March 2020 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix and Discussion

Sorry about the disappointing results Andrew. It sounds like you have a good strategy for using the results to improve. Many times we learn more from disappointment than success.

 

Since I’m experimenting with various vintage blades; I can say that I’ll be doing blade trials with the following 3 blades.
Schick Plus Platinum
Gillette Spoiler
Personna 74
My experiment is to see how long these vintage blades can really last as I’ve heard stories of them lasting a very long time. I was able to get 10 shaves from 1 Wilkinson Sword Super Sword Edge blade. We’ll see how long the other blades last.

 

I used a shavette without the blade to figure out my passes and grips.

 

Thanks!

I'll try that with the A/S. I've got Clubman Special Reserve and some cheap OTC Skin Bracer Musk. I've never looked, but I am "assuming" they are both alcohol-based. Guess I should look and not "assume", huh? I've got a smallish empty Cholula hot sauce bottle cleaned and tucked back. Think I'll mix up a bit of one of those with glycerin so I can compare it both "with" and "without."

 

I'm going to go ahead and declare myself as continuing my blade evaluation "focus" from February into March with the addition of glycerin use being added to the process.

Charge!

 

Both of those are alcohol based so give it a try.

 

QUOTE="Keithmax, post: 1758677, member: 8257"]Kicking off March with a huge grin, a 9/8 smiling razor from Mike Martinez. I also used the kettle and scuttle for some hot lather with Fine shaving soap. To continue to big theme I used a monster sized Polo 12.

The later was hot and slick and this razor has the sharpest edge I have ever used, the lights touch and the whiskers leap away. I only use this razor when I have the time to concentrate, but she does deliver and an amazing shave. Finished it off with some vintage Chanel Cuir de Russie.

A quick note since this is the beginning of the month. Most of the time I use some fancy artisan straight razors, this has no impact on the quality of my shave. Any edge as long as it sharp enough and wielded with skill is capable of delivering an epic shave. For straights, open blades, it is all about the edge. The darkest corner of the Dark Side is where shavettes live and frolic. I encourage all who want to give it a go to spend a month learning to shave with a shavette, it will improve your shaves no matter your tool.

View attachment 219359 [/QUOTE]
Great shave and wonderful post Keith! I agree with your shavette comment because I first used one before I started shaving with a traditional straight razor. The shavette experience taught me how to find the right angles and to control the blade pressure.

 

Awesome shaves, Charlie!

 

Most of the members use soaps that are conducive to easy lathering such as Stirling soaps, Proraso, etc. Some members have hard water and would need glycerin for soaps like MWF, Williams, etc.

 

You can use a butterknife to practice instead of taping the edge of your straight. Also, ot seems that you are cognizant of the reasons for your mistakes and that is a good thing. Friederich Herder and Sons are excellent straights and you have a nice one. Andrew, you still had a nice shave. Keep moving forward and don't get discouraged because you are going through the typical progression of straight razor shaving.

 

Two-parter:
1) Pull lip over teeth
2) Stretch skin in opposite direction from just below cheek
Keep the angle ultra-shallow.

 

I'm happy to stay in for another month to enjoy the fun and education from you fellas. Course when we say "silliness" that's where I come in("Doc Ezlovan", "Stoylin", etc). By the way, I still feel bad about my mention of Stoylin that was picked up by a member who preceded to see what he could learn from the company, by looking up "Stoylinsoaps.Com". @PLAla came in in the 9th inning of this terrible embarrassment to whiff 9 strikes past the 3 batters to save it for me, by explaining my goofiness. Poor member. I hope you did latch on and see why many of us love Stoylin. Anyway....my focus will be on getting used to the "ATG(Across The Grain)method of razor use. Here's to another month of great shaves and good times for us all .

 

Maybe push your upper lip out with your tongue from the inside.

 

March 1
Good morning guys!
Shavette shave #142
Dovo Shavette
Personna Hairshaper DE (8)
Stirling Boar Brush
Stirling Bay Rum SS and AS
Nivea ASB
Well, it's a new month and I decided to join and support Tim, Charlie and Patrick on their shavette focus. I will be right along with them for the first 2 weeks and then the final 2 weeks I will use my straights, my 2 SE's and return to shavettes at the end .
I hadn't use this brush for a month because it was shedding so I used it for today's shave. I bloomed the soap overnight and soaked the brush for the same time period. The brush really made a nice glistening, voluminous and cushiony lather. On a 45 hr stubble, did 2 passes without touchups for an IBSS++ or Visual BBS (VBBS)shave. There wasn't any irritation, but did get a pinhole weep on my chin. I attribute it to using the blade for 8 shaves. I could still use it but I binned it after finishing the shave. Styptic did its thing. Topped the shave with the awesome Stirling Bay Rum AS. Boy, I love to feel the burn! Ended with the soothing Nivea aftershave balm to remoisturize my mug. Have a great day and a great shave to start the month guys!

