DEC 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

See the pipe thread if you would like to learn my ADs.
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I have really like the Shave Den Sunday concept. It's a reminder that some really fine shave products are available right here on the forum. And I heard that the committee voted that buying TSD exclusives does not violate the spirit of No Buy 2016. That makes me happy!

 

I need to get back to Schick sometime. They yield super easy DFS!

 

No shave today. I just wasn't feeling it. My allergies acted up and the sneezing would have been bad for my straight razor focus. I would have had bits of my face looking at me from the bottom of the sink. I'll hit it early with the high test allergy meds tomorrow and hopefully get in some kind of shave.

 

12/7/2015
Razor – Gillette New Long Comb
Blade – Feather (1)
Brush – Brothers Bristles with WD HM
Lather – B&M Seville
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine Platinum



The GEM 1912 is retired until next weekend. Up for this work week is a Gillette New LC loaded with Feather blades. Using the Brothers Bristles I whipped up a very good lather with the B&M Seville shave stick. It has been a while since I used this brush and I am sure I'll do better with it as the week goes on. Going with a 3 pass shave with touch ups provided a near BBS shave this morning. Finished off with a splash of Fine Platinum. Hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

Pain Stick Focus December 7:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Cool SS
CJB Pain Stick
Osage Rub
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Aqua Velva AS

This is my 8th shave with the Pain Stick, and it continues to improve. I am really able to get DFS just about everywhere except the chin and jaw line. I think this is just a matter of me working on my stretching. The amount blood flowing has also come down quite a bit. Still quite a bit of work left to do, but it is fun to see the improvement.

 

Well yeah you 2nd the amendment.

 

SOTD
December 7, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Gillette Aristocrat
Blade: Ladas
Lather: Dusy Kabinett
Brush: Stirling Synthetic
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Gingers Garden Aventus
Lovely shave. Man, I can't get enough of this Dusy Kabinett. Lathers as easy as Arko and smells like a Bouquet of roses. The Aristocrat was fabulous. GG Aventus really feels good on my face.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE!

 

Today was an early shave as I am flying to Phoenix for business.
This focus is reminding me how much fun a SuperSpeed can be. This is the second week using my birth quarter razor. I tossed last weeks blade and loaded a new Feather, lathered up the Drunken Goat and went to it. I got a very nice BBS with two passes and some cleanup. Th best part of this shave was finishing with the St. John's Bay Rum I received from my Secret Santa. Love that smell. My wife likes it a lot too.
SOTD
Drunken Goat soap
AoS Pure Badger brush
Gillette SuperSpeed (G4 birth quarter)
Feather blade (7)
St. John's Bay Rum AS
Have a great week!

 

December 30 Day Focus--Gillette Executive and Stirling Kong

December 7

Razor - 1958 Gillette Executive Adjustable (WTG 5, ATG 5)
Blade - Gillette Silver Blue (1)
Brush - Stirling Kong
Soap - Stirling Lemon Chill
Post - Cold water, witch hazel, TSD ISZ


Spent my weekend waking up early to be a taxi driver for my daughter who had various functions all over town ridiculously early for a weekend. Then every night I, along with my daughter and fiancee, had the great pleasure of taking part in my church's Living Christmas Story in which we build a town of Bethlehem in the parking lot of the church, have scenes with church member actors from Gabriel speaking to Mary, a "working" town with shops and villagers, an Inn with stable and manger scene, and have people drive through a complete story of the Birth. A wonderful and moving experience getting to do this every year. As a result, I was up late every night. So no shaves this weekend.

I started by lathering up the Stirling Lemon Chill. LOVE the menthol in this one! The Stirling Kong synthetic brush was made to lather anything. This brush really is amazing. It holds just the right amount of water for everything I have thrown at it. You get it on the face and it just feels amazing. As soft as a badger but without the floppiness. Just feels great. Definitely am a believer in synthetics. Ok, commercial for the Kong over.

Today I moved both passes up to 5 on the Executive. The WTG/XTG first pass really did a great job slicing through the several day growth. With almost no irritation at all it provided great reduction and set things up nicely for the second pass. The ATG pass was again a pleasure. Incredibly minor irritation on my chin, but otherwise as smooth and easy as possible. The new GSB blade just sliced through everything remaining from the first pass. Had some touch up to do on the jaw line and near the adam's apple. Got it completed and a cold water splash to see if any stubble peeked out. None that I could find. Four hours later my shave is nice and BBS smooth! I give it an A+ for closeness and a A- for irritation only because of the irritation on my chin during the ATG pass. Will pay special attention to that area in future shaves. Also looking forward to continued testing of the Chris (@Bama Samurai) versus Vince (@Rufus T.) theories of which pass should have the more aggressive setting! (Absolutely no intention to pair the two of you off in any kind of competition or duel, nope not at all! ). Tomorrow will be Vince's setting using the more aggressive setting on the first pass. Then the next shave will use Chris' thoughts of going more aggressive on the second ATG pass. Using the 4 and 5 settings there were trade-offs to each. Using the more aggressive setting on the ATG pass produced a closer shave but with slightly more irritation. Using the more aggressive setting on the WTG/XTG first pass produced basically no irritation but a shave not quite as close as the other. So we shall see if this trend continues or, if as I am using the razor and becoming more familiar with it, things begin to even out and there is no difference in using the settings.

