September 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Wonderful photo, Jim!

 

Nice photo, Clint! Love the reflections in the wood.

 

Thanks, Perry.

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That is the H2. Cousin to the Hussy. Little harder to find I think. If you want to try one let me know.

 

Haha no worries. Most use that weird MMOC instead of OCMM.

 

Well, there will be a significant difference between bowl-lathered soap and face-lathered soap. Bowl lathering whips in MUCH more air, resulting in a lighter, fluffier lather. It comes down to what you are looking for in your lather. Yogurt or whipped cream.

 

I mostly bowl lather but not exclusively. Depends on my mood. Thanks for your help.

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I have several straights, but I think this is the first one that qualifies as a pimp stick. Pictures don’t do this baby justice! New Bismarck blade with stabilized elder burl wood custom made for me by @Pete123. Normally I’m a cheapskate and BST kind of guy, but I splurged on this one and I’m really really glad I did. This thing is instantly the star of the stable and a great shaver!

Shameless plug: @Pete123 is a TSD member and also the owner of HendrixClassics.com and just a really all around good dude. I didn’t know him prior to finding him on the forums and having him make a knife for me, but in the process of making me a knife and a razor, he’s also generously offered guidance to help me learn to make my own scales, and given me tips on bringing old blades back to life. On top of that, knowing that I’m learning to hone, he sent me some old rat razors to practice with just because he’s that kind of a guy. I cannot recommend someone more highly, and I can’t rave about the finished product enough to do it justice. So much so, that this cheapskate has another order in the works. Cheers!

Randy

 

Cool!

Safe travels!

 

Thank you, Jim!

 

Thank you, Perry!

 

That is a gorgeous razor, Randy! Great job @Pete123!

 

Lots of learning went with today's shave. First, thanks to 30DC members and master enablers @clint64 and @Keithmax (along with several other TSD members) for their recommendation of the Bismarck. I like slightly larger, heavier blades, but this is my first heavier blade which has enough of a hollow to provide significant audible feedback. BINGO! Instant learning. The singing of the razor, gave me the feedback I needed to verify that I was still cutting hair even when using much lighter pressure. As was the case when learning DE shaving, I'm realizing that too much pressure is ALWAYS the enemy of a good shave, and this blade gives me the feedback I need to lighten up. The result was my closest shave on my neck ever. Still not BBS, but I was starting to wonder if a BBS on the neck was even possible for me with a straight. Now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Secondly, a word about the little silver container of pre-shave in the pic. In the past, I have not been impressed with pre-shaves, as my experience is that they don't do what they claim to do. In fact, that's a nice way of putting it. I kind of put pre-shave in the snake oil category. Much of this comes from the fact that I can't remember the last time I had irritation DE shaving, and believe the #1 determinant in getting an irritation free shave is proper shaving technique. Yes, I am a die-hard Technique Trumps Tools guy. (For those who have had good luck with a pre-shave, this is not to take away from your experience as YMMV.) Anyway, Mohammad at Grooming Dept, sent me a sample of his pre-shave he is developing to try out and give him feedback. (No bias here, as I've done this for a number of well known artisans developing products.) Anyway, I figured that, having not perfected my straight razor technique, and running into irritation trying way too many passes to chase the baby, this product might protect me from my own stupidity a bit. Mission accomplished. Mohammad's pre-shave really does what it says it will. First of all, it definitely reduces irritation and helps with blade glide. Sometimes my wiry whiskers can slow down a straight blade (particularly with light, full hollow 5/8 blades), and this pre-shave has really reduced the incidence of this happening. Additionally, it's not oily or goopy at all (like I find most pre-shaves to be), and after a 3 pass shave and rinse, there's no annoying oily residue to wipe off, but instead, a great feeling of skin conditioning. I continue to be amazed at Mohammad's ability to dial in formulations of shaving products to a level really not approached by most artisans. Will I use pre-shave when I don't need "training wheels" for the straight anymore? I dunno, but if I do it'll be this one for sure.

 

Excellent setup, Brian! I need to hone my PRC Hydra and get in a shave or two!

Good stuff, Neal!

Excellent shot, Jim! I've noted before(probably before you joined us) that the only weakness of Stirling is that it will not form up into a usable lather in a hot scuttle. It will end up looking like the foam at the base of a waterfall. If you paint that foam on and then work it into a face later then it will turn into the creamy goodness we all know from Stirling. Once the scuttle cools down a bit it will all come together. As far as using a cold scuttle, maybe your adding too much water in the beginning?

Fantastic photo, Clint!

Noice!

Pimp stick for sure, Randy!

 

If you have the pocket protector to go with it - that makes you the Nerd King, doesn't it? And we all know the power of those rarest of creatures.

​

 

Is it weird that this actually inspires me to "ride the bolt" next MAYhem?

That kind of goes without saying, doesn't it. Hopefully you have the matching hat with horns. If not, @PickledNorthern can probably hook you up with one.

Sorry your scuttle has you scuttled, Jim. (I know, I hate puns too, but somebody had to say it.)

Clint, your enabling powers transcend words. I've been looking at that brush and may have to order one. There's a $65 version and a $100 version (that supposedly has 10% tips and super softness or some such marketing hype). Anybody have any feedback on the differences, if any?

I'm assuming both of these are redheads and not razors.

Thanks, Jim. I hate to gush, but I really can't say enough good stuff about it in both looks and performance.

 

Thanks, Andrew!


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The less expensive of the two is a mixed badger/boar. That's what Clint and I have. I ordered mine from the Portuguese factory.

And yes, I am scuttled.

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The expensive version is also a mixed badger/boar as well. Just wondering if there are any appreciable differences that justify the extra $30. How do you like the knot, Jim? Despite my preference for two band silvertip, I've recently started to really enjoy my SOC boar lately, and thought the mixed knot might be just the ticket.

 

I see an answer to Neal's over abundance of babies. It's not a Viking breastplate. More of an Evil Cartel Overlord armor.

That could account for the minty scent I like. Osage Rub is more straight up menthol.

That's why I like using a bowl - control. I shake most of the water from my brush before loading, but also moisten the unglazed textured inner surface of my suribachi. Tending to load soap heavily, the wetness to soap ratio comes together naturally using these tools for me. My lather epiphany happened last Decadent DECember when I Focused on getting it right and not worrying about making too much. Since then I rarely use too little soap. It's an "Ah-Hah!" thing when you get the lather you like. Don't be afraid to add more water because if you go past optimal and it goes soupy just add more soap.