February 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Great looking razor Rick.


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(Williams Wednesday) 2.7.2018
Pre-shave: hot shower & Nivea Men Sensitive Face Wash
Brush: Barburys synthetic
Soap: Williams Mug Shaving Soap
Razor: GEM MMOC
Blade: GEM stainless (4)
Post-shave: Assured WH, Aqua Velva Sensitive 5 in 1 AS Balm, Aqua Velva Musk AS Cologne

Fourth shave with this GEM blade and it's still performing as well as the first time I used it. Of course, the last couple of shaves it's only been cutting down 24 hours worth of whiskers. My opinion on its performance might be different if I waited 48 hours or 72 hours to shave.

The Williams soap was a bit of a challenge initially, keeping it from disappearing, but by the time I got to the 2nd pass I had the texture and lather I was looking for. In spite of the lather's disappearing act during the first pass, the slickness remained. Overall, it was a very pleasant shaving experience.

Happy shaves everyone!
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Welcome to TSD!

 

Fab Feb inspired by Jason

You just can't trust the internet. One of our astute resident artisans pointed out this razor was fashioned from a prison bed spring, I think I overpaid for it and I wish I had disinfected it before its first use. Nonetheless, it takes and holds a great edge. I guess those prison beds are made of quality steel. Despite it's origins I had an epic shave today.

Irritation A+ Closeness A+ Smoothness A+ Sharpness A+

Razor: Prison Bed Spring razor
Stop: Herold ‘Russian’
Brush: Thäter 2 band
Pre: Nivea
Soap: Tabac
AS: Speick AS, L’Ocittane ASB
Scent: Frederic Mallé Musc Ravageur

 

Thank you Andrew!

Jason, although I prefer an alcohol based splash, this one had me from the first sniff. It has an herbal component that's closely related to black licorice (anise?) but to me it's the flavor of muscadine grapes. I won't use it as much during warm weather, but during cold/dry I like it.

Thank you Jim! I picked it up at an antique shop downtown. It had a makers mark stamped on when I first got it. I don't remember if Dawn dish liquid, or shave soap did it, but the lettering wiped right off. Makes me think it was unused when I found it. It's not East or West Germany - pre WWII?

Thank you Clint! The handle looks much like some of the Early GEM type SE's. It's mildly twisted compared to some slants. Supposed to have a mild/aggressive difference that I'm just not finding. Maybe I'm riding the cap so well it doesn't express the difference?

 

Another great lineup Dan. Seems you've mastered Williams.

 

That is one very cool looking razor. Even if it is made from a prison bed spring.

 

Great picture, Dan!

 

Wow! I've been busy with a move and work travels. I finally have a chance to check in on the 7th and there are over 900 posts. I'll never catch up. What did I miss?

 

Okay, Neal @NCoxSTL , I've been watching your MMOC escapades with interest, as I too have tried unsuccessfully to get any sort of shave at all with any of the blades I picked up from Tryablade. I had to drop by CVS today to pick up a prescription and while there I wandered over to the shaving aisle and checked for blades. Sure enough there was a single pack of SE blades hanging there all alone, so I snagged it and checked out. Once home I got all the chores out of the way and decided to give them a try. It took me a while to find the Gem, as I had buried it in the back of the cabinet. But I cleaned it up and looked at the blades again to make sure the magic number was on the spine, (it was) loaded up, and whipped up a nice lather with the Tabac. Like you I noticed a marked improvement on the first stroke. In short I did two passes and began to feel some irritation, but I figured, in for a penny....., so I threw caution to the wind and did a third pass. I finished up a nice DFS, and the alum was warm, but not nearly as bad as I anticipated. It was the first time I was able to finish a shave with the Gem, but I'm not going to throw away any of my other razors after this. Next month is PIF month so the razor and blades may find a new home. Maybe a 30 day focus would dial it in some, but I'm not in love with it enough to put in the time. Anyway, thanks for the blade suggestion. It was nice to find one that somewhat worked.

 

BRIAN!!! Welcome back!

You’ve only been missing some inspired shaves.

 

Glad you discovered the solution. I'm not sure what's up with the ones we both bought first but they definitely aren't shaving friendly.

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Just a thing or two. You know. The usual.

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Picard has a Lather Catcher....Riker uses a ER 1914..Data uses a mill bastard.

Beautiful D!

Wow Shavette...Williams.. Brisk...and that beautiful brush. You may proceed along the path.

BULLY!! Great Williams Wednesday!

You have a OCMN too?

 

Still on my Favorites kick with the Williams. Today's razor was the 1902 Superior with a CVS blade. Smooth as could be. The Stetson was great!

 

@mrchick you have seen it all before. There is justva lot more SE and injector love flowing.

 

Thanks, Clint. But I'm not sure anyone... except for Fuzzy @wchnu... can truly master the modern Williams puck. Let's just say I have a great deal of patience with Williams, and I'm a fan of Williams.

Thanks, Jim!

 

If that means one of these, then yes.

 

February 7

Parker SRX shavette
Gillette Silver Blue (2)
Simpson Chubby 2 Super
Castle Forbes Lavender shaving cream
Alum, Thayers Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Aramis EDT

Greetings from the Dark Side. Have some fruitcake.

I completed my normal two passes plus touch ups, and I'm near BBS. After four shaves with the Parker, I'm starting to get irritation on my lower neck. I'm stretching the skin and using very little pressure, but I'm still seeing some red marks. @Bama Samurai is coaching me to make sure I'm holding the blade edge perpendicular to my skin. I suspect I've been holding the blade at an odd angle, causing the either the heel or toe of the blade to dig in slightly and leave some red marks. He also also clued me into splitting my DE blades in half with scissors. I have been folding and breaking them in half, but a couple of the tabs on each half of the blade turn up after they are broken. That makes it difficult to get them in the blade holder straight. That may also be contributing to my problem with blade angle. I'll pay more attention tomorrow and see if better blade positioning will solve my problem. If so, this will be a huge breakthrough for me with the Parker.

I hope you all had a fantastic day!