August 2018 30 Day Rule/focus Pix & Discussion

Nice photo and shave, Jason!

 

Great pic and write up, Joseph. Glad to see your keyboard got its verbose mojo back!
I’ve checked out the Panama at IB. Their own Mudder Focker is based on it as well, I believe. What is your opinion on that bowl? I only ask as the bowl adds $90CDN to the price of the soap. It makes the Nuàvia bowls seem dollar store-esque by comparison.

 

I think I’m going to do the same, Perry, and make it a Stirling September in addition to SEs.

 

Great! The more the merrier. I'm really looking forward to it because I haven't used a Stirling soap or splash in some time. It'll be fun to get them out and rotate through everything. Great quality.

 

Shave Report #12

Gillette (Flat Bottom) Fat Handle Tech (Made in England)
Astra SP (3rd and final use)
Bluebeard Doubloon Boar Brush
TOBS Peppermint
Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm

So, my shavette arrived today. I put a blade in it and fumbled through a first WTG pass (with the full intention of following up with a cleanup pass with my (now trusty) Tech. I have to say, I am not that enamoured by the gymnastics needed to use this kind of razor. It felt so cheap, light and chattery on my face... I only ended up with a couple of weepers (they stopped with a cold rinse) and some irritation. I did a WTG clean up pass with my Tech and somewhat salvaged the situation.

Enjoy your shaves gents!

 

Pocket knives are another weakness of mine. I have several Spyderco, GEC, a few Benchmades, a ZT and a one off Olamic Cutlery. I almost always have a pocket knife and a flashlight in my pocket.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

Wonderful photo, and great recap of the month, Clint!

 

What kind of shavette are you using?

 

I suppose I do like Lavender a bit, as it is a main component of a few barbershop scents I really enjoy, but on its own, I'm not rushing out to buy a pure Lavender scent by any means. I think my next CL aftershave will probably be the Fougere, as I'm looking at a Fougere soap or two.
As for the TFS products, the soaps are actually not all the same base. Mastro Miche contains Lanolin, but some of the others are Vegan, although you have to look closely at the ingredients as none of them are really labeled that way. I had the Farinik (vegan) as well, which I paid a whopping $4 for at IB and ended up binning after a number of uses as the performance just wasn't the same as the lanolin-infused MM and the scent was way too cinnamon heavy for me. They also have an Anniversary line in a few LE scents with a different base (and unobtrusive graphics!) as well.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way about Patches. I like strawberries, but not to shave with. Especially when it smells like super fake candied strawberry. The soap base is plenty good, and performance is great. I just can't get past the smell.

Can't wait to see the straight!

 

As far as the cheap $9 tubes, John, I think it is still the original 4. Unless I've missed it, I haven't seen the new 3 creams in the standard sized Proraso tubes.

 

August 31, 2018

Razor: F2 Gillette 195 Adjustable (5)
Blade: 7 o'Clock Permasharp Stainless (Indian Green)
Brush: 30DC LE/Pure Badger
Soap: Williams
Post: Alum, Listerine, WH

Final day of the month and we end with a classic Adjustable, the FatBoy. The 30DC brush hasn't been out much lately as I've been on a bit of a Boar kick. All the pieces came together for a great end to the month.

This month, I really tried to bring my A-game and stay with the theme for the month, bringing out several adjustable razors. Along the way, I brought out the English Flat Bottom Tech for "Anglophile August", the Impoverished Patrician for "Aristocrat August", and the Schick B1 for "Art Deco August". I'd have to check, but I think there may also have been a couple of days of "AutoStrop August". A family crisis messed with my head for several days, during which I had an "Austere August" shave. I ultimately recovered and brought out some "August Gold" razors (August being the only month with a 'G' in it) as well as a newly-acquired Single Ring clone for "Acquisition August". All in all, an enjoyable month.

 

Oh that's right. They just come in those clumsy big "barber" sacks, don’t they? I wonder why Proraso decided to market them that way?

 

A £1.59 cheapo special!

https://theshaveden.com/forums/thre...us-pix-discussion.60128/page-167#post-1468486

 

I believe @NCoxSTL was sending Mostochlegmash/Rapira blades, John. If you want to try more St. Pete's Gillettes (where your Polsilvers are from, as well as Astras, Nacets, GSBs etc), I've got lots.
I guess it depends on if you want to support APShave Co specifically, but most of his synthetics you can get at Yaqi in full brushes quite cheaply, including the Fan.

 

It looks similar to the Magic shavette that Chris @Bama Samurai uses. I would suggest asking him for tips on better control.

 

I was just letting Neal know which Russian blades I already have so he could send something different. Whether they from Mostochlegmash/Rapira or St. Pete's Gillettes doesn't really matter.

Thanks for the tip about Yaqi. I went and looked at their site. Lot of different brushes, knots are a little less easy to sort out and order. By the time I do the currency conversion and figure in shipping, I don't think the prices at APShaveCo are going to be much higher than from Yaqi, and he's a known quantity for me unlike ordering from Yaqi in China via Aliexpress.

 

Glad you had a great day and a great shave to top it off, Neal!

Excellent photo, Perry!

Top shelf setup, I love that brush and razor handle. Fantastic monthly recap as well!

Looks like an excellent started setup to me!

Glad the results were better today, Randy!

John, I wasn't a fan of the Rubie either. I bet if I tried them again they would work perfectly fine now.

Excellent post Joseph!

Nice shot and recap, Jason!

James, Only a couple of weepers on your first open blade shave is a win!

A great shave and month, John!

 

Thank you, Andrew!

 

I started collecting knives when my razor collection got out of control. Its a deep freaking rabbit hole. I'm up to about 8 belt knives and about 45 folders. Mostly vintage, but my main carry knives are all modern. Would love to see a picture of your collection.