August 2018 30 Day Rule/focus Pix & Discussion

Random Palmolive Day...

 

Adjustable (Arko) Anything Goes and whatever else we decide AUGUST!!!!

August 22

Razor - Qshave (Futur clone) (6)
Blade - (21)
Soap - Arko
Brush - Stirling Two Banded Synthetic
Post - Alum, Nivea Original Balm

Notice a difference in my shave description above? There's an added item you rarely see in my shaves. After-shave balm. Not splash - but balm. And yes, that's a bad omen for the Personna 74.

I chose Arko for the soap tonight. Partly because it is still a part of the monthly theme and, let's face it, partly for its performance. I got the usual incredibly slick and cushy lather. And, as I began the shave, I also got something I haven't noticed much before. Noise. Not the same kind of noise a carbon makes but more than this blade has given me so far. No difference in the Qshave from last night. Still on 6, so nothing changed there. But the sound gave it away. The next thing I noticed was the tuggy feeling, especially as I worked in and around the goatee. That's usually a sign of a dull or bad blade. Could this be the end? I mean, we're talking shave 21 - three full weeks of shaves. Second pass was a bit smoother, but of course a second pass always is. I did some extra touch up work on my neck to try and get the high DFS I missed last night by a bit. And, once I decided it was the best I could get it, I picked up the alum to check. I knew from the feel I had lost some on the quality and the alum was warm. Yep. Definitely a problem.

I went ahead and grabbed the Nivea balm and applied it. It helped the burn and after-shave feel immensely, but in applying I also realized how far from BBS I have strayed. There was definitely a drop in effectiveness and comfort. Enough of a drop for me to say - I've found the limit for me with the blade. I know I could probably get a couple more shaves in if I absolutely had to, but let's be honest.......I have enough blades in the house to capsize small cruise ships.

That was a great three week run for a classic NOS blade. And, I now know that the remaining 4 in my collection would deliver a full 3 months of shaves if I decided to use them exclusively. That's extremely impressive. It's a shame that the blade is no longer in production but the company definitely made more money on its less reliable blades. Sad that economics has to override quality at times.

Thanks again to the anonymous donor of the blades! I hope watching me use this was interesting for you and everyone else as well!

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I have to say that about 15 great shaves and 6 not-so-great but still decent shaves out of one blade is phenomenal.

When I played briefly in the Excalibur Club over on Badger+Blade, the hardcore guys said that after anywhere from 4 or 5 to a dozen good to not bad shaves, the blade would start to get rough and tug. That was the point when most people would ditch it. However, if you persisted through the following up to half a dozen or so rough shaves, the blade would then smooth out again and the shaves would become "buttery smooth". And would stay that way for anywhere up to the next 100 shaves.

My own experience was that (1) I just don't have the patience or tolerance to endure bad shaves long enough to "push through" that initial rough patch; and (2) when I did try it, yes, the blade smoothed out again, but at a lower level of shaving efficiency than originally enjoyed and one that steadily dropped. My personal suspicion was that regular Excalibur Club players spent several months going around with sandpapery jaws that would have been smooth if they hadn't been acclimatizing themselves to regular rotten shaves. I ultimately just couldn't see the point.

I did manage to get 42 decent shaves out of a vintage carbon blade (a PAL Gold Thin Hollow Ground carbon) but that was mainly because I was testing an equally vintage bladesaver resharpening gadget to see if they had really worked. (They did.). If I ran the blade through the gadget every 5 shaves as it started to get rough, it would smooth out again - until finally it no longer did after more than a straight month of use.

But 15 to 21 excellent shaves on a blade with no need to accept bad results for a few shaves as you "push through" a rough patch is really a great result. I can see why the Personna 74 has such an incredible reputation.

 

Cool to be able to trace your roots like that, and indeed we will always be linked!

What kind of shavette is that? Saw a pack of those Derby blades on ebay for like £1.99 per 100... Unbelievable price!

 

It's a Magic shavette. According to Chris @Bama Samurai and several other users here, it's one of the two best shavettes around. The other one is the Parker SRX, which is a really nice solid steel number.

 

Wonderful photo Jim. You guys are really tempting me with the Taj mixed brush. Not sure how much longer I will be able to resist.

 

SOTD August 23, 2018

Prep: Cold water and Stirling mentholated pre-shave soap
Blade: Schick
Razor: Schick I1 injector
Brush: Artisan badger
Soap: First Canadian Shave Maximo Gomez
Post: Witch hazel, RazoRock American Barber aftershave

Nice and easy shave this morning. Second use of the sample of Maximo Gomez soap. Slick and easy to lather. Terrific soap and it set the stage for an efficient run with the Schick I1. No complaints here. Smooth sailing all around.

Have a great day!

 

August 23, 2018
O.R.E.N V2 with 2 Dot
Feather Super Pro
Rubberset 400 #3 with WSP HMW
Proraso Cypress & Vetyver
Shave Cream & After Shave Balm

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This week is going by quickly. I decided to use Proraso Cypress & Vetyver shave cream this morning. It has set in the cabinet neglected. As expected it was very easy to lather with superb slickness. Three passes full passes and touch ups ended in a truly Epic shave. The shave was certainly the my best of the week. I hope everyone has a great Thursday.

 

Great photo Perry. Good luck at school today.

 

August 23 SOTD:

Razor: Vanta
Blade: Polsilver
Brush: PAA Atomic Rocket
Lather: WSP Mahogany
Aftershave: WSP Mahogany
Additional Care:
Stirling Unscented PSB

What a nice shave this morning. This is one of favorite scents, so it started nicely. Then, at the last minute, I decided to use the Vanta shavette. I did one pass, just a little clean up, and ended with a DFS. I could have caught the baby, but I left good enough alone. I finished with some matching AS and my day is on the move. I am working half a day today, then I am going fishing. It is shaping up to be a great Thursday. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

Excellent picture, Perry!

 

Gorgeous picture, Clint!

 

Thank you, Clint! This week is going by quickly, as you also stated. First football game tomorrow night so the kids are excited.

Thank you, Jim!

 

Wow! That is a home run photo, Clint!

 

Neal, congrats on the phenomenal three-week run with the P74. You put the blade though its paces for sure. It was fun following along with you!

 

Another amazing photo, Jim!

 

@jtface, I have a ball shaving with my Parker SRX. (This post is made for purely educational purposes. No enabling intended. )

 

That's a product I won't have a need for. I don't shave my head, but what little hair is still there is very short. I'll stick with the aftershaves.

 

You actually use a spreadsheet to track your shave usages? You truly are an accountant, aren't ya?
And your wife used to make you lists that you'd initial? You two were really meant to be together.

 

That's a really cool photo, Clint, contrasting the classic Rubberset 400 handle with the futuristic Cyborg. Congrats on an epic shave. Is the razor handle comfortable and stable in hand?

Have a great day, my friend.