OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

30 day focus - Day 2
Fat Boy set to 5
Sputnik Blade
MDC
3 passes

After 2 shaves with the Fat Boy set to 5, I will try opening the gap to 6 tomorrow. There appears to be not enough aggressiveness with it set to 5. I had a good shave today with no problems. 3 passes and pretty darn smooth.

 

Well day two on lather and it went well.I loaded for a good wile almost two min.I had tons of soap on the almost dry brush and in the bowl it went.swirled around and added a few drops of water and got some lather so to the face it goes....seams to go on nice and smooth .....but dry really dry so I dipped the very top of the brush in the water for the second lather ..that's alot better...two pass with touch up and I'm out the door...today's shave was a nice shave to end the week with.Happy Friday Gentleman

 

October 2
Razor: 20s Old Type
Blade: Astra SS (2)

Much closer than yesterday's shave, though I think I overcompensated a bit on technique as I ended up with a couple of small weepers and some neck irritation. No more ATG on the neck for a while, though XTG on the cheeks/jaw worked very nicely.

Will see if I can pull it all together tomorrow.

 

SOTD
October 2, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Gillette Aristocrat
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Soap Commander Endurance
Brush: Stirling Synthetic
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Royall Spyce
Love it! Man the way the Aristocrat handles is amazing, like a fine tuned sports car. Endurance is everything you need and want. I'm on the fence about buying a full bottle of Royall Spyce..
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

 

Wedge Focus
October 2nd SOTD (Shave 1 of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Preshave: Hot Shower
Razor: Dubl Duck Satin Wedge with Obnoxious Orange Scales
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Oiled Latigo (20 laps linen/ 30 laps leather pre, 10 /10 post)
Brush: Handturned Tulip Poplar Badger
Soap: Barrister & Mann Fireside (Brandy scented)
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Man ‘O Man, Its Mandom!

Spent a little time on a Welsh Natural Hone and some extra stropping last night to get this razor ready for today. It was easily cutting arm hair before stropping. I did 100 laps on the strop after sharpening. This morning I lathered up with my first brush. This is more floppy than any of my other brushes, but technique trumps tools, and I have figured out how to make a great lather with it. B&M makes a great lather once you have enough water in it. Did an N/S and a S/N pass, then a half pass on the neck only. Ended up with a DFS plus shave. The razor is much quieter on the strop and my face than any of the Hollow grounds I have been using, but seems to glide through the whiskers better. This is the smallest of the three razors I will be using this month. I will be curious to see if the larger ones shave easier due to their extra weight.

Once I got to work, one of my employees, a woman in her 20s came into my office. She stopped, and asked if I was wearing a cologne. I said no, just an aftershave. She said it smelled like “leather, motor oil, and my Dad.” Mandom is awesome.

 

I like those orange scales on the duck. Nice looking razor.

 

I hated them when I got the razor, because they are kind of the opposite of vintage. Like any good fungus or mold however, they have grown on me.

 

October 2

Gillette New LC
Feather blade (2)
Kent BK4 silvertip brush
Trumper's Coconut shave cream and glycerin
Two passes
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Trumper's Coral Skin Food

Enjoyed a great near-BBS shave this morning - a WTG pass followed by an ATG pass. Nice and easy. Have a great day!

 

Congrats! Keep working on the lather, and it will keep getting better.

 

Thanks Clint. I got lucky.

 

Today is day two of my blade focus. Still using

SOTD
EJ DE89
The Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Platinum (Blue) blade
Arko stick
AoS badger brush (This is my travel kit)
I am still very pleased with this blade. This blade was very smooth on day two and I ended up with another two pass BBS with very little touch up.
Almost time to board my flight for home
Have fun!

 

I would like to take a moment to share some news.



This is my 1000th post on TSD. I think most of them have been on the Focus threads.

That is all.

 

Congratulations. These threads do that. My post count has climbed considerably since I joined the shenanigans

 

Woo hoo! Another party in the making! Seems like only yesterday it was 999. Congrats.

 

Congrats. I've enjoyed following your journey with SR shaving. Looking forward to the next 1,000.

 

October 2, 2015
OC October - This month I'll introduce myself to my OCs.

Gillette New LC
Gillette Goodwill
Standard Safety Razor OC

Hot Shower, Morning Shave
Soap: Razorock P160
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette New LC
Blade: Gillette 7 o’clock (Blues) (2)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Myrsol Blue

Two-pass shave (XTG,ATG).

Initial thoughts: I spent May, June and July learning with a Gillette”fat handle” Tech, eventually getting consistent CCS. After using adjustables in August and SEs in September, today was like getting together with a good, ol’ friend. It wasn’t the Tech, but very close to it in feel and handling.

The result though, was amazing. So good that I went on the chase and with just a buff or two in a couple of my usual trouble spots I think I was as clean as could be.



Mind you it was just 20 hours since my last shave, but this shave cleared everything that had returned in that time. I usually miss at least one shave on the weekend so it will still have its test, though I’d be shocked if there’s a problem.

Everything about this shave was smooth, sharp and efficient - soap, blade and razor. Feedback nearly silent, but just enough to let me know it was working.

6 hours later…not a sign of a whisker returning.

My face is very smooth and I’m very pleased after my debacle with the defective MMOC yesterday.

At some point this month I may even attempt a one-pass shave with this set-up.

Cheers!
RT

 

Not reading into your post too much John, but when you say "overcompensated" I take that to mean either too sharp of a blade angle or too much pressure on your stroke.

If so, those are easy fixes. Good luck!

 

Way to go Adam, we're glad you're here!

 

+1


For me, the first thing was getting a consistent amount of water on the brush. After that, I concentrated on getting the right amount. 30 days of doing the same thing does wonders for one's technique.

 

Razor: Gillette SS 1947 NDC (Birth Razor)
Blade: Personna Prep Blade Blue (4)
Brush: Fendrihen Silver Tip Black Faux Handle 22/49
Soap: Razo-Rock XXX
A/S: Fine American Blend
Ships Wheel Decanter Musk Product ID 03784, 1980-1984 (new unused)
Day 2
Tried adding some Menthol Crystals to the shaving soap this evening, but they didn't dissolve properly. Maybe it I try to dissolve the crystals in hot water first they may blend in a little better in the XXX soap. I did achieve a DFS with a hint of menthol and a great finish with the American Blend .