April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Discussion in 'Shave School' started by NCoxSTL, Mar 31, 2017.

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Are you using a theme for April? And - which adjustable if you're going there?

  1. Arko baby!!!!

    3 vote(s)
    8.6%
  2. Arko and an adjustable - even better!!

    3 vote(s)
    8.6%
  3. Fatboy

    5 vote(s)
    14.3%
  4. Slim

    5 vote(s)
    14.3%
  5. Black Beauty

    3 vote(s)
    8.6%
  6. Futur

    2 vote(s)
    5.7%
  7. Soviet Ideal

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. Soviet Consul

    1 vote(s)
    2.9%
  9. Schick Adjustable

    2 vote(s)
    5.7%
  10. No theme - just me, my razor and some COOKIES!

    27 vote(s)
    77.1%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. blondblue

    blondblue Well-Known Member

    Now batting for the Mets, number 12, third baseman, SLIIIIIIIM PIIIICKens
     
  2. Screwtape

    Screwtape A Shaving Butterfly

    April 18 (Tuesday )

    Gillette Canadian pre - War Fathandled Tech / Topaz Platinum ( 2 )
    Supply Provision synthetic brush
    Supply Provision Arenella Coast shave cream
    Alum and Supply Provision Arenella Coast postshave balm

    I ended up with an excellent shave today but it took awhile to get there. The final result was a near BBS. The scent of the cream was wonderful throughout, the postshave feel was soft and smooth, and the postshave balm continued all those aspects. However, it was a messy journey to achieve those results.

    The problem was that I don’t yet know how to use this new shave cream correctly. The cream is a very soft croap sold in a 2" diameter glass jar, so the brush cannot be loaded directly from the jar. The recommended ways to use it are to scoop a fingerful from the jar, then either work it into the skin and face lather or else rub it firmly onto the surface of a lather bowl and bowl lather.

    I tried both methods.

    When I rubbed the croap into my face, I ended up with odd little chunks stuck here and there and the brush had a hard time whipping them into a lather. The best I got was a thin runny film. I think maybe I should have massaged the cream into my skin longer until the lather started and then moved to the brush. But then Arko is the only thing I directly face lather; I bowl lather everything else.

    So for my second pass, I tried to bowl lather a fresh bit of croap. Unfortunately, smearing the paste onto the surface of the bowl firmly enough to keep it in place while the brush loads it requires a bowl with a slightly rough surface. I use a horn quaich finished with urethane. It's not just smooth, it's slick. When I rinsed out my lather at the end, there were still chunks of croap in the bowl. I may have to find a different bowl for this cream.

    On the other hand, even with thin runny lather, this tallow-based cream had protection, glide, cushion and slickness to spare. After diagonal passes, an ATG pass, and some buffing, there were no complaints from the alum. Clearly it has a wide usable performance envelope. I must have been right at the bottom of it today though.
     
  3. wchnu

    wchnu Duck Season!

    Awesome. I am a bit out of practice with the shavette but no blood. Lol

    I knew he was a rodeo guy. Did he play baseball also?
     
  4. RetLEO-07

    RetLEO-07 likes his penguin deep fried, with pink sparkles

    18 April 2017 Blade/Soap Focus Shave

    Pre: Plenty of hot water, plus some bloom water from the soap
    Razor: VDH safety razor
    Blade: Wilkinson Sword
    Brush: JR #161, NY Mets edition
    Soap: Cella
    Post: Hot/Cold rinse, alum block, cold towelx2
    After Shave: Cella

    Today's shave was the maiden voyage of JR #161. It definitely lived up to it's advanced billing! I'll post a review separately. The shave was an okay WWS. This razor/blade combo was my starter setup. I can see why I stepped up to the DE89BL. With the '52 SS Black Tip waiting, further blade auditioning for this razor is on an indefinite hold.
    That's all I've got this morning. Have a great one!
    Carry on!
     
  5. blondblue

    blondblue Well-Known Member

    anyway, back to shaving...,I must say that Lee at Wet Shaving Products gets the gold medal in the "Pack That Soap Tight" Olympics. Each time I swirl it, some soap slides over the edge-or I should say, more so with WSP than with other brands.
     
  6. markjnewcomb

    markjnewcomb Well-Known Member

    Day 23 of 30 days of Henckel straights

    Another good day with the 7/8 Henckel. I am now consistently getting shaves that are as good as what I can get on a DE.

