SOTD June 15th


Merkur 34C
Rapira Super Stainless
La Toja (grated in the bowl)
Satin Tip the Purest

Good morning everyone! Today's shave was with the incredibly inexpensive Rapira Super Stainless. And super it was! It was sharp and smooth and left me thinking wow what a great budget blade. I know there are a lot of theories out there that some of the Rapira blades are the same except for packaging. But for me this blade was way better then the Super Stainless Chrome which comes in the red and blue package. Not quite as sharp as the Platinum Lux IMO but still sharp enough to produce smooth strokes without any hint of tugging. The only indication that I had that it wasn't quite as sharp as top tier blades is that it didn't cut as close as others. So I did 3 passes today for a very nice DFS that is bordering on BBS. The alum was quiet and my face is happy! Next shave I will try this blade in a slightly more aggressive razor and see how it goes! Have a great day my friends!

Monday/Wednesday shave is in the books. Can't say it was perfect but I'll tell you all about it tonight. Off to see what survived of the store the past two days. Hopefully they sold out and I can nap the day away. Have a great day!

That blade is incredible, especially at the price point. As to the Rapira theory.....I don't buy in. I can tell a difference and, as you said, the Chrome is not as good as this one or several others. I'm sure there isn't a world of difference in the process but there is some, at least by feel.

6/15/16 SOTD
Razor: Shumate Tungsteel
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Brush: Dubl Duck M-2/Omega 10066 boar
Soap: Route 66 Twisted Tweed
Post: Cold water, Alum, Thayers
Aftershave: Lucky Tiger Aspen with M-Bomb added

In my continued testing for my Army of American Straights, today I used a Shumate razor. (Three syllables, pronounced [shu-MAH-tay].) From St. Louis, MO between 1904 and 1932. Below is an advertisement for this razor.

Note that my razor is no longer curved along the edge, but has been honed to a straight edge. This was a way of making a G-slide or guillotining motion with a straight. It still gives a fantastic shave. Two passes plus touch up, and a few whiskers away from a BBS. Very little irritation, and very little burn on the alum. Added some M-Bomb to the Aspen today, and like it quite a bit more. Route 66 delivered an effortless lather again. Amazing soap. Overall, great shave!

MWF and Stirling Brush Focus
I decided to mix it up a little by going to the unused razor shelf.
First shave with the Type A and I got a very nice shave. A couple of weepers on the neck, where I did a third pass, but a very nice shave over all.
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Stirling Finest Badger
Schick Type A Repeating Razor
Schick blade (1)
Alum
Thayers WH
Ogallala Bay Rum
Happy Wednesday!

Sounds like something out of a "Saw" movie....

Discretion over Valor!

Neat pic Doug!

Back to my focus of getting all my straights up to what I consider shave ready. I've found that I have different ideas about this than some I have bought razors from. Today I am concentrating on a Worcester Razor Co. In honor of Adam's @Drygulch love of American steel. I've never been satisfied with the edge on this one so I took it back to the stone progression from 3000 up through 12000, then a dozen laps on a felt sprayed with .5 micron diamond spray and finally about 25 laps on English bridle leather. That's more like it. Smooth shaving. I did 2 full passes WTG AND XTG followed by a touch up pass with the R41 resulting in a very smooth shave.

I miss a few days and I miss shaved dogs, shaved bears, racing the shaved dogs and then feeding them to the bears, a Veg attack from above and a "nuts" MAYhem dare for next year.

On a sadder note I am single again. I'm not entirely sure why but she asked me to leave so I did. Now I need to get my own car since I gave mine away to my mom. This may up the timeline for my move back to Florida.

Razor: AlumiGoose 2 w/ iKon OSS handle
Blade: Feather Professional (2)
Brush: Tres Amigos Desert Ironwood Honey Comb w/Envy White
Soap: Route 66 Perfect Storm
A/S: Myrsol Blue
My focus this month is on SE razors and I'm happy to say it is going very well. I'm learn a lot about SE's and the difference handles can make to the same head as it applies to the result of a shave.

The Perfect Storm is a new soap from Route 66. It has a brisk seas, rocky bluffs, damp earth and crisp, cool air just before the rain. A windward breeze carries green notes and soft florals of lily, jasmine, rose and violet over the sand. Earthy tones of sandalwood and cumaru seed balance this rich, coastal aroma. Long lasting, slick lather protective cushion and glide soothing post shave conditioning. I really enjoy using this soap. Finished with Myrsol Blue which I also like. Darn near BBS.

Hang in there brother! Things work out the way they are supposed to, even though we can't always see it at first.

I am a big fan of both LaToja and Rapira SS. Good stuff today!

Menthol test? Should be ok, so long as we don't get nuts with it!

Mark, sorry to hear the news. I'll be praying everything works out well for you.

ready for the challenge, I am in.

@DDuckyMark I was going to same something similar. In my life when I had similar bad events either personal or work it opened to the door something better. I hope things work out the same for you.

Some things, that seem to be troubles, are actually opportunities cloaked in thorns.

That's almost scary looking with that big smile on it. But I get the theory of how it shaves.

As President of the Divorced Men of America I'll add my support and concern. Sometimes you don't know what's going on until you struggle though it. Been there, done that a few times. Hang in bro.