I appreciate that. I know you are in the mood for a serious discussion about how its physical properties combined with the excellent design of the '59 Super Speed provided an effortless, totally smooth and comfortable one pass BBS. Because yeah, that's why you all follow my forays into madness.

We always cheer success. Failure is just more "useful".

"teachable moments "

No worries, Chris. It's Murica, so everything's cool and freedom of speech applies. We almost sent Ivan over to bust up the party, but he was getting a face peel and pedicure and couldn't be bothered. He's a kinder, gentler Cartel member once you get to know him.

Neal would never admit it, but he met Ivan at a Tupperware party. I'm sure one day they'll both come out of the closet and admit they love Feather blades. . Ahhh...but that's a story for another day.

I like how you prioritize! You were spot on with the Veg though. I missed an opportunity.

Pampered Chef, not Tupperware. And it's ok, Yuri is still on the prowl. Softy he is not. Well, maybe in the head.

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Except when everything's not cool and people can't hold their tongues... (hides)

Thank you for not interrupting an enforcer spa session. That could have repercussions.

Sounds like a good day for shaving all round I'm glad you had a good one I also can not wait for tomorrow's shave

What's the worst thing that could happen?

14 DEcember 2015!

Detour of Gratitude Edition

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Whilst preparing for this past weekends events, Mrs Samurai brought a package to me. Sunday afternoon, I opened to discover that our own @Douglas Carey had sent a gift of Route 66 Lumberjack Shave Soap. Since I was a bit windburned yesterday, I skipped the shave, but decided today to immediately deviate from focus a bit and try the soap. The soap is hand made in Arizona and available on the web site on the product label. Usually for me, lanolin soap can be a mixed bag, as some soaps irritate me, some don't. I am more than happy to say that I was able to use this soap with no issues. I lathered it using a damp Plisson, and face lathered per usual. It is a bit of a thirsty soap, and it yields very slick and firm lather that provided for easy razor glide. Doing the normal two pass routine yielded excellent near BBS, and five hours later my skin feels soft and properly moisturizerized, and I intentionally used only the alcohol based AS with no additional post care, even though the pic shows a TSD AS bottle, I left it out for science. The scent of the soap was pleasing to me also. It has many notes of pine, fir tree, that kind of thing, but maintains an undercurrent of what I call "old school barber shop", much like Brut or AV Musk after the dry down. This soap seems like it might be good for SR shaving, it's really slick. I guess I will find out real soon... Thanks again Doug for sending this! I really enjoyed it! Tomorrow, a new razor for the week. Headed downtown in a bit, good day all around for the 30DC! Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.
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Have a terrific Tuesday!


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Still attempting to lap this Nat stone. I've almost got it except for the pitting at the ends of the top. I'm tempted to hone with it anyway and just use the middle. Short x strokes like a barbers hone. I might get a shave in at least to test an edge later tonight.

I feel like my arms are going to fall off.

Great report and progress!

Great Day! You're on the correct path to getting reliably great shaves Just pay attention to those angles and develop a replicable routine and it will all work out!

How much in common do straights and pain sticks share? After this week, I will be off for a couple of weeks, and I am wanting to devote those weeks to straights. The pain stick is similar based on the handful of shaves I have with a straight, so I think it will work out.

Straights are more forgiving and most people think they are easier. I don't have a pain stick but I would guess it would feel similar to my cheapo shavette loaded with a really sharp blade like GSB or Feather.

These threads are terrible for a recovering SAD sufferer. Now I want some of this soap, just when I thought I had the habit licked.

I have never really been able to do a second pass with a straight, but I have been able to get this done fairly easily (relative term, remember) with the Pain Stick. I am hoping these past few weeks have sharpened my skills enough to jump start me with the straight. This is the only time of the year I can get this much time off work, which usually frees up much more shaving time.

The biggest diffterence is how the edge feels. It's hard to explain, but the edge feels softer and responds better to my face. Even on a big heavy wedge, the fine edge on a straight is softer on the face than the heavier blade in a pain stick or de shavette. This to me is what makes the true straights easier to use.

I was getting frustrated with honing the straights. The one was acting perfectly and the other refused to sharpen so I set them down and devoted myself to something else.

I really wanted a straight shave today so I pulled out my Shavette and the sharpest blade I know, The Feather. I broke one in half and loaded my hurt hinge. I then had a temporary return to sanity and also loaded up my Fat Boy with a Feather, set it to 4 and left it for the 2nd pass and cleanup. I decided I was going to go maximum citrus so after I picked out my 20mm WD synthetic brush I squeezed some Cremo in my mug, loaded up some hydra and, bowl lathered a citrus masterpiece. I started slow with a very slow carefull WTG pass on my face then thought "what's the worst that could happen" and did some minor Scything strokes on my neck. Oddly enough there was no blood and I was sitting at a solid CCS. I laid down the shavette, thanked the lord for delivering me thru that part of the shave and picked up my Fat Boy for the XTG pass.

I relathered with my mugful of beauty and set razor to skin for the XTG pass. First thing I knew something was wrong. I didn't even feel the blade but I had blood running from somewhere. It wasn't a Quintin Tarantino movie so I finished the pass before rinsing off and caring for the bleeding whatever it was. There were no more mishaps so I rinsed off with warm water then switched it to the cold before I started hunting the cut. Turns out that mole was sicking out farther then the Fat Boy/Feather mix could stand so they lopped it off. I did the unthinkable and puled out the Alum Stick. It hurt in a manly fashion (I wasn't crying it was lather in the eye). I then continued the theme from the lather and after a cold water rinse to remove the Alum I used my home mixed Menthol Lemongrass Witch Hazel for a good cool down. I finished it up with Pinaud's Citrus Musk for slightly more pain.

I thought the cold water was colder then normal so I checked it and it was a whole 42 F/5.5 C. Brrr. That plus menthol was a true face freezer.

I ended with a solid DFS but without an ATG pass I couldn't have gotten a BBS so I'm very happy with it.

Let me re-read something above...................................................................yeah you did actually say you used a scything stroke with a shavette. Let me check that again................................................yep says the same thing. That can't be. Hang on while I clean my reading glasses...........................................still seeing that. Can't be right. Even I'm not that crazy. Did you check for Ivan before your started your shave? That's the only explanation I have for your actions.

It ended without bloodshed. That part came later with the normally tame and safe Fat Boy.
It was also on my neck. That was the worse part of that. It was from chest to chin scything from shoulder to center. Now you have the full visual.