May 2022 30 Day Rule/Focus and Discussion. All Are Welcome!

Awesome shave Tolga! Hope you are doing well my friend.

 

Excellent MMBT Monday morning shave Joe! Can you give an estimate on the number of shaves on that blade?

 

Yes, Joe. I am down to doing a 2-pass with minor cleanup so, I must be getting there. I already gacve up on BBS on my upper lip. Just won't happen and I WILL cut myself there if I try! LOL So, I don't go for that anymore. I can get BBS on my cheeks and neck using the open blade tho. It's easy! At least for me now.

 

Can't wait to see your new additions Hogie! Assuming you like menthol soaps and have one in your den, it sounds like today would be a fine day to use it.

 

Thank you Jeff. The razor head is from West Coast Shaving. The handle was made by a fellow wet shaver from a MeWe and FB forum that I belong to. Also, he is the maker of several brushes in the den including Skully and Jack Skully, my two skeleton head brushes .

The name “The Smith Long Handle” refers to the handle on the razor. He forged and shaped the handle.

 

Excellent shave Danny.

 

You are a natural my friend! Just keep in mind that you may eventually get BBS in your problem area. However, I am glad that you aren't obsessing with obtaining BBS shaves everytime. I find that it's more important to have fun shaving, especially when you don't bleed. Enjoy your day!

 

Fabulous shave Barry.

 

I think I still have a sample that may be menthol. The Proraso Blue cools some

 

It's SO pleasant to run the razor across my cheek or neck and feel right after. It's REAL close on ATG on my neck with no issues and zero feedback from alum bar. I must be getting better! (I shouldn't say that...now I will cut myself LOL)

 

Thank you Gary. Yes, uniquely shape and long as well.

 

Been around for 2 centuries-hope it makes 3.

 

Well look at that, a new soap from Capt. Choice(Italia)..

 

I just realized something-that summer a few years ago when I tried Clubman A.S. and sweated profusely-I'm sure I shampooed with Clubman Country Club, and I wonder if the SHAMPOO brought on the sweat. I'll try Clubman A.S. one day this summer, without the matching shampoo, and see what happens.

 

I think it's a barbershop scent. I really like this one too.

 

Pretty good shave this morning, but a cut "cut into the persuasion". Happened just next to my lips-right side. The Central Texas provided for a nice soap covering (course the Stoylin brush had something to do with that, too). Fresh and clean along the cheeks&sideburns. I left a little along the right side of the jawline. Cactus was fine. Porcupine too, except for the cut. 2 passes-cut happened during the second. Pretty Excellent.

 

SOTD MONDAY MORNING, MAY 16, 2022

Edward Weck emigrated from Solingen, Germany and opened his cutlery company showroom in 1890 in Manhattan, with manufacturing facilities in Brooklyn.

According to “Brownstoner”,
“Weck invented the precursor of the multi-blade razor, and patented it in 1909.”

[n.b. Incorrect!! In actuality, they’d been around quite awhile. Antoinne LeCoultre invented the first replaceable blade razor in 1830, 79 yrs earlier]

“It was called the Weck Sextoblade. The “sex” in “sextoblade” for all those whose imaginations just woke up, meant “six.” Sorry! Weck’s razor came with six blades all attached at the base, able to be folded back into the handle and secured by a safety guard. Each blade could be extended when needed, and if all were stropped and sharpened at once, this razor could last a long time before the next sharpening. For its day, it was quite revolutionary.”

In 1917 he incorporated under the name ‘Edward Weck & Son’, finally passing away from heart disease in 1922. His son, Albert, moved the company into surgical instruments, made for both the military and medical community. The company continued until 1999 when it was acquired by Squibb. Today’s mug shave featured my Weck Sextoblade. The razor came from the estate of a third party beauty/shaving supplies salesman and former barber, according to his great-granddaughter.

My first shave with it featured a newly purchased Personna hair shaper blade, however, I noticed that the spine appeared to have a fair bit of hone wear. From the deep grooves observed, I would suspect the rather rough use of a Diamond plate. In any case, I removed and soaked the original Sextoblade blade that arrived with the razor in barbicide when it first arrived about 7 months ago, That morning I ran it across my Swaty barber’s hone with some Smith’s Honing oil, after placing it back in the razor, until the edge looked good under my USB microscope.

I believe that the original blade had never been removed, as I was unable to remove it with my fingers when it first arrived, and needed a needle nose pliers to do so. Judging by the amount of shave residue on the original Sextoblade blade coupled with the hone wear on the spine, I believe the former owner treated it just like a regular straight and never removed it from the razor. In fact the original blade looks like it is double beveled. The shave angle on this old antique tool is virtually identical to the angle I use with my regular straight razors. My new Koenig barber’s hone and a little shave cream polished up the blade nicely. The two and a half pass mug shave with it that followed this morning was excellent leaving me smooth as a peach.

Unlike many of my shave brothers and sisters out there, I’ve never been a fan of Gillette TTO’s. I do own a few, but have been selling all but my father’s and grandfather’s safety razors. My father owned two Gillette adjustables, a Gold Black Beauty long handled adjustable and a Slim. My grandfather shaved with an old beat up single ring from a WWI military khaki kit that I also have. The only Gillettes that really ring my chimes, however, are any of the second generation ‘New’ models. So this morning I grabbed my silver plated Gillette New Standard/Bostonian, loaded a fresh Feather blade and had at my noggin stubble! Two delightful ATG passes later and your happy narrator was smooth as a peach from noggin to neck.

RAZOR: Weck Sextoblade (Mug), Gillette New Standard/Bostonian (Dome)
BLADE: Feather DE (Dome)
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a heavy scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: JR LE #374 Cashmere Synth
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by a rinse with Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Krampert’s Frostbite AS Splash.

 

Depending on the individual beard, Gary, I know Bill Morgan used to tease up to 10 shaves on each of his Proguards. The best I get from a Feather is about 4-5. You might want to check with Ryan (@PLANofMAN). I think he may use Proguards in his Tedalus.

 

I will try for at least 1 more shave. I still get no tugging with the blade. I am getting more use out of the japanese style you sent me too. With the prope anggle and no pressure, these light blades are nice.

 

You and several others, mostly former members on this thread have enabled me towards my first Simpson Brush! I have a blue handled Simpson Chubby 3 Synth on the way. I suspect I’ll like it! Sheesh! I never thought I’d want another brush! Go figure! Semi-bored old man, late at night with too much Single Malt, can make for an expensive online evening!