Do you own a Tech? If so, put it next to the Rimei and compare. They seem similar to me.

I decreased as well, but still a bit overloaded here too.

You're on a streak of great photos!

I am intrigued by that razor!

Menthol Monday!

Late post Day 13 - 13 July 2015

30 Days of Maggard and MITA!


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Day one of Platinum. The shave today was pretty good, not as smooth as a couple of the other brands, but no real issues. I need to do it again tomorrow before really forming an opinion, I may have just had an off day with the angles. Since it's Menthol Monday, MITA and Figaro brought the chill on a cloudy, humid and muggy day near Denver. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

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One of the best things about traditional shaving is the connection to the past. I think of those visits every time I open my bottle of Pinaud Clubman, or when I use Vitalis. My favorite memory of the shop was the old school glass bottle Coke vending machine, it paired well with the Double Bubble gum the barbers kept for us kids. When you wrote about the lather dispenser it made me recall the sound it makes, and remembering the feeling of being 8, with a straight razor against my neck and sideburns as the barber outlined my flat top, worn lightly waxed just like my superhero Army officer Dad. Dad's are larger than life like that to a little boy. Even though I was a kid, I knew that the barber shop was a special place for the men in my neighborhood. That's how I saw it back then, and how I remember it now.

1956 Gillette Super Speed Flair
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva
Current Blade under review: 2nd Gillette Silver Blue
Shave #3 with 2nd Gillette Silver Blue blade. A great shave. BBS results. Very close, comfortable, no nicks, weepers, irritation or razor burn.
Pass 1: WTG on my face (N/S), and XTG on my neck (N/S except for the outside wings which were WTG -S/N). Pass 2: ATG using my grain map. My original plan had been to end the shave with a near BBS at this point, but I decided since there were only a couple of spots where I could detect any stray whiskers, that I'd try to get them.
I lathered up and made one more pass in these areas with some blade buffing, but after my rinse, I could still feel a few there. I decided to stop trying for today, but after rinsing and using my Aqua Velva, I couldn't find them. Very strange. I'll claim a barely BBS shave for today.

I still had plenty of lather after finishing:


A very nice shave from the Silver Blue. Tomorrow: the return of the Shark Super Stainless (cue the "Jaws" theme)...

07/14/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2
Blade –Feather Pro (5)
Brush –Brothers Bristles with WD HM
Lather – Lo Haiku
Post - Witch Hazel and Fine Platinum



Another great near BBS shave this morning. I think I will finish off this work week with the Feather Pro and move to the Feather Super Pro next week. Finished off with Fine Platinum and I think I am ready for the workday.

Phoenix Dbl OC Focus Day 13:

Homemade PS Oil
VDH Boar Brush
Stirling Electric Sheep SS
Phoenix Dbl OC
Stirling Unscented PSB
Aqua Velva Musk

I bought the VDH brush to use as a travel brush and figured I would spend some time breaking it in. Good lather to go with another good shave from the Phoenix.

30 day SR focus. Day ? 17?.... Who's counting?
today the Bur
Strop on my homemade 2" latigo strop
40x Canvas 20x leather
Pre shave oil by me (Sara's recipe)
WD HMB brush
AOS soap
AOS post balm and
Clubman original
Dfs BBS shave.
Good thing I have the SR focus. Wife used my DE. Definitely time to get new blades.

30 day rule - Day 14
MDC Lavender Face Lathered with a touch of TOBS Rose
Ladas blade
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes

I changed the setting on my slim from 7 to 8. This has helped the areas where I have the heaviest growth and did not seem to cause any discomfort. I will keep it at 8 for a few days and see what happens. In the past when I set the slim too high I would start getting weepers, so I will keep a close watch.

Since I drastically cut down the amount I am loading the brush, I thought that I should also seriously cut down the amount I put on my face when using a second soap. Since I use the second soap for scent, I was a bit concerned that the scent wouldn't last through the third pass. I was wrong. There was plenty of rose scent for all 3 passes and the left-over lather in the brush was still heavily scented . I am very happy that I am only using about 1/4 of what I used before beginning the 30 day.

July 14, 2015

30-Day Focus - Blade Trials for Gillette Tech

One week trial for each brand:
Personna Red, Derby Green, Gillette Silver Blue, Voskhod

Hot Shower
Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden
Soap: TSD SubZero
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle”
Blade: Derby Green (2)
TSD Witch Hazel
After Shave: Myrsol Agua Di Limon



Perfecting my new stretch move for the jawline, will take awhile, but it's my best strategy for a clean jawline so I'm gonna make it part of the everyday routine.
Best shave I've had with the Derby so far.

