April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Top grade #1 boar brush. Putting the knot in a similar shaped handle Crafted by Jim @Jayaruh ? Priceless!

My hesitation, too. I've seen a few hones in my travels. Only invested in a Barbers hone so far. Not suitable for setting a bevel - it's a ceramic type, but not a great finisher either. With my straights in disrepair for lack of proper sharpening it's time to ship em out, or go shopping and get my stones wet.

 

They both look terribly abrasive and you should just PIF to someone

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Adjustable April Focus

Palmolive Classic Stick, JR#130 Cypress & Synthetic
1959 Gillette #195 Fat Boy, Dorco ST-301 Platinum SS
Alum block, rinsed off, and Proraso Refresh Lotion


The Soap Pass around samples haven't been making my rotation lately. I sniffed a few and selected the light green sweet smelling sample without knowing what it was. Not knowing it was from a stick I placed 1/2 the sample in the Osaka suribachi and set about whipping up a fine glossy. Good glide, nice scent, and I used very little of the chunk stuck to the textured bowl. All the Dorco chatter had me curious. This is one of those "Buy blades as a Newbie/ Don't like em/ Set them aside/ Revisit later" stories. Been too long to recall my thought from Newbdom. Today's efforts started at #9 for WTG, same for ATG, down shifted to #6 for XTG, G-slides, and lots of extra lather clean up passes. Between the great performance of the Stick soap sample & my improved Technique I could make these Dorco's work for daily use. Scored one little leaker on my chin that left a bright red spot in the light green lather but sealed up on alum swipe. No excessive heat there either. I won't say there are my favorite blades, but I can purchase locally so I got that going for me.
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

APShaveCo (find them on Etsy.com) knots aren't for everyone. I started my wet shave journey with brand new scritchy Omega & VDH boar brushes. Tried a few (to me too floppy) badgers, eventually learning about fine tuning those by setting them deeper for more backbone. Then, like Neal, picked up a synthetic. Huh?!? These things are top notch! There have been 3 or 4 generation of bristle type. I'm gonna say the Tuxedo is 5th Gen. Imagine a brush that has enough backbone to load a hard soap, but isn't so springy it flings lather around. Soft tips? With absolutely no breaking in time or animal stink the best part is you only feel the lather. The bristles are there... but you don't "feel" them.
Well worth the investment and wait time going through Customs from Canadia to the USA.
(This Product Endorsement is my own opinion. I purchased my knot.)

 

Great looking razor Charlie.


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I may refurb a bush so thank you for the in depth info!

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/371583111830?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

You can buy from this seller in grits from 1k to 30k. I have not set a bevel with it, but having used it from 8k up, I see no reason it wouldn't work just fine. Cut it into 3x5-6" strips, put it on top of a piece of paper on a flat base and you're a honemeister in training.

A cheap way to keep you going while you hunt down some rocks.

 

Well if you don't mind I might do exactly the same.


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Thank you, Clint! I appreciate the kind words.

 

It's worth the price of entry just for customizing something yourself! Gives the brush a little history and personality, in my opinion.

 

Like someone said recently on this thread, "mediocre minds think alike"! I say go for it. (Although if I like the spiffy blue omega handle enough, I may fall back to the Tuxedo recommendation from @PickledNorthern or go in on the power buy on the other synth.) So many mediocre minds to align with today I'm like a deer in headlights right now. Guess I'll wait for the brush to arrive and see what general direction the other lemmings are charging once it gets here. This one may be an audible called in by my buddy Peyton...

 

Humm, been a while since I broke in a boar knot.
Cashmere...Omega #10066. Now I'm conflicted!
At least I'm not mentally divergent.
Anyone seen my bunny slippers?

Hunnng! Get outta my chair!

 

By the way, I'm only 5'11", so I make Peyton look a little tall and skinny in this pic.

 

Okay, I got a reply to my email from Andrew Palombo at APShaveCo. Here it is:

ALPalombo from APShaveCo sent you a conversation on April 22, 2017.

24mm Tuxedo or Cashmere knots

That's awesome John! I'd definitely love to be a part of it.

My bulk pricing is as follows:
15 knots - 20%off
20 knots - 25%off
25 knots - 30%off
50 knots - $500(USD)shipped

These prices can be mixed and matched with any of my knots. However, if you reach the 50 mark and there are a lot of 30mm tuxedo requests I'd have to adjust the price according as the $500 quote is for any of my 22/24mm knots.

Hope thats all clear, but let me know if you have any additional questions sir!

All the best,
Andrew

***********************

So, the discount starts at 15 knots minimum and is 20% (roughly $4.40 per knot) and it applies to any mix of knots. If some people want Tuxedo and some Cashmere, that's fine as long as we hit the minimum. And if we don't hit the minimum, then standard pricing applies, and the knots are still the same price each.

 

Tell you what: Count me in. I probably don't want it set into that handle, but I'll buy a Cashmere anyway. Gets me a little break and gets you guys closer to the mark. I have a few handles it could go into.

 

Any more feedback between the tuxedo & cashmere? If the Omega handle is a keeper, I may go that way. If it's a cheapie, then boar it is. Omaha!

 

Razor: Gillette Executive Gold Adjustable Fat Boy (F 1) 1960
Blade: Personna 74 Tungsten Plus (22)
Brush: Rubberset #4 w/Cashmere
Soap: Jeeves Soap Turkish Bath
Aftershave: Fine Platinum

 

Beautiful photo and nice set up, Doug. I see some buds on those trees. Have a great weekend!

 

Thank you Charlie/ You have a great weekend also.

 

That's what I did with my B-400 handle and it worked great.