Two days left in June. Again, not enough days it seems as these months are flying by. Halfway through 2016 already. Wow.
While I certainly don't want to interrupt anyone on the final two days of June Rules and/or Focuses, it's time to consider what's in store for July. I hope we'll continue to attract the new guys and get them started off right with TTT. Many of us are proof it works. I know we'll have a lot of the regulars around as always working on focuses, or perhaps rules with new gear and throwing a few shenanigans around as well. Gotta love it. Well, for me, it's going to be the start of a project I've been considering for awhile. I don't have all of the details yet, but the idea is firm and the process is set. And, it's a project that others can join if they choose.
My plan for July is going to extend past July. Well past. I plan to begin trialing blades and documenting in a formal manner the results from each blade. Its sharpness, smoothness, efficiency in reducing the beard, level of irritation....all the usual stuff. When I'm finished I should have a fairly detailed description of every blade I have tried. And I plan on trying a lot of blades. The current total I have listed is 109. And, I plan to try them in a mild razor, "normal" razor, and aggressive razor. So, three days per blade with three different levels of aggressiveness. To do this, and keep it consistent, I will be using a Gillette Slim. Setting 2 for the mild, 6 for normal, 9 for aggressive. That razor is not yet in my possession. It's somewhere over the Pacific on its way from @
Keithmax who donated it to the TSD Raffle. I was fortunate enough to win it. By using the Slim I can get the most consistency in different settings for all blades since it will be a single razor. Some of us had discussed this idea a couple of weeks ago and debated using the three Super Speeds - blue, flare, red, but the Slim should provide the same basic info with less hassle (and no need to buy a couple of razors so I stay out of trouble at home).
To maintain consistency I'm also going to use one soap. I haven't decided yet on that. It's down to two. Mitchell's or Tabac. It's a sacrifice to leave the one I don't choose on the shelf as much as I will, but I think it's best to maintain absolute consistency on soap. The brush will vary, as I think that has the least to do with the result.
Now, as to others joining in, it's simple. If you'd like to shave along with me, I would invite you to do so. The only thing I ask is that you use the same blade and in the same level razor I do on the days you join. In other words, if I'm using a Feather at "normal", then use a Feather in a razor like a Super Speed, or something else that's about average. If I'm using a Voskhod in aggressive setting, then use a Super Speed Red, or an open comb....something aggressive. And....if you join in on a shave or shaves, please share your results on the effectiveness, feel, sharpness...again the usual stuff. I will take your input and include it in my results. You don't have to follow along every shave, or any particular number of shaves, but it's something I invite you to do if and when you'd like. I'll be posting up the blades I'll be using ahead of time so you'll have time to acquire some if you want to join in.
After every two blades I'll take a day off to shave with something else. Just a day off to relax before hitting another six days. And yes, I totally get it that blades are subjective. Read my disclaimer below that I always have in my signature. But I would like to have a reference on all of the blades out there (well a huge part of them) for my info and hopefully as something I can help others with if they are trying blades or trying to narrow down choices etc. And, if it turns out I'm the only one who gets anything out of it then, I will be better off than I was before and the voices in my head telling me to do this will be silent at last.
A couple of quick notes - I'm skipping the horrible Chinese blades. Only using two Chinese, the Rimei and Vincent. And, the Czech Tiger is staying on the shelf as well as the Flying Eagle. I can sum them up in a word. GHASTLY!! I was going to skip the Israeli blades as well due to personal reasons but....in the interest of getting the largest number of blades in current use....will include them.
The starting date for this depends on Korean mail. If the razor is here by next Wednesday I'll start then. I was going to try and start the 5th.....but we have popsicle shaves that day. Can't miss that! If the Slim isn't here yet I'll just wait until it arrives.
So, there's my plan, in its almost final form. I'll list the blades when I start and the schedule a couple of weeks ahead for those who want to play along. I may also choose to add blades that I run into in the process or remove some should they become unavailable. Right now, however, I own at least one or two of almost all of them. I've done my part to keep Jason in business over at tryablade.com.
So, I've written a short novel about next month now.....anybody care to share their plans? I know @
Bama Samurai is doing shavette blade trials. That should be interesting as well!
An early thanks for another great month on here! I'll have more to say on that over the next couple of days. Shave on!!
One last note - I think I know the ending to Game of Thrones after this season!
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