August 2018 30 Day Rule/focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you

 

Travel SOTD
TSD Barber Shoppe Soap
AoS Pure Badger Brush
Tuckmar Razor
Stirling Red Eye After Shave
Have fun!

 

August 15, 2018- Army-Issue August

Razor: US Gillette Bakelite Tech
Blade: 7 o'Clock Permasharp Stainless (1)
Brush: Semogue 620
Soap: Williams
Post: Alum, Listerine, WH

I'm behind by a couple of days, so a quick catch-up: For Monday and Tuesday, I used the English FB Tech and the Permasharp for two nice shaves. I decided to retire that particular blade after yesterday's shave as it was starting to not perform as well.

For today, I am using a Bakelite Tech as was presumably provided by the US Army during WWII. For the blade, I am going with another 7 o'Clock Indian Green. There is a bit more blade feel than with the FB Tech, but just enough to remind you how efficient this combo is. All in all, an easy BBS with no issues.

 

Great travel shave, Brian!

 

Congrats Andrew!!!

 

My new (to me) Gillette Fat Handle Tech (Flat Bottom, Made in England) will be arriving tomorrow!

I will be starting a rule - one with an indefinite end point! The end point will be when I am able to achieve a DFS grade shave with 2 passes (+touch-up as required) with zero irritation.

Now, I know that the mantra here is that 'technique trumps tools', but does this apply to blades? I have got 63 Astra SP blades sitting in my cupboard. I know that you all like different blades, but is it actually possible to get good, close, irritation free shaves (DFS standard) with pretty much any blade if your technique is good enough? Or should I buy better blades?

The provisional gear for the rule:

Gillette Fat Handle Tech
Astra SP
Bluebeard Doubloon Boar Brush
Palmolive Shave Stick
Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm

 

Great pic and post Perry.


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Thank you Jim.


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Thank you Bruce. I picked this one up used on The Nook BST a couple of years ago.


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Thank you Jim.


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You did have a busy morning. Great photo as well.


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Thank you Perry.


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Thank you, Clint!

 

I'm sure with good technique you could get a clean close irritation free shave from just about any blade. Speaking for myself, I know I have preferred blades, and the ones I don't care for I couldn't say that they were the cause of irritation. I waited until my technique improved before sampling different blades. Your Astras are a fine blade and should serve you well during your focus. Best of luck to you!

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First off, congrats on the razor!
Second, good for you to do a rule without a definite end point.
Yes, you already have the idea - with proper technique you can get great shaves with any gear - that includes blades. Astra SPs are excellent blades - you could almost say they're a "fan favorite". They're plenty sharp, yet smooth. Many people around these parts use them regularly.

Once you get where you're consistent, then try different blades. You'll find that, once your technique is good, blades aren't that terribly different.

 

We are teaching you straight razor shaving, you're just using a safety razor at this time. Watching straight razor technique videos and then applying the ideas to safety razors was the best thing I ever did to alleviate irritation.

 

Thanks bud! Hopefully I'll be sampling blades with you soon enough!

Great stuff! Thank you, Bruce!

Any particularly good ones that I could take a look at?

 

@jtface - this is considered Canon by many here.

 

@jtface

 

@Bama Samurai Chris, thank you for sharing these. I'll be making sure that I get a good handle on skin stretching. It's actually something that I've really been neglecting these past months!