DECember 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you, Clint. You are right about daughters and their dads. I do however remember when my sister was very selective about wanting to spend time with my dad.

 

Thank you, Charlie!

 

That is very true. I have resolved myself to make the most of the times they want something.

 

Thanks for the compliment on the Weber! I haven't noticed that problem with mine, but I've read about others who've experienced it. I also read where someone machined the head a bit to correct the problem.

I've got another brand new Weber that has never been removed from the original shipping box. I purchased it around the same time as my first one, but I'm not sure if that has any bearing on the wavy head issue or not. I'll trade it or what's behind door # 2 for your chrome Toggle.



Apologies to @americanshamrock for any copyright infringement.

 

Thank you Chris!

 

Between the brush pic and the toggle pic, Captain Obvious is starting to figure out where @LOOT got his name.

In shaving news, I took a break from my shaving reviews (all done with a Slim on 6 for consistency sake) in to fire up the straight @Drygulch sent me during MAYhem. About 30 shaves in on N-S passes, today was the second or third shave going S-N. Cleanup with the Slim gave me an uneventful shave, but a small patch of whiskers and some alum feedback confirmed I’ve got a ways to go yet before I master the straight...

 

"Sir, I represent americanshamrock. I have a court order demanding an immediate halt of this unauthorized imitation."

 

Today's No So Decadent Shave was brought to me by the following:

Razor: WCS Stainless handle w/ Maggard slant head
Brush: JR216
Soap: Tabac
Blade: Feather - with heaven only knows how many shaves on it (7? 10?)

Well...today's results were less than decadent, to say the least. Unless, of course, blood and irritation have somehow become a status symbol. Not sure what happened exactly. Was it the new handle with a slant head I haven't used many times? Was it my lather, that just wasn't as slick as I'd like (despite my efforts to add plenty of water)? Was it the blade which probably has gone well beyond its service life? Straight up technique failure? Maybe a little of everything?

I just recently got some shave mail, which included MWF & Tabac. Also a sample of 3P, which I haven't tried yet. The Fat, which I've only used for one shave so far, is excellent. The Tabac, used twice now, is also very nice. However, I can't seem to coax the slickness out of it yet. It lathers easily enough. From what I've seen, if you can't get Tabac to lather, there isn't a soap in existence that you'll be able to lather. It's rich and thick...I just can't get the slickness to come out to play. But, maybe trying to compare it to Mitchell's isn't fair either. Mitchell's slickness - and residual slickness - allowed me to get away with way more than I should've been able to. Buffing without re-lathering, etc.

Today, the whole shave just felt rough. I'm certainly not a veteran DE shaver, but today I felt as if it were my first attempt. Oh, well....tomorrow's another day!

Hope everyone has a fantastic Saturday (and better shaves than mine)!!

 

DECadent Launch - Lather Focus

Tabac Original shave soap, Omega Pro 98 boar brush
Osaka Suribachi bowl, cool tap water
'46-'47 Gillette Aristocrat, Polsilver Super Iridium blade
Proraso Blu lotion, Unrefined Shea butter


Best lather from one of my favorite brushes and soaps whipped up in a special ceramic bowl - Focus Renewed! If I'd have tried Tabac earlier on I might not have as many soaps. While it's not ARKO scented, the guaranteed slickness happens. I like the scent, too. Pulled the Aristo out of the rack where it's been gathering dust. Still had a blade in it so no need to unwrap another. Three passes, G-slides, and a little clean up did the deed and left me into high DFS territory. Queries tell me Tabac AS has the same scent as the soap. Until I drop coin on it, Proraso Blu lotion is my closest complimentary scent. A warmed up dab of USB sealed the deal.
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

SOTD: 12.2.2017

Face Shave Only:
Pre-shave: warm water wash, several cups of black coffee
Brush: Omega Synthetic Hi-Brush
Soap + Cream: Williams mug soap + Head Slick Shave Cream blend
Razor: Ming Shi Futur Clone
Blade: Wilkinson Sword (2)
Post-Shave: Assured WH (Dollar Tree), Nivea Sensitive Skin PS Balm, Stetson Cooling Moisture AS (Not pictured)

Yesterday, I shaved off a month's growth of whiskers on my cheeks and neck, leaving a goatee in place. Today I had nearly 24 hours of stubble on my face and I dialed the Clone down to the 1/2 stop, or lowest setting. These razors have a 1/2 stop between the whole numbers going up to 6 which is the max. Yesterday I had this razor set at 6 so I could mow down the November growth.

I chose to blend Williams mug soap with Head Slick shave cream. I've done this several times before and I really like the lather this mixture creates. It is protective, slick, comfortable (feels really good on my skin), and smooth. I like Williams by itself, but too often it seems I have to keep whipping it with the brush to reinforce the lather because it dissipates quickly. I like the Head Slick cream by itself and have used it often for head shaves... but it doesn't lather. It's a cream which has to be applied by hand. However, the two of these together produce a tremendous lather by brush which I keep going back to. I've included a picture to illustrate the Decadence of this blend.

As to the razor.... I'm still impressed. Definitely, I had it on the mildest setting. Although I had the audible response of cutting whiskers from the razor as I slid it across the face, it seemed so mild I didn't think it was even doing anything but removing the lather. I was tempted to press down (a result of nearly 40 years shaving with carts) and I was tempted to dial the razor up, but I reminded myself to be patient and focus which is the theme of this thread. I maintained my composure and continued patiently letting the weight of this razor do its duty, and I did not change the setting. The result was a close, comfortable shave. I can't declare BBS, because I did missed some stubble which I didn't feel earlier during the clean-up phase.... this may be the result of that lather.... it's so slick even after you take it off with the razor!

Overall, great shave.... great tools! I hope everyone has a great weekend!
​

 

Nice setup!
Ok...gotta know...how do you get the slickness with Tabac? Do I just need more water than I think?

 

Awesome job sir!

 

Sounds like a great weekend, Jim. Have fun!

 

This brush is very appropriate for a decadent shave. It is soft on the face and lathers well. Not to mention that it’s beautiful.
Mystery Soap K
Jayaruh #235 Brush
Portland Razor Company Siren
Thayers WH
St. John’s Bay Rum After Shave
Have a great weekend!

 

First class...all the way!

 

Having made a number of lathers with similar products I know;

1) Hard Soap - get it wet while the brush is soaking.
2) It's a Hard Soap! - use a stiff brush to facilitate loading.
3) Load it up until I see product in the knot.
4) Bowl Lathering gives me a place and time to adjust soap to water levels.
5) Add more water on 2nd & 3rd passes because the knot holds concentrated soap.

I do enjoy several creams, but my preference is hard puck soap. That moment of "like it owes you money" is a hurdle to cross. Once I figured out how long a hard soap really lasts my lathers improved.

 

Thank you, Sir!

 

You are far too kind sir. I'll give the standard gold a try if that's ok. Info is on its way in a PM. THANKS!

 

Use the address we discussed, Mr. Smith?

Like you always said, Neal...er...uh...Bill, the Witness Protection Program certainly has its perks!