Cheers!
-RT

30 Day Rule - July 2015 - **MODIFIED**MODIFIED**MODIFIED
July 13th
Razor - Long Feng
Blade - (2)
Brush - Vie Long 12705
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold Water splash, Alum, Nivea Original

After yesterday's surprisingly good shave with the Rimei I as pretty stoked to try the Long Feng. Again, less than $3 on the bay shipped from China. I think I paid around $5.60 for both. The Long Feng is a bit lighter than the Rimei, feels a bit cheaper and they clearly cut back on the metal as can be seen from the underside. The head geometry features more of a curve on the base creating a steeper blade bend than many razors so aggression is possibly higher. Looking at the blade gap, though, it's hard to tell.



So, I put Tabac in the Vie-Long saddle and lathered up. Again I added a bit of water to get the right consistency. Love this brush and Tabac is one of my favorites. First pass was quite interesting and very nice. Probably due to the thin metal in the head this razor really sings. Yet, it was extremely smooth. But it provided a better first pass than the Rimei as far as reduction is concerned. Lathered again and went XTG. Again great feedback from the razor and smooth and comfortable is how I'd describe it. Lathered again all over and did an ATG followed by a couple of minor touchups on the neck. I noticed just t bit of burn on the neck so I may have some irritation but overall a great feeling shave. The finish.........DFS but extremely close to the baby. Almost but not quite. Hit the alum and did feel a bit of extra burn compared to yesterday but not bad at all.

Once again I'm very impressed and pleasantly surprised. The razor looks like a Yuma or maybe a Merkur 1904 clone, feels like a cheap toy and shaves like a Vintage Gillette. Very very nice. I will be keeping both of these razors in my den. I can see them as travel razors, especially the lighter Long Feng, as well as just something to keep for a break in rotation. I could honestly use one of these as my daily shaver and be very content. I'm not sure how the finish will wear on them but hey, for the price, I could order a dozen in and have backups for a long time. These would also be great choices for a newbie wanting to get in as cheaply as possible. The only downside is the shipping time from China but there may be stateside suppliers if I looked.

The Feather is in the mailbox. I'll be unpacking it in a bit and getting ready to go back to the Rule in the morning, but this has been great fun and enlightening as well!

Thanks for the input Chris. Have a good week.

The Whipped Dog High Mountain knots are high on my list.

Great memories, thanks Chris. One thing I remember about those Saturday trips to, for me, John's Barbershop was one of the barbers had a Myna Bird that talked and swore alot. That bird kept everyone in the shop in stitches and taught us kids a few choice swear words. Good times.

Razor: Gillette SS, 1948-49
Blade: Personna Blue (4)
Brush: Omega 10066
Soap: Razo Rock XXX
A/S: Osage Rub
Day 13.

Another good shave and lather using the Omega 10066. Excellent lather with the Razo Rock XXX soap. I also like the Osage Rub finish.
Have a good Tuesday night.

Do I own a Tech. Hey, I may not collect razors like @Darkbulb but I know the classics. Here are a couple of shots of my '59 Ball End Tech and post-war Fat Handle with the Rimei. Yes, very similar, especially the ball end. As far as performance I think they are almost a clone with each other. The ball end is one of my favorite mild razors and the Rimei gave about the same feel and performance as the Gillette. I haven't used the Fat Handle as much due to the need to get it plated but the performance is basically the same.

July 14

MdC facial soap
Gillette Fat Boy
Feather blade (2)
Omega Pro 98 boar brush
Arko
Two passes plus touch-ups
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm

I've shaved twice this week with the FB on 7. It's a very comfortable near BBS shave for me. I plan to finish the week on 7, and with this set up. I'm not a huge fan of the Arko scent, but it pairs nicely with the Omega boar brush to provide a great shave!

We've experienced torrential rains and flash floods in the past 24 hours - very much out of the ordinary for July. Thankfully, everyone in our family is safe. Have a great Tuesday.

Stay dry Charlie. Build an ark if you need to!

That's is hilarious.

Thanks for the pic! I really like the feel of my 53 Ball end, and will infer from your posts that Rimei would work out just fine.

I have been looking at the radars, mostly around Murray, but noticed you guys have been getting soaked. That's th order of the day here in Colorado too. Weird weather.