30 Day Rule/Focus; June 2024. All Are Welcome!

23 JUNE 2024: Dual shave, or duel shave perhaps?

Days growth = 2
Usual Prep and Preshave, PR cypress and Vetyver
Soap = Sterling Bay Rum
Brush = Semogue OC Cherry
Bowl = Coconut bowl, slightly textured, nice and light, rolls around a bit being a half coconut!

Razor 1 = Wardonia 1940 – 1949 (33.9 grams)
Blade 1 = Astra superior stainless (2)

Razor 2 = Gillette Flare tip (59.5 grams)
Blade 2 = Big Ben (1)
Passes = 3+
Post = Usual CWR, Alum, CWR, Thayers
ASL = Sterling Bay Rum

Damage = none

All right then: some thoughts on the shave:

Did the first 2 passes with the Wardonia. This is do-able. Needs a light touch, there is a large blade gap, which catches the lather well. Because the razor is so light there was some skittishness, bouncing off the 2 day stubble. Because the cap angle is different to say the Gillettes’, even when you start off really flat with the cap, the blade is already engaged. This angle needs to stay constant. It is less forgiving than my Gillettes, so some careful attention was needed. Not game to apply the usual pressure, so that’s why the razor bounced around a bit and hence I needed 3 + passes. Maybe a heavier handle could be of use. The sides of the baseplate have nice knurling for grip, to help align the blade. Because the modern DE blade had to be modded, the blade expousure was uneven on each side. It has less blade tab overhang though which is nice.

If it was the only razor I had it could become a daily user with some practise, just the hassle of modifying the modern DE blades to fit.

I decided to do the 3rd pass and final clean up with the Flare tip to get the chin area and corners of the mouth. I liked the first use of the Big Ben, i hadn't used this before and am keen to see how this progresses on future shaves.

I am smooth, well satisfied with the novelty of the challenge, and unscathed!

Have a great Sunday, one and all

 

Closer look at the Wardonia vs the Flare Tip

Note the wider blade gap, the distance between the blade and base plate, and the lack of tab overhang

 

Thank you Gary.

 

SOTD 20240616 Che Fico!

ischiapp.blogspot.com​

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Thanks.

 

Excellent shave Barry. Based on my experience with Wilkinson Sword blades I am not surprised that you find the WS stick an excellent product.

 

Thanks Chris. I have never tried Kai blades. I can interpret your comment in 2 ways. Either you think Kai is sharper or a tad rougher than Feathers.

 

Awesome post and shave Chris. Astra Blues don't work for me because I find them to be a little rough.

 

Ok, I should be less cryptic in future, the Kai are a little wider than other DE blades, so you get a bit more blade exposure and more bite. I suspect they are as sharp as the Feathers or very similar, so in summary if you want to get a bit more bite than the Feathers in any given razor they are worth a try. Shouldn't be a problem for you, given your experience with single edge razors etc, but might be fun for you to try at some stage.

Thanks Joe. I agree about the Astra blues, hence I am glad this is my last one! It might have 1 or 2 more shaves left in it.

 

Much better shave this morning than yesterday. The main reason was the goose egg persuasion of cuts, Knicks, Polka-Dots. I also did better at the Loading Dock, but had a smaller brush than yesterday, which I think was a big help. The Lime Burst shave soap(Razorock)might claim a spot to my "I Must Always Have This" list. We shall see. Clean and clear all over, although once again the NW Porcupine Alley area required some additional work, as did the jawline at the South Porvupine/Cactus borderlinr(center side). Well, that's what this hobby is all about...we must be careful. I'm surprised that the video freax talk as much as they do-but these fellas have 100% confidence in what they do, so they can get away with it. Finished off again with Stoylin Lime Glacial A.S. No cologne today. As Outstanding As It Gets.

 

I have a "Kai" too, but it's a soap, not a blade.

 

Sunday June 23 (morning) - Just Shaving June & Injector Blade Focus

Prep: Hot face wash with Aleppo olive oil soap with 20% bay laurel oil

Razor: Supply 2.0 matte black stainless steel injector w/ SE "nickproof" comb plate / vintage American-made Schick Plus Platinum (13)

Soap: TOBS Lavender cream (croap)

Brush: Simpson's Chubby 2 synthetic

Lather Bowl: None

Post: rinse, alum, rinse, ProRaso Gel Reparatore

Last shave: Wednesday morning - 4 days

A few swirls of the damp synthetic brush on the TOBS croap primed it for an excellent face lathering. I had enough soap in the brush for my two passes with enough left over to cover my face a couple more times.

My usual two passes (one WTG on the face and ATG on the neck, and the second XTG on the face and WTG on the neck) gave me a decent cleanshaven appearance.

It was an unusually bloody shave though. I had three blood spots on my neck and one on my lower right cheek near the chin. I think they were nicked pimples, but the main reason I topped them was because I was using too much pressure and too much speed.

The speed: I was in a hurry and got careless. The pressure: mostly the same, but partly because I was compensating for a blade that doesn't slice through heavy stubble with great ease anymore. After its 13th outing, I think it is time I binned this vintage Schick Plus Platinum injector blade and moved on...

I also noticed that my ProRaso styptic gel is now more gummy than runny. The gel is nice to use when new, but it looks like the tubes don't have a very long shelf life once opened. Unlike styptic powder or styptic pencils which last forever in the medicine cabinet as long as you don't drop and spill or break them, the gel dries out in 6 months to a year. I guess I will go back to a pencil again.

Hope everyone had a good weekend so far!

 

Thank you, Joe.

 

Great shave setup & post Chris. It's all about good technique Chris, once you've made yourself more acquainted to the Wardonia you'll be on the right track. Lightweight razors , especially vintage ones, are very deceiving and tell your mind you need to add pressure, to get a better shave which is fatal leading to unnecessary nicks & irritation.My 1970's Aluminum handle Gillette tech is one of my most deceiving razors, fitted with an aggressive blade it needs no pressure added to it at all for a very close shave.

 

Excellent post and shave John. I primarily use alum blocks and have used styptic pencils. but I didn't know Proraso had styptic gels. I have seen the styptic roll-ons that are used like deodorant ones. Based on your experience, I don't think that I would try the Proraso styptic gel.

 

thank you Chris.

 

cool shave and pic Chris.there maybe some wardonia blades still kicking around

 

fine sunday affairs gentlemen

 

-The-Sunday-Shave-
brit new tech hybrid
tuxedo
c & e



good day gents
limey shave @ChrisB
fabulous lime lather built with the tuxedo knotted green brush
smooth 2 passer with the brit tech hybrid/french tech handle
cold water rinse and thayers lemon astringent to finish
c & e cologne ices the cake.
awesome
have a fine sunday everyone.

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Thank you, Gary.

 

Super Sunday shave and setup Gary.