January 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

The only thing better then a OLD shave is a SE shave. They are great! I am not sure why I do not use the Marvy's more it lathered great!. I know nothing of this evil intent you speak of. I am a vintage feel kinda guy though.

 

The size of sample they sent me may factor in as well. This one was a tiny sliver and I wonder if the consistency through the puck would vary enough to cause areas to lack the proper scent. I'm glad to hear the A/S is a nice one. Tobacco/Bay Leaf is a combo I like. Hopefully my trick of concentrating it in the bowl in a closed plastic bag will help bring it out more tomorrow.

 

Last shaved on Thursday. Last checked in here Friday afternoon before I went oncall for the weekend. Boy, I come back after two days and I'm 11 pages behind. So I will report on my cleanup shave and then mow through the posts.

Sunday night January 21 - 2 1/2 day stubble cleanup

English Flaretip Rocket / vintage Gillette Platinum Plus ( 6)
Semogue Owners Club cherrywood boar brush
Jeeves Cherry Blossom soap
Alum and Jeeves Cherry Blossom splash

Start of a new week for me but I will continue with the Cherry Blossom setup this week because it didn’t get much use last week between the Arko and the days skipped. I switched from the Soap Destroyer to the Semogue boar brush and face lathered with it tonight. Worked well but it shed a few hairs for the first time.

Two passes with the razor and I am back from scruffy bum to cleanshaven gentleman. No complaints from the alum and the Jeeves splash provided the usual mild menthol kick followed by the feeling of well-tended skin.

I binned the blade and will start the week with a fresh one tomorrow. In my newly identified English #51 or 53 Aristocrat Jr.

I don’t know because I have never shaved with an American one. I know I have a Blue Tip and think I have at least one plain flaretip somewhere in my stash, but I have never used them. As far as I know, the main difference is the uncrimped knob on the English flaretips that rotates up and down; I "think" the heads are identical so the shaves should be much the same though.

 

I notice soap and cream samples often are much less strongly scented than the full tubs, so that may be a factor. However, I have to echo what Jason said about the scent strength of Jeeves soaps.

I have four soaps - Bay Rum/ Private Study, Turkish Bath / Barbershop, Cherry Blossom in tubs and a Key Lime sample turned into a shave stick. The Bay Rum and Key Lime are strongly scented -- and Bay Rum has kept its scent strength for a year (Key Lime has only been around here for a couple months). Turkish Bath by contrast was fairly strongly scented but over about a year seems to have lost most of its scent. Cherry Blossom is a lighter fruit and floral scent to begin with and is somewhere between the others in strength. I bought it about a month ago; in a year if I still have any left, I expect it will be almost scentless as well. So the Jeeves soaps do vary in scent strength and persistence. I am surprised a tobacco / bay leaf mix is light on scent though, so that may be more being a sample (and possibly an old one given the old name).

I do have all three tubs in splashes as well, and both Turkish Bath/Barbershop and Cherry Blossom are quite strong and longlasting in liquid form.

 

Okay, I read through the 11 pages from the last couple days. Some great photos and shave reports as usual, gentlemen! Too many to multiquote.

A few other things:

Brian @mrchick -- glad you and your family are settled in your new home safely. Great view!

Charlie @wristwatchb -- sorry about the furnace issues but glad you got them fixed. Sounds like you will have the issue permanently resolved in your new home. You are so right about nickel-and-diming in construction costing hundreds in maintenance later!

Adam @Drygulch -- good luck with the new addition. I hope your entire family returns to health shortly. You were in my prayers for that today.

@Steve G -- great to hear the shaves are going so well. Good plan switching the Merkur Futur (clone) for a Merkur 34c. It is one of the classic modern starter razors that many people use happily for years. A lot of 3-pc razors require a bit of wiggling when fitting the blade to get the sides even before locking down the cap, but it usually only takes a few seconds of care and then you forget it until the next fresh blade. Not a major deal.

If you want to try a vintage Gillette Tech or Superspeed, PM me and I can send you one.

Clint @clint64 -- looks like you had a great ride today. I'm jealous. My bike will be parked until April at least.

Jason @jtspartan -- hope you enjoyed Robbie Burns Night. In researching jokes, did you find the one about how copper wire was invented? Two Scotsmen got into a fight over a penny....

 

I have to get on the Hwy for a short stretch into the mountains. You have to fly on 400 North to avoid being run over. Through the mountains I averaged 45-55mph.

Too Funny but you are not far wrong. I started riding motorcycles Christmas 1971. So I have now been riding 46 years. I try not to do as much stupid stuff now since I don't bounce as good now that I am older.

Thank you Mark.

 

Thank you Jason.

 

Thank you. Most years we are able to ride in the mountains year round with the proper cold weather gear. Until recently, it was a very rare occasion for us to get snow or ice more than once every couple of years.

 

January 22, 2018
OneBlade Genesis V2
Modified Gem PTFE
Thater Beehive White Boar
Fine Platinum

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As usual the weekend was entirely to short so its back to work. At least I was able to start the day with a very nice shave with no surprises or drama. All the hardware and software worked well together to deliver an automatic near perfect shave. A splash of Fine Platinum finished the shave off with style. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

I think that the way the sample was shipped, and/or maybe for how long it was stored that way has something to do with the lack of scent? I have a tub of Velvet Jacket, and it has plenty of scent.

I know that people complain about certain Stirling soap samples having poor scent, and they are soaps I know are plenty strong. They come wrapped in a very thin, biodegradable plastic.

I have had the same issue with Route 66 soaps, and the ketchup cups they come in, with the wax paper baggie around it.

 

January 22, 2018

OneBlade Genesis
Feather FHS-10
PAV Brushworks with Envy White Two Band
MDC Original Le Bol En Bois
Fine Platinum
Creed Aventus

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Schweet Monday amigo! Have a good week my friend!

 

Beautiful picture, Clint!

 

Excellent picture, Mark!

 

January 22 SOTD:

Ever-Ready Brush
Stirling Frozen Tundra
Classic Samurai Shavette
Stirling Unscented PSB
Barbasol Brisk AS

A nice shave to start my week. One pass and a little clean up for a DFS, pretty hard to beat. I have one more shave with this soap, so I should finish it up this week. It has been a good one, and I will be replacing it in the future, as I have really come to like the scent. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

SOTD January 22, 2018

Prep: Cold water and Stirling mentholated pre-shave soap
Blade: Personna
Razor: Schick G4 '66' injector
Brush: JR #142 black badger
Lather: C.O. Bigelow cream
Post: Witch hazel, RazoRock Blue Barbershop aftershave
WTG, touch up

Nice and easy shave this morning. Used the scuttle to whip up some nice Bigelow lather. I actually filled the scuttle with cold water to chill down the lather. Felt nice! Overall terrific start to the work week. Have a great day!

 

Great photo, Clint! That Thater boar looks like it's breaking in well.

Also a great photo. That MdC has seen a lot of use...

I like that filter effect, Jim.

Nice warm tones in your photo, Perry. That JR brush looks like a fabulous piece of equipment; wonderful wood in that handle. I will have to try a cold water scuttle shave sometime.

 

Wonderful picture, Perry!

 

Thank you, John! Have a great day!

 

January 22nd ‘Menthol Monday’
GEM Jr w Gem Stainless (1)
Sudsy Soapery Jack Frost SS
Omega ‘49/Walnut
Stirling Glacial Unscented Balm
Jeeves Tobacco & Bay Leaf AS

Went back to the GEM Jr for this week. Loaded up some Menthol products, and went for Menthol Monday. Great lather, great razor, nice & smooth shave. A super way to start the week.
Have a great day all!