SoS: February 6th, 2012 ~ February 12th, 2012

Wednesday Afternoon
Hot water soak
Montclair 6001 Boar
Copperhat Cedar and Sage Shave Soap
GEM se loaded with PAL blade - 2Pass
Cold rinse
Vintage Old Spice as

First time using the Montclair Brush...nice brush
Couldn't handle a third pass with the PAL blade
Thought someone was chopping wood on my face

 

Wednesday Night

Gold Dollar 208
Nanny's Ice & a Slice hard soap
Vie Long Horse/Badger
Alum
Blue Stratos AS



I offered to get a GD shave ready for Brian (aka madmedic) and upon receipt I saw that it was one of the better made ones, no problems with the shoulders, the heal doesn't protrude below the scales and the spine is straight. There was a bevel which was shaving arm hair but I decided to reset it just to be sure and I'm glad I did as it seemed not to be correct relative to the shoulders, if that makes any sense.

I used a very simple set up to hone it, a King 1000/6000 combination stone followed by a C12K. Setting the bevel on the 1000 side with a mixture of circles, half strokes and normal strokes then moved onto the 6000 with 40 strokes on a creamy slurry, diluting once then another 40 and washing it off before another 40.

As Brian has a C12K I thought it would be a good idea to finish the razor on a C12K myself. To be honest I've not used mine for a while as I have other stones I prefer. However, my honing has improved significantly since I last used mine and the edge I got from it was almost as good as I get from my 12K Naniwa albeit with about 4 times the number of strokes!

The test shave was great, as good an edge as I've been able to put on a GD and better than a couple of my vintage razors. I hope Brian enjoys using it as much as I have honing it for him.

 

Piping hot shower
Merkur Progress on 6
VDH deluxe soap
Bob silvertip Badger, gave the pig the night off
Feather blade

3 smooth passes and a BBS shave. Mennen skin Bracer a/s. Feeling and smelling like a million bucks!

 

Wednesday morning:
Hot shower
Weapon: Gem OCMM with a Gem blade
Brush: Omega 10065
Soap: Vitos Green (arrived fresh yesterday from Italian Barber, love the soap, great vendor)
Cold water splash
Aftershave: Alum block followed by Skin Bracer

Three passes. I rubbed five drops of olive oil on my face prior to lathering for the third pass. End result a very nice, smooth, irritation free shave.

 

I know. This morning when I first saw it, I just sat and stared at it for a couple of minutes.

 

That's very generous of you.

 

TUESDAY!!

Yes, I know ... a day late ... BUT better late than never!

Hot Shower
Green Marvy Mug
Omega Scarlatti
TSD Angel Type Wheat SC
Lord L6
Gillette 7 OC - Blue (3)
Cool Water Rinse
TSD Angel Type ASM
TSD Angel Type Cologne

OK OK, this is a day late but I have been busy at work and we all know my work laptop does not like to upload photos for me ...



This was a great shave. Zero irritation, and a wonderful scent for the entire day.

My only regret is I couldn't get a good shot of my brand new Python wedges with my black nylons .... I tried three different angles!! Those shoes rock!!

Maybe next time!

 

Wednesday Evening.

Gem OCMM
Gem Stainless PTFE
Semogue 2000
Ingram SC
Alum
Nord Ost ASB

I have to be in work two hours early at 05:30 tomorrow so I decided to take my shave this evening.

Even though it was a quick two pass affair, I was rewarded with an outstanding shave.

 

Almost a Menthol Tuesday

It was a late shave today, but a pleasurable one. I had decided it was a Cella day, and dreamed about it all day.

Cella is something I just lather slow, hold my razor lower, and take long slow strokes. And now the shave.

EBC preshave
Omega 10005
Cella
Merkur 11 C
Gillette Yellow (4)
Witch Hazel/Vitos
Alcolado Glacial

Last week I put yellows in my 11 C and 37 C. I have had four shaves with each and am very pleased with the results. Very smooth.

Today's Pic is of today's featured item:

 

Wednesday 2/8/12 0618hrs

Prep: Warm shower with Old Spice High Endurance Pure Sport Body Wash
Razor: Merkur 1904/1906 the one w/o the comb
Blade: Merkur that came with razor (5)
Soap: VDH
Brush: VDH Boar
AS: Skin Bracer Original

1 pass shave… since blade was on its 5th turn. Will try 2pass with same blade tomorrow

 

If you have not, try the 1904/1906 with the comb. Fantastic razor that gives a fantastic shave.

 

After some more research I think I should have bought the one with the comb. I will have to save some more allowance and get one then.

 

Hot Shower
Proraso Pre Shaving cream
Muhle R106
Treet PSS
Rooney 1/3 Silvertip
Bigelow Cream
Brut ALASKA lotion
EDT : Brut ALASKA

 

Gillette Aristocrat #66
Persona Medical prep
Semogue 2011 LE Finest bristle 1
Cella
Floid blue mixed with some Thayers witch hazel AS

 

Many thanks to Nic for doing this for me. The offer was made before Christmas...and the Christmas and Chinese holiday periods slowed the delivery down for a period of a few weeks. During that time I started to build a set of hones, and the project has developed a little. I have ordered another 208. Nic has documented the honing process he used to set this one up. I will attempt to hone from scratch using this razor as a benchmark. Gold Dollar are cheap razors with I believe have an acceptable quality of steel. I dont think I would feel happy doing this with more expensive razors.

 

Its a pleasure Brian,

 

Thursday
Hot water rinse
Omega 10029 Boar
Arko Shave Stick and SC
1938 Gillette Senator loaded with a Derby Extra - 2Pass, no touch-up
Cold rinse/Arko-Nem moisturizer/Arko Aqua AS/Rebul Lavanda Colonia

A classic DE shave...wouldn't change a thing...2 pass BBS, plain and simple...an absolute joy

Have a great one everybody!

 

Thursday

Gillette Old Type
Derby day 1
Vulfix best badger travel brush
De Vergulde Hand Extra Fris
TSD Iced Eucalyptus Witch Hazel
D.R. Harris sandalwood splash



Yesterday two razors were delivered: an Edwin Jagger DE89 and a Gillette Old Type. Which one to try first? I decided for the vintage one, because I never shaved with an open comb razor before and so was just a bit more curious about this razor than the (very nice looking) Jagger. Smooth shave, absolutely not agressive, DFS.

 

Thursday, February 8

EJ DE86
7 O’Clock (Yellow) (d3)
Tabac SS
Rooney Stubby 2XL
Superior 70
Result: 5 Blades