. Much better and plenty for two more passes & clean up. PdP rinsed off easily revealing a smooth DFS reduction. Part Deux of the sample; Shea Butter AS Balm. Again little or no scent. I'm OK with that as I was expecting Sage. That's a spice I put in ground meat to make sausage flavor, not my preference for hygiene products. The shea butter cream and balm left me well hydrated. If I lived in a dry environment it could be beneficial. Good for winter time. This is Louisiana and today was mid 70's & 84% humidity. I'd to sample the triple milled hard soap, "63"? Rosemary and coffee...
Good Shaves Y'all

 

Nice looking scales. That is a beautiful razor.

 

Don't give me credit for it, that's just a common rule of thumb. But yeah, it is hard (IMO) to have a decent badger hair brush when it has so much loft. I don't think you can pack it dense enough. Maybe in a finest, but that is still a ways up there.

 

March Madness & Spring Cleaning!!

March 20

Razor - '47 Gillette Aristocrat
Blade - (2)
Soap - Tabac
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Post - Alum

First day of Spring today so Happy Ostara everyone! And, with perfect timing, it was suddenly 85 in the Lou today. SWMBO spent the entire day in the yard working on garden beds, I mowed the lawn for the first time this year and then cooked a ham for dinner. The ham has nothing to do with Spring - just happened to be the day.

After a busy and warm day that included packing up some Russian steel to lighten the load here I decided to stay with the Detente setup from last night. Just changed to Tabac with the Omega and gave it a two pass and touch up shave. Nice DFS finish and quiet alum to make it a great way to end the day. I will probably go back to a pain stick tomorrow and head toward the last ten days of the month on the aggressive path I started on. Hope the new season is off to a good start for everyone!

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Sure is a nice razor.

 

Thanks. This would be my first razor purchased from an invidual. Bought it in November 2014 from a member of another forum who lived in STL. He had that one and a Merkur 23c for sale when he messaged me. I bought the Aristocrat and have never been sorry. I then ran into him again online about a month later and bought the 23c - which I use every week for my head shave.

 

March 20 (Monday )
EverReady 1912 SE / Gem PTFE ( 9) + shim
Kent woodhandled boar brush
Proraso White soap
Alum and cold water

I forgot until I lathered up that the Proraso White soap (aloe and green tea) has menthol in it. It's quite mild but was a pleasant unexpected addition to the shave.

I used a different 1912 from my collection tonight. This one was fairly grungy to start, but a layer of gunk on the underside especially came off with soapy water and a toothbrush, revealing a razor with brassing and plate wear but otherwise in good mechanical order. Since everything seemed in good order, I took it out for a spin. With a shim.

I didn't notice that shimming the blade had any great effect on the razor's performance - it might have been a tiny bit smoother but if so it was slight. On the other hand, the 1912s didn't have as much room for improvement as the 1914 and the 1924s... I would be able to tell after the first stroke whether the blade in my 1914 or 1924 was shimmed; with a 1912, I would have to open the razor and check.

A quiet, drama-free shave brought me in short order to a DFS. No weepers - I managed to avoid tearing any scabs. Alum was quiet and I used no post shave products. I think the Proraso White dries my skin out more than the tallow or lanolin soaps I have used lately. Something to keep an eye on with it.