No Variation November - A TSD Challenge

I just love the looks of that razor.

 

It is a thing of beauty all right. I really want to get it polished like the guys have been doing with their Rubberset brushes.

 

Today was day 11 on the same blade and one of the best shaves yet. I did a two pass shave with some XTG cleanup and have a DFS+ with no irritation. The Florida Water barely stung. I'm pretty danged excited to be figuring this thing out. I have a question for my Feather AC Brothers. How many shaves do you get out of a blade? I was making a mistake tossing them after one week.
SOTD
TOBS Grapefruit
Rubberset 400
Feather AC SS
Feather Professional (11)
AoS AS Balm
Florida Water
Have fun!

 

November 18, 2015

No Variation NoVember
This month is perfect for me to learn skills with new-to-me equipment.

Razor: Mongoose B3
Blades: Feather Artist Club Professional (5)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
AS: Changes at will. Today: Proraso Green



Two-pass shave. (XTG, ATG) Face-lather.

Building a foundation for the correct shaving angle for this razor. Excellent, clean shave for the second day in a row. I think I’m there in terms of establishing the angle. Now I need to build muscle, visual, and audio feedback memory.

Cheers!
RT

 

It has been a while since my last visit and I have to admit that I have not been too dedicated to shaving lately.
But when I have shaved I am happy to report that I have stayed "on topic" and used the same tools mentioned above.

And that includes the blade as well. It had already been used quite a few times at the time of my original post, and I guess I have used it somewhere around 15-20 times by now.
The performance is still comparable to an Astra blade and was sharp enough to cut down three days worth of high quality stubble yesterday.
I am quite impressed by it and will continue to use the same blade for as long as I can.

At first I did find it a tad boring that I had to use the same stuff all the time, but now I am intrigued by it.
The soap is truly a wonderful product. I load the brush for eight seconds and have just enough lather for three passes.

The razor is a marvel, a truly wonderful shaver that works with every blade I have tried it with.

I guess the conclusion so far is that I am very happy to have participated in this little "experiment" and I look forward to shaving with the same tools for the remainder of this month

 

Progress 4
TOBS Grapefruit
Astra SP
Asylum Brush

First shave since the big burn above my upper lip from going ATG. I must say I'm surprised at how bad it was. Had to take a few days off from shaving to settle things down.
Today I just did a two pass shave WTG and XTG with a new Astra SP. No AS.
Tomorrow I will go back to my usual routine of a three pass shave. Will not be trying ATG anytime soon.
Hope everyone had a great day today.

 

Day 18 - 18 November 2015

No Variation November!



Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (18!!)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Red
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash under Pinaud Clubman!

Have a great Wednesday evening!

​

 

Bama how do you get 18 shaves out of a blade! Is it getting rough?

 

No it's hanging in there nice and smooth. Many new shavers use a blade angle that is much higher than optimal. This scrapes the bevel and dulls it prematurely. Ride the cap!

(Disclaimer: if you are new...two and out. Don't let a dulling blade alter your technique.)

 

What you describe is me - high angle - more of a scrape with lots of sound/feedback. I find that I am opening up the Progress more looking for a closer shave. I also find that I like hearing the sound of the razor cutting whiskers. Perhaps I have trained myself to hold high to hear that sound.
I guess there is good feedback and bad feedback. Thanks for the reminder to ride the cap.

 

Audible feedback is dependent on the razor design. Just keep those angles low for comfort and long blade life.

 

My no variation November is taking a slight turn...I'm not changing anything out, but I started growing my first winter beard in about 10 years. No photographic proof is available at the moment as I simply look a little scruffy since my last full face shave was on Sunday. I will document this "event" soon. But, I won't be growing a hipster urban lumberjack wild beard, no, at my age, it will be a well defined and trimmed beard. So my Weber will continue to clean up my neck and cheeks.

 

Day 18 went off without a hitch... Still focusing on blade angle and skin stretching.

 

My NO Variation Novevember turned into 'Never Obviate Variating' November....

Guess...these days there were just too many temptations lerking in my shave cave....what could I do..? It wasn't my fault I tell you....

 

We need to do a decibel check....So far my money is on the Ever Ready 1924 with any blade....I first shaved with one a few years ago and my wife was walking past the shave cave and heard that butter knife scrapping toast sound....only louder than ever before...She popped her head in to see what was going on...ha,ha,ha
Can you believe that...the razor was so loud she heard it out in the hallway as she was passing and it caught her attention....ha,ha...And the square box like head on the 1924 kind of gives the sound a touch of reverb...it kind of sings...reminds me of a hollow ground str8....

 

Was busy last night and only got to do a 2 pass shave. XTG & ATG. I was not expecting a great shave but i was pleasantly surprised. I got a nice CCS.
I just finished my shave tonight. I was able to get my regular 3 pass in. I got a DFS and for the first time there was no need for touch up under my jaw. Very happy about this. Although i did need touch up on my chin and adams apple area.
I am very pleased with my ER1912. This will be a razor to keep.

Tom

 

Man....I'm an Injector Shaver, born and raised....But! I believe the 40's style Super Speeds are one of the most under rated razors of all time....They were not always so under rated, and they did win the Hearts and Whiskers of many Generations of Shavers....

Todays Shave
Prep: Hot Water Whisker Rinse....maybe 2 minutes
Lather: Arko Stick
Brush: Omega 10029 Baby Pro
Razor: 1952 Gillette Steel Handle Black Tip Super Speed
Blade: Perma-Sharp Super d2
Post: Kroger/Dickenson's Witch Hazel
AS: Aqua Velva Ice Blue and Clubman Vanilla

I shouldn't be...But everytime I use this combo it shocks me on how mild it shaves but how BBS the results are...

 

​

Thursday's ​

Dove Men Face Wash
Tabac Shaving Soap
Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip
Gillette Super Adjustable
Astra Super Platinum
CWR, Asma Alum Block
Thayers Rose Petal WH
Aqua Velva AS​

The Tabac Shaving Soap face-lathered well with my Jayaruh #27 Silver Tip brush. Two passes with my Gillette Super Adjustable razor and an Astra Super Platinum blade gave me a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, alum block, and a final cold water rinse, I finished off with Thayers Rose Petal WH and then Aqua Velva after shave. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...

Nineteenth shave of No Variation NoVember.
​

 

November 19, 2015

No Variation NoVember
This month is perfect for me to learn skills with new-to-me equipment.

Razor: Mongoose B3
Blades: Feather Artist Club Professional (6)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
AS: Changes at will. Today: Proraso Green



Two-pass shave. (XTG, ATG) Face-lather.
Yesterday: Excellent, clean shave for the second day in a row. Now I need to build muscle, visual, and audio feedback memory.
Today: Lather, rinse, repeat. Lather, rinse, re….

Cheers!
RT