Nov 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus

Got me curious about this wibbly wobbly thingie...
Don't know that the Ming Shi is immune, but I never heard about the Futur doing it until Neal revealed his research.

 

Yeah but you had sold our car. And our instruments. And lost touch with the band. (See how I'm STILL the short fat one?!)

 

I don't think it's a widespread problem from the threads I dug up across several forums. Just every now and then it would do that. That's why I figure if I buy another one, or the Ming Shi, the problem is very unlikely to repeat itself. Unless, of course, my typical lucky cloud is raining at the time.

 

NOVember!!!

November 20 - Pot luck shaves with a light Stirling focus


Razor - 1947 Gillette Super Speed
Blade - (1)
Soap - Stirling Ben Franklin
Brush - Stirling Synthetic
Post - Alum

Well the mailman was good to me today. My latest order from Stirling arrived. SWMBO needed more bath soap so that was really why I placed the order but hey.....if I'm ordering I'm not going empty handed. I ordered a sample of Ben Franklin, Galtlinburg and Mountain Man as well as a full bar of the Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap. Yep, he got me. I don't use it every time but I like it as an option. Vendor enabling win!! His attempt to seduce me into another product is a sample of Executive Man bath soap. I think I'm immune to this one even though I like the scent. My African Black Soap is hard to beat for what I need a bath soap to do.

I decided that I'll try each of the samples over the next three nights for a light focus on the new soaps. I picked the '47 Super Speed that I don't use enough and, in keeping with my earlier vow on the Qshave to not use Russian blades, I loaded a Treet Platinum. This is a blade I have used and trust. Pretty decent.

I went with Ben Franklin to start tonight. Very nice scent. Not at all like the sweaty pants of a guy in Philly in the summer writing revolutionary documents. (You'll have to read the actual description on Stirling's website to fully appreciate that remark). I did three full passes just because and have an extremely nice BBS to show for it with the alum being nearly silent. Very, very nice. This razor was the first model of the Super Speed and they knew they had a winner from that day I'm sure.

Tomorrow I'll pick one of the other new samples and give it a try. For the first shave with Ben Franklin I rate it a winner. So far I've only eliminated one Stirling soap from my den. The Scots Pine Sheep went away, but the Electric Sheep is definitely in. Just too much pine for my liking with the Scots, even though it was mutton tallow. I've always been sensitive to pine scents and, while it wasn't horrible like a pine cleaner, it just didn't work with my dislike for artificial pine. Great feel though.

​

 

Of course Tom recommended this Shave Stick and I liked the smell of this After Shave.

 

I had lunch at Peg Leg Pete's in September. Great Grouper!

 

Thanks very much Charlie.

Sent from my STV100-3 using Tapatalk

 

Good one.

Sent from my STV100-3 using Tapatalk

 

Tuesday morning November 21 - Simpsons creams mini focus

Rockwell 6s on plate #3 / Topaz Platinum ( 1 )
Alluminati Envy White badger brush
Simpson Sandalwood cream
Alum and TSD Milk Aftershave Sandalwood

I used the second of six Simpsons creams today - Sandalwood. First, the scent. I compared it to my TOBS Sandalwood cream and also to the TSD Sandalwood that I used afterwards as a milk aftershave. I am not great at describing scents, but the Simpsons sandalwood smelled deeper, less sweet and almost smoky compared to the TOBS. Mind you, I think the TOBS has cedar mixed in with the sandalwood. However, the TSD Milk Aftershave also smelled somewhat sweeter, lighter or brighter than the Simpsons. I also have a sample of Salter Indian Sandalwood and it smells more penetratingly spicy than the Simpsons. In terms of strength, yesterday's Cafe Latte was far stronger and longer lasting as a scent than today's Sandalwood.

The Simpsons Sandalwood is pleasant enough, but as a sandalwood scent I would frankly call it "undistinguished". Of the five scents Simpsons offers (the sixth is unscented and is a truly neutral smelling cream in the tub), I think Sandalwood is their least successful. The others are all stronger even in the tub and far more memorable. I couldn't wait to try the Cafe Latte and Peppermint+Rosemary is equally compelling, while Vanilla+Rose and Lavender+Vetiver both also smell really good. Sandalwood for me is "meh". I will use it on days when I want to "just shave" and am not looking for a treat.

Performance by contrast is excellent. I used less product and more water than yesterday and still got an excellent lather. My sense is that this cream has quite a wide sweet spot.

Three passes instead of my usual two brought home the baby with zero irritation. I used the milk aftershave more for the scent than any need for skincare.

Tomorrow I crack that Peppermint +Rosemary...

 

Gillette Red Tip
Feather (1)
Semogue BC Mistura
Soap Commander Love Soap and ASB

My 30 day focus imploded today as I ignored the Arko for a second day in a row after a planned change. I was however rewarded with a fantastic shave.

Enjoy your day.

 

November 21, 2017
OneBlade Genesis
Modified Gem PTFE (10)
Rubberset 400 #3 with WSP HMW
Nuàvia Blu

​

I am going into work this morning to finish up some open items then take Maya to physical therapy later this afternoon. The remainder of the week, I will be spending time with the family. So a great shave this morning was a nice way to end the work week. The 400 has enough backbone and scritch to make face lathering fun and feels absolutely huge on the face. While I prefer the Rossa I am enjoying the scent of the Blu the more I use the soap. I went with a 3 pass shave with touch ups along the jaw line and neck. I didn't get the baby but I did scare the little guy. I could likely get more shaves out of this blade but I think I will toss it as I don't plan on using the Genesis for the remainder of the week. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

 

Good picture and setup Clint. Have a good afternoon with Maya. I hope you enjoy your time with your family.
Do you fine the Rubberset 400 #3 a little floppy? It appears to me that it could be.

 

Thank you Doug. I bought the brush fully restored and the knot is set a little higher than I would have set it myself. It has the backbone similar to a Shavemac Finest so it somewhere mid scale of backbone but the knot has enough density to give a very good scrub. It is just so huge that it gives a totally different face feel that I like. In fact Wade tried this brush and restored a 400 with the same knot at the same loft.

 

November 21

Weber SS
Perma-Sharp Super (5)
Simpson Chubby 2 Super
MdC shave soap
Thayers Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Fine Platinum aftershave

 

Super picture, Clint!

 

Excellent picture, Charlie!

 

John, I am a sandalwood fan, and I appreciate your scent review and comparison. I have a container of Truefitt & Hill Sandalwood shave cream that I will soon try.

Congrats on bringing home the baby and leaving him with no milk!

 

Clint, that may be your best photo this month! You've done a great job tempting everyone with the OneBlade. It appears to be a fine razor. Congrats on the short work week and enjoy the time with Maya this afternoon.

 

Thank you, Jim! Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!

 

Thank you Jim.