 

March 1
Shavette Shave #1

Gear

• Razor: Utopia Care shavette
• Blade: Personnas Blue (snapped in half)
• Brush: Stirling Kong
• Soap: Soap Commander "Drive"
• AS: Clubman Original
• Balm: Stirling Unscented

My first shavette shave... winner!

I'll jump straight to the results: Comfort is somewhere between slight to no irritation. Closeness is... patchy. BBS in some parts, DFS in others, and the house of Hades (tip of the chin) is CCS. It's actually about as good as shaves with my DE's.

The downside? Time. Gadfrey it took a looong time to complete this shave. I expect this will change with experience, but what that means is I'll either have to start waking up at 4:30 *comes back after 10 minute pause ROTFL* or touch up with my DE's (don't know if my pride will permit it or just deal with CCS as a result. I'm thinking CCS.

I took 3 passes. WTG, XTG, and ATG.

Oddly, some of my usual trouble areas were considerably easier with the shavette, the upper lip in particular--even ATG (yes, I took on the Fool's Pass; what kind of fool would I be if I didn't?) Much easier than with a DE for me.

Trouble spots? The neck. Mercy, the neck is a sticky wicket! I'll eventually learn to bend in different direction, pull/rip my skin onto the other side of my face, pirouette, and etc. It'll happen.

Were there weepers? A couple, and there were some parts of the shave that could have been bad news--quite a few set-down mishaps, but because I was singing (and living) "Pressure Drop," there wasn't enough pressure to bite. I fear what will happen when I start to feel comfortable with the process and start setting the blade down harder than I really have any business doing.

Anyhow, 1 shave down--99 to go!

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone. I'll try to catch up on all the fun on Monday

 

Good morning all!
To start the month.....
Focus R21 shavette - new half Feather.
Yaqi Grill - generic handle - Feather.
Stirring Orange Chill - full Monty.
Synthetic brush in an Ever Ready 100 handle.
Not able to join the fun shavette focus for 30 days.

Nice and quiet this morning, got out the shavette for a 1 pass with it.
Sides and neck were good, some weepers on the neck.
The new blood thinner meds must be working good now?
Used the Yaqi for the 2cd pass and the head shave.
No issues there.
A one pass shave with the Grill is as good or better than most razors two pass.
I get a great shave with this razor, just 2 passes.
Other than the few small weepers, things were ok.
Need to watch the cap or angle, or the pressure is to great.
Might be the me and the R21, being new and all at it, probably.
We haven't came to any agreements yet.

It's not quite anymore.
The grandson called me on the radio.
He's here now.
I bought some Walkie Talkies for Christmas, lots of fun, and yes they live that close.
Now the 2 year old is trying to use the radio.
10-4?


all
Enjoy!
tp

 

March 1st
Razor: Blackland Dart
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: Grizzly Bay FireOfUdun
Pre-shave: PAA The Cube
Soap: B&M Reserve Classic
PAA Galactic witch hazel
PAA unscented Star Jelly
AS: B&M Reserve Classic

Good morning

Two year TSD Anniversary shave. Time sure flies when you're having fun. Thanks for having me around, gentlemen!

The start of the Dart focus. Three passes for near BBS. Light tickle from the alum on my neck.

I can't complain about the results of today's shave. No blood or irritation and I am oh so smoooooth! The Dart however still felt somewhat harsh. Better than the last few shaves with it but not as smooth as I remember it being. The fact that the shave was better tells me that there's probably nothing wrong with the razor, it's more than likely me. I'll continue with Dart until I get it dialed back in.

B&M Reserve does not like heat. I made a beautiful slick lather on my face for the first pass, rested the brush in the HOT brush scuttle while I completed the pass. Poof! Like magic the lather almost completely disappeared. Start over but no hot scuttle between passes two and three.

Tomorrow's shave will be more of the same but without the HOT scuttle.

Have a great day!

 

Magnanimous shave, to say the least Keith!
Wow!
tp

 

Sorry, Chris. I was posting my rule only--I just now posted the report

 

Bloody great deed, so it is.
Nice shave Tim!
tp