August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Why not both? I started with a Feather AC in March, and it kind of took off from there. The skills for the shave are transferable from the Shavette to the straight. Stropping isn't difficult, and is actually kind of fun. Most people start out sending razors to be honed, until they are sure they are into it enough to invest in hones. Some just keep sending them out.

Come to the darkside! We don't have cookies, but strops are cool!

 

August 27, 2015

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

Morning shave
Hot Shower
Soap: Arko (homemade travel stick)
Brush: Butterscotch Fauxmere 24mm synthetic
Razor: Gillette Slim AND Fatboy
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (3 in both)
After Shave: Proraso Green

Slim and 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 began a quick comparison using a mini 8-shave Rule, alternating every two shaves between the Slim and FB.

After more than two weeks with the Slim and more than a week with the Fatboy, I still cannot discern significant differences with the two in their shaving attributes (not assessing their physical differences) - even with the alternating shave plan that I’ve been practicing for 4 shaves.

Time for one last extreme approach. Today I will used one razor on one side of my face for both passes and the other razor on the opposite side, splitting the face right down the middle.


Bizarre? Probably. But it’s my last gasp to use my novice abilities to assess these razors against each other. Not that its a competition, I’m just trying to see if I can tell a difference.

Today’s combined shave was a great shave, similar to most all the shaves over the month with these two razors. I do believe that today’s approach has helped me to get a better sense of their differences. So I’m going to repeat this once more (tomorrow) and then wrap up my month’s assessment.

Cheers!
RT

 

Who am I trying to kid?

I am just trying to deny the inevitable.
I will move to proper straights at some point.

For now, I want to master the non-folding SE first.
I haven't had much luck with the folding SE so thats next on the list to try. Need to decide whether to go for a Feather DX folding or the Kai Captain folding.
I expect that will a 30 day rule soon.

Then comes proper straights.

Until then, I'll thank you to keep your enabling to yourself!

 

Great write-up Bird!
I'm thinking of focusing on my Schick injectors next month (or my GEMs) and this review really helps.

btw - I seem to recall that you're in the Seattle environs?
I hope you heard about this shindig in September!
http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/2015-seattle-shave-con.45475/

 

Congrats! - Sounds like a great shave!

 

I experience the same desire...and would do half a dozen passes if I could. But my skin is not tough enough, so I'm on a quest for the best two-pass shave I can get.

 

That's very good to know, thanks for sharing.
I got a tuck of Feathers in my original sample pack and haven't had the guts to try them...yet.
Someday.

 

Please try them. I would like to see if you have the same results.

 

Did I just see you ask somebody on this site to quit enabling? Really? Seriously?
I'd still have just an EJ DE89 and $100.00s of dollars if but wasn't for you guys.

Still laughing

 

TSD...soon to become TSED
(The Shaving Enablers Den!)

 

Ok.
It was a stupid thing to say.

Subconsciously we must come to forums to be enabled.

(I still have the EJ89 I started with)

 

That was not enableing. This is enabling.

If you want to borrow a straight and a strop, let me know. (Not even kidding.)

 

Nah, not stupid.
It never occurred to me either, when I started here, how bad (?) an influence that being on this site would be - since many on here came from the "getting away from cartridges will help me save money" perspective. HA!

I can't blame the enablers though, I developed my Acquisition Disorders all on my own!

 

Very generous offer.

But postage to the UK would probably be quite high.

Thank you though, it is very much appreciated.

 

I thought this was how it works: I spend money on wet shaving paraphernalia so that I can save money on carts. Isn't this sound logic?

 

Isn't it ironic, you talking about others being a bad influence?

 

Razor: Gillette Slim (1965)(7)
Blade: Gillette Platinum (4)
Brush: Fendrihen Silver Tip Badger Faux Horn Handle 22/49
Soap: Arko Shave Stick
Vintage Gillette Advertising Tin, "Begin Early Shave Yourself". (I don't know the year.)
A/S: Captain's Choice Sandalwood
Day 27
Great shave tonight, however, this brush is a hair loser. DFS so all is good. Was going to use #8 setting tonight, but I forgot. I will do this tomorrow. Have a good night.

 

Why sir, you cut me to the quick! I resemble that remark!

 

Ditto! No leather skin here..

 

Heck, I can only shave every other day. My skin won't take daily shaves.