OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

October 26th 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: Homestead Ranch Goat butter soap, Rosewood
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman with M-Bomb added, Pacific Shaving Co, Caffeinated Aftershave

Today was not a good shave. I really struggled with this soap, and getting it to lather well. I think part of it might be the size of the cup it comes in, which is smaller than my brush head. I got out my Omega 1066 to see if it would do better, but didn’t start over, just added to the existing lather. Ended up with a very thin soap with very little glide or cushion. In my best Neal (@NCoxSTL) voice, I asked myself what’s the worst that could happen.

Did one and a half passes, since the shave on Saturday was such a good one there wasn’t much to work with. ATG, then XTG for the touch up on the neck and chin. I realized that my face was a little tender, like I had used a paint scraper rather than a razor. The Alum was like a solid full armed swing slap to the face. Witch Hazel did nothing to calm that down. Clubman felt like getting round housed while recovering from the earlier slap. Waited about 10 minutes, and used the Caffeinated Aftershave Balm. Did two rounds with that, and my face is still irritated.

Smoothness was a DFS, Irritation today was a D-. (Keith, @Keithmax, I am totally stealing the way you rate shaves.) On the plus side, check out my new watch and ring set. Have had the watch band for a while, but finally put a new watch in it.

 

We all have off days. Maybe the next shave will be better. Cool watch and ring.

 

10/26/2015
Razor – Wolfman OC with Hempel Ti
Blade – Feather (3)
Brush – Romera Olivewood Synthetic
Lather – B&M Latha
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine Platinum



A great 3 pass with touch ups shave this Morning. I would rate the smoothness and results as a solid A. I am really starting to get the hang of these shave sticks. Finished off with a splash of Fine Platinum.

 

OCtober Focus Day 25:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Glacial Spearmint
Phoenix Dbl OC
Osage Rub
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Stirling Glacial Lemon Chill AS

I went menthol today, and it was very cold. It got me moving this early Monday morning. The Phoenix and Voskhod combo was again great; I almost hated putting the blade in my blade bank. But, tomorrow I will start with a fresh Voskhod blade in my New LC and work on that for the remainder of the month.

 

SOTD
October 26, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Gillette British Rocket
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Prairie Creations DdC Aqua di Gio
Brush: Stirling Synthetic
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Muir
Wow!! I've had this soap for 2 years! It was born on September 11, 2013. It says on the jar sadly I have so many soaps/creams yeah first world problems that many get lost in the shuffle. I put up my closet door organizer yesterday and took all the soaps that haven't seen the light in some time out. Look for some different soaps here in the coming weeks PC DdC is a really nice soap, still has a wonderful scent, slick, plenty of cushion. The British Rocket is a fantastic razor! This would be my 3rd Clint!!
Thank you all for your support in the 1st annual Shave Den Calendar. Doug and I really appreciate it.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

 

Well, I did my Fat Boy in a combination of white and black rhodium, so I'm not a traditionalist. I think the Delta Echo finishes are awesome.

 

30 day focus - Day 26
Fat Boy set to 9
Sputnik Blade
MDC Face Lathered
3 passes

Another fine MDC shave with the Fat Boy.

 

Oh...NOW I get it! You had me scratching my head on your comment. But then I read it before morning coffee and my head wasn't functioning yet. Guess I should have said "Nice Gillette $1.95 razor you have there!". Either that or addressed him as MR. Fatty to be polite?

 

I love that Phoenix. It's such a great, and different, looking razor. Do you know if you can buy just the head? I've already have a PA "Name Taker" handle.

 

Rufus, do you find it difficult to align the blade on that Goodwill? I have one and pretty much gave up getting things straight.

 

October 26
Standard 160 Goodwill
Astra SP (1)

I'm afraid I broke focus for this one. My latest eBay purchase arrived on Saturday, a Goodwill. Cost me $12 shipped. Except for a couple of spots on the cap, the original gold plating is in very good shape. The handle is a bit worrisome, though, as it has a two cracks (a short one at each end) and the collet and ball are both a little loose, though not enough so far to prevent using it.

