OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

OCtober - Trick or TREET
October 1

Razor - Gillette 1918 Old Style
Blade - (1)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Water, Alum, The Veg

Day one of a new focus and I'm posting my first shave on page 13. Wow! Anyway, it's trick or TREET season. A month with Pakistani blades. Ten of the twelve they make and I've only tried one of these before. I did notice last month someone on SOTD in Islamabad who was using the Treet King so I know it has fans. As I said in my intro yesterday the order of blades and razors was randomized individually so the Old Style just happened to match up with the King for the first setup. That does mean I'm starting OCtober with an OC. So there ya go!

Used the BoSFat today to get that unbeatable lather and I'm thinking this has become my number one soap. Love MWF. I have it dialed in to a perfect lather everytime and it's just hard to beat for slickness and cushion. Loaded the King into the '18 and ready to go. This razor can be hyper-aggressive and with the wrong blade it's hostile. Time to find out how it matches up.

First stroke was nice and before I even realized it I had finished up the first pass WTG. It was such a smooth pass I really didn't even think about it until I was ready to rinse. Very surprising since most of the time this razor is fond of reminding me of its capabilities. The result of the first pass was also good. Nice. Second pass XTG and all that was left was a clean up pass on the neck. Finished that up with one minor nick right under my chin on the goatee line. This is a spot I tend to catch with aggressive razors so I can't really blame the blade. I tend to "hook" as I come across the jawline to get directly under the chin on an XTG pass and the corner will catch. Other than that it was smooth as silk. Near BBS all over and the alum was mostly quiet. A bit of burn on the neck and of course it bit where I nicked myself. Added the Veg just to burn it all out and smell like a champ! Great first shave for the month and I got a TREET and not a trick! Onward and forward. The October bus is on the roll!

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Thank you for the kind words Doug.

 

On The Road Again! We will be traveling to Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD for a family wedding on Saturday. Unfortunately, we may be on a collision course with Hurricane Joaquin. Into the Eye Of the Storm, perhaps. Evening shave tonight. This will be my travel set up.

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Mark, have fun and safe travels!

 

Safe travels Mark!

 

Mark have a fun and safe trip. Great travel setup.

 

Stay dry Mark! Have a safe trip!

 

First shave of OCtober brings up the Ikon OSS. Thankfully my month of SE shaves made it easy to remember not to flip the razor as only one side of the OSS is open comb. I'm also only using blades I haven't tried before so all Russians are banned from my den.

Sorry, I thought I heard Ivan at the door.
Today's blade is the Greek offering. The Bic. Lather was provided by Soap Commander in the form of Commitment a limited edition sandalwood scent whipped up by the Kong. First pass WTG was smooth and I was impressed with the reduction second pass was mostly good except for a spot on the right side of my neck. I usually feel a little tugging and today was worse. I believe it to be operator error as its on my non dominant side and I tend to forget to watch the angle. I go too shallow and scrape more than cut. Can't blame the razor or blade as its always only that one spot.
Third pass ATG smooth and effective. A little touch up and I'll settle for a DFS maybe DFS+ The alum lit up the trouble spot but Stirling witch hazel and aloe cooled it down quickly. I'll splash on a little Myrsol after a bit.

 

awwright-Menthol is gaining ground!!!! (I know..this is just the first day)

 

I did a 2 pass shave with the rolls. I was wrong about how sharp it was. It shaved me to a CCS in 2 passes but I could feel it tug. Still a better shave then I've had the last 2 days but the rolls blades need some hone time. Lathered up Palmolive classic cream into perfection with my semogue pig. No aftershave since I didn't hurt myself trying to make the blade work.

 

You are so right on the technique. I'm 17 months into wetshaving and only in the last month or two have I really started to enjoy consistently nice shave regardless what razor I use.

 

Friday, October 2, 2015

iKon OC DLC with Bulldog Handle
Polsilver Super Iridium #1
Rubberset #4 TGN High Mountain White @clint64 Ocho
Vermont Goat’s Milk Soap Spearmint Bergamot
Alum, Dickinson’s ++Menthol, Cucumber Melon Whipped Shea Butter
Fine Orange Noir
Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet EDT

Early morning 2 pass BBS including clean up. Vermont Goat's Milk Soap not an easy lathering soap but the Spearmint Bergamot scent is nice. Finished with a dash of Fine Orange Noir. Ready to spend the day with Southwest Airlines. Chicago Midway first stop. Joaquin here we come

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Awesome photo.

 

Glad the Bic treated you well. I have to credit @Jasman for getting me to try that blade. I have them in stock all the time now. As for the technique error, yeah I know that well. Suffered from my own today. And don't worry about Ivan. Since I'm ignoring the Russian blades this month he's taking some needed vacation time back in Siberia. Says the view and weather there suits him.

 

So here are the two wedge razors I have, and the brush I will be using this month. Dubl Duck Satin Wedge (Obnoxious Orange Scales) and Union Cutlery Co Spike, (faded green scales, mostly yellow now.) Brush is hand turned Tulip Popular made with a 24mm badger knot set high enough to be a little floppy. Awesome brush for bowl lathering, then working the lather under the whiskers, then painting it on.

The Duck is ready to go, and will start the rotation tomorrow. The Spike was a Bay purchase, and I actually have three of these razors. This is the only one I have seen though that is over 5/8 thick. Its in decent shape, other than the faded scales. I get the feeling these were everyday razors, and used until they weren't able to be used anymore based on the condition I see a lot of them in. I need to clean up the blade and hone this one.

I pulled the trigger on my third straight today. My new 150ish year old straight. It's an all original unrestored J. Wostenholm EBRO wedge in excellent condition. Between 6 and 7/8's. Made ~1865 (+/- 5 years). The scales are in great shape, and it's never been unpinned or repined. Not polished, but has honest patina. Haven't explained to the wife this is coming yet.

Those are the razors for my focus, and I may also be testing out some strops.

 

Thanks Adam!

 

Sweet looking plate

 

October 2 Focus Shave 2

I was going to test a new injector razor today but last night I took some of my straights to the 12k stone and stropped them with Dovo paste.... so this morning I just could not resist doing a straight shave.

The first three passes went great so I attempt a 4th ATG pass. I was able to complete 3/4 of the ATG pass, I still need to figure out a way to go ATG on the lower part of my neck. I got one small nick on my neck, I think it was a pimple. Applied the alum and some very light burning but pretty good. The final results as close to BBS as I ever got with a straight, it is BBS but not as long lasting as my best BBS shaves. Irritation B+, closeness A-, overall I would rate this as my best straight shave ever.

Homemade Pre Shave
L'Occitane Cade shaving cream
Vie Long Elk antler silver tip
PRC western kamisori
PRC hanging strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Spieck AS
L'Occitane Cade ASB
Sonoma Scents Studios Champagne de Bois - smells like Cade but with aldehydes

TGIF

 

Adam, I look forward to hearing your opinion about the wedge razors. Two of my favorite straights are 1/4 grinds so I am very curious to try a wedge or near wedge, preferable a 7/8.

How heavy does the Wostenholm feel? I like heave razors.

 

Frame it. Hang it. Nice pic.

We have now set the bar for OCtober pictures! Anyone?

Nice work Mark!