July 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

In Soviet Russia, you didn't find peace in blades, blades found peace in you.

 

And, blades found piece OF me.

 

July 22, 2015

***COMPLETED***
30-Day Focus - Blade Trials for Gillette Tech

No shave today.

A travel day on my way to a one week family trip from Seattle to:

Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
48.8450° N, 123.2808° W

Will take a holiday from my completed 30-day focus as well.

Making the trip with me will be (my family, of course!)
plus two new companions
- a '46-'47 Gillette Aristocrat!
(PIF loaner from @NCoxSTL )
- my brand new Omega Beehive brush!
(part of my May Newbie PIF from @Bristle Me )

Currently in transit somewhere in the Strait of Georgia, BC.



Ahoy!
RT

 

Love the pic. Have a wonderful time!

 

Hope you have a blast!

 

Mark, fantastic photo. The Triad Hex handle looks stunning. Toby really does great work.

 

Fantastic Pic. Congrats on completing the 30 day focus. Have a great time on your trip.

 

Amazing looking handle.

 

Great picture. Have a outstanding time.

 

1956 Gillette Super Speed Flair
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue
Current Blade under review: PolSilver Super Iridium

Shave #3 with PolSilver Super Iridium blade. Nice BBS results, a great shave. Very close, really comfortable, no nicks, weepers, irritation or razor burn.
2 Full passes: Pass 1: WTG on my face (N/S), and XTG on my neck (N/S). Pass 2: ATG based on my updated grain map. At this point, I was very near a BBS shave.
Applied lather to the areas that needed touch up. I used some stretching to get the remaining spots. Today there was less to cleanup than yesterday, but I needed to go over some of them twice. The Aqua Velva burned a bit this morning, but my face quieted down pretty quickly.

The PolSilver Super Iridium turned in another very comfortable 2 pass BBS shave with very little touch up required. Much of the first pass felt like I didn't even have a blade in the razor, but the result was pretty close to a DFS. I'll revisit the Gillette Silver Blue tomorrow to see which I like better.

 

07/23/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 with Triad SS Helix
Blade – Feather Super Pro (10)
Brush – Rudy Vey with TGN Finest
Lather – MdC Fougere
Post - Witch Hazel and Myrsol Metilsol sample



A truly great shave this morning was easily the best shave of the month. Went with a 2 pass shave, ATG followed by XTG gave me a near BBS. Decided to chase the baby and caught the little devil with just a few touch ups. Finished off with Myrsol Metilsol from my sample pack. First time using this one and I am not sure about it. The scent is very similar to Balsamica but not as nice and no or very little menthol for cooling. I need to revisit this one for sure.

 

30 day rule - Day 23
MDC unscented Face Lathered with Stirling Glacial Obsidian
Ladas blade
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes


Today was a very nice extremely mentholated shave. If you like menthol, you should try Stirling Glacial Obsidian - it is very cold.

 

Which handle do you have with your Maggard OC? I am contemplating getting one as my next razor and am looking for opinions on the various handles. You have probably said at one point or another in your posts, but I could not find it. From your SOTD posts, it appears you do like the razor overall, but just wanted to make sure it is one you would recommend. Thanks!

 

Razor: Gillette Black Handle Flair Tip (P1)
Blade: Wilkinson Sword (5)
Brush: Semogue 1305 Superior Boar
Bowl: KnockOut Shave
Soap: Jack's Shave Soap
A/S: Pinuad Musk
Day 23

I will finish my 30 Boar Brush Focus with the 1305. I have had difficulty with this brush earlier in my focus, however, I will keep on trying. I had to reload once tonight with my 3 pass shave. Not much, but I did have to reload. I very much like this A/S.

 

This is the MR11 handle. The razor head is available as a stand alone purchase also, and could be mated to any handle in your collection. I want to try the Maggard head on a heavy Utopia handle, though I do really like the Maggard OC head on the MR11. I've had a blast photographing the razor, the machining is well-done and is actually one of the mildest three piece razors I have tried, despite its fearsome teeth. The Cadet OC that was put through the paces in June is more aggressive, but also a real solid choice. And be on the lookout...one of these two is PIF soon...

 

Phoenix Dbl OC Focus Day 20:

Arko Cool SC
VDH Boar Brush
Phoenix Dbl OC
Stirling Unscented PSB
Barbasol Brisk AS

Skipped another day yesterday. I am on vacation, and it is difficult to get myself to shave every day. A good shave this evening, though. Hope everyone is having a good week.

 

Thanks for the info and sharing your experience! Where does one find the cadet because it does not appear in stock anywhere I have looked? I will definitely be on the lookout for the PIF no matter which one becomes available.

 

My shave today

Pre shave Homemade PSO (Lavender scent)
Razor Lord L6
Blade Gillette Superedge
Soap TOBS LavenderLavender M-Bomb added
Brush VDH boar
Post shave Lavender WH and Iced Subzero AS

Not a bad shave but not the greatest. No nicks but a few areas of irritation. Blade seemed smooth as it went along face so probably all technique. Loved the soap with the M-Bomb. Officially addicted to menthol chill!!! August will begin my official 30 day role. Right now with the Astra SP. As was suggested to me get one that I can love with and then fix technique before comparing the others. So that is what I am doing.

 

July 23, 2015

***COMPLETED***
30-Day Focus - Blade Trials for Gillette Tech

7-day Vacation in
Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
48.8450° N, 123.2808° W



Island climate, island time, island life all deserves a shave soap to compliment it.

So after my island siesta, I break out my sample puck of Island Man soap (Stirling) and ready for my 3 pm shave.

Haven't used it before but was most pleasantly surprised by the scent when I opened it up - so I just rubbed it on my face and loaded some up on the new brush. Will take a bit to get used to developing a lather with the shorter, smaller Omega beehive brush, but I was able to work up a decent later and off I went.

Shave time begins with a GSB blade popping out first from my travel kit and into the Aristocrat. (Neal this is a fine razor!)

Though I seem to be more focused on the lather-making, this razor/blade combo blew through the 2+days of stubble and 3 passes later I am all cleaned up and just as smooth as can be.

A splash of TSD YingYang seems to work great with the soap.

I'm off to enjoy the late-afternoon sun!

Ahoy!
RT