November 2018 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you, Bruce!

 

Thank you Gents. The Supply is a unique little razor. I am sure I will get the angle down eventually. I am most interested in trying some of the other blades as well. @PLAla I did manage to get the velcro sound once or twice. I am pretty sure that was me going to far and scraping more than cutting.

 

Fantastic shave and photo Randy.

 

Congrats on the new razor Jim.

 

I certainly have a "focus" in mind with my Wet Shaving Products soap(Mahogony). Actually with ANY WSP soap, When that comes around in the rotation I need to use it 3 straight days, maybe even getting to 4, to show at least SOME dent after I finish. Round 2 this morning, will use again tomorrow. I know I sound like a broken record here, but Lee really jams that soap into the puck/the puck/the puck.the.....TURN THAT THING OFF.

 

No Repeat NOvember Shave
It’s been a while since I nicked myself with a straight and I did it twice today. It’s not the razors fault but operator error. I think I got in a hurry.
Catie’s Bubbles Confiant Soap
B-400 Brush by Tom
Art Razor Pegasus Razor
Catie’s Bubbles Confiant After Shave
Have fun!

 

November 27, 2018- NOthing But Techs

Razor: M1 (1Q67) Travel Tech
Blade: 7 o'Clock Permasharp Stainless (3)
Brush: Razorock Plissoft 22
Soap: Stirling Sheep
Post: Alum, Listerine, WH

With only three Techs left, it was time to face my fears and go with the other shave that I've been somewhat dreading this month- my first ever shave with a "Travel Tech". You know, a regular Tech head on virtually the shortest possible handle.

The Travel Tech is an interesting artifact of the time when a razor was still considered a Durable Good. These sets consisted of a Tech head, short handle, and a pack of 1-3 blades all housed in a vinyl or leather folding case or a metal case which, in some cases, included a small mirror in the lid. They were sold alongside of other travel-sized good or in gift shops. In the latter case, the pouch or case might be emblazoned with the name or image of a tourist destination. The latter seem to be the more coveted versions due to their broader collectability.

I purchased this one because it was inexpensive and I figured that I should have one in my collection. As you may note, the blades are of current manufacture; the set did not include usable blades and I felt that the 3-pack of PP blades would best fit in the pouch.

So, why have I been dreading this shave? Frankly, it was because of the short handle. My personal preference is something around the length of a classic Tech handle and I really wasn't sure how easy it would be to shave with this much shorter handle. In reality, it was pretty much a no-brainer other than feeling slightly silly at first. (I kept having images of that scene in "North By Northwest" where Cary Grant is shaving with the tiny razor.) I normally choke up on my razor, so there was no issue with the grip; mostly, I just missed the feel of the butt of the handle against my palm. No problems with keeping a light touch or finding the right angle.

The end result was a very close and smooth shave with no issues.

Three days and two Techs left. Hmm... either I need to skip a day or figure out what to do about Friday.

 

Wonderful post, John! I have a couple of those travel Techs. Really neat razors!

 

They are interesting. I could seem someone really going down a rabbit hole collecting them for the case variations.

Personally, I prefer a two-piece travel handle but I can see why that was not cost effective for this market.

 

Great shave Brian. Enjoy the time working from home.

 

Thank you, Clint!

 

Another excellent report John. The Travel Tech is a cool looking razor.

 

The gods of chance have been looking kindly upon you, Neal!

Beautiful shot, Perry!

Excellent shot Jim! Three passes with the Dart? Must have been the Derby.

Stunning shot, Clint! I fine the Personnas to be the least sharp of the three blades(but sharp enough for me) and the Prolines the sharpest with the Chinese Schicks somewhere in the middle.

Wow, that is a decadent setup, Randy!

Great shot Jim! Interesting to hear that the Walbush has a little more blade feel.

Fantastic shot, Brian! Love those scales!

Nice shave, John! You could always do a Flush the Format Friday!

 

Thank you, Andrew! I find the Chicks to be the least sharp with the Personnas in the middle and Prolines being the sharpest. May need to reevaluate and see if my impression has changed. I'm glad that I really enjoy the regular Schick Chick. They work quite well.

 

NOvember Focus

RR XXX vs. Acqua di Parma Colonia~~D5/M&F~~Feather AS-D2~~Feather
Decided to compare the $10 RR XXX soap with the original, discontinued $70 (approx) Acqua di Parma Colonia
I did my best to "level" the playing field.
No "Bloom", but did splash some water onto the soaps and pour it right off.
Both brushes were well-soaked and squeezed out, fairly dry.
Exactly 30 swirls with each brush on each soap.
(Note: this is a VERY light load, compared to my usual technique)
I then took a sniffy-sniff of each brush.
To my un-trained olfactory senses, the scents were virtually identical. Perhaps the AdP had a more "noble" note.
Face-lathered each simultaneously (yes, Primo is talented)
Both soaps required a minimal amount of water and were equally thick/rich.
AS-D2, loaded with a Day 2 Feather blade.
WTG first left side (RR XXX), then right (AdP).
Slickness was similar, if not identical.
Rinse...and here was really the first noticeable difference.
The RR XXX side was dry. (granted it had a chance to dry out while I was shaving my right side, but it was literally 30 seconds)
Post-shave (at this point) was better on the AdP side.
Passes 2-3 were the same.
Final rinse and the post-shave feel on the RR side was better than after the first pass. (it was still wet)
Both soaps protected well; provided ample slickness; ample cushion and even with only 30 swirls, more than ample volume of lather.
Conclusion: and this my be sacrilege to a few AdP fans...
RazoRock XXX is every bit as good as Acqua di Parma,
and considering that RR costs 1/7th the price of AdP, all the more reason to choose the RR.
Disclaimer: These are my findings and you might completely disagree. ​

 

Excellent comparison, Joseph! Isn't B&M Seville a Parma dupe as well ? I don't have the B&M but I do have another Parma dupe in Mickey Lee Soapworks "Colonia De Agrumi", the scent is virtually identical but the MLSW soap base blows RR out of the water.

 

Thank you, Andrew! The Derby was a bit tuggy ATG. If I remember I'll put a Polsilver, one of my favorites, in for tomorrow's shave. The last few times I've used a Derby Extra it's been one and done.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

Great comparison, Joseph.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

If it is, B&M doesn't reference it on their site. They call it their "Barbershop" scent. I took a whiff of my tub and there are similarities, but I wouldn't go so far as to claim it was a dupe.

 

Tuesday morning November 27

Schick E3 / Personna (4)
Vlasta T-400 silvertip badger
Reef Point Espresso soap
Alum and Soapy Bathman Cup of Joe balm



Today's razor is a Schick E3. It's like the E2 except it has grooves on the bar guard, plus the spring is locked in place so the head can't be opened. Mine has gridmarks engraved on the handle to give a better grip.

The Reef Point Espresso is a quality tallow soap that smells like a strong cup of coffee. Both excellent lather and a wake-up jolt in one package.

I was stunned and amazed to discover today that the shave by the E3 loaded with a Personna was indistinguishable from the shaves I obtained from my two E2s also loaded with Personnas. It was almost like the razor heads were identical or something...

I finished off with the Cup of Joe balm, which is a heavy cream similar to Nivea Sensitive. Excellent skin conditioning qualities and a strong coffee smell to extend the morning wake-up .

Both products I used today are now unobtainium as Reef Point is going out of business and Soapy Bathman has simply gone inactive.