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

Gillette Super Speed
Viking Sword (4)
Semogue
Pre de Provence
Pinaud Citrus Musk

I'm not fond of this soap. I cant fault its performance but I hate the smell. After a long soak the Semogue boar brush was almost too soft (I forgot I had set it to soak so it soaked for about 2 hours) After a 20sec load it still lathered like a champ but the smell, "gag". I knew right away that the wonderful shaves I had gotten used to with this blade were a thing of the pass. XTG pass first and it was a tuggy pulling mess. I checked and . . . hardly any reduction. I decided to put it with ATG and managed an even more uncomfortable pass with some weepers on M neck from the skin being pulled into the blade while it was not cutting. I thought about a 3rd pass to get to DFS but between the smell of the soap and the general discomfort from day 4 on this blade I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
Tap water splash stung and burnt so I was smart enough to avoid the alum but the citrus musk felt like Hel was setting up a new home on my neck. After a few strings un words not allowed in family movies it settled and I bid a fond goodbye to the Viking sword as it tumbled into the blade disposal slot.

 

2/28/16

Gillette Old Type
Rapira Super Stainless (3)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
C.O. Bigelow cream
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



A nice comfortable BBS this morning from the Rapira Super Stainless in the Old Type.
Went back to C.O. Bigelow today. Did my typical 2 passes followed by a light touch up with some of the soap on my face. Then a cool water rinse and an average mount touch up brought home the baby. The Clubman was surprisingly mild today.

This will be my last shave with the Old Type for the month. Tomorrow, I will have my 3rd shave on a Rapira Super Stainless that has been in my New LC since December 31.

I hope everyone had a great Lords Day.

 

Fourth DE shave today and again it went great.
PSO- Peppermint homemade
Razor- Atomic Razor
Blade- Astra SP (4)
Brush- Omega synthetic
Soap- Arko shave stick
ASB- Nivea men cooling
Day 4 and the blade still cut great, absolutely no pulling. I went WTG, WTG and XTG. I had a DFS after the second pass,I just used the XTG to clean up a few areas. I can't stress enough the difference the pso makes. No irritation, no nicks, even a few spots BBS. I've decided for next month I'm going to experiment between hot and cold water to learn the differences.

 

Went back to the Asian farmers market in Smyrna and picked up a tuck of Wilkinson Sword blades. No price tag, which is why I didn't get it a few months ago when I saw it. Turned out to be $1.79 for 5 blades. A pretty good price for over the counter.

Edit: Actually, the price was $1.69. An even better price.

 

March is coming:

http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/march-16-30-day-rule-focus-pix-and-discussion-thread.50061/

 

February Focus - German blades DONE! Best of the Best to the Finish!

February 28

Razor - '47 Gillette Super Speed
Blade - (2)
Brush - BoS - Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold rinse, Alum, Nivea, The Veg

Day two on the Feather with the '47 Super Speed. And, using BoSFat for the lather pretty much sets this up as one of the best shaves I can have. Now, normally when I set that expectation up I fail miserably. However, today was the exception to that rule. Two pass shave with a bit of ATG touch up at the end to the second baby in a row on this setup. Great way to start the day, especially with a follow up of the Veg. And, it worked its charm as I had another fine day at work.

Tomorrow, finishing the month with the Detente shave, the '46-'47 Aristocrat and Voskhod. Going out with the best. In the meantime, one more view of our friends in Japan.

​

 

Feb 29 Focus Shave last focus shave of Feb and 1st focus shave of March

Today's razor is a Jerry Stark 5/8 second shave after a refresh on J Nat.

Very smooth edge today and felt reasonable sharp. Four passes without any blood or discomfort. Apply the alum and zero reaction, just missed BBS.

Irritation A+ Closeness A- Smoothness A+ Keenness A-

This is a tough decision, keep or sell this razor. It looks fantastic, (the red/black micarta scales do not show up in the picture) takes a wonderful edge but I prefer bigger razors. I think I will part with this beauty and if I get the chance to acquire a larger Jerry Stark with jimps I will jump on it.

QCS Vetiver
Simpson Polo 8 super badger
Woodhead scuttle
Jerry Stark 5/8
Harold Russian leather strop
Speick AS
L'Occitane ASB
The Different Company Rose Poivrée

 

Welcome aboard the 30 day crew! You have a very nice looking Fat Boy, and the brush looks really interesting. What kind is it? Seems like the handle would provide a nice grip.

