May 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you both.


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May 16 (Tuesday ) - Gillette adjustable mini Focus

Gillette Slim on 3 / Topaz Platinum ( 1 )
Omega B+B Essential Boar
Red Green Duct Tape Special frankensoap
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Astringent Aftershave

Yesterday I received a Slim in the mail after swapping for a surplus Fatboy. It's in excellent condition and is my birth year to boot. Naturally I had to take it for a spin today. Since my PAL carbon blade burned out on shave 10 yesterday, I think I will start a new razor focus for the next while that compares the Slim, Fatboy and Black Beauty to see which I prefer and why.

Today was a good start with the Slim delivering a fine near BBS using my normal shaving pattern. My first impression is that the Slim is a well-balanced light and nimble razor that is maybe a little handier around the nose than the Fatboy.

 

P.S. I gave it 5 stars (the Fields&Streams soap).

 

Oxidation. The soap, or some component is "rusting". I've seen soap makers noting that certain ones will darken with exposure to air. The Pass Around sample was older, your sample puck is new. Shouldn't have a great effect on the performance.

 

SOTD May 16th


Ever-Ready Shovelhead
Dorco Prime Platinum DE (2)
Stirling Executive Man
Satin Tip The Purest

Anther MAYhem shave is in the books using a DE blade in the shovelhead. The shave was smooth and efficient even though I managed to give myself a weeper under my lower lip. The other issue with using a DE blade in the shovelhead is that you ruin the second side of the blade when you close the cap because the clasp rubs against the edge. The shaves are close but not as close with a Gem blade and there is a lot of chatter with the blade as well. Overall a neat experiment that was a success! Have a great day everyone!

And a baby pic to over shadow my sotd pic!

 

It's a Prototype Razor. TSD member Tom @twhite documented his testing and fabrication of two earlier Versions. When he got to the third iteration, V-3, he made a number of them. They were mailed to different people in a pass around testing event. When the testing was done, and folks had reported their impressions each test razor returned to who ever the regional initiator was. I got to try one out in the U.S. West coast Group. Some time after that Tom gifted me with the one I use. I refer to this one as V3.1 because the handle is slightly slimmer and/or shorter than the Test Bunny razors so it wasn't used during the Pass Around. He did include the tin box with foam insert to hold the razor and the three "adjustable" combs. These combs allows for a Mild, Wild , or Notso shaves and are swap-able by a setscrew on the bottom side.
It's an injector razor that loads like a Schick, and uses the same blades. They give a very close shave that can last for many hours longer than other razors.

Last I heard Tom is looking into having someone manufacture The Bunny. That's not something to hurry. His were each made by his hands. Don't want someone to make a shoddy imitation after all his hard work at research and development.

I like to use the B-400 brush with it because that's another piece of Tom's Craftsmanship. Rubberset made a shave brush model 400, only came with a very tall boar knot, and they sell for top dollar on the bay. The originals were cast aluminum with a nice polished finish. They tend to oxidize and go to that grayish finish of exposed lawn furniture. Tom's handle is very much the same shape but cut from a solid aluminum billet allowing for a better finish than the vintage cast units. The B-400 brushes have a machined ferrule that unscrews allowing for quick swapping of top pieces. I have three of the ferrules set with an APShaveCo Tuxedo knot, a Whipped Dog High Mountain badger, and a third that will get an original style tall lofted fan shaped boar knot when I find the one I like.

 

@Screwtape is graciously sending me some different Injector blades, so I will find out for sure!

 

Wow, is he ever growing Andrew! Great pic (and great Monobilt on your Etsy site as well...)

 

May 16, 2017- Vacation

Razor: J2 Gilette Slim Adjustable (4)
Blade: German Wilkie (1)
Brush: Cremo by Vie-Long
Cream: Dove Hydrating+
Post: Listerine, WH

Day 3 of the vacation and the first shave since Saturday. The Slim is a good travel choice since it is heavily brassed and, so, no great loss if something were to happen. The Cremo brush was picked for the trip as it is small enough to fit in a big pill bottle. Similarly, the Dove is in its own tube. This is the first trip since switching to creams and it's a bit of a change in my travel setup.

As for the shave... The brush was well-hydrated and made a quite nice lather with the Dove cream. The German Wilkie works very well in the Slim with almost no feel that a blade is even installed. Two passes to a near-BBS. Two weepers, though; most likely the results of being a bit distracted by DW who was in the shower at the time.

Hope you are all having a good day.

 

Thanks Jason!

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Great write up thanks!!

 

Ah, they do have a way of distracting us. I'm sure it was intentional too!

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Thank you, Sir. The original threads are still around. One was as Tom was puzzling out how to make a razor from scratch - the Original Bunny. Then there's the different regional testing threads when he released The Bunny to the wild. I was new to TSD when this happened and found it highly...

 

Thank you, Andrew!

 

Great picture, Andrew! Your set up looks great too

 

I agree with your initial thoughts on the Slim and Fatboy, as they mirror my experience shaving regularly with a Slim and trying a Fatboy for the past few shaves. I'm really interested to hear what conclusions you come to with your focus.

 

For today's shave, I decided to take it easy. I grabbed my most auto-pilot razor, a Schick (G something, I think) and loaded it with a fresh Chick blade. Took the trip to Awesometown for lather, using my Envy White knot. Great performance for this soap, but after 4 shaves, I think I am going to trade it away. The scent is not bad, but I don't love it. Did three passes and a little touch up, and the baby showed up. No blood, quiet alum, and no irritation.

 

What's it smell like? I could never find a description on that one.

 

Too bad about the soap, Adam. Aside from the scent, how is the new base? I understand he is going to be using that base for the Barrister's Reserve soaps coming out in June, and I can't wait!

 

The base for the soap is fantastic. It is as slick as the white label, latha, and Glissant bases he uses. It is lanolin free, and isn't quite as thirsty as his other bases. The notes I read were similar to pasiflora, but not quite the same. Think light, sweet, floral. The soap scent comes through as well. I am hoping to pick up a tub of the Reserve Classic, and the splash to match. I might hold on to this one to trade for one of those.