August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

August 24, 2015

Adjustable August
30-Day Focus - Gillette Adjustable Slim / Fatboy

Mid-morning shave.
Hot Shower
Soap: Arko (homemade travel stick)
Brush: Butterscotch Fauxmere 24mm synthetic
Razor: Gillette Fatboy (1961)
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (2)
After Shave: Proraso Green

Fatboy settings at:
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 the razor for me.

This month has gone by so quickly as I've tried to learn the Slim and attempt the same with the FB. I've gotten very nice shaves all month. Given the time left in the month, I'm going to try to attempt a quick comparison using a mini 8-shave Rule, alternating every two shaves between the Slim and FB.

Shave 1 Fatboy (8/22 - two-day growth)
- first pass, solid. I continue to notice a good deal of audible feedback, as with both adjustables, in my brief experience with them. I rotate higher onto the cap, Close shave. FB feels very comfortable in my hand. noise lessens.
- second pass, AOK. Focusing on blade angle (which for me is minding the cap placement and relative angle of handle to cheek - it seems just below perpendicular)
Close shave. FB feels very comfortable in my hand.

Shave 2 Fatboy (8/24 - two-day growth)
- first pass - dared myself to almost go right to the top of the cap, so very shallow angle. Noise reduced from previous shaves, whisker reduction good.
- second pass - same angle. Very close, comfortable pass.

Onto the Slim (and back to work) tomorrow.

Cheers!
RT

 

It seems as if the angle sweet spot on a FB is large and easy to hit.

 

Classy Picture!

 

I wasn't going more shallow, I will try tomorrow. I had the head where it bends flat against my face this morning. It's this Gold Bond, I'm colored blind

 

Gotcha! I use the Gold Bond extra strength blue green tube sometimes. I like Gold Bond products very much.

 

I really like this product, it dries very fast, it's healing, it feels great on my bald head. It's pretty much taken the place of all of my balms.

 

Razor: Gillette Slim (1965)(6)
Blade: Gillette Platinum (1)
Brush: Fendrihen Silver Tip Badger Black Faux Ebony Handle 22/49
Soap: RazoRock XXX- Fresh and clean; a cross between a classic Italian colonial and an old-school barbershop.
A/S: Fine L'Orange Noir
Day 24

Excellent shave this evening with these products. The Gillette Slim has a different feel than the FB's, however it does give a DFS. Classic Barbershop soap is an excellent way to lather up. Another day on #6, then to #7.

 

My wife has found that the new Gold Bond Ultimate Strength & Resilience has claimed the best lotion she's tried category. We have several Gold Bond lotions, but she likes it better than any of the others. I like it too. Dries fast, really moisturizes. Haven't tried any post shave balms. Might give this a try as a balm one day.

 

Bill, I have every balm you can think of, since I've had this Gold Bond I haven't touched them. What I do is apply my aftershave and then the Gold Bond. I can actually tell the difference since I've been using this in my skin.
Kerry

 

I find my FB likes 7 as well. It is just about perfect. I am going try to summarize my little comparison between the Phoenix and other razors at the end of the month, and it will be difficult with the FB, as I like it and the Phoenix so much.

 

I use this same one (I think, I am also a bit color blind and it could be green). It is fantastic. I may have to give the one @RaZorBurn123 recommends a try.

 

+1 Love the Gold Bond Ultimate lotion. Use it daily on the hands & body. Also the Gold Bond Green for it's soothing menthol.

 

Oops! Mine is green. Green tube. I guess I get color confused also.

Gold Bond Extra strength

 

I guess I'd say the usable angle spectrum is wide, the sweet spot for the most comfortable shave (for me - YMMV) seems very shallow and while fully riding the cap.

 

Got it. I am getting my FB briefing from your posts!

 

August Focus - Slim and Feather AC
August 24
Razor - 1964 Gillette Slim (J1)
Blade - (3)
Brush - BoS
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold water, Alum, Nivea Original Post Shave

Back to the focus. Slim and Sharp Star which I have run through settings 5 and 7 with improvement at 7. Let's see if I can open it all the way to 9 and get even better results. BoSFat is the brush/soap combination today and I am seriously thinking that I may as well sell the rest of my brushes and soaps. Well, ok, so I won't really do that but the Omega 10066 and MWF just work fantastically together. It was almost like watching Arko lather today as fast as it exploded to life. Slick, cushiony, perfect in every way.

Dialed the Slim up to 9 and went WTG. Yep, this blade loves the aggressive setting, or the razor loves this blade. Maybe it's mutual. Great first pass. Relathered and went XTG all over and wow. Could have stopped there with a very nice DFS. Went ahead for a third pass, mostly just because I wasn't ready to stop, and it was really more touch up in just a few areas on the neck, and finished BBS and wishing I could justify one more pass. Rinsed, grabbed the alum and felt just a mild sting here and there. Fantastic shave. Went for the Nivea Original just to moisturize and headed off to the wonderful world of cars. Put the Sharp Star down for 9 on the Slim. Awesome shave.

 

well I didn't see that coming...

Time for a quick TSD 30-day denizens poll:

Is the statement from @Bama Samurai to @Rufus T. :

"I am getting my FB briefing from your posts!"

Best described as:

A. - The Apprentice is now the Master!

B. - the blind leading the blind!

C. Enter your witty option here _________________!

 

C. The siren call of the Fat Boy is calling Bama!

 

I'll have to go with C - "Butt kissing at its finest." Now, why the butt kissing? All I'm saying is watch your back!

 

Wait, what?!!

Strange...I wonder if that has anything to do with the unmarked box that was just left on my front porch?