April 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

I'm not sure I'm looking for a straight anytime in the near future, but a true Kamisori is an intriguing idea. Been on the bay looking at some vintage Japanese steel. I don't see myself leaving DE behind but adding a true steel kamisori to the fold is appealing at this point, in spite of the blood.

 

Be a man and shave with a katana. Bama would approve.

 

That is funny.

 

I have started to have similar thoughts. Must be the people I hang out with.

 

FB focus day 14:

Homemade PS Oil
WD Silvertip
FB w/Gillette Silver Blue set on 5
TSD Lanolin Egyptian Spice
TOBS Sandlewood AS

Definitely the end of the line for this blade, 7 shaves was the max. But a good shave none the less. I will try a new blade tomorrow. Probably an Astra.

 

Good picture!

 

Thank you!

 

April 14th , SOTD (Shave 6 of the focus)
One and a half days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: Feather Artist Club SS kamasori
Blade: Kai Captian Titan w/ blade gaurd (1st shave on blade)
Razor: Gillette Red Tip- B2 (1956)
DE Blade: Big Ben- Stropped 30 times per edge (3rd shave on blade)
Soap: The Shave Den Barber Shoppe Scent, bowl lathered plus four drops of M-Bomb
Brush: Tulip Wood Brush- TGN Best Badger Knot 22mm x 54mm loft
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block
Aftershave: The Shave Den Iced Barber Shoppe Splash


Normally, I wouldn’t shave until Wednesday, but I got a new blade to try from @NCoxSTL. Got a great DFS today, with no nicks or weepers! Very little feedback on the alum either. Did XTG on my face and chin, and S/N on my neck, with the Feather AC. Did a S/N to follow up with the Red Tip, and got a great shave. These Kai blades are not as harsh as the Feather ones. In the second picture, the Feather ProGaurd blade is on top (with six shaves worth of gunk on it.) The Kais seem smoother. I thought today would be the last day for the samples of soap and aftershave, but it looks like I have at least one more shave in them.

Been chatting with @txskimo and @NCoxSTL, and between the two of them, I am wanting to buy some honing stones, and a vintage Japanese kamisori. My wife encouraged me in this hobby initially, because it isn’t something that will have me out doing tons of stuff outside of the house, and “How much can you spend on shaving gear?” I just grinned and walked away.

 

If I remember correctly she wasn't to happy with your MTO purchase. This shall be interesting lol

 

Aggressive April - Day 8 (4/14)



Prep: Hot shower w/ Grandpa's Pine Tar
Soap: TSD Barber Shoppe shave stick
Brush: Omega 13522
Razor: Cadet OC
Blade: Astra SP
Post: Witch Hazel, Nivea Sensitive Balm

Bit pressed for time this morning. Did a quick 1 pass, XTG shave. Close enough, no irritation, not the greatest shave ever but good enough with the time constraints I had this morning.

 

04/14/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 Dr. Bomber
Blade – Feather Pro (11)
Brush – Rubberset 400-3 with WSP HMW
Lather – Soap Commander Confidence
Post - Witch Hazel and CC Bay Rum AS



Very good 2 pass work day shave this morning. This blade is quickly approaching the end. Not getting bad shaves but I can tell the blade is just not as effective. The Soap Commander lathered up easily an proved to be slick with good cushion. Just about done with this tub. Finished off with a splash of Captain's Choice Bay Rum.

 

Day 14 will start blade three. I have to be on the road this week... Will report in on razor 2 tonight. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

Hmm what blades to try tomorrow? I still have Ladas, Gillette Silver Blue, couple types of Rapiras, and the Bic blades that Chris sent (Chrome Platinums I think?) that I haven't tried yet or I could revisit the Voskhods now that my technique with the Cadet is better... Decisions decisions...

 

I always say this is the friendliest bunch of enablers on the planet!

 

I started in order to save money too. Now, the truth is, each shave is considerably cheaper than with carts. So the argument is valid. Per shave we are saving so much that it offsets the thousands we spend on all of the products we "need" to accomplish it. It's the same economics that SWMBO uses to justify buying something on sale....something we really don't need.....because it saves money to spend money on something that is on sale.

 

Sorry for the blatant slacking. Baseball season started. I am coaching both of my kids teams, as well as being the acting Director for the entire farm league here....

Injector cliff notes-

I am continuing to have great shaves with the M39 and definitely prefer it to the J1. I will be starting tomorrow night with the older Eversharp and will get a pic/review up. The Eversharp will only last long enough for me to place it in the preference hierarchy. I really want to allow myself time to work with the M2 adjustable before switching to a Russian DE blade focus in May.

Enjoy your shaves and your day gentlemen.....

 

Cella is a joy to use, especially if you generally like soft and/or Italian soaps....

 

Arko April Focus - CJB Kamisori
April 14, 2015 - Week 3 Day 3
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - Arko
Razor - CJB
Blade - (4)
Post - Alum, Proraso

Day off shave so lots of time. I decided to use the Arko stick instead of the puck today since I received the one I traded a blade to @Drygulch for. Got a great first lather and went to work with the CJB. Had a really good first pass except for a minor nick on the top of my ear as I came down too close to it on the left side. Nothing major. Everything felt comfortable and got another good lather off the brush for the second. Second pass was very good as well with the neck still my issue. My plan was to do two passes then go to the Superspeed to clean up. Oh, but I have plenty of time so let's try a third with the CJB. I got out my Arko puck just to add a lot of lather and kept touching it up as I went. Got the right side of my neck BBS with no nicks/cuts/weepers. Left side, thanks to my left hand, is a very good DFS with two minor nicks. Overall I'm calling this 98% BBS today. Best day I've had with this razor. I will admit that my neck, especially left side, is quite irritated as the alum definitely proved. But, no major blood loss and a great overall result.

I think the key to today's success was just the amount of time I took. I also avoided taking a stroke with the razor on the second and third passes until I had it where I wanted it and it felt comfortable. Extra lather also helped. Maybe I just need more days off!

 

GSB!

 

Sold! They're so smooth and I wanted to like them in my Tech but just weren't sharp enough in it. Should be nice in the Cadet I'd think.