November 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Love the picture. Can you tell us about the razor?


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I think it is a wonderful scent. Most vetiver scents are one note and can be intense. Rod managed to lighten and brighten the vetiver up with citrus type notes. With all the profits going to a great cause, I had to give it a try.


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Thank you Jim.


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Great looking photo Jim. Very cool looking razor.


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Wonderful photo and report Jim. I’m a confirmed soap bloomer.


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Thank you Andrew.


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Thanks, Clint. I'm going to continue blooming for the foreseeable future.

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SOTD November 2nd


Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap
Blackland Blackbird SB
RazoRock Game Changer .84-P
Rapira Platinum Lux (2)
Yaqi Moka Express (26mm, Frigate class)
Stirling Hot Apple Cider
The Blades Grim Smolder AS
Stirling Glacial Unscented PSB

Whew, that's a whole lot of product being used in this shave! Today's head to head features the safety bar version of the Blackbird and the RazoRock Game Changer .84-P. I start the shave with some Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap. I was never a believer in preshave until this. Very lightly mentholated (I don't even notice it anymore) and loaded with Glycerine it helps soften up the whiskers before you shave. I find this particularly useful if I shave without taking a shower first. It is also super slick in itself, I find it a challenge holding on to anything after I apply this stuff. While the preshave sits on my face I load my brush and build my lather. Of course the lather was super shiny, creamy, and goopy because I was using a Stirling soap. I apply the lather to my face directly over the preshave soap and am then ready to go. I begin the shave on my left side with the Blackbird, very similar feel using the SB as the OC. Pick up the GC and take my first stroke on the right side, WOW that's smooth! The contrast is very striking, The BB has quite a bit more blade feel then the GC and even at it's shallowest possible angle still feels aggressive. I continue my next two passes with just the general sense that the BB is the more aggressive of the two razors. During the shave I do start to notice a bit of tingle from the cinnamon oil in the Hot Apple Cider soap, but nothing I can't ignore. I finish the shave and apply the Smolder AS and then follow it up with the Glacial Unscented PSB by Stirling. Upon inspection the BB side was true BBS while the GC side wasn't quite there, DFS+ for sure though. Perhaps some angle adjustments with the GC would allow it to match the efficiency of BB while still maintaining the greater degree of smoothness. Have a great weekend my friends!!

TGIF!!!

 

Wonderful photos, Andrew! I also use Stirling mentholated pre-shave soap in the same manner. I wet my face, scrub up some soap in my hands, and then rub in all around my face. Then I let it sit as I load the brush. Wash it off and face lather. I've been using the same bar for over a year now. It's dwindled down to a small sliver but it is still going strong. Hoping it will make it to Black Friday and I can add another bar in on my order.

TGIF!!

 

Thanks Andrew. Does Rod make a soap with a scent similar to Terre D'Hermes by Hermes? That would pair nicely with Fine L’Orange Noir aftershave. It's one of my favorites.

 

Thank you, Perry!

 

He does indeed! His Arkadia soap is based on TdH!

 

Stirling Sheep Soap (with the infamous mutton tallow) also makes a fine pre-shave soap.

 

If you find a Slim or Black Beauty gives good shave, skipping the expense of a Fat Boy is understandable. I'm the same with Toggles because they have the same or close geometry compared to Fattys. I'm not knocking Toggles, but there were some issues that Gillette tried to fix with the limited production runs and different versions. Ultimately they took that data and the Fay Boy happened. If one presents itself at the right price I'll buy it like I did with several Fat Boys, Slims, and BBs. I've tried all but the Toggle and found I prefer the thick head & handle of 195s and earlier models rather than later.

 

Excellent report, Andrew!
I use the Stirling mentholated pre shave soap in the same way. I don't notice the menthol either. Most morning's I shave before I shower. The timing works out better with the wife and I sharing the bathroom to get ready at the same time.

Thanks for sharing the picture of Logan cleaning out the pumpkin.

TGIF!!!

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Wonderful side-by-side comparison, Andrew! Those are two awesome razors.

Seeing Logan this morning makes my day.

 

Thanks, Jim!

 

Thank you, Charlie!

 

I want to share one of my dear young friends with you all. I praise the Lord for his progress!

https://www.wave3.com/2018/10/25/pediatric-heart-transplant-patient-goes-home/

 

Thank you. I may have to pick up some along with some of his Sheep Soap on Black Friday.

Well done, Mr. Enabler.