SoS: February 15, 2016 - February 21, 2016

Sunday



Had a really nice shower with Dove Pure & Sensitive bar soap followed by this great shave.
I have found out that I cannot tolerate razors with positive exposure on the blade.
Alas, if I use, for instance, the Weber, everyday I get medeocre shaves about day 3 and forth.
With the Tech that has neutral exposure I get great shaves every day no matter how I wield it.
This enforces my lust for the Wolfman that sports the same neutral exposure, but more gap, hence it should be a great daily shaver.
DFS++​

 

Martin, very photo! I like how you included your setup in the photo.

 

Lovely photos, gentlemen!

 

Razor: Gillette Red Tip
Blade: Personna Blue (7)
Brush: Fendrihan Silver Tip
Soap: TSD 2X Iced Oakmoss Sandalwood
A/S: TSD 2X Iced Oakmoss Sandalwood

 

@celestino, my friend.

 

Thank you! I must admit I've been heavily inspired by our great @Darkbulb

 

Douglas, beautiful photo of awesome gear!

 

21 February 2016

* Wolfman WR1-SB + UFO Colibri 12mm
* Iridium Super
* WSP Stubby 2-Band + Doug Korn Amber Taca
* Mystic Water Vanilla Sandalwood
* Unrefined Shea Butter
* Bergamot/Vetiver EO


​

 

The colors are 3D!

 

I believe in EO's =P i want a little lime scent. Maybe I'll get some

 

SOTD
TOBS Grapefruit
Doug Korn brush
Mongoose
Feather Professional Super (2)
Alum
Chrome Azzaro cologne
Have a wonderful Sunday !

 

Feb. 21/2016

This morning was the last shave with the Rapira platinum Lux in my Gillette Tech, next trial will be with my Gillette SS. I have a new(to me) Gillette Tech, that I`m dying to try out, do I wait until I`m through with the 6 shaves (days) with the SS, or do I suspend my trial a couple days to try out something new? Decisions, decisions. I get the "new" razor tomorrow. What do I do? Start the new trial, or wait a couple days to enjoy something new, then start. Being impetuous, I`ll probably screw it all up and forget where I am. Anyway.... it is what it is.

Razor:Gillette Tech
Blade: Rapira Platinum Lux
Cream: Italian Barber Primavera
Brush: A new VDH Badger
Oil: Homemade (orange scent)
AS: Nivea Balm

Three passes: 1st, WTG all the way. 2nd pass ATG most of the way, with a couple detours along the way(XTG/ Cross Grain), 3rd pass was very wet thin layer for a small amount of clean up and across the cheeks. Again another near BBS. On that 3rd pass, I felt a little irritation on my upper lip and on the chin.

 

February 21, 2016

Razor: U1 Super-109 (5)
Blade: GSB (1)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: Ivory

First, about the soap choice- I had been reading a thread over on B&B about people trying to use Ivory as a shaving soap (even referencing the original 1911 directions that called out this use) and so, like any good wet shaver, had to try what the cool kids were trying. Actually, for me, this was not a huge leap; back in the day, I never learned to shave "properly" so my concept of lathering was to take a bar of soap, build a big froth in my hands and then smear that on my face. This was pretty much what my father did, though I've no clue where he learned to do it.

The original directions specify to we the face and rub the bar on it like a shaving stick, then face lather with a moistened brush. Simple enough and it did produce a decent, albeit thin, lather. The big issue was that really started to dissipate about half way through the pass and had to be relathered. People compare Ivory to Williams and I'd say this is a fair comparison as I've had similar issues with it. In the end- nice to know I can do this, but probably won't repeat it again any time soon.

Now to the razor- I decided I wanted to spend the next few days using the Super-109 as it really doesn't see much time in the rotation, even though one of my favorite razors is the Slim. The quality and the feel of the shave is certainly similar, but something about the razor doesn't suit me as well. I was reminded of this almost from the first stroke. First was the "slipperiness" of the handle; it may have been that I had excess soap on my hand, but I never feel I've got as solid a grip on the Super-109 as on other razors. Next was a feeling of almost cramping in my hand. Perhaps it is the longer handle or perhaps I'm overcompensating for the slipperiness concern, but something with this razor seems to foster grip issues for me. I managed to make some adjustments that relieved the cramping, but still didn't feel totally comfortable with the way I was holding this razor.

My plan is to try and stick with the Super-109 for the whole week and hopefully get on top of it.

As for the shave- a nice one-pass DFS with no issues.

JR

 

Very nice photo. Good set up. I`m impressed, Bill

 

You never cease to amaze me, very nice in all respects, Bill

 

Thank you Bill!

 

SOTD 2/21

Merkur 34C /GSB (5)
Satin Tip The Purest
Blades Grim Smolder

5 shaves with the GSB and no discomfort from the blade, do these things ever stop? I added a little more water to my lather and was rewarded by an even slicker fluffier lather. makes me think I've been running a little dry this whole time. Have a great day everyone!

 

SOTD Feb. 21, 2016

Razor - Gillette pre-war Tech (rare 4 piece)
Brush - Custom handle Jim 17a big boar
Lather - Ingram U.K. Import
Pre - TSW hair bar soap
Post - Thayers / unrefined Shea butter
Bowl - Chinese ?


This Canadian Tech sports the same triangular head as my fat handle Tech's but feels different due to the 2 piece handle. Hard not to get a great shave with this head. Ended up with a BBS 3 pass WTG, 2x XTG shave and no irritation.

 

Back to where I started with today's shave:

Parker 99 TTO
TSD London type soap
semogue boar brush
Astra platinum

KISS so to speak. This has been a steady combo for me since last summer. Only exception is I tend to use my kent sythetic much more than the boar, but since I started with the boar I was feeling nostalgic. I've had a beard off and on, so now that I'm fully shaved (since Friday), I'll be returning to this combo more often. Finished with witch hazel doctored with various essential oils.

Yesterday, I tried a GEM SE for the first time as a full shave. Did have difficulty under the nose, which a DE razor seems to work better for me there. The Shaveden soap just won't seem to finish up. I've been using this soap for months, and for a small puck it has just kept going. I'm down to a thin ring in my shave mug, but really thought it would have given up the ghost about a month ago.