February '16 - 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion Thread

Feb 14 Focus Shave 10

Today's razor is a Hart Steel 7/8 French point, she behaved badly last shave so back to rock quarry for her. I took the razor all the way back to 8k then 12k then 16k followed with CrOx and FeO2.

I did some extra stropping and today was hot, hot lather. I wanted to give her all the best conditions. The edge felt smooth and sharp today. Just a small nick after 3 passes, after 3 passes the shave was closer than normal and debating stopping there but..... in the name of science.... and to ensure a BBS on the 4th pass.

The alum test gave just a little feedback and definitely a BBS.

Irritation A- Closeness A Smoothness A Keenness A

QCS Vetiver
Kent BK8 silver tip
Large Woodhead scuttle
Hart Steel 7/8
Dry Gulch strop
Speick AS
Speick ASB
Chanel Cuir De Russie

 

February Focus - German blades

February 13

Razor - Merkur 23c
Blade - (1)
Brush - Vie Long 12601
Soap - Proraso Green Tub
Post - Cold rinse, Alum, The Veg

It's a new day and a new blade. After a fine three days with the Bolzano it's time to move on to the Merkur Super Platinum. Anyone who has purchased a new Merkur razor has probably received one of these blades. Whether you tried it or not is another story. The usual review of a new Merkur razor is very positive except for......the blade. Seems like it gets a lot of negative reviews. Or at least not stellar. The only Merkur I own is the 23c that I'm using for this focus and I purchased it from an individual locally. So, I never had the Merkur blade experience. It's time to try it out.

This is a platinum coated blade. Some platinums, namely the ones from Moscow, treat me very well. Also the Super-Max blades from India are good for me in platinum. Guess we'll see about the German version.

The Pony and Proraso for lather. Awesome as always. First pass WTG and I immediately recognize an issue. This blade is not as sharp as the Bolzano, or the Wilkinson, or the Timor for that matter. Definitely not as smooth. The first pass also didn't produce as effective a reduction as I'd like. Well, that's why we do more than one pass, right? Second pass, XTG and again the blade isn't as smooth. Not overbearingly rough, but just not as smooth. Left me with a DFS, mostly, after the second pass. Lathered for a full third pass and was beginning to feel like there might be some irritation building. Again, that could be the Proraso and its menthol and eucalyptus working. Did an ATG and G-Slide to finish. And another G-slide to finish. The final result after those two slides? Well it's DFS. Definitely not BBS.

Let's go to the alum. Cold rinse settles down the menthol a bit and the alum didn't lie. A bit hot on the neck and even a bit on the face. And......yep......one weeper on the right cheek near the ear. Nothing major but it's visible. Not a great shave.

So, to the steins (which normally I welcome as I know what they hold). Half stein reduction for the weeper. Another half for the lack of BBS. And, for the irritation? Another half reduction. That leaves us with 3.5 steins. Not a great result. Above average but not much. Hopefully this blade will find a bit of life in the next two days. However, I'm not holding my breath. Hope the weekend has been good so far for everyone.

​

 

I don't like to leave any evidence... sorry I can't help.

 

The Futur is a great razor for me too. Glad you are enjoying it too.

 

The more you allow the dark side to influence the stronger it's pull becomes. Great progress!

 

It's pulling hard. I see a focus in my future.

 

February 13, 2016
February Focus on my Schick Type D - The first Schick Injector Razor circa 1935

Shave 7/8 (Thursday & Friday)
Hot Shower
Razor: Schick Type D
Blade: Schick Plus Platinum (3&4)
Soap: Mitchell Wool Fat
Brush: Rubberset 400-4
Witch Hazel: Thayers
AS: Myrsol Plastic Shave



My third and fourth shave with the Plus Platinum blade.

2-pass shaves (XTG,ATG)
Solid shaves with all four shaves using the Plus Platinum. But they didn’t seem to be as good as when I used this blade in the C1 last month.

One thing for sure, I will recommend the MWF soap. I had read that this is a soap that could give people fits figuring out the water / soap ratio and whether to bloom, etc. I merely just rubbed the puck on my face until a healthy amount coated my whiskers and then with a damp / soaked boar brush went to town on the face lathering and immediately developed a great thick, slick lather as easy as can be.

Cheers!
RT

 

February 13, 2016 Valentine’s Dinner

February Focus on my Schick Type D - The first Schick Injector Razor circa 1935

Shave 9
Hot Shower
Razor: Schick Type D
Blade: Schick (Holland) (1)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino 70th Anniversary
Brush: Rubberset 400-4
Witch Hazel: Thayers
AS: Saponificio Varesino 70th Anniversary



Saturday evening shave prior to Valentine’s Eve Dinner with Mrs. Firefly.

Treated myself to a new blade in the Type D - a Dutch Danglie as some of the injector heads call this NOS Schick blade made in Holland.

2-pass shave (XTG,ATG)
This very sharp Dutch blade combined with the easy-handling Type D resulted in an extremely close, bonafide BBS shave. Seven hours since the shave and it’s still as smooth. That is one sharp blade that shines in this razor both on an excellent, first pass reduction and an unbelievable whisker eradication on the second pass. This is a rotation-worthy combination.

The SV soap was as great a performer as the MWF soap I used the previous two shaves, using the same face puck-rubbing, face-lathering technique. Combined with the SV aftershave, I was all set for a memorable Valentine’s Eve on the town with Mrs. Firefly.

Cheers!
RT

 

I've been out of touch for a while Jim - Congrats on the new addition. Glad to see/ hear that all are well!

 

Great write up. I got a merkur blade with my razor yesterday, past experience told me to throw it away.

 

That's ok, Rodger showed me the way. It didn't help, my wife just said I was already well on my way.

 

Congratulations again, you're baby girl is adorable I'm very happy for you and your family.

 

Jim, you are truly blessed. Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos of your precious children.

 

I can already tell he will be a Feather blade man.

 

Tom, perform a Google search for "Shave Den" and click Images. I showed these photos to my Bride, who likes a minimalist and very organized bathroom, and she said they gave her chest pains.

 

In the words of @clint64 stop it, your killing me...

 

Hope you both had a great time.

 

Excellent shot. How do you like the Myrsol Plastic Shave?

 

Excellent picture and set up. Congratulations!

 

Great shot @Hodge. I don't own a B2. Looks good though.