August 2021 30 Day Rule/Focus & Discussion. All are welcome!

@Edison Carter
According to Ben, the problem with most open-edged pattern welded damascus has to do with forge welds screwing up the edge. He hasn't licked the problem like Vic Creazzi has. Vic's razors have a separate piece of forge-welded monosteel (1095) in Vic's case, that serves as an uncontaminated edge. Of course, there's always the easy way out, buying Damasteel billets and just doing stock removal, but actually forging pattern-welded Damascus using a SanMai technique like Vic and like Ben attempted with the razor I shaved with this morning, and having a pure monosteel edge is not a trivial forging technique. Vic with his 30+ yrs of forging experience is, of course, a master, but many others presenting pattern-welded Damascus blades have the edge contamination issue, something that generally isn't shared with customers. The fact that it doesn't hold a consistent edge along the blade is just shrugged off. Now melted or crucible Damascus (i.e. Wootz) steel doesn't suffer from this issue, but it is a real issue for others. Ben was not happy with the razor I shaved with today. If you examine the edge there are sections with micro-fissures, in this razor's case near the heel fortunately, but there's really not telling until the blade is completed and one attempts to hone it.

 

Lovely vintage Genco shave, Joe. Are those the original scales? I love the metal bolsters.

 

thank you Joe.

fabulous sunday shave and pic Joe..

 

Some would argue that they are so much reformulating, as "updating". What are the trending scents? Maybe they are also just cashing in on name recognition.

 

Gary.

 

Noble endeavors to be sure.

 

Thank you Jeff. I believe they are the original.

 

I used to shave with those Bic razors and I thought they were fine. How wrong was I ? Lol!

 

Nice one my friend!

 

Veddy nice shave, Joseph! I have heard that creams tend to breakdown more readily.

 

Great stuff and shave, Gary! Btw, lately you have been writing better posts.

 

Thanks Gary!

 

I am fortunate that I am still socially acceptable 24 hrs after a shave. Of course, I would not go to an interview without shaving, even if it was less than 24 hrs. It also helps that my stubble is grayish/white.

 

Thank you Gary

 

Terrific shave Joe. You seem to have trouble setting knots with silicone. I am sure you had a great day with Anthony.

 

Just dropping by to say hi.

On the weekend I did some super lathers with Queen Charlotte Soaps Iced Lime. The menthol kid on these muggy days is a relief.

Saturday: I mixed the QCS with AoS Peppermint and got some outstanding lather. The Filly 13 has a most awesome edge on her and the shave was epic. Finished it off with Geurlain Vetiver.

Sunday: My smiling Ali's blade gave an excellent shave. QCS with Castle Forbes was another excellent combo and the huge Polo 12 make enough lather for 6 passes but I only did four. Finished this shave with Creed GIT.

Monday back to work with a fresh Feather loaded in my Joris. In keeping with the Arko August, I used Arko but added liquid lanolin and menthil. Wow, the lanolin real did the trick and the lather was just superb. An epic shave topped of with Acqua di Parma Colonia.

 

Thanks Joe. It is the second time it happened with this brush. The first knot setting was by the vendor. Perhaps it is the brand of silicone.

 

Awesome series of shaves Keith.

 

MICROMATIC MONDAY
Monday August 9, 2021
Razor: Gem Micomatic
Blade: Gem SS (1)
Brush: Sorrentino Sea Foam
Soap: Haslinger Schafmilch 1508.5
AS 1: Humphrey's Alcoholado Maravilla 70
AS 2: Ethos Fresh Lime
Fragrance: Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1006

Stellar shave with a great setup. Looking like @5 shaves left on the soap at best. Have a great day Guys !!

 

SOTD MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST 9, 2021

Marvelous Monday’s shave featured the Saito SK3 and the silver plated Valet VB2, the sole luxury model of Henry Gaisman’s vaunted Autostrop line. I do love a smiling blade. Ryuichi Saito’s SK models were designed to shave the Japanese Emperor, and besides being a razor design icon, are incredibly efficient shavers. It’s new 9 Ball slate edge refined on Schlecter’s Constroption and finished on the Roo-skin bench strop last night was simply amazing this mornings mug shave.

My favorite little Rooney Badger whipped up the two kinds of bowl lathers I enjoy for my shaves allowing the little SK3 blade to sweep away the mug lather, leaving my face as smoothly shorn as it’s ever been. I then loaded the VB2 with a fresh Feather FAS-10 carbon steel blade and stropped it for thirty passes. Needless to say the two pass ATG dome shave did not disappoint. Luxury model or not, the VB2 knew it’s job requirements and delivered a very smooth velveteen result. I was left cool, clean and porcelain smooth from the top of my noggin to my shoulders.

RAZOR: Saito SK3 (Mug), Valet Autostrop Model VB2
BLADE: Feather FAS-10 Carbon Steel
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Rooney Badger
CREAM: Castle Forbes Lime
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by a rinse with Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Royall Lyme AS/Cologne.