March 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

I got 4 letters for you. OCMM. The open comb Micro Matic will shave anything you can grow. If you want to stay with DE try a OLD. Again anything you can grow they will shave.

 

A little behind here...

Veddy nice!!!

What's the worst that could have happened? I can always donate another pint.....

Shore is a purrdy brush!

On a side note the Scalp Master soap will actually lather. Been a long week for work. If I did not respond to something I should have shoot me a memo please.

On another side note.... Don't judge a shave until your face rest a few minutes. Might save you additional passes.

 

March Madness!!!

March 17 The Shave of the Irish!

Razor - 1959 (E4) Gillette Fatboy (9)
Blade - (2)
Soap - Stirling Ozark Mountain
Brush - Stirling Synthetic Pro Type
Post - Alum

It's almost too late but Happy St. Patrick's Day!! I nearly wore my kilt to work today but decided against it. Yeah, I know kilts are Scottish, but us Irish types sometimes wear the County tartans. Anyway, a very busy day followed by a couple of hours of packing up around my desk when I got home. Finally got to shave.

Setting "me" turned into a bit of a problem tonight, but only because I wasn't paying attention. Forgot I had the razor wide open with a Permasharp and paid a bit of a price. A couple of weepers and a minor nick. Nothing major. But I'll remember tomorrow that I need to pay more attention to the shave than to the list of things still needing to be done in my head.

Three passes on that fantastic Stirling lather and I'm still enjoying the after shave scent it leaves behind. Even with the slight issues, a very fine DFS shave and all's well in Cartel HQ.

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Well, my 30 day rule turned into a 15 day rule. My technique and lather has improved immensely over the last two weeks I couldn't believe, I was still struggling with some trouble spots with this razor(the slim). So I decided to do an experiment. First, I tried a sharper blade in the Slim, yesterday, same problem shaving trouble spots. So I got to thinking maybe it's a head geometry thing with the slim that doesn't fit the topography of certain portions of my face. So tonight, I decided to throw caution to wind and change everything. The result was an absolutely terrible lather, and a pretty incredible shave. The trouble spots where smooth as BBS, no neck redness or razor bumps. The alum sung a pinch, which I expected given, the quality of the lather felt like I was practically dry shaving. So tomorrow I'm going with the new razor and blade combo with the Tabac and finishing the second half of the rule.
Tonight's set up:

Edwin Jagger DE89
Gillette Silver Blue
Yaqi Slivertip
Proraso Red Preshave
LEA Shave Stick grated into Old Spice Mug
Speick AS Splash
Cremo Green AS Balm



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Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't number nine or what ever the max is on an adjustable the Double Dog Dare? If 2/3's of the way to wide open is your comfort spot that's your setting. Don't let peer pressure push you to self harm Neal!

 

So you've shifted to a Focus, by comparing two different set ups. Cool.

 

Yeah, that's what in doing, thanks. I have feeling my wife is going to get what she wants and I'm going to be selling a razor forward. What she doesn't know is I already have my eye on something new, an all brass razor by Krave Shaving Company.


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I just feel it's my duty to bleed on cue around here from time to time. Give the people what they want, is what I say. Besides, it keeps life interesting.

 

I've been playing catch up some around here tonight and noticed @Bama Samurai posted three days ago about your avatar. Yep, we definitely like those Russian blades in avatars, and anything else that makes the Cartel proud. The Samurai man asked for the fight song in your honor. Sorry I'm late delivering....and to make up for it I'm making it a very special edition of the fight song!

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March; I'm Welsh so I don't have to do green!

Jeeves Bay Rum
B-400 WD Hi-Mountain badger
Suribachi bowl & cool water
Ming Shi 2oooS & Wilkinson blade
Osage Rub, M&L Florida Water
Gathered a setup from the back of the stash. Thanks to Adam @Drygulch for the Bay Rum that's not the usual scent. Light on clove with a great base, this soap makes me want to try other offerings from the same company. Being a soft soap, I bloomed and loaded a badger brush. Knowing @jtface has one on order the Futur clone spoke to me. It's made in China so I have no idea what it said, but I wanted to point out the peculiarity of making sure the cap is on right. The cap has a bump that fits the thumb when popping it off. The base plate has a couple little dots at one end. Those go opposite each other when replacing the cap. Easy peasy! So with a blade from James @LOOT loaded, I checked the adjustment - 4-1/2 out of 6. That's three quarters of the way to MAX. Just a bump above setting Neal. Three passes with plenty of left over lather so I did my chin buffing, a full round of MS-Slides and called it done. Nice smooth DFS with no blood on Zamak. I don't remember who brought up the idea of layering or mixing Osage Rub and Florida Water but those two go well together!
Good Shaves Y'all!

 

Wow, thank you. I have no idea what is being sung, but I like it. I love my Russian steel. In fact, between Rapira, Vokshod and Russian Gillettes I will probably never use another blade from anywhere else.

 

You brought tears to my eyes. Well done, comrade, well done.

 

I had been looking at the OCMM just out of curiosity a few days/weeks ago. My only gripe was that I couldn't find one that was in particularly good condition. I'm a little bit of a clean freak, and don't really like the idea of a tarnished/dirty/beat up razor. Re-plating the thing could prove costly, and to be honest - I have no idea what I am looking for... I'd probably by a dud!

Thanks for the pointer! It seems like quite a few people own a Ming Shi... I'm excited for it to arrive!

Does anyone who uses one of these dial down the aggression for each pass?

 

Ah I see. Well good luck with tne adjustable!!!

 

Thanks!

 

Love the song........BUT......wasn't that a Feather guy and a Derby guy back there 'taking a knee'?

 

All joking about "the Cartel" aside, the Russian blades are some of the best made nowadays. Voskhod, Rapira, GSB, Gillette Platinum or 7 O'clock, etc... You can't go wrong with any of them and really have no need to go looking for "better" blades because you aren't likely to find any.

 

Wonderful warm photo Jason.

 

Great photo Dan. It is nice to find local products that work for you.

 

Great photo and lineup Rick. The 400 is such an iconic brush and Tom did a wonderful job on his recreation.