April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

I can say that twenty years and twenty extra pounds sure speak to you directly through your feet. I used to be able to wear crappy rubber boots twelve hours a day without a complaint. Not anymore.

 

It's beautiful.

 

So it is a limited edition collectors item now.

 

April 10 (Monday)

Schick Krona / Topaz Platinum ( 1 )
Alluminati Envy White brush
Omega shave cream
Alum and cold water

The Schick Krona was its usual mild controlled self while the new Topaz Platinum blade was sharp but rough as is par for the course with them. This makes them a pretty good combo for testing creams and soaps with, especially to see what the product's protective cushion and glide is like.

The Omega seems to be a decent cream. The normal dollop with a bit of water whipped up a good lather that did the job. The cream contains eucalyptus oil so that's what it smells like. The alum was completely quiet and I didn't use anything after other than a cold water rinse to see what the post shave feel of the Omega was like. The feel is smooth, not softening or slick like with products containing lanolin but not drying either. Eucalyptus is not my favourite scent (and I find I have 3 shaving creams that contain it, 2 of which I have now tried). Because of that I wouldn't likely buy Omega cream again, but based on the performance, I will certainly use what I have.

 

April 11

Up today is Hart Steel 7/8 finished on Shapton glass 16k but it has allot shaves on it. Completing the shave is Crowne Crane soap and a Thäter silver tip.

The edge was still smooth and sharp enough but I could feel that it is time for a touch up. To extend the edge I stropped it in between the 2 and 3rd pass. All and all a good shave but this one will get touched up the next time I pull the stones out.

Irritation A+ Closeness A Smoothness A Sharpness A-

 

Boy, you take off to the mountains with your wife for a couple of days and discover you are 50 pages behind on the thread! It's a busy group this month too!

My travel kit for the last few days consisted of:
Magic Shavette (for all face shaves)
Travel Tech (for head shaves only)
Sputnik blades
Maggards Plissoft brush
Tabac soap stick
RazoRock Puros AS

The kit did its job well, and provided a nice mini sub-focus. This is some of my favorite gear across the board so I knew what to expect from it. But it contributed greatly to my focus on shave enjoyment.

I learned that there is great food and coffee in the Black Mountain/Asheville area of North Carolina, and that owning a hammered dulcimer is on my bucket list. I was also pleasantly surprised to find some wet shaving gear in small town hardware stores. One had an entire section of Merkur razors and Col. Conk soaps and strops. Nothing I wanted to buy, but it was good to see it represented nonetheless.

Today's return-to-work shave consisted of my 1940's Super Speed (Sputnik blade), Maggards Plissoft brush, Arko and The Veg. It did the job well and I received zero scent complaints, which I took as a compliment and further proof of my Chosen status.


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Ugh. I hope all turned out well. We went through that for two days last week.

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That's my neck of the woods. I live about 15 minutes from the Augusta National. Monday and Wednesday were crazy. We left Thursday and got out of town for the rest of the weekend. Between the traffic and the weather we just couldn't stand it anymore. And with the kids visiting grandparents, it was a perfect opportunity to hit the road for a little R&R.

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Welcome home! I'm glad you had fun and made it back safely.

 

Arko Adjustable April!!!!!

April 10

Razor - 1962 (H1) Gillette Slim (9)
Blade - (3)
Soap - Arko
Brush - Jayaruh #46 w/ Maggard Synthetic knot
Post - Alum

Back to evening shaves with the final trial of the Classic Lord Super Stainless. The blade has been flawless through its first two shaves and I am expecting the same unless something really goes off the rails. I used the Arko stick on my face and the JR46 turned it into a ridiculously thick and slick lather. Two passes to a near-BBS with just a little touch up and this blade passes with absolutely flying colors. Just like using the Super Stainless from Lord.

I'm pretty impressed with both of the Lord Super Stainless brushes and equally impressed with both of my synthetic brushes. I hate to say much given my love of all things traditional and vintage but.....both the Maggard in the Jayaruh brush and the West Coast shaving synthetic make using Arko so simple I think even all of my ex's could do it. That's saying something!

Tomorrow I'll continue down the Lord line with the Lord Platinum. I am going to switch over to my '59 Fatboy for the razor. Gaps the same as the Slim, just a bit different head geometry. Should provide a fine test.

Thunderstorms this morning led to a very clear and nicely cool evening tonight. Must be Spring in the Lou!

 

There's a laugh out loud post. Thanks Adam

 

All went well thanks. I'm assuming it went ok for you too.

 

This morning I was listening to the radio while shaving. I was just putting the brush to my Route 66 Twisted Tweed when this song came on the radio. Needless to say, I got great lather this morning
If you are having trouble with that puck of MWF, cue this up and go to it.

 

We made it through just fine. There was some tornado damage in a couple of neighboring towns. Close enough to keep you on edge.

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DEVO!! I was still in college radio when they first showed up. Talk about a shocker. I remember the album showing up, we put it on wondering what in the world they were about and it took probably 30 seconds to go live with it on the air. Totally out there. Can't help but share their first "hit". Nice way to start your morning with Whip It as inspiration!

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Are we not traditional shavers, we are Devo

 

Not the years, it's the miles. And the crappy rubber boots. I'm not sure we never complained, but more that no one listened.

I know! Fifty seven seconds over three minutes? Who ever heard of such Non-Conformist anarchy...

 

Kraftwerk much?

 

Yes.

 

Why do you put your watch around a bear skin rug?