August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

So the Fat Boy looks like a SS on steroids and the Slim is his little brother.

 

I'm going to finish out the weekend with my August Focus. Then, on Tuesday, I'll move into my September Focus. I'm going to try a SE September and focus on my 3 SE razors. I've used them only sparingly and really need to get to know them better. I believe I have an Eversharp-Schick Model J injector (top), an Eversharp-Schick Model G injector (middle) and a STAR SE (courtesy of @Omaney). Total cost of all 3 razors was $12. So here are my September tools.

 

Haha. I've got a year or so under my belt and a couple razors in my collection. :-D got the bug and started acquiring. Need some more soaps and creme though. Hopefully I can contain myself in the future.

 

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but the focus on the Slim continued none the less. It's been a good focus, and I did figure out the razor for my face. For every day shaves, it's a xtg / atg 2 pass shave on 4. If I skip a day, it's the same 2 pass shave on 5. I grew to love this razor once I got it dialed in! Smoothe, little to no irritation and on 5 or less, the Styptic pen stays in its sleeve.

Next up is my later model (67 I believe) ball end focus. I'm going on vacation next month so I want to keep the focus on a razor I'm familiar with, so no SEptember for me. I'love give my Gem a try between focuses, but I'like save a Gem focus for October, which may be more appropriate seeing as there may be blood, lol!

Anyhow, now that this focus is almost over, I'm glad I participated, and look forward to more!

 

I'm in agreement with your assessment of the Slim. Great razor, but I also prefer three piece DE's. I like the Superspeed and Aristocrat TTO's, but prefer three piece over those as well.

 

Great write up! And I found it quite interesting to hear your comparison side by side of the two razors. Awesome stuff! I must warn you, however, that such devotion to critical thinking and figuring out new ways to compare and test and devise scenarios to learn something and all of that leads to a terrible side effect for some. If you find yourself suddenly AAACK!!ing up a hairball, I warned you. The fact that I see your devotion to breaking it down scientifically resonates with me. I tend to have the same curse. Can't wait to see what you discover in the coming month my friend.

 

My personal plan is to finish Sunday with the Feather SS and most likely freestyle Monday the 31st. I'm a stickler for starting the actual focus on the 1st, but it's not a hard and fast rule. I'm still trying to get the final design to my month figured out so the extra day will help in this case.

 

And she puts up with those ears!!

 

August Focus - Slim and Feather AC
August 28
Razor - 1964 Gillette Slim (J1)
Blade - (1)
Brush - Vie Long 12601
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold water, Alum, The Veg

Changing to a super sharp blade today so a bit of change in protocol. Instead of starting the Slim on 5 I'm dialing down to 3. The Feather gave a fantastic shave at 3 so that will be the starting benchmark. The pony and Tabac for the lather and again, really really a nice result. I have definitely gotten my two favorite soaps nailed down...Tabac and MWF. The Vie Long 12601 and the Omega 10066 both seem to work equally well with each soap and my other brushes aren't that far behind. I notice the Arko and Proraso sit on the shelf a bit forlorn right now.

First pass with the Kai on 3 was extremely smooth. Very nice and very close for a first pass. No issues or concerns except to get the lather on for the XTG. Second pass just as smooth and I was DFS at the end of the pass. A few minor touch ups and I was rinsing, enjoying a nearly burn free alum splash and had the Veg on and out the door. Fantastic shave with this combination. Tomorrow I'm going to dial down to 2 just to see what happens.

 

Glad to have you aboard! If you've enjoyed this thread, I know you'll fit right in!

I resemble that remark. I was a newbie in the July focus.

 

I'm still planning on going through several razors in September. I have an Old Type and two Techs that need attention. I also have my father’s Eversharp Shick Injector. I’ve only had one shave with the Old Type, the others are untouched. I’m thinking that for the DE razors, I’ll limit myself to two or three of the blades that have stood out for me to see if they shine in these razors as well. While I’m going to stick with the rest of my setup most of the time, I’m likely to try a new soap or two, a different after shave, and perhaps dig out my untouched VDH boar brush. I don’t have any injector blades yet. They have some generics at the drug store. Do I dare go for those or is there something I should order instead?

 

I use these. Works out to about 85 cents a blade after shipping. I do find the blades last longer than DE blades so it's not too bad.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E6VHUQ/?tag=thshde-20

 

Thanks Chris!

 

August 30 Day Rule

My equipment for the past month:

Razor -- Lord L6
Blade -- GSB
Brush -- VDH Board
Soap -- Stirling MITA
Post -- Cold water splash and WH

This may be my final shave for the month or I may shave Sunday depending on how early I get up. This month has been incredible (the gushy thank you post will follow) and I have learned so much about wet shaving as well as about my own face.

First pass used the WTG on cheeks and XTG on chin and under my lips. Again a very smooth pass. I really tried pulling on the chin, paying close attention to any change in sound. I realized that the tighter I stretch toward my ear as well as up and down the better the cut I get. A very smooth pass. The neck was XTG on first pass and it went very well. Holding the angle, nearly perpendicular to the floor on the face and slightly bigger angle on the neck seems to lead to a great first pass.

Second pass is ATG on the chin and below the lip and it went very well with stretching. The XTG on the cheeks also went very well and making long strokes from chin to ear along the jaw line really does well. The ATG on the neck was a great pass. I tried to make the angle a little more shallow when I do the ATG pass and it seems to be perfect. The same angle does not work as well with the XTG first pass.

Another excellent shave. Splashed some cold water, had one little spot on the underside of the jaw that needed touch up, so re-lathered that spot, hit it real quick with an ATG pass and away went the spot. Another cold water splash, WH, and wait. What is that noise? I think a baby may be cooing.

 

Injectors give amazingly smooth shaves. You may really like it.

 

Great illustration. By geometry, would the FB not be more aggressive, in general?

 

I like the Schick that @cmorris357 reccomends, I get up to 12-15 shaves on one blade if I really wanted to, 7-10 would be really average. They are also on Walgreens web site, along with Pinaud products...free shipping after $25.

 

Oh well, as the real newbie (sorry @mrchick but you seem to have been at this a little longer than I have ), I will gladly keep the torch if no one else joins in, but I do hope we have some new 30 Day Rule participants.

I cannot say enough about how much I have learned this month! I have progressed from nicks and weepers on every shave, to very few, to none. I have had some rather rough shaves that have left me red and irritated to shaves that are pretty much BBS. Hopefully the technique has come together and has become ingrained as I start adventuring into other blades, other razors, etc over the next few months and years.

The advice, experiences, and encouragement from the people here has been invaluable. I wish every person, no matter their age, that is starting out with wet shaving could find this thread. It has been the greatest asset I have found toward having smooth, enjoyable shaves which ensure that I remain with wet shaving and never consider going back to electric or carts.

I still have a lot to learn (hence the reason I have no problem keeping the newbie torch a while). I look forward to learning it with, and mostly from, the great guys on this thread. I also hope that I am able in some way to contribute, whether to another newbie or just by reminding everyone to put a blade in the razor before you start shaving!

See you in September!!!

 

It seems like you got the basic ideas down really well. It was a pleasure to watch you get it so quick. Thanks for sharing it all and learning with us!

 

It looks like we are in the same pledge class. Have you memorized the secret handshake yet?