 

02/29/2016
Wolfman OC with Triad SS
Feather (2)
Shavemac Silvertip D01
Catie’s Bubbles Santal Sensuelle
Witch Hazel
Captain’s Choice Sandalwood
Whipped Shea Butter


​

My shooting buddy, Clark, is thinking about getting a Mongoose. I am lending him both the AlumiGoose and Mongoose along with an assortment of blades for a month long test drive. So I am staring the March DE Focus a day early with the Wolfman OC. I went with a traditional 3 pass shave with minor touch ups and ended with a great near BBS shave. It would be hard to expect more on a work morning. I finished with a splash of CC Sandalwood with menthol added. All in all a great start to the week. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

February 2016 Focus Recap



My Single Edge focus for February centered on comparing and contrasting the AlumiGoose and Mongoose for week day shaves. Comparing the two razors side by side, it would appear that the shaves would be nearing identical. However, that proved not to be the case. Between these two examples, the AlumiGoose is the more aggressive and efficient razor. The shaves with the AlumiGoose/Feather Pro combo are almost indistinguishable from the Mongoose using the more aggressive Feather Pro Super blade. This could be me using more pressure with the lighter AlumiGoose but I am not convinced that is the case. I now know that I prefer the AlumiGoose with a Feather Pro and the Mongoose with a Feather Pro Super. Both razors make the the cut for quick, efficient and drama free work morning shaves.

I also used the Cobra Classic for most of the weekend shaves. I hoped to become more comfortable with the stylized handle and move it into week day rotation. I am pleased that I am just about there and might it fact use if for an upcoming focus.

Again thank your to Chris, @Bama Samurai , for hosting another 30 day thread. These exercises have improved my technique greatly. I enjoyed following along as many of the members started the journey of master SR shaving. It was also very nice to watch some of the newer members master the techniques and begin getting consistently good to great shaves. I look forward to participating in next month's 30 day focus.

 

2/29/16

New LC
Rapira Super Stainless (3)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
C.O. Bigelow cream
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



Menthol Monday and a nice comfortable BBS from the Rapira Super Stainless in the New LC.
The blade has been in the razor since December, but it behaved wonderfully. Normal 2 passes with great reduction, medium effort on the touch ups and the Baby came home. The C.O. Bigelow cream was abundant and slick, and the Pinaud Clubman only stung a slight amount today.

I hope everyone has a great Monday!

 

Nice write up Clint...!

 

Excellent post Clint. You are so organized. . I agree that Chris @Bama Samurai 30 day thread has greatly improve many members shaves. I know it has helped me immensely.

 

Straights Focus February Bonus Shave:

Simpsons Commodore X3 Best Badger
MdC
Henry Sears and Son Queen 3/4
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Wholly Kaw Fougere Bouquet AS

A nice one pass CCS this morning. I am taking my kids to school this morning, which is a blessing for me, as I am usually at work long before the go. It is a great Monday so far. I hope everyone else has the same.

 

Monday, February 29, 2016

Pre: Warm Shower, Sterling Pre-Shave Soap, Omega Green Pre-Shave
Soap: Sterling Margaritas in the Arctic
Brush: PAV Barbershop Envy White Badger
Razor: Blackland Blackbird
Blade: Feather #2
Post: MITA Witch Hazel, Unrefined Shea Butter, Krampert’’s Frostbite Aftershave

 

Thank you.

 

Thank you Doug. The calendar helps an old guy remember what I am supposed to use.

 

I should get a calendar then.

 

SOTD February 29, 2016
Focus day 29
Break in focus yet again for Schick injector!

Menthol Monday!

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Chinese Schick
Razor: Schick G1 Injector (late 1940s)
Brush: Satin Tip 'The Purest' synthetic
Lather: Proraso Green shaving soap
Post: Witch hazel splash, TSD SubZero after shave, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Well.......today was a rougher shave than normal. It was going well until I hit some kind of bump right under my nose and nicked it pretty badly. That was the worst nick I've had in a long, long time. It wasn't carelessness or laziness but just an accident. Then I ended up with some irritation on my lower neck to the right of the Adam's apple. I'm pretty smooth otherwise, except for the point of my chin (that's a hard spot for me to get smooth anyway).

Proraso Green is a great soap and I think the the Satin Tip brush does a great job of lathering and holding the lather. I am disappointed in the nick under my nose and the irritation, but most of my face is pretty smooth, so I'll take some consolation in that.

It's been a fun month of sharing my shaves with this group. I look forward to next month and continuing to improve!

Hope you have a great Monday!