DECember 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

There was some thuper classy gear shown today, men. Heck, it looks like a few of you either shave in the woods or like to take your gear on picnics. No judgement from me either way.

I chose to go sans shave today but I certainly enjoyed seeing your stuff. I'll get back at it tomorrow as time allows.



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Today I finally reached the point where basically any of my straights were usable without a visit to a stone. With all the work travel, I haven’t touched a hone in months. And then last week when I had a little time around the house, I was having arthritis troubles in my hands, and honing wasn’t gonna happen.

So this morning over coffee, I took a half dozen of them and gave them the treatment. They basically all just needed touch ups but it was a relaxing hour or so. I like honing. It is relaxing, and it really adds something to the hobby for me.



-PRC Hydra 6/8 Spanish
-Vie Long 24mm White Horse
-Caties Bubbles Bay Rum
-Ogallala Bay Rum AS

The edge on the Hydra was wicked sharp. I finished it with a few laps on .3 film. I really like that “crisp” feeling to the edges I get from film. Like @Drygulch, I plonked the razor down onto my cheek, and left myself with a nice little slash. Adam is my secret hero and I want to be just like him.

The soap was a gift from my Secret Santa, and my first use of Caties Bubbles since the formula was changed. Wow is it a good soap. Made a bowl of Super Goop that held up through a long four plus pass shave. The lather was super slick, and residual was there. Slickness was top tier or very very close. I could probably push the water a bit more next time. Residual slickness was awesome, and the post shave feel is really good. If you haven’t tried Caties, or tried it since the original formula, it is worth a re-visit.

 

Good picture and setup Jared.

 

Thank you, gentlemen!

 

Love the PRC. I tried Catie’s back in 2015 and it was lacking in slickness. Sounds like I need to revisit the soap with the new formula.


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You have been hitting them out of the park lately, Clarence.




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Thanks Jim!

 

Thanks Perry!

 

Insane shaving dude!

 

It’s even worse for those trying to be stealthy and follow you.

 

I try to be an inspiration. Knowing that you sliced you cheek to be like me warms the cockles of my heart. I’m having a bit of a hard time getting my CB to lather well. I need to try it with a badger, as I don’t think the big boar is loading it too well, and with as soft as it is, I really can’t just load it like it owes me money. Chris makes some awesome scents though.

 

Put me down for one of each John. Clearly money is no object for me anymore.

 

Thank you, Clint!

 

When did the formula change? Don’t know if I have the old stuff or the new stuff. Is there a key ingredient to look for?

 

Excellent picture in some beautiful scenery, Doug!

 

12.3.2017

Pre-shave: Hot shower
Brush: Omega Boar (not pictured)
Soap: Stirling "Stirling Noir" (courtesy of @SmokeShowing )
Razor: Ming Shi Futur clone
Blade: Wilkinson-Sword (3)
Post-shave: Assured WH (Dollar Tree), Nivea Sensitive Skin PS Balm, Jean Phillippe Tristar L'Ombre (Dollar Tree)

I had a late afternoon shave today since I was watching football earlier.

A couple of weeks ago I won a PIF of several Stirling soap samples from @SmokeShowing, and I selected the Stirling Noir for my shave today. Until today, I had never used a Stirling soap so I was enthusiastic to give it a go. The difficult part was selecting the first soap to try, since there were 8 samples. (Thanks again, Craig!) I got on the Stirling site to read up on each sample, and finally decided on the Noir sample. Stirling describes it under their product description as, "Our shave soap version of the popular Drakkar Noir cologne, with which we have no affiliation." I decided on this soap, in part, because I've never had or tried Drakkar Noir although I've heard of it... and in part because a few weeks ago at Dollar Tree I bought (for $1) a spray Eau de Toilette called L'Ombre which says on the box, "Our version of Drakkar Noir" with a disclaimer they have no affiliation. I hadn't used the scent yet so I figured today will be the day.

Using a boar brush, the Stirling soap loaded up easily. In under a minute I had plenty of lather. I was very impressed!

This morning I clearly had well-defined 24 hour stubble on the target area on my face. The razor was set at 1/2 yesterday, and it did cut the stubble, but it was very mild. For today's shave, I dialed up the Clone to #1. The razor still feels very mild at #1 but it was cutting through the stubble. I was able to obtained a DFS in 2 passes and some clean up on the neck.

The post shave was very nice. As to the L'Ombre it was pleasant. The test was rather or not my wife liked it. She did. It's been several hours and the scent is still present, but calmed down.

I hope all had a great day!

 

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Decadent December!!!

December 3

Razor - 1946-'47 Gillette Aristocrat
Blade - (3)
Pre-Shave - Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap
Soap - Route 66 Sweeney Todd
Brush - Jayaruh #54
Post - Alum

Let the decadence continue! Stayed with the 'Crat and Voskhod and just switched to the Route 66 Sweeney Todd soap and the JR54 brush. One thing about doing Decadent December - I have the perfect 4 brush rotation. And the soaps are lining up equally well. I'm near the end of this tub and it's still producing a great brush load and a fantastic lather.

Two passes and touch up and once again the baby is so close you can call it that. Another perfectly decadent result with some perfectly decadent gear! Hope your Monday starts the week off well for you!

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