May 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

So I lied. I didn't shave tonight. Just wasn't feeling up to it. So tomorrow will be the electric, and since I'm off Monday who knows if tomorrow will be a good shave.

BUT...

Tonight after dinner with my dad I decided to swing by a local soap maker I discovered, Sammy Soap. I checked their hours and they were open til 8pm, so I decided to swing on by and check out there shave soap. When I walked in I wondered if I'd have trouble finding it. Nope. it was there in the corner, along with razors, brushes, shaving mugs... they had a bowl of Astra SP tucks and a bowl of Shark tucks, some dopp bags.... I was impressed. I took a picture and will attach later.

So I bought two soaps, the Brown Windsor and Madagascar. Scent wise... I find them week though the Brown Windsor did kind of waft up when I did a test lather. But I still find it very mild, but then I seem to find most scents mild. I'll write more on that later, as well as actually do a shave with it.

But they seem to have a cool backstory.

Happy Saturday.

 

Lead Lemming?
Inland Cliff Diving Team Leader?
Masochistic MAYhem Maven?

I also have a suggestion for the engraving on the award.

 

This is their shave corner. The products are Parker. I thought it was rather cool and more then I was expecting.

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5/6/17 SOTD
Razor: Sayuri Simple Razor
Rescue Razor: Vending machine DEvette
Brush: Troth with 28mm Envy White
Soap: Jeeves of Hudson Street Fougure
Post: Cold Water Rinse, Alum, Thayer's Rose Toner
Aftershave: PAA Creosote

As I was honing this blade, I noticed that the heel stuck out more from the handle than the toe. I pushed it back into the handle, and the whole blade came loose. I finished honing it, took a picture of the edge, and started putting it back in the handle. Looks like the blade was crimped into the handle, so I grabbed my crimpers, and promptly snapped both the handle and the blade. So let's see, not sharp, not attached, and now broken. Did I mention I cut my thumb while getting it out of the package?

What do we say when the shaving gods are trying to keep us from a stupid shave?




I answered with, "Hold my beer."



Cut the end of the handle off, leaving it a little little long so I had something to tape to. Yeah, I said tape. Muted the broken point on the hone, and taped that bad boy to the handle. What does it say about my plan that the least sketchy part of my shave is a razor that was sold in a vending machine 50 years ago, that I cut the safety features off?


Remembering my last shave with this tape, I grabbed a sponge to use to wipe the blade with. Made a small roll of tape to wedge between my finger and the blade. Mixed up my lather first, then taped this beast to my right index finger. Started my WTG pass.

And it was sharp and smooth on my right cheek. The honing worked! Started to pull a little on the right neck. Did the center of the neck. One thing I should mention is that there is no way to wipe the side of the blade closest to my finger, so I had to rinse the lather off. More pulling, with the bonus of the blade chattering because the wet tape is stretching. Pulled and much less cutting on my left cheek and jaw. Did the left side of my neck, and realized this experiment was almost over. Blade won't hold an edge. Started on my chin, and stopped. One small weeper on the right side of my neck, and no other blood. Called it done.

Next problem. How does a naked right handed man cut two feet of medical tape off his right hand, when a razor blade is taped to that hand?He asks his wife, that's how. And she says, "Are you kidding me, dude?" She then gently reminded me that this was a really stupid idea, and we cut the rest of the tape off.

Back to the shave. Relathered the Jeeves, which I picked because of how slick, cushiony, and long lasting the lather is, not to mention it's my favorite Fogure scent. Did a quick two pass with the not intimidating at all anymore DEvette. Low grade DFS, with moderate irritation on my left side, but the Alum wasn't bad. Splashed on the Creosote aftershave. Sent starts out as pure alcohol, and quickly dries down to the smell of an AZ desert after a rain. Scent fades quick, but skin feel is nice.

If I get some waterproof tape, a way to securely attach the blade, and a high quality blade, I think I can make this hair brained idea work.

 

Red Leader Six

 

You win. Doesn't matter what the category, you win.

 

Like a boss.

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Forum Corner Mayhem Dealer. And this time they were Pot[metal] Dealers.

 

Straight Razors, Chapter 1
First shave with a true straight razor.

Boker Straight honed and polished by @HolyRollah
Lisa's Natural Herbal Creations Tobacco and Bay Soap
Omega 10049 Boar Brush
@Drygulch Strop
Thayers Rose Witch Hazel
Stirling Sharp Dressed Man Menthol Aftershave

Headshave:
Gillette Aristocrat
Feather Blade

Two strokes into this, I knew I was going to be just fine. I know people say that straights and shavettes are not the same, but several months of shavettes prepared me just fine. Without all of the shavette practice I would have been much more nervous. I went in with the same technique I use with the Weck Sextoblade, and did three passes to a very fine, blood-free shave. I never really felt that I was in danger of going off the rails. By pass three, I was zipping along at a pretty good pace. I wasn't expecting great results on my first go with it, but I got just as good a result as with any of my shavette shaves. Cleaned it, dried it off, stropped on the @Drygulch Strop on the countertop as suggested, and then did my usual head shave (no, not with the straight). Topped it off with witch hazel and Stirling Sharp Dressed Man after shave and I am going to bed feeling dapper, pampered and emboldened.


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Might I humbly suggest that next time you use that universal tool beloved of all handymen and backyard mechanics, the one that was even used to fix Apollo 13 enough to get it back home -- Duct Tape?

 

Congratulations on a great first shave.

 

My very weak attempt at Mayhem:

First let me give my weak excuses: Due to my tough whiskers I struggle with light weight razors and blades that flex easily. So I went with a razor I know will not flex but is my razor most likely to draw blood, Feather DX pain stick.

It is Sunday so I took my time focusing hard on my technique and hopping to avoid blood and still get a close shave. I think there was only one or two shaves where I did not at minimum get a weeper from this razor. Things went smoothly and four passes later no blood and a very very close shave but the alum did give some feedback.

Irritation B Closeness A+ Smoothness B Sharpness A+

 

What's the brush? It has a striking handle.

 

It's an Elite Razor brush, onyx with copper handle.

 

You are THE MAN!!! Awezome is an understatement!!!!

 

Sounds Great!! Awesome actually!!!

 

Well Done Chris!

 

You Win.