March '16 - 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix and Discussion Thread

Straights Focus March 16:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Latha SS
Ralf Aust 5/8
Stirling Unscented PSB
Latha Post Shave

I had a nice one pass shave this morning. When this puck of Latha is gone, I am going look at another scent. The performance is great, I am just not a huge fan of the scent. It does provide some nice slick lather to work with. The Aust just wiped away the lather so easily taking whiskers with it. A great CCS this Wednesday morning. Have a great day.

 

3/16/16 - Blade focus - Derby Dash

The Derby blade continues to provide a nice shave on Day 4. It didn't start out as smooth as a GSB or Persona, but is not rough. I only needed 2 passes to have a near BBS shave and that is always good enough for me.

 

03/16/2016
Wolfman OC with Hempel Ti
Feather (3)
WDC-6 “Bear” with Sunrise Synthetic
Mystic Water Orange Vanilla
Witch Hazel
Folsom & Co Capri
Whipped Shea Butter

​

This morning was my first use of the WDC-6 "The Bear" prototype shaving brush. A friend sent the brush handle for me to test. I decided to use a Sunrise Synthetic knot set for a finished loft of 26mm x 50mm. I did set the knot with silicon and I might decide to increase the finished loft to 52mm. The brush whipped up the Mystic Water Orange Vanilla into a reach slick lather with very little effort. For those that have had trouble lathering Mystic Water soaps you might want to give a synthetic brush a try. Going with a 2 pass shave with minor touch ups allowed me to catch the baby with no weepers, nicks or irritation. Finished off with a splash of F&C Capri. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

 

SOTD March 16, 2016
March focus shave 14

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Personna lab blue (2)
Razor: Maggard MR1 with V2 open comb
Brush: Satin Tip 'ThePurest' synthetic
Lather: Proraso Red shaving soap
Post: Witch hazel splash enhanced with Fine American blend, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up



Nice, efficient shave again this morning with Proraso Red and the Maggard MR1. I'm really enjoying the scent of the Proraso soap and figured that Fine American blend would be a good complement. The Satin Tip brush is perhaps becoming my favorite as it performs really well.

One pass with touch-up is sufficient for the weekdays. I had a little stubble on my neck that needed some more touch-up, but that's okay. I'll get it tomorrow.

Have a great day!

 

Good write up @clint64.

 

SOTD
March 16, 2016
Prep: Hot Shower. Noxzema
Razor: Edwin Jagger DE89lbl
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Beaver Woodwright Captain's Pipe
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Rose Petal WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Beaver Woodwright Captain's Pipe
Great shave. You'll hear that the Edwin Jagger DE89 is a good starter razor, it's a great razor period. The Captain's Pipe is awesome! I love it! The wife, not so much.
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try

 

I agree on the Latha soap. Performance was great but by the end the scent turned my stomach.

 

Hey y'all, watch this...

 

Kerry,

Is that a tobacco scented soap? I also agree about the 89 type razor heads, they work very well!

 

SOTD 3/16/16
Razor: Union Cutlery Co. KA-BAR 5/8 Round tip
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Brush: Dubl Duck M-2 with Omega knot
Soap: Jeeves of Hudson Street Cherry Blossom
Post: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Bar, Thayers’ Rose Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Fine American Blend

Did a second shave with my KA-BAR today. Tried repeating the pattern I used yesterday of N/S for the first pass, and L/R on the chin, jaw, and neck, with S/N on the cheeks. Ended up having to do a third pass, S/N on the neck, chin, and jaw to get everything. I don’t think this razor is quite as keen as the W&B was. I will be taking it to the pasted strops before I use it again. Soap was awesome. Easy lather with a great feel and scent.

Brush performed well during the shave, but as I was shaking the water out over the tub I heard a thunk. Apparently, I didn’t use the right stuff to secure the knot, as it came out. I had grabbed a tube of caulking. I looked at it this morning, and it is not 100% silicone. The edges of it were dry, but most of the remaining stuff had not cured, so the knot came right out. I was able to easily wipe out the rest of the caulking. I found my tube of 100% silicone, and I will reset this knot once it dries.

 

Injector Focus
Day four on a Chick blade and going strong.
SOTD
Arko
AoS Pure Badger brush
Schick G-5
Chick blade (4)
Pitrulon Polar AS
Have fun!

 

Break time! Good morning 30DC!

Update: face is feeling great and still pretty smooth! Will do the pain stick again, very late afternoon.

Happy Wednesday!

 

I've found that synthetic brushes consume less soap. My Route 66 is lasting forever. Are you now a synthetic believer too?

 

Interesting plate! What do you know about it?

 

Provided by hotel in Honolulu

 

Life could be worse I guess. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade in Honolulu.

 

Razor: Gillette President Y 1, 1953
Blade: Gillette Platinum (3)
Brush: WDC-6, The Bear, Brass Handle, TGN, 24/65 Premium Silvertip Badger.
Soap: Jeeves Soaps, Private Study
A/S: Myrsol Agua de Limon

I've been getting much better water to soap mix which results in a much better lather overall. The combination of brush to soap can make a big difference. One brush will work great with one soap, but not with another. This brush (WDC- The Bear) and this soap (Jeeves Soaps Private Study) work amazing together.
Their Private Study Tallow Soap will make you feel like you are sailing on the seven sea's. A classic bay rum scent made with West Indie bay, sweet orange, rum, spices and just a touch of patchouli and vanilla.

Jeeves of Hudson Street Small Batch Quality Tallow Shaving Soap, Veteran Owned and Operated.

 

I like synthetic brushes. There in second place for me behind my badger brushes. I load each brush like that shave will be my last shave on earth. I don't count swirls or time but look to see if the brush is fully loaded with soap. If I am using less soap with a synthetic it's due to the knot being less dense and or smaller making it hold less soap. I will say that some of my bigger dense badger brushes eat through soap at an alarming rate.

 

Chris,
Pipe tobacco with cherry. It's the best!
For those who have never smelled tobacco or pipe tobacco shaving soaps they do not smell like cigarettes! The farthest thing from it.
I plan on using my 89 until I receive my Merkur Futur Saturday or Monday.

 

Thanks for the nice write-up on Jeeves of Hudson Street, I've seen his soaps for sometime now but they don't get the love others do on the forums. I'll make a note to check out Jeeves of Hudson Street.