April 2020 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix and Discussion

Congrats on being on the back half of your focus, Tim. Interesting thoughts on palm lathering. I’ve only done that when I’m defunking a new brush.

 

Well now I had to go double check mine. My handle is slightly rounded and will stand on it's own, although not very stable without the head attached. It won't stand on it's own with the head attached.

 

Sounds like quite the duet...

 

The Challenger was a daily driver when I was a young kid, but the Cougar was a fun purchase for both my folks. To be honest, I always remember my dad driving pick ups.

 

Thanks, Jeff!

My goal is to eventually get palm lather results from all three methods--I'd like to have a stable of styles at my disposal

Stay safe, sir--hope you enjoy your son-delivered dinner

 

Yup, ‘tis the season. Spent most of the weekend in the yard as well. Felled a rotten Mountain Ash yesterday and dealt with general Spring cleanup today.

 

I agree just like I have straights, shavettes, SE's and DE's, but a cart will never enter my hallowed den.

 

Great shave and report, Simon! I don't have experience with the Merkur 37 per se, but have shaved with the Razorock German 37 (another knock-off ) and got great shaves from that design. Blade set up is fiddly--I partially tighten it so I can barely move the blade, get it lined up where I like it, then complete the tightening--definitely worth putting some time into.

 

Thank you, Gary--enjoy your evening!

 

Thank you, Jim!

 

Great looking shave Patrick. Love the brush. Sorry about the slice Patrick.

 

Went and double checked as well. You are right, of course. Very slightly rounded. Will only stand on its own with the bottom nub of the handle unscrewed.

 

Thanks, Joe!

I may be using the wrong terminology when I say 'palm lathering'. I still use a brush, but once I load the soap, I apply the brush to my palm instead of a bowl or my face. Once I get my desired consistency, I apply the lather to my face with the brush.

Sorry for the confusion--I'll get the shaving lingo figured out one of these days

 

That's what I thought, too!

Turns out it's a real thing, though

 

Good to know! I'd be that guy bagging on the eastern grind, but who was shaving with the wrong side the whole time

 

Monday back to work shave and new focus:

Last week was big brush week so this week is small brush week. These are my smallest brushes and they will be introduced with each shave. I am four pass shaver so I usually use these at night to clean my face or when traveling.



First up for small brush week is a Vulfix natural bristle brush. This scraggly looking brush can lather almost any soap. When I have soap that does not lather this brush is the final test, if it does not lather with this brush then it will never lather. The soap today is Fine, very easy to lather so no test for the brushes ability other than how many passes can get out of single load. I got 2 1/2 passes before I had to add hit the soap puck again.

The Joris is one of my favorite safety razors, loaded with Iridium Super (2nd shave) it delivered the goods. Today's shave was epic.

 

Very nice image and shave Charlie!

Cool work on getting that slant mastered Simon! Nothing shabby at all with a BBS!

If palm lathering works, you could transfer what’s not in the brush to a bowl....just saying. I like palm lathering too, messy is fun. It may be the extra surface contours that is helping Tim. Nubs on the bottom of your bowl? Great shaves and images, BTW.

And.... I have used both sides of traditional grind kamisoris to shave. The Ura side (the hollowed side, or lettered side) is usually not against the skin when shaving, but it works. Feels like shaving with a shavette, angle and pressure is extremely delicate, but very effective at growth removal. Quite easy to have an error though. The Omote side (non hollowed) is usually the side to shave with against the face. Depending on the area and contour you are shaving, you can ride the Omote side of the blade and carefully manage angle and pressure. Buffing is really comfortable with a slick soap. The Omote side also has an area (line) ground near the spine that matches the angle for the edge grind. Honing a kamisori is done in uneven number of strokes for the two sides, until finishing the edge. The specific blade for today’s shave was part of a barber’s set I purchased in a lot sale from Japan. 3 different sizes and shapes. All were quite worn, but couldn’t pass up the deal. After following a couple of kamisori honing specific videos, a lot of polishing, they look decent again & shave awesome. One is now in the 2020 traveling box....

 

It's ok! We all make mistakes and some of mine have been doozies this month.

 

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