January 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

Chris? Chris who? I don't know anyone by that name. Never heard of him. Nope, can't help you. Arko and Veg? Not sure what you're saying there. Some foreign language to me. Oh look.......shiny razors behind you!!

 

January 2016

Straight Feather Goose Focus

January 5



For January I'm focusing on two razors, the W.B. Speed Rabbit TSR and the Mongoose, on loan from @Rufus T. Since the Goose uses AC blades I'm using the Feather Pros.

Razor - W.B. Speed Rabbit
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Nivea, The Veg

Another day on the Rabbit and it's also head shave day today. So, started with the Merkur 23c and VDH Deluxe to smooth out the ol' cue ball and then switched to the BoSFat for the main event. Stropping is getting more automatic and I'm finally feeling comfortable rolling the razor toward the spine. I should say it is more automatic and natural feeling. Lathered up and immediately rinsed and did it again. Added more water to my face and the lather as the first touch of the razor felt dry. Better on the re-lather so the first pass was off and running. I am moving faster now as well as making some instinctive changes in blade position and angle. Starting to feel like I'm shaving instead of learning to shave. Worked around the goatee more than normal in order to really get that area done. Second pass was XTG and ATG on the neck. Went another partial pass just to touch up areas around the goatee, along jawline and neckline. Very nice DFS appeared. I'll take it!

Very satisfying to have that kind of a result today and to find so many things feeling more natural. The learning curve on a TSR is definitely high, and I think higher than a pain stick. But, so far I've had only a couple of weepers total so the advantage of honed steel over manufactured blades is showing! Not sure if tomorrow will be Goose or Rabbit. I'll decide that in the morning. Enjoy your Tuesday!

Today is my daughter's 34th birthday. Don't know how she got that old when I'm still 19. Anyway, here's a picture of her at two weeks old along with some spaced out hippy dude.

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HAIR!

 

January 5, 2016

A January 30-day focus with my Schick Type C1 - The Simplified Schick Automatic Razor.
With it’s compact design, my goal is to use it exclusively as my travel razor. So I want to build up my technique with it, as well as determine the best blade for my use with it. I hope to try four different blades for 4-5 shaves each.

I’ll use soap and brush combinations that I will normally travel with.

Shave 2
Hot Shower
Soap: Arko Stick
Brush: Rubberset 300N 'Plastiset' Nylon 2-tone Brown/Amber Lucite
Razor: Schick Type C1
Blade: Schick (China) (2)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Myrsol Blue



This morning I realized that yesterday’s shave wound up better than I thought based on my morning growth. So I went out on a limb for the first (or perhaps second) time ever and chose to do a 1-pass ATG shave.

I started by seeing how much water my Arko-rubbed face could take. It took a lot! I added water until just prior to breakdown of the lather. No dryness today. But that little travel brush was overwhelmed with lather. Tangent - in case you had not noticed, the knot on this vintage brush is nylon. I’ve never used or even read about nylon brushes before but it surprised me about how much water it holds. I had expected water to just run through it. But with careful addition, it holds up very well.

The shave was better than yesterday regarding coverage, though I did some touch up work due to the single pass. I had four or five weepers that closed with cold water, plus more irritation. My self-critique is that I was so focused on a one-pass shave, I may have been applying too much pressure onto the blade. So more to work on tomorrow.

Cheers!
RT

 

Where?!?! I looked in the mirror and didn't see any?!?!

 

Razor: Gillette Gold Tech 1940's
Blade: Gillette 7 O'clock Super Platinum (5)
Brush: Fendrihen Silver Tip Badger Black handle
Soap: Route 66 Sweeney Todd
A/S: Lucky Tiger

I have to work on my technique with this razor. I don't have much experience with the Tech. I have only use the Tech occasionally. Great soap and A/S.

 

That is my go to DE razor. Is that a pre-war or post war Tech? I found with that razor, I use a heavier touch than with my SuperSpeeds or an adjustable. Finding the right angle is key for me getting a good shave with it. Its a light enough razor that it is easy enough to adjust on the fly as I go over the jaw and neck. There is a shallow angle that seems to keep the blade stiff and cuts better ATG or XTG than the angle I use for WTG. I don't ride the cap on that razor, and like sharp and stiff blades.

 

I'm not sure of the exact date. I will, however, take your advice and switch to a sharper blade, and pay more attention to my angles. Thanks for your help.

 

One pass ATG. Did you get ever think you'd write that? Nice!

 

I find that if I am not super-disciplined with angle and pressure, I can't easily use a Tech. I do ride the cap.

 

If you look at the holes on the base plate, are they oval shaped or triangular? The triangular holes would make it a pre-war Tech, which is slightly more aggressive than the post war ones. Still a mild razor, but I would put it between my SuperSpeed and my Red Tip for aggressiveness.

Part of what made this razor click for me was after I switched to pain sticks and straights, it became almost effortless to find the sweet spot for the angle on it. Its also very hard to make this razor bite, so you change the angle for a more aggressive shave than I would do with a New or Old.

 

Great picture. glad you had a good shave. sounds like your cracking the straights

 

Nope!
TTT confirmed once again!

and what's interesting is that it was set up by the first shave of the focus. I had read a bit about the preferred angle of the blade with this razor. But there's so many variables in play, especially when first starting out with a new razor...well they don't call it the "simplified" razor for nothing!

 

Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936)
The Betrothed

“You must choose between me and your cigar.” Breach of Promise Case, circa, 1885

Open the old cigar-box—let me consider anew—
Old friends, and who is Maggie that I should abandon you?

A million surplus Maggies are willing to bear the yoke;
And a woman is only a woman, but a good Cigar is a Smoke.

Light me another Cuba—I hold to my first-sworn vows.
If Maggie will have no rival, I’ll have no Maggie for Spouse!

 

Hello Michael! Welcome to the 30 Day Focus.

 

I used the 'fat-handle' Tech as my two-month training razor. I learned to love it. My New LC has become my fave DE...so far. I ride the cap on both razors in order to find the best angle for me. I've used Wilkies, GSBs and 7 o'clock Blues with both razors. I got into a habit of ditching blades after three shaves, until I became comfortable with technique using that blade and razor. Once I did, it was easier to tell whether discomfort was my technique or the blade.

Stick with it Douglas!

 

Smart man. Actually Kipling is one of my favorite writers and poets.

 

He is now for me with that one!

 

hahaha if Seth didn't warn you he should have. Yup I'm relatively new to wetshaving but have about 4 months experience. Always willing to try new things and refine my technique because it can always get better. Used the Merkur 1906 last night with an Astra SP that was already in there. Worked great i love that razor and am glad I'm focusing on it this month. I just got my wisdom teeth out this morning so am a little loopy from the pain meds so not sure if I will shave tonight. I will keep you posted on if I shave or not tonight but mostly likely will the next day. Hope you all had great shaves today!

 

...and with that, I just noticed this as I was contemplating my Profile Page...



that's a lot of lip-flapping over the past 8 months!
also proof that 'bribes-for-Likes' does pay off!