March 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you, Jim!

Thank you, Clint!

 

Thank you Clint & Jim!

 

Thank you, Dan!

 

March 20, 2018

Razor: PAL Adjustable Injector
Blade: Chick (1)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: Williams
Post: Alum, Listerine, WH

Today was my first shave with a PAL Adjustable Injector courtesy of @billdog2's recent PIF. I've heard a lot of good things about this razor and am really happy to finally have one of my own. For this first shave, I took a conservative approach, using a Chinese Schick, rather than a Proline, and a setting just above 'L'.

The shave was very pleasant overall and two passes brought home a BBS or close enough.

Comparing the PAL to the Schick Adjustable is an interesting exercise as the two take somewhat different approaches to adjustability. The PAL adjusts by moving the safety bar in and out while the Schick adjusts by moving the safety bar up and down. The way the PAL works reminds me of my experiences with the Schick E2 and G1. At a setting of 'L' (for light beards), the PAL moves the bar to its furthest point from the blade; the dimensions remind me of the E2 which is one of my favorite Injectors. As the knob is moved towards 'H' (for heavy beards), the PAL retracts the safety bar, giving a more blade-forward profile. This reminds me of the dimensions of the G1 which many people love but which is not one of my favorites. I tend to have a light beard so this actually all makes sense to me.

 

Lovely 500 Rick!

A blood free shave with the painstick is winning!

Nice shave and a great photo, Neal!

Fantastic Shot!

As you continue to work through other soaps you'll find that not many can top the performance of Tabac.

It doesn't get any better then epic!

Fantastic photo, Clint!

Nice shot Perry, I'm glad the vintage blade worked for you!

 

Thanks Jim!

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Thanks Andrew!

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Soap is cheap. One suggestion that works great for me it to make a couple of practice lathers with any new soap I get. Keep adding water until the lather collapses. Then you have an idea how much it can hold, and you add water until right before it collapses to get the good stuff. This gets more important when you get up to 25 plus types of soaps that all have different water levels.

 

Thank you, Andrew! I have several other types to try - exciting!

 

How do you know when lather has collapsed? The lather looks all fluffy and has soft peaks, but it's not slick or thick.


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When the lather looks like milk is when you've added too much water.

 

or I guess melted ice cream also

 

This almost sounds like not enough soap loaded.

This. I don't mind wasting a little soap if it helps me have a better shave when I use it.

 

Thank you Andrew.

 

I know that is what I thought too, but I loaded the hell out of the brush. I'm just going to keep experimenting, may be try distilled water for loading.


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Using a sample of Cologne Russe today. It’s a bit of an acquired taste but the more I use it the more I like it. There is something in this one and in Stirling Ben Franklin that smells a bit like dill pickle juice. Interesting.

 

Has anyone posted the super goop video here recently? It's a terrific lathering method.

 

@GawainandtheGreenKnight - check out this video:

 

Yeah, I think I watched I've been using a similar technique, it worked great with Tabac, has failed a few subsequent attempts.


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I think Tabac is a particularly thirsty soap, so it should be able to take a lot of water. Each soap has its tolerance level. Stirling and Jeeves can both take TONS of water and the more the work in (slowly) the better and slicker the lather.