    DIY Pre-Shave Oil
    MDC Face Lathered
    2 passes, WTG, XTG
    24MM silvertip set an extra 10mm deep
    Sampsons All Natural Aftershave Balm
    Square Toe 7/8 Henckel 17
     
  7. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    Beautiful Executive, Doug!
     
  8. clint64

    clint64 Blind Squirrel

    Great picture and line up. The Fine Lavender scent is their take on Cambridge and Oxford which is a blend of Lavender and Peppermint. I think the peppermint mutes the lavender scent some. Like you I still like the scent. Fine soaps really work well for me.
     
  9. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    You have done amazing work on this handle Jason, I love it just the way it is. With being such a big handle I think a 26MM knot would balance it perfectly! 30DC LE for the lettering seems perfect as well. Fabulous work!
     
  10. jtspartan

    jtspartan appropriately stimulated, via Netflix

    Andrew, this one is a 26mm opening for a 24mm knot. Are you saying you'd prefer a bigger knot?
    I ask because making a bigger opening would change the dimensions.
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2017
  11. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    Clint, glad your day is starting off on the right foot! Beautiful photo my friend!
     
  12. Norcalnewb

    Norcalnewb Magnanimous Moos

    Nice picture, Perry!
     
  13. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    I love the silver on black look too, Perry. Lovely photo!
     
  14. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    I just think that a 26MM knot might compliment the size of the handle better, however a really dense 24MM could probably achieve the same effect. I bet one could massage a 26mm synthetic into the opening, not so sure about a dense badger.
     
  15. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    Very cool Jim! Take the red pill!
     
  16. wristwatchb

    wristwatchb wristwatch "danger" b

    Oh, the classic battle between need versus want!

    1.jpg
     
  17. wristwatchb

    wristwatchb wristwatch "danger" b

    Sorry, Keith, this offer is for CONUS members only! :happy102::happy097::rofl:

    :signs081: I just realized the brushes will be made in Canada. :signs089:...and that most members here have guns. :scared003:
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2017
  18. John Ruschmeyer

    John Ruschmeyer Well-Known Member

    April 18, 2017

    Razor: NDC Post-War Tech
    Blade: GSB (2)
    Brush: Razorock Plissoft 22
    Cream: KMF fragrance-free
    Post: Alum, Listerine

    No shave yesterday because of time and today I'm off-focus so that I can finally test out a theory. For today's shave, I am using that most humblest of razors, the post-War Ball-Handle Tech. A while back, I received an English post-War Tech with an Aluminium baseplate as part of a PIF. My experiences with that razor have been very mixed and, so, I've been very curious to see what its US-made contemporary is like. I finally found one at a price I was willing to pay and it arrived yesterday, making this my first chance to shave with it.

    For those who are wondering, it's your basic NDC gold post-War Tech with a ball handle. It's in decent user shape with much of the gold wash missing from the top cap (and apparently no nickel plating underneath).

    Unlike my experiences with the English version, this was a pleasant, uneventful shave. I was a little concerned about pulling initially, but attribute that to the two-days beard growth. I did my usual two passes to a near-BBS. The Alum was quiet except for one spot on my neck though I don't see anything specific there.

    Now, here's where I could use some feedback from the experts...

    Looking at the US and English razors together, I think I can see why the English one doesn't agree with me. It appears that the English one has a slightly narrower base plate (SB-to-SB). This should make it more aggressive from blade exposure except that the blade also appears to be more sharply curved to mitigate that. (I'm guessing that that explains why using a blade in this razor seems to ruin it for use in any other razor.)

    Am I correct in assuming that the sharper curvature i probably going to give me a narrower (and shallower) range of angles, similar to an OT?

    Also...

    I'm curious as to where the gold Tech would have fit in the marketplace of the late 40's. When I look at my Milord of the same era, I assume it to be a premium product intended partly as an upscale gift item along side of the Aristocrat. The Tech, however, seems more of a common-man's razor so was the gold version just to give a sense of personal preference?

    Talk amongst yourselves...
     
  19. clint64

    clint64 Blind Squirrel

    Thank you Andrew. :happy088:
     
  20. mrchick

    mrchick Odd, Terrible Avatar

    I'll be your Conus buddy @Keithmax, if it's needed. You need one of these.
     

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