August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

30 day Focus - Day 6
MDC Lavender Face Lathered w/ TOBS Almond
Sputnik Blade (Day 2 on blade, Day 6 on Sputnik)
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes

Another day, another good shave.

 

You're Rufus T. Does MR. F know you're doing things with Mrs. F?

 

A little blood is all part of the learning. Except for the nicks there was not much irritation. I paid in blood to learn how to shave with a 2011 R41 and now it is my best razor and does not draw any blood.

The weather is terrible, 90 degrees and 90% humidity, I even use QCS Vostok bath soap for my shower. For some reason they don't have AC in the bathrooms here. I think it is to keep people from being lazy. It is truly the dog days of summer here, the traditional food on the hottest days is dog. I don't eat dog so I need to go heavy on the menthol.

 

Me too, my friend. Me too.

 

8/7/15 SOTD (Shave 4 of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: “Our Leader” JAS. G. BARRY Co. Chicago, ILL’S Made in Germany
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel/ Linen (50 laps Linen/ 50 laps Leather pre and 10/10 post)
Soap: Barrister & Mann Fireside
Brush: Omega 1066 Boar
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Aubrey Men’s Stock Northwoods with M-Bomb added

Good shave today. Also playing with some clip on lenses for my phone. Not because I needed to, but mostly just to see how it would work, I took this razor to my finest grit Welsh stone last night for a few laps. The Welsh slate is softer than the Translucent Arkansas I had been experimenting with. The razor was very keen, but not as smooth today. Next step might be a combination of both stones.

Did my first pass N/S, second pass on neck and chin only, XTG, and third pass S/N. The razor wasn’t tugging, but it took more pressure to get the results. I only got one cut when I turned my head mid-pass. (Note to self: Don’t do that.) Face and chin are BBS, neck is DFS. Lather was great, and the menthol was a nice finish. Going to do one or two more shaves on this razor, then move to one that has been professionally honed to see the difference in how they feel and how the edge looks. Sometimes I wish I could shave every day.

 

There were some discussion about number of times on a blade last night. So I decided to push my luck. I have been using Feathers for three days and decided to do four this time.

SOTD
Mulcuto Slant
Feather (4)
Prorating green cream
Sapone Di Paulo aftershave balm
Pinaud Special Reserve

I was pleasantly surprised. I still got a DFS with only minor irritation on a small patch on my neck. I could probably continue but think I will stop at four.

 

Herm2502 said: ↑
Wrist "Danger" Watchb?

Bama Samurai said: ↑
CT for Charlie - "Carlos Danger"

Oh cmon now Charlie....surely Carlos Danger knows that shenanigans never sleeps!

 

Upon further review....

Aha, you got me! I'm with you now Herm.
I've had two very nice shaves on 7. My best with the Slim so far. I can stay here for awhile or move up.

I'm ready for 8 when you are.

 

Very jealous of you OC guys. I had only one shave with an OC and really liked it.

Open question - How long did you wet shave before trying an open comb?

I feel another Focus coming on!

 

I never thought I'd like menthol but then one of the worst heat waves hit home. I'm a convert! (Though not of the 'crackstar' variety)

And really like the Mile High Menthol from Caties Bubbles. I use it as is - though I have purchased some TSD M-Bomb to use with other things.

 

I'm thinking the same thing eventually, but I have a few razors to try first and want to do the same for each.

So many razors, so little time....especially with only one shave per day!

 

I tried OC once I had my base technique down. I actually prefer the OC razors in general when I have a choice. I just find they work better for me with less irritation. The Gillette New Long OC is by far my favorite vintage DE razor.

 

I got this razor in June and started traditional wet shaving in October. In reality, I don't see any major difference in OC to a bar type, so I say if you are interested, go for it. This one in particular is pretty mild, but still provides a good shave. I have aspirations of trying a vintage Gillette OC at some point, though.

 

Do one next month! You've learned angle discipline, that's the key to aggressive OC razors.

 

+1

 

Razor: Gillette Executive (1960)(6)
Blade: Gillette Platinum (5)
Brush: WDC-4, Silvertip Badger, Butterscotch. (VIG) 24/67
Cream: Lea Classic
Bowl: Old Spice Blue Mug
A/S: Lucky Tiger
Day 7
Kept the Executive on #6 today and got a good close 2 pass shave. I will go to #7 tomorrow. The Lea Classic Cream (got it in a PIF) which I used for the first time tonight worked up an excellent lather. I'll use it again tomorrow. Lucky Tiger is my got to A/S if I stare at the aftershaves to long.

 

August 7, 2015
Adjustable August Slim-apalooza
30-Day Focus - Gillette Slim Adjustable

Morning shave.
Hot Shower
Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden
Soap: Catie's Bubbles Mile High Menthol
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
After Shave: Myrsol Limon
Mustache Wax: Dirigo Blue

Settings:
7 - WTG
7 - ATG
No touch-up or repeat strokes. This is as much about technique as it is about finding the best settings on this razor for me.

The shave was better on the Slim today in that the significant feedback of yesterday was less so today. I’m inclined to think that using a new blade today helped and that the 3-shave blade of yesterday was mostly the culprit. The shave was also the very close.

I will go up to 8 on my next shave.

Cheers!
RT

 

Well Herm - first and foremost you are a trained observer.

Second, you appear to sense either a perceived personal peccadillo of mine,
or perhaps a flaw in the manner in which I refer to people in my life and some sort of identity conflict.

Third, I assure you that my SO and SWMBO, Mrs. F., along with who/what you think Mrs T may be, are all one and the same person - my wife of 29 years.

Your confusion lies with your probable inaccurate assumption of my user name.



***SPECIAL 30-Day Rule/Focus TSDenizen PIF***

Solve the mystery behind my user name and the reference to Mrs. F.

Prize - valuable shaving gear from me, Rufus T.

Eligibility: must be presently enrolled in a 30-Day Rule/Focus, OR have done one before on a TSD 30-Day thread.
Contest duration remains open until solved.
Hints provided randomly on this thread at the discretion of Rufus T. :hooray:

Good luck one and all! :wave:

 

Not in as I'm not a focus group member, but it's quite plain to me. Good luck everybody.

 

Tetanus?