August 2018 30 Day Rule/focus Pix & Discussion

August 23

G3 Gillette Fatboy
Sputnik (2)
JR #160 Louisville Slugger handle with Omega 10098 boar knot
Le Père Lucien - unscented
Alum, Thayers Lavender witch hazel, Trumper Coral Skin Food, and unrefined shea butter

Today was my second shave with a Sputnik blade. A tuck was included as part of a Russian DE blade assortment compliments of @NCoxSTL. In Neal's honor, I kept the Fatboy on setting 9 to evaluate this new blade. I broke out the alum bar in order to help with the skin stretching (it works great on the finger tips of my off-hand), and I also used it as part of my post-shave routine. Both yesterday and today, I performed one pass plus touch-up shaves. The resulting shaves have been very close, but I'm feeling some minor irritation afterwards. The alum confirmed it today.

My first impression of the Sputnik blades is that they are plenty sharp but not quite as smooth as the other Russian blades I've tried. In my experience, no blade beats Voskhod for smoothness. (I've heard that you can't beat a Fatboy with a Feather, but I'm not sure if that had anything to do with shaving.) I've got 5 Sputnik blades/15 shaves to see if my opinion on this blade changes. I'll stick with it and let you know. If anyone has an opinion on this blade, I'd like to hear it.

We had beautiful weather here today. It was sunny and in the 70s. It will dip into the 50s tonight. My Bride and I spent time outside today enjoying the sun, and we checked over some quotes on items for the house. My friend and I had dinner at an Indian restaurant this evening, and afterwards we saw Mile 22. I'm down a little over 15 lbs as of this morning.

I have enjoyed all the posts, the beautiful photos, and the banter today. I'm especially glad to see @Douglas Carey and @LevelupShaves back in the groove with us. I hope you all had a great day.

 

Excellent report, John!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

Well I, of course, have an opinion on the Sputnik. I also want to say up front that I did not pay Charlie to say that about Voskhod, nor have I ever paid Charlie for endorsing quality Russian steel. (Don't worry Charlie - the check is in the mail - nobody here needs to know). Sputnik is what I call the "poor man's Voskhod". To me it is a sharp blade but not as smooth as the Voskhod. My two cents.

 

Thanks good to be back although I generally don't shave in the weekends so I'll be back to posting Monday. Sounds like a great shave though might have to put a Voskie on deck.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

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

August 23

Razor - Type M Schick Injector (Wide Open)
Blade - (??)
Soap - Soap Commander Fortitude
Brush - Semogue 620
Post - Alum

For a few days I thought I wouldn't get the Schick worked into Adjustable August due to the Personna 74 lasting nearly forever. But, with it out of the picture now I switched to the Schick. I discovered, much to my chagrin, that I have no new blades for the injectors. Me. The Blade Czar. Of the Blade Cartel. Out of a blade. I hang my head in shame and can only beg forgiveness based on the fact I rarely use the injectors in spite of liking them very much. I won't let it happen again. Excuse me while I slip over and order some.

Ok. That will fix that problem in a couple of days. In the meantime I still have a blade in the razor from the last time I used it and I only used it 2 or 3 times. It's an injector. It's fine. Looks good, gave it an alcohol soak and went to work.

I chose Soap Commander Fortitude and decided to go old school with a boar brush. Since the Type M was the first razor I ever used as a much younger version of myself a more vintage shave seems appropriate. Two passes, touch ups including some Schick slides and all is well with a very nice BBS. Alum was quiet and all that is left is to sit back and wait for blades. Life is good.

​

 

Thanks Neal. Your comments about Sputnik blades confirm my initial impressions. I have PayPal set up if you want to send Rubles that way from now on.

 

Just to throw it out there,
I use m-bomb on soaps, add it in the mix with cremes, ice even used it in some lotiony balms. It just seemed easier to add the crystals to most alcohol based aftershaves. I'm not sure if the glycerin would blend with the aftershave. I'm not sure it won't either. It's just the way I did it.
M-bomb the lather, ice the aftershave. Shiver after the process.

 

That would give you 273 years worth of shaves. Hmmmmm. Might need to lay in a couple hundred more. Just in case.

 

i bought a few razors as a newbie, mostly vintage gillettes.almost at my 2 year anniversary using them .i notice subtle differences between the gillettes, the weights mostly( tech vs aristocrat).they all give me fantastic shaves.my most used daily driver is a flare tip rocket, 60s vintage.i have gained most of my experience with this razor.
i like and use the russian blades the most,gillettes mostly. they do the job with no drama, i have no reason to find a different blade now. they all feel similar.
while i am not a collector in the true sense i do have a small collection of british gillettes that i wanted for various reasons. if i could have only one based on performance only, i am not sure which one i would choose.either way,skin stretching ,riding the cap etc has made all the difference. soaps are my variables now, different scents mainly. keeps it fun and different.
all anyone needs is one soap, blade and razor. but the forum would be a little boring after a while, just my 2 cents,...

 

You almost had me there. I was just getting set to send you two Rubles in place of my two cents when I remembered that two cents equals 1.37 Rubles. Boy you were trying to pull a fast one there!

 

A Ruble saved is a Ruble earned.

 

We all really only need one soap, blade and razor. Or in the case of the Dark Side one razor and one soap. Ok, so add a brush, though those aren't 100% necessary. Most of us would also die of boredom within a year trying that and you are certainly correct it might even dull this place up a bit. I will say, though, that my collection is not nearly as large as I once dreamed or imagined. I realized on my way down the path to full on RAD that just because it was cool didn't make it either great or something I needed to have in a drawer and use once every two years. I still have too many, but at least I can justify each one in the collection. (In my mind at least)

 

Congrats on the weight loss, Charlie! I've gone from 240lbs to mid 160's give or take a couple of lbs depending on the day. I feel and look like a new man. Keep at it, you'll be glad you did.

I only have three shaves with the Sputnik. My notes list it as good but not great. I don't keep very detailed notes.



Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

i haven t used my adjustables much this month so far.. i wanted to but its a nostalgia thing for me sometimes.i really like my crats and stuff more at present. i am however using basic soaps and creams more, ie proraso, nivea, williams,they work well....my fancier ones are more of a treat..

 

Jim, thanks for the encouragement and congrats on your new lifestyle! A 75 lb. weight loss is incredible!

So far, I would agree with "good but not great" as a description for the Sputnik blade.

 

He also reported 12 shaves on a putty knife and 4 shaves on a sharpened femur bone...

 

Just awesome, Jim. Even when we have the same gear, mine just doesn’t look like yours in pics...How is the super max?

 

Great combo, Joseph. Florida Water just may be my favourite ‘budget’ splash.

 

Great write up, John. I’m amazed I didn’t folllow you on that great Kent deal last Black Friday. That holiday sale in November may be your last NB hurdle...

 

I think I'll invite this guy to MAYhem next year - but only if he adds shaving to his services offered.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=223381844973587