February 2019 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Thank you, Paul.

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Thank you, Paul!

 

Nice setup Joseph. Bikers take an amazing edge fairly easily, and with good stropping they hold an edge for a long time. Your red injun might have micro chipping that could cause it to bite while doing a thumbnail test. What magnification do you have? A 40x loupe should allow you to see any microchips if they are there, that’s about all I could see causing it.

 

...for now.

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This way I don't have to post this again. After 3 shaves these blades do not hold an edge and the shave gets worse as the blade wears. Razor is also very mild, I switched up on the next 3 shaves by first adding some more passes including a j-hook finish up pass. It didn't get appreciably closer, the next 2 using more pressure did. They were fairly consistent on both shaves. The closest I've gotten thus far out of this razor/blade combo. I don't like shaving with this much pressure though because the second you switch to a more aggressive razor or sharper blade you'll cut yourself up.

I am going to stick to a rule and try skin stretching on the next Astra blade see if that gets to a consistent BBS and if so then 3rd blade do the same and if that is consistent then 4th blade start to remove passes on each shave and see what happens.

 

Thank you, Paul!

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February Favorites!!

February 5

Razor - Kampfe Star
Blade - CVS Carbon SE Blade (1)
Soap - Stirling Barbershop
Brush - Jayaruh #312
Post - Alum, Nivea Original Balm

Well, well, well. Looks like I need to do another focus on the SE razors, or at least the Lather Catcher. To say that I had a rough one tonight would be an understatement. It wasn't Sweeney Todd bad, but it was bad enough. I used a new CVS blade with the Kampfe Star and Stirling Barbershop with the JR312 for the perfect lather. Nice and slick, protective, and the razor just absolutely butchered its way through it. Well, ok, I can't blame the razor. The guy handling the razor did it. The first pass wasn't bad. It was smooth, noisy as expected and effective. At some point, though, I had a bad set down as a cut about 1/4" opened up on my right cheek. Clearly a set down issue. In addition, a couple of small nicks appeared on both sides of my face. No worries. Rinsed, lathered, and went after it again. Somehow after the second pass I knew enough to stop. It was a good enough shave to last through work tomorrow, and since half the day is a meeting I could care less about it. However, rinsing my face was enough to get a slight burn going. That's not good. So, with a little blood here and there, I grabbed the alum, wet my face and went after it. The howl (more like series of colorful words) that came out brought my wife on the run, thinking that I had cut off a significant body part or something. It was all from the burn. Every.Inch.Of.My.Face. The bleeding did stop, but the burn lasted and lasted. My wife informed me it appeared that I had tried removing a few too many layers of skin with my beard.

What happened, you ask as you laugh? (Yes, I know you guys) I'm thinking too much pressure and not paying attention to angle enough. The cut proves I was careless with angle. And the only reason that razor should have roughed me up would be pressure issues. Hmmmmm....the two things you master for flawless shaves - pressure and angle - and I blew both of them tonight. No excuses. My mind apparently wasn't in the game like it should have been. Even though the Star isn't a straight, it also isn't a Tech. Lesson learned. For now, at least. I am happy to say that the Nivea balm in my den is still in good shape. I so rarely need it I had to find it. But it did cool things off nicely. Whew!

My Monday is a few hours away. Hope you have a great Wednesday!

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Have a good trip, Brian!

 

Thank you, Paul!

 

Are you sure the blade was seated right? It sounds like a corner was out.

 

I have made 2 shaves with a PAA Starling. I want to hate it....but can't. I will never be a fan of modern razors..but this one with a Treet blade is fun to play with. For the record I like the open comb plate the most.

I will be offering it up to try in the loaners board on TOST.

 

5 February, MMXIX A.D.
Fatboy February





Have a great evening....

 

Thanks Paul.

 

As far as I know. I'll double check it tomorrow night before I shave. I took the blade out after the shave to dry it.

 

hello fello shavers,tuesday night german shave. just scored this unique 50s #34 german gillette tech. very cool razor aluminum baseplate and handle, great balance,narrow cap.the ball end handle is shorter and fatter than a regular ball end handle..loaded it with a wilkinson blade.. the wilkinson brush built a lovely klar sport scented lather..nice smooth 3 pass dfs shave, no drama..speick a/s to finish.. very cool.love these gillettes..have a great evening, gary

 

Thank you. It’s been a long day but everything went ok.

 

Thank you!

 

Jospeh, I tried the different tests when I was starting with straights and I found they are no perfect in predicting how the razor will shave. The most reliable for me is the tree topping hair test..... but this leads to honers mange. How did it shave?

 

Today is the last day of the holiday and the last day of smiling razors. Finishing up the smiling razor theme is my 6/8 Riga Razor, a mild smile with an extreme tip. Everything clicked and an epic shave ensued.

Irritation A+ Closeness A+ Smoothness A+ Sharpness A+

Razor: Riga Razor 6/8 half hollow
Strop: Herold Russian Leather
Brush: Etsy silver tip
Pre: Proraso
Soap: Crowne and Crane
AS: Clubman AS, Speick ASB
Scent: Montale Aoud Cuir D’ Arabe

 

Sorry, was having a rough morning today.