As for the shave... this is probably one of the closest shaves I've ever had, even closer than my 20's Old Type. One-and-a-half-passes to a DFS with no weepers and virtually no irritation.

I confess that I'm constantly amazed at how well these early Gillette models shave and get really confused as to what later changes such as solid safety bars were supposed to improve. After this month is over, I definitely need to spend some time with my SS and SA to see if I can duplicate these results.

JR

 

I will definitely have to look into the water aspect of it. Plan to use both distilled and bottled spring water to see if it gets any better. I applied it pretty much how you indicated when I face lathered it. I can get some great lather from the soap. It just is not very slick. Will definitely be experimenting this weekend with the water to see if anything changes. If not, I will try using it with some pre-shave oil to see if it assists the slickness for me. As @Bama Samurai said, definitely a YMMV kind of hobby!

 

Monday, October 26, 2015

Mongoose with Triad Ti Helix Hex
Feather Pro 5
El Druida Red D-7 Manchurian
Krampert’s Frostbite Soap
Alum, Witch Hazel +++Menthol, Gold Bond Green Lotion
Krampert’s Frostbite Aftershave


​

 

Mark, does the flask have a flow re-stricter? Great shave/picture!!

 

Great question. I think the flask looks cool.

 

Cool watch and ring set! So please feel free to steal my shave rating system.

Sometimes when things don't feel right is best to just but the straight down and reach for a DE. I know if my lather is not right I will get a terrible shave with a SR.

 

I don't think you can buy the head, but I have swapped the handle with a Razorock Mission my little boy uses when he shaves with me. The Mission handle is much heavier and a bit longer, so it does work well with the razor.

 

It's probably a warning sign when you find yourself trying to sound like me and especially think like me. Not for the faint-hearted or those with strong survival instincts.

 

October - Trick or TREET
October 26

Razor - Gillette '46-'47 Aristocrat
Blade - (1)
Brush - Vie-Long 12601 The Pony
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Nivea Original

Slight change in the plan for this next setup. I had originally included the Schick Krona in the razor selection when I randomized the order. But, the Aristocrat is back home and I'm going to switch it in so it's an all Gillette razor month. The next blade up is the Treet Classic Carbon. This blade has been around a long time and is a silver carbon, though it gives you a flash of blue when you turn it in the light. I used it in March for Vintage and Carbon month and it was an ok blade then, just didn't last well. I am going to change to the new way of caring for carbon, basically what Treet recommends, by not removing it and trying to preserve it. Just leave it in the razor and keep it out of the humid bathroom after using it. It's worked pretty well so far with the others. Lather is provided today by the Pony and Tabac. Didn't have any issues with that today. Great lather.

First pass with the Classic was surprising. And in a good way which isn't always the case. Very smooth. And very quiet unlike most carbons. Second pass continued the trend XTG and the final ATG with G-slides on the neck was very good as well. Really no problems, incredibly smooth feel and effective........to a point. The finish was a DFS but a middle of the road DFS. That's fine with me as I rarely care about the baby, but three passes usually gets me very close to the BBS or right on it. The Classic isn't the sharpest of blades so a middle DFS is probably the best it can do, at least in this razor, I'm just amazed it didn't tug and pull on the way. Alum proved no real irritation. Very quiet. So, I think this is the best the blade can do. Quiet, efficient and injury free.....who can't get behind a shave like that? Now, will it go three days? We'll see. And it begs another question or two. Would a more aggressive razor help it produce a higher quality shave? Perhaps. And, if this really is the best it can do then what does it bring to the table against other carbons like the Black Beauty and Silver? Yeah, I see another focus looming in the planning stages.

Hope your week is off to a good start! The commute in some places this morning was a bit crowded!

​

 

It has no flow re-stricter and it's tricky to pour. The attached top has to be held back by a finger on the pour hand. It looks nice but... I'll stick with the plastic bottles the aftershave comes in when the Tank is empty. It'll look real nice on the shelf with my Old Spice Mugs. Maybe just use it for SOTD pics.