May 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

It is fantastic, thank you Clint!

 

Ben, how are you getting along with stropping ? Have you had to do any other edge maintenance ?

 

Andrew, stopping is going good, Adam gave me lots of pointers when I bought the strop and I practiced with a butter knife before I put a blade on it. I have not needed to do anything above stropping so far. I'm trying not to fall down the hone hole. I'll probably start with the paste/balsa combo and go from there.

 

You're a good man for helping him out. Glad y'all made it unscathed.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

Adam you perfectly described how I felt about the popsicle stick shave. I was flat out scared and almost backed out but pushed through. I was so glad I did because it showed me that I could do it and that conquering a straight was possible. Sometimes we have to go outside our comfort zone to truly grow.

 

May 5, 2017- Tech Mini-Focus

Razor: Sterling Tech / Vintage Fat Handle
Blade: Dorco ST-301 (5)
Brush: Razorock Plissoft 22
Soap: Cella
Post: Alum, Listerine, WH

For the final part of the Tech mini-focus, I have moved on to its modern-day version: the 7 O'clock Sterling (a.k.a, Gillette Super Blue Blade) razor. This is essentially a continuation of the 60's Zamac tech with no discerning marks except for a Gillette logo embossed in the cap. It comes with a plastic handle but I prefer to pair it with a vintage fat handle.

My wife and daughter left early for an early appointment so I took advantage of the chance to break out the Cella. The Dorco blade is still hanging in for its fifth shave and, in fact, may pair slightly better with the Sterling than with a vintage Tech. Overall, another DFS.

I'll probably do one more shave on the Sterling before moving on to my next mini-focus, Gem SE's. I have a 1912, a Gem Junior, and a Featherweight so it will probably be two days of each. Along the way, I want to try a couple of different blades- the carbon steel Gem Blue Star and a Chinese-made "hair shaper" blade from the local beauty supply store.

 

May 5th - Cool day in Hawaii

Merkur 34C
Gillette Rubie(Day2)
The Phoenix brush
Stirling Iced Pineapple
alum/Thayers/Nivea

Another day, another chance to try another Stirling soap!!! Today it was Iced Pineapple. Having enjoyed the hint of pineapple in EM, I was very much looking forward to today's shave. I loaded the brush until to was so full, the bristles looked glued in place. It took a ton of water to build the lather but it was the most luxurious lather with extreme shine cushion and slickness. It also overfilled the bowl! The scent of pineapple was dead on natural and smelled like a perfectly ripened and freshly cut pineapple.

3.25 passes yielded the BBS. The Rubie is doing pretty well. Little dissatisfied with its cutting ability. It does the job nicely but I find the ATG to be draggier and I suspect it is because it is not cutting as much hair as other blades on the WTG and XTG passes. I found the amount of menthol in the Iced Pineapple to be a bit more than published and was the perfect amount. It was nicely cold and definitely low enough not to cause tears. Glacials do not cause me tearing either and I love THAT amount tremendously. This was a perfect menthol/pineapple balance. Truly will enjoy this soap and am glad I sprung for a full tub.

If you like pineapple and are looking for a great lathering soap, look no further that Stirling!!! Will be looking forward to my next shave with this soap.

 

Added a new category to the Shavy Awards thread, with new prizes. It's the "What's the Worst That Could Happen?" award. Check the thread for details.

 

Great set, Andrew. I do wish you would stop talking about how wonderful your brush is, though. I don't need anymore.

 

Thanks Jim, on the contrary I would say that this is the only brush that you do need!

 

Thank you for that. I am helping a friend move but I will check it out soonest.

 

Yup not bad at all.

Congrats on the store!!

 

Thanks, Makes the misses a little more understanding when my hobby funds itself LOL

 

I'm not car crazy, but I love the look 1960's era Jaguars. Here's a photo of a 1966 Jaguar E Type Roadster. Growing up, one of my Dad's buddies drove a gold '67.

 

Early shave on a cool rainy day. Have a good weekend.
Razor: Gillette Red Tip
Blade:Gillette Sliver Blue (6)
Brush: Shavemac ATG LE The Rowl Silvertip
Soap: TSD 2x Iced Commando Cocktail
Aftershave: TSD 2x Iced Commando Cocktail

 

For all the MAYhem participants...

 

Wonderful photo Doug. It has been a cold and rainy day here as well.

 

Hope you can find something to do tonight if you can't go outside and play.

 

Looks great, Clint! What kind of chemical solution did you use?