OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Yes, the Regular Feather for normal shaves and the Super when I want a spooky close shave.

 

Thanks for the advice (warning!).

 

That brings a song to mind.

 

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Gillette New LC with Common Bar
Personna Med Prep #1
Doug Korn Aqua Marine Taca 2
Mystic Waters SS Jasmine
Witch Hazel +++Menthol, Knockout Shave Balm Al's Private Stock
Floid Blue Aftershave

Today's shave was a two pass BBS with no nicks, no cuts, and no weepers. DK's Tassa 2 design with TGN High Mtn White had little difficulty churning up a healthy lather. The Shave Stick approach worked very well with Mystic Water Jasmine Soap. Reached into the "Vault Of Little Used Shave Products" and out came a vintage jar of Knockout Shave After Shave Balm Al's Private Stash. Yes, the old time Barber Shoppe Stock is still wonderful. Finished a little later with a generous spritz of Floid Blue. Have a great Saturday!

​

 

October - Trick or TREET
October 24

Razor - Gillette 1948-49 Superspeed
Blade - (2)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Proraso

Happy Saturday everyone! My schedule is very different than I'm used to on the weekend so I ended up a bit behind this morning. Don't have to start until around 10, which is a huge improvement over 8:30, plus the drive is half the distance as before. So what do I do? Sit here and almost run late because I'm lazy, that's what! Anyway, it's day two on the New Edge and being a carbon blade I was curious how it would do. The Super Speed is really a great razor. I like the 40's super speeds, maybe a bit more than the flair tips. Seems like they're a touch more aggressive but still smooth and very comfortable.

As with all of the carbon blades this month I left the blade in yesterday and left it on my desk to dry. No hint of rust on the edge this morning and no hint of drag or other problems either. Very smooth shave, to the point I had to remind myself it's a carbon blade. Even the audible feedback is lighter on this than most carbons I've used. Really nice near BBS result after three passes. I had DFS on two. Could have gotten the baby with a bit more touch up but no need and I was out of time. Alum was quiet, the Proraso AS added some zest and off to the mean streets I went. Blustery and cloudy day in the Lou today so I feel a bit windblown. But the shave is still awesome!

Last day for this combo tomorrow then it's on to another carbon blade. We'll see if the New Edge can end up TREETING me or if it chooses to trick me like a few others.

 

Razor: Gillette Red Tip (A3) 1955
Blade: Gillette Platinum (5)
Brush: Black Badger Wood Handle (Grandfather's) Whipped Dog 20/65
Soap: Razo-Rock XXX
A/S: Fine American Blend
Day 24

Excellent 3 pass shave this evening. Grandfather's restored brush with Whipped Dog Black Badger knot performs great. Had a good angle of attack this evening and got a DFS. Fine American Blend is a very good A/S. Can't wait for my Shave Den Sunday shave.

 

October 24th SOTD
Two days’ growth
Preshave: Hot Shower
Razor: Union Cutlery Spike (near) Wedge, 11/16
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Oiled Latigo
Brush: Handturned Tulip Poplar Badger
Soap: The Holy Black, Gunpowder Spice
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: The Holy Black Whisker Whiskey, Gunpowder Spice

Never got my last shave posted. I have also lost track of this month’s shaves. It’s been a crazy month for me, both at work and with personal stuff. My daughter turned three, my wife is 35 weeks pregnant, and my mother is having health issues. There hasn’t been a whole lot of time for shaving stuff.

That said, part of my focus this month was to get an eBay razor shave ready, to compare with my other two wedges. Today was the first time I have had to work on the razor, so this one might stretch into next month. I had originally planned to sand and polish this razor, and get a great shine out of it. That turned into wiping it down with denatured alcohol, and hitting it with a buffing wheel. Didn’t do a lot, just wanted to get the grime off. It needs to be sanded and polished still, but I did hone it. I set the bevel with a Naniwia 1k water stone. It took over an hour, but finally it started to cut arm hair. Looking at the edge under magnification showed that there were no chips, and the bevel was even. I moved on to four different natural stones, then Chromium Oxide on a linen strop, them 40 laps on my linen strop and 100 laps on oiled latigo. It wasn’t quite as smooth as edges more experienced honers have created for me, but I am pretty happy with it.

I have to travel to Phoenix in a few weeks, so I needed to get rid of my goatee, which was about a half inch long. I didn’t want a freshly shaved look for that trip, so I did it today. I have never intentionally taken large bits of facial hair off with a straight razor before. Usually, I use clippers before shaving it off. You can’t clog a straight razor though. It was freaking awesome. Like it makes me want to grow a beard just so I can shave it off with a straight razor awesome. (As a side note, my razor didn’t clog, but my sink did. Had to stop between my second pass and touch up to unclog the drain.)

Two pass plus touch up on the neck. Two nicks, but water closed them up. Just shy of BBS!! Chin is tender, but aftershave helped. I like this razor so far.

 

OCtober Focus Day 23:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Gatlinburg SS
Phoenix Dbl OC
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Stirling Gatlinburg AS

I got home from a business trip and had my delivery from Stirling waiting for me. I ordered mostly bath soaps, but I did get a tub of the Gatlinburg SS and some matching AS. It is an outdoorsy scent, and has what I believe to be the Cade really coming through. I can get the lavender and some of the Cedar as well. There is also some earthiness or moss in there as well. Overall, it is very pleasing. The performance is everything you would expect from a Stirling soap, and I can see why they named it Gatlinburg. It does seem to have a connection to the East Tennessee mountains.

The AS is a bit different in scent, at least on the skin. The Cedar is much more present. After my shave, I went to my son's soccer game after a light rain. The fields are tucked into the woods, and stepping out of the car, the fresh rain soaked woods scent hit me. I can say that the AS just went right with the scent. As a bonus, my wife really seems to like it as well.

I had another first today, as I tried Voskhod blades for the first time. The initial shave was amazingly smooth. I will have to give this blade a few shaves, but I can tell it has great potential. Do I get some credit from the Cartel?

I also tried the mentholated PSB for the first time, and this was as fantastic. All the things I like from Stirling PSB, but with a nice menthol kick.

 

Igor gave a nod in your direction. Almost smiled too but stopped before he lost control.

 

Happy Birthday to your daughter. Kids are great at that age. My daughter always had my heart. Good luck to your wife with child. Hope your Mother is on the mead. You have a lot on your plate. Good luck.

 

Igor losing control? Sounds bad.

 

Birthday wishes to your daughter. Sorry to hear of your Mother's health issues. It was difficult for me as caretaker for my Mom's last year and a half. My prayers go out to you for strength and compassion and your Mom's better health.

 

Take one breath at a time, To your daughter! Your wife is due any time now, get ready. I'll keep your mom in my prayers.

 

Thanks for the kind words. I'm just full of hot air.

 

Happy Birthday wishes for your daughter. My thoughts and prayers for your mother.

 

Congrats Vince! You've now crossed through the Arch and left St. Louis in your rear view mirror.

 

Hang in there Adam. Positive thoughts your way!

 

But I like St.Louis!???
I don't wanna go.

 

Sweet man, in the groove!

I feel it coming closer day by day
Life would be ecstasy, you and me and Leslie.