 

Have a safe and productive trip.

 

Great photo and write up. From personal experience it is easier in some ways when they are old enough to drive themselves around. Sorting a blessing and a curse at the same time.

 

It’s interesting to me, because I seem to like the heavier grinds too. Most of the full hollows are newer, and a result of higher technology. There must be a reason that the hollow grinds are the direction that were being produced, and are seen as a more modern blade, but I don't know the exact reason.

 

Yes. Come to the dark side!

 

SOTD 12/7/15 (Shave 4 of this focus)
Razor: Boker Red Injun 101
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Forty-Five Series Bridle/ Poly
Soap: Eufros Dama De Noche (Jabonman)
Brush: Omega 1066
Post Shave: Cold Water rinse, Alum, Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Jabonman Dama de NocheBalm (w/ Menthol)


This is the second time I have used this razor. It is very light, and a full hollow grind, in about a 5/8 size. Used a N/S pass, XTG on chin, neck and jaw, S/N pass, and another XTG on the neck. I would call the shave a DFS plus, but I had very little irritation. The weight of the razor made me very aware of not using any pressure. Had almost zero irritation, and five hours post shave, it still feels good. Love this soap and aftershave. Once I get the stock pile down, I will probably order another scent.

 

Beautiful Kerry and a huge thanks! to you and the project brains and manager @Douglas Carey !

I've got mine ready for January!

 

Well thanks for the initial assessment William.
I haven't actually tried it yet, but just happened to stumble onto the competing theories while cruising the threads and began to ponder the question aloud on this thread awhile back. It will be sometime before I get to do a similar test with my adjustables. (I'm planning an injector kick for most of the first half of 2016.)

So it's great to get the early assessment from one of our own here on the 30DC. Glad you picked up on it.

Also, glad you would pose the opposing theories as @Bama Samurai vs mine.
Because as we all know, sooner or later the Master must give way to the Apprentice!

En garde Monsieur Bama!

 

December 7, 2015
This month I’m focusing on my two birth quarter razors.
Gillette Ball End Tech A4 - Week 1/2
Gillette SS Red Tip A4 - Week 3/4

Morning shave
Hot Shower
Soap: Mitchell's Wool Fat
Brush: Stirling Kong Synthetic
Razor: Gillette Ball End Tech A4
Blade: Feather (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Saponificio Varesino Manna



After one week with the Ball End Tech, I’m reminded of my first two months of shaving with my Fat-Handled Tech. 'Riding the cap' was a key element for that razor as it also is for this one and its also become the starting point for me when I approach any new razor.

So with the success of the first week of the month, I’m going to vary elements of the shave and add two new items today. A Feather blade and Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap. I’ve never used either before.

MWF - I’ve read many excellent posts on this thread over the months about how best to approach MWF. @Bill_F is currently giving a great day-by-day assessment (Bill I love your extensive reports - that’s what this Thread is all about!) and there’s been many others chiming in during his project or have commented previously on the issue.

I was just about to use one of those techniques when I remembered one of Master Bama’s theories that is etched in my mind by the signature of @CyanideMetal :

“Rub the puck on your face!”

Boom!
I did exactly that onto my moistened face. Rubbed it on until I noticed every individual whiskey was coated.(thanks, Bama!) Then added a couple of drops of water into the depths of my near dry Kong and in seconds rich, smooth and creamy lather. The scent is appealing, slickness and cushion a delight. (I regret not having used this approach recently with my Saponificio Varesino soaps, but that will be a post for later.)


(Lather looks a tad airy in the photo. I had just tried pushing a bit more water onto it and some also mixed with my wet hand on the handle.)

Onto the shave with the Feather. First pass XTG - relative silence, good reduction. The blade feels sharp and smooth in this razor. Second pass ATG - muted velcro-sounding feedback. Nearly BBS all the way around. Just for jollies I do a minor amount of buffing on my usual trouble spots - BBS, everywhere - as I’m checking it now - 5 hours later!

Between the MWF during the shave and the SV Manna AS balm - my face is still well hydrated and silky smooth with no evidence of drying out anytime soon. I like this combination all the way around, with no drama at all!

Cheers!
RT

 

Good post! Nice lather. Good job.