May 2020 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Welcome to the 30DC!

 

May 15th
New Improved 'Bostonian' w Voskhod (1)
Simpson T2 'Sovereign'/Resin
Highland Springs Kootenay Blue
Thayers
Maol Grooming Heliopteris

Continuing to use blades that haven't been in the rotation much or at all. These Voskhods were one of my first 100 blade purchases (along with Astra SP, iirc) soon after I started, but haven't got any usage from me in probably well over a year. Still have about 50 of them left.
Pulled out the locally produced soap, which is now being carried by Topofthechain and Stonefields in Canada in addition to WestCoast Shaving in the US. Looks like they're doing ok with it. I got this at a local craft fair, which I am inherently biased against based on the crap shave soaps I've gotten from similar venues in the past. This one is a quality product, though. Nicely scented as well. Whipped up a nice shiny lather and had 3 uneventful passes. These are decent blades, no question, but I do prefer the feeling of others (a handful of St. Petes Gillettes) more. They do work well, though, and I am quite smooth. Finished with a splash of the quality Maol AS and I am looking forward to getting through today and onto the long weekend here in BC.
Have a great day all!

 

Happy Friday Jason. Great looking photo. Love the brush.

 

Thank you, Joe!
There are several of the Meetup brushes floating around here. If memory serves me correctly Jason made seventeen of them. I'm the proud owner of two. One with a synthetic knot that I picked up in The Lou and the other I picked up a few weeks later that hadn't sold yet.

Wonderful shave and picture, Jason!

 

May 15th
Fat Friday

Razor: scrap metal and electrical tape
Brush: jtspartan resin and wood
PS: Proraso Green
SS: MWF
AS: Stetson Cooling Moisture

The initial practice piece came out looking pretty ugly with lots of gouges and rough spots. However it served its purpose. I think I have a plan for my next grinding attempt. Plus, its a MAYhem project. Its suppose to look like an B movie torture device. I think the electrical taped handle adds to the effect, don't you?

The shave was awesome. 3 pass DFS shave. I may have dry shaved my checks with it last night so I'm fighting some irritation from that.

All said it was a nice close clean shave with a sharp smooth edge. I'm happy and looking forward to finishing another this month.

 

Very cool, Evan!

 

First purchase I'm making when I hit the bottom of my Original (getting close)

 

Awesome report! I've heard great things about the Wunderbar--I had their German 37 slant and really liked it. We had a whole month devoted to Arko; it's a fantastic performer at an even fantastic-er price

Welcome to the 30DC! My name is Tim, btw.

 

I forgot Jason did bowls--is there anything he can't turn?

 

Very nice, Jason. Did you harvest a Simpson knot and set it in one of your handles?

 

Good job, Evan.

 

Beautiful photo and set up, Jason--that Bostonian looks fantastic as does the brush!

Voskhods and Feathers I'd heard hyped so much, that I expected nothing short of magic (like you-unwrap-the-blade-and-your-beard-jumps-off-your-face kind of magic), so I was disappointed when I first used them. They are both great blades, and I get great shaves from them. They're just not... magic.

 

Well, as you may recall from last summer, I do more can shaves than soap during those months(but I hope to do a few more soaps this summer.). You have a great day too, Joe .

 

A-w-e-s-o-m-e, Evan!!! So stoked that you got it finished, that it shaves so well, and that it looks so incredible--seriously--gouges, rough spots, and all! That, my friend, is a man's razor, and the electrical tape proves it

No more apologizing...

 

Thanks . My problem was if I used it two days in a row I felt raw, and started getting weepers. Face is always good but head and neck though... NCoxSTL introduced me to the concept of "ride the cap" and already it's been a major help. To go light I already knew, but I had to get a lighter handle to be able to have enough feel to actually do it on my head.
I initially bought the Wbar for quickee one pass AM shaves when needed if I forget to shave the night before, but I can never just be satisfied at that, so I'm 3 passes OCD.

 

Yes, Joseph. From a T2.

 

Fantastic Evan. The electrical tape certainly made it look the part.

 

Yes- Nothing Metal, nothing larger that 14” diameter, nothing longer than 2’. I’m turning 51 this summer, so I don’t turn many heads, either...

 

I am glad riding the cap is already helping. I don't head shave so I can't help there but we do have several head shavers that should be able to help. The neck is a problem area for most folks with the weepers and irritation. My suggestion is to take it easy on the neck and go fewer passes. This will allow you to dial in the technique and let the neck heal. Once you have things dialed in the results should follow.

 

A little rust and you're all set.