January 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

January 17 SOTD:

PAA Atomic Rocket Brush
Stirling Port-au-Prince SS
CJB Pain Stick
Stirling Unscented PSB
Fine Fresh Vetiver AS

A late start this morning as I decided to let the sun come up before I left. I pulled out the Port-au-Prince for the first time in a while, and got a great lather from it. This is the older version of this soap, so it isn't a sheep soap, and some say a bit more difficult to lather than the current version. It worked out well today.



I am a face latherer, so this is after my first pass. Maybe not quite as shiny as what I have seen @PickledNorthern come up with, but I had some pretty good sheen, and lots of volume. It set up a great shave with the CJB that left me near BBS after two passes. The Fresh Vetiver pairs so nicely with this soap, it makes for a great morning. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

January 17, 2018
OneBlade Genesis V2
Modified Gem PTFE
Thater Beehive White Boar
Jeeves Bay Rum
Captain’s Choice Bay Rum

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After getting the driveway cleared off, I decided to reward myself with a nice relaxing shave. Given the temps here, I thought a nice Bay Rum would do the trick. Jeeves Bay Rum answered the call. For me it takes a few times with to dial in using an artisan soap in shave stick form. The last time I used Jeeves Bay Rum I went to light on the soap and this time a little heavy which means I should just about have it perfect next time. With a mountain of rich slick lather, I went with a three pass shave. After touch ups along my jawline and lower neck I ended up with just short of catching the baby. I just didn't feel like buffing my lower right neck to catch the little guy. A splash of Captain's Choice Bay Rum and I am ready for the day. Atlanta drivers are bad enough without the white stuff so I don't plan on getting out today. I will work a little remotely but for the most part I am going to call this a Clint Mental Health day and relax.

 

Great photo and lather shot Jim. Hope your day goes well.

 

SOTD January 17


Ming Shi 2000S
Treet Platinum (2)
Stirling Mountain Man
Yaqi Professional (28mm, Destroyer Class)

So I've finally decided on a plan to Titanic the soaps that I want to use up this year. On average I shave 3 or 4 times a week, so my plan is to use one of the samples that I am trying to use up for one of those shaves (I have 5 partially used samples going right now), IB Amici for one of the others (this tub probably still has 3.5-4 oz left in it), and then use other soaps from my rotation for the remaining shaves of the week. This should allow me to focus on killing two soaps while still having the ability to choose a soap at whim for variety. My goal for the year is to use up all five samples and the tub of Amici.

The first sample that I will be working on is Stirling Mountain Man. As you can see from the photo there is still a good bit of soap left but hopefully I can use it all up in 6 shaves or less. Today I assaulted it with the 28mm Yaqi Tuxedo and made a super goop lather in short order. I have changed the technique a bit which allows me to get to super goop consistency faster. I start with a light sousing, maybe 10-15 seconds of having the soap submerged in warm water. I pour that out and squeeze most of the water out of the brush and begin loading with heavy pressure, getting the brush to splay heavily while loading for the first 20ish seconds. After that first 20 seconds when I've got a very thick, pasty, load throughout the brush I'll drip a little bit of water on the puck and begin swirling with light pressure. I'll do this two or three times until I've got a nice shiny goopy lather.

Painted on a nice coating of the super gooped Mountain Man and had an easy effortless 3 pass shave that ended up somewhere on the DFS+ side of smoothness. Have a great day my friends!

 

Great photo, Jason! The only downside to Arko, IMO, is that it can be a bit drying.

Awesome shot, Jim witha great looking lather!

Have a good relaxing day, Clint!

 

I'm trying to raise money for a car repair (need to fix the old jeep enough to be able to sell it.) If I can get that done, and still have some razors to sell, I would like to get a tattoo for my youngest daughter, before she is old enough to realize I have a tattoo for my youngest, but not one for her. Selling off some of my high quality razors, and a lot of them are great shavers. I just have so many of them.

 

Wouldn't that be Shavette Fu Fu?

 

Outstanding picture, Clint!

Thank you! Have a great day, as well!

 

Great picture, Andrew! I do like your Yaqi brushes!

Thank you! Enjoy your day!

 

I couldn't even lather it. I am not a fan of vanilla, and this one just smelled like a stale cookie rolled on a dirty floor to me. My nightmare shave would be this chased with a splash of the Veg. Shudder.

 

Thank you, Jim! They are monstrous soap eaters for sure.

 

Thank you Andrew.

 

Great photo and lineup Andrew. How many shaves do you think you have left in the sample pictured?

 

Thank you Jim.

 

Clint, enjoy your day in. I just walked down to the street to retrieve the trash can and regretted it. Too cold and windy. I'm getting a little cabin fever because we stayed in all day yesterday too, but I'll take it nonetheless.

 

Sounds like a good plan for your soaps, Andrew. Nice report on the shave. I had some Mountain Man aftershave in a sample bottle and really enjoyed it.

 

I'm gonna guess 5, maybe 6. I think after 3 the bottom of the tin will be showing in the middle. Then I'll scrape up the remaining soap and press it back in the middle where I will probably get two or three more shaves.

 

I really like it and have a full size bottle of the AS. I'll probably buy a full size tub of it after I thin the herd a bit.

 

Thank you Perry. I did log on and do what work I could remotely. I am tired of playing in the cold and wind as well. Enough though I get cabin fever in a minute, I will just stay in the rest of the day.

 

That's about the most I have left on my Jeff's Soap as well.