August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Nice!

 

Cool spine work on that blade!

 

We'll allow it! That's awesome!

 

Well I'm jealous Adam, hope you have a great time in Hawaii!

Travel kits seem to be a bit of a subject here tonight...
You claim to be a minimalist, bringing exactly just enough to get crammed into the suitcase?
Or could you go the "kitchen sink" route and replicate your den when you travel by leaving a few of your aloha shirts and hula skirts at home to free up more space?

So what's in your wallet kit?

 

1959 E3 Gillette Fat Boy
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Noxzema
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #3 with the Rapira Swedish Supersteel in my '59 Fat Boy set to 6. Paid attention to the angle and rode the cap. Nice BBS with almost no effort. Very comfortable.
2 Full passes: Pass 1 WTG on my face and XTG on my neck. Very nice and slick and very efficient. Pass 2: ATG. Left my face and neck near BBS. Did cold water rinse and lathered for touch up. Baby came home again this morning. Aqua Velva was calm and did not reveal any whiskers as it usually does.

Another wonderful BBS shave from the Rapira Swedish Supersteel. Very comfortable. Based on the last 3 shaves, I think I found another top blade.

 

30 day Focus - Day 25
MDC Lavender Face Lathered
Voskhod Blade (Day 1 on blade, Day 1 on Voskhod)
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes

I like the Voskhod blade a lot, being just behind my favorite, which is the Ladas. The Voskhod always seems super smooth and is plenty sharp for me. Very nice shave today.

 

When I travel for business, I take a full kit, including strop and a back up straight. That's mainly because my suits don't fit in a small suitcase, and I have space in a bigger checked one. Since I will be the one carrying the luggage for me, my wife, and the toddler, through several airports, the amount of stuff I am willing to carry will be less. We are checking one carryon sized bag, so there will be much less room. I will be taking a Old Type OC, (thanks @clint64 ,) travel brush, some soap, my witch hazel, alum, and a small container of aftershave, oh, and blades would be good.

 

Phoenix Comparison Focus Day 25:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Gillette Ball End Tech
Stirling Unscented PSB
Brut Classic

Last shave with my Ball End Tech, and it was just a great way to wrap up this part of my comparison. I had not used this razor in so long, I have realized how much I under appreciate this razor. I will definitely include it more in my rotation in the future. Of course, with SEptember coming up and my new Injector, it will have to wait for a while.

I also got the Wool Fat dialed in today. The lather was just to my liking. I am not sure if it is just in my head, but I do feel like the post shave feel is improved with this soap as well. Have a great Wednesday!

 

08/26/2015
Razor – Gillette Slim (J3) set on 9
Blade – Feather (2)
Brush – Shavemac Silvertip D01
Lather – MdC Fougere
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine Platinum



After a day off from shaving, I have a very good near BBS 3 pass shave this morning. It's been awhile since I have used this brush and had forgotten how much backbone it truly has. Finished off with a splash of Fine Platinum.

 

8/26/15 SOTD (Shave 14 of this Focus)
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: Wade & Butcher 5/8 (pre 1890) with Worm Eaten Scales
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel/ Linen (20 linen 50 Leather Pre, 15/15 post)
Soap: Barrister & Mann Fireside (Brandy scented)
Brush: Omega 1066 Boar
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Mandom

So only one more shave in this focus, and I am reserving that for a new acquisition. A big part of my focus this month has been on honing and using the razors I have. For today’s shave, I attempted to improve the edge of an already shave ready razor I used on Monday. Mission accomplished! I did some work on a fine Welsh Slate with slurry, and a Translucent Arkansas Hone, and polished this razor up. Today it was much smoother, and required less pressure. I did a N/S pass, a S/N pass, and touch up on my neck, chin, and jawline. Shave was a very solid DFS plus. No irritation or cuts, even on the whiskers that are usually an issue right under my chin.
This is my first shave in a while with no menthol. Soap gave an awesome lather, but it seems weird to smell like brandy at 5 in the morning, even if it doesn’t last. Mandom is a great aftershave, smells good and is subtle throughout the day.

 

Thanks. That makes sense. I was was curious about straight edge shavers with the extra gear required.

After taking the kitchen sink with me when I first started wetshaving I've cut back substantially. Although I still take an extra small kit bag with me because my other kit bag is generally full of other toiletries. I do frequent one or two day car trips for work so I tend to keep a bag packed all the time with my Tech, Arko stick, travel brush, blades, small vial of A/S and alum.

 

SOTD
August 26, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Mongoose B3 Dr. Bomber Handle
Blade: Feather Professional
Brush: Stirling Synthetic
Lather: Klar Kabinett
Post: Alum. Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Royall Spice
Klar. Oh Klar how I love thee. Klar Kabinett is without doubt one of my favorite soaps, the beautiful light rose scent is wonderful in the morning. I received this sample of Royall Spice from a member over at Shave the Man, I really like it! I'll be buying a full bottle. This was my 7th shave with my Mongoose and I've had 7 excellent shaves.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

 

Today was time for a mild razor using a Feather blade. I chose a Schick Krona and had a much better experience than the last three days with my Double Ring. I got a very nice three pass BBS with no irritation on day one with a Feather. There is one variable in that I Palm stropped this blade first. I am so glad I joined a focus as I am learning a lot. I used to use the shotgun approach of a different razor or blade on any given day and was learning nothing. This month has been all Feather three days at a time in each razor. I will give my final opinion on this blade at the end of the month.

SOTD
Schick Krona
Feather (1)
Arko stick
AOS AS Balm
WSP Beard Oil

Have a fun day!

 

Congrats! Most impressive!

Just curious what you mean by modified XTG?

Thanks again for the encouragement. Have another good report today, but hoping when I get home I can actually get a picture to go with it.

 

Thanks!

Contoured to the map and in places it approaches ATG.

 

Shave 11
26/08
Pre: none
Soap: Tabac / Palmolive stick
Brush: Vie Long Custom
Razor: Kai Excelia non folding
Blade: Feather Pro (1)
AS: Old Spice Musk

Didn't get a chance to shave yesterday, so had to tackle 3 days growth.
Decided to mix the Tabac and the Palmolive today. Made a nice thick lather.
After a few hit and miss (mostly miss) shaves with the Kai, I swapped it for a Feather Pro.
Result was a great shave. No nicks or irritation.

Maybe the Kai don't suit me in the erm... Kai. I don't have a problem with them in the Mongoose.

I'll see how I get on with the Feather in the next shave.

 

Razor: Gillette Slim (1965)(7)
Blade: Gillette Platinum (3)
Brush: Fendrihen Silver Tip Badger Faux Horn Handle 22/49
Soap: Arko Shave Stick
A/S: Old Spice Binocular Decanter Product ID #3229: 1973.
Day 26
Outstanding shave tonight (DFS)(3 passes). Very good lather with the Arko Stick, and who doesn't love an Old Spice finish. All around an excellent combination of products.

 

Very clean photo of impressive shaving products.

 

Great setup @Drygulch. I like your photo also.
My wife bought me a 1066 this summer and I got to like it much.