OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

We shall call you D.B. Cooper until then.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Derby! Derby! Shark SC! Shark SC!

Veg is for heroes. Know this.

 

That's my fave crime case ever. I think he lived through it. Heard a radio interview with an Army SF colonel who investigated as a hobby, he said it was crazy, but survivable.

 

OCtober-een!

October 14

Grand Blade Trials

Razor - 1962 (H1) Gillette Slim (6)
Blade - (2)
Soap - Arko
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Alum

I woke up this morning and checked the shave from last night. Good enough for the day? Yep it will do. Nice. So, the Veg for a body splash after my shower and out the door I went. Came home tonight and ready for the second shave on the Treet Falcon. This carbon blade did a fine job yesterday. A DFS. Nothing special but still very nice for the mild 2 setting. I like carbon blades and this one seemed to do just fine.

On the more aggressive 6 tonight and the difference is immediate. First of all, the noisy carbon blade was even noisier than last night and the result after the first pass is noticeably better than last night. Second XTG pass was just as good and the third ATG and Slide was a great finish. Alum was just a touch warm but nothing to worry about. And the result was clearly a near BBS that, after about ten minutes of wait time, became a BBS. Caught the baby with a carbon blade. Outstanding. I'm still checking to make sure I'm right but smooth is smooth. No doubt. Can't wait to see if this improves tomorrow wide open at 9 and I suspect it may. The Falcon isn't a sharp blade as compared to say, a Feather or Voskhod, and that makes it a good match for aggressive razors. I'm looking forward to one more day with this blade. The Pakistanis seem to have manufactured a blade that is as good as their high end local transportation!

​

 

I struggle with you being disloyal to Voskhod as well. But, we do what we can.

 

As long as you're singing the praises of the Veg the Czar will never crack down. Hijack away you crazy Cuban wannabe.

 

I am new here and thanks to @NCoxSTL for inviting me over here!! For the rest of the month I'm going to focus on finding a blade suitable for me and my Merkur. Any tips on where to pick up some samples?
Thanks!

 

Welcome!

Tryablade.com

 

tryablade.com is a great place to buy blades one at at time or more if you want. You can mix and match. You can also find some good samplers at West Coast Shaving and a few other places. Personally....I'd recommend Voskhod or Astra SP. I know others will chime in as well. Welcome again and glad you followed the cookie crumbs over here!

 

I was referring to @twhite and his apparent cookie animosity.

Tonight was mustard greens and onions with salt pork, and red beans and rice with andouille. I may be alomgside the "big city" of Denver, but you can't take the South out of me.

True story

 

Thank you so much for the replies!! The Merkur 34C is my first safety razor. What would be your top 3 words of advice? I am not new to wet shaving but am new to safety razors.

 

The cream of the DE crop IMHO

Gillette Silver Blue
Astra SP

Rapira SS (Swedes)
Voskhod
Ladas

@NCoxSTL can explain the world of Russian steel. Russian blades are best.

Edit: there are dozens of blade choices that are just fine. It's not as critical as it may feel.

 

Top three words of advice. Easy.

Don't.
Cut.
Yourself.

Ok, so maybe to simple. No pressure...let the razor do the work. Do a 30 Day Rule (explained in the first post in this thread...ask if you need more info) to set your technique. Learn to ride the cap. It will save you from unnecessary blood.

 

1. Ride the cap - this alleviates the cause of 90% of all issues, remember, light pressure, just wipe the lather away with the blade.
2. Minimal Prep. Your great grandfather didn't have a 17 point process for shaving, you don't need one either!
3. 30 Day Rule. Merkur 34, (any blade you like, only one brand though), one brush, one soap. 30 Days. Don't repeat all the mistakes of the thousands before you. This is like golf. Buy all the clubs and balls and whatever you like, but it won't matter until you actually learn to play golf.

It's easy. It's fun. There is a little learning curve, a little blood, and much satisfaction.

Let's do this!

 

(Meme authors often can't spell)

 

(tear wells up, slowly trickles down left cheek)

 

I think that's the cue for a mid-month group hug. Extra cute edition.

​

 

there are times when I really miss the states...

 

Today was the hot water test for Tabac and for reason that can only be unlocked from sub-consience from a first rate shrink I decided to go with my Robert Williams Purist, my most scary and blood thirsty straight. Why do I say that? I have used used Tabac for years but this is the first time with super hot water from the tea kettle in the scuttle.

Many people think if the water is to hot it destroys the lather, I find this true for some soaps but for other soaps it works fine. The key is while the lather is really hot it look to runny and like it has to many bubbles. As soon is it hit the face and cools a little the lather turns nice and creamy. Well the Tabac seemed to work for the first two passes but failed for pass three and four. I did poor some boiling water on the top of the puck to soften it up and that worked great.

As I stropped the Robert William I kept looking at the very sharp point and heel and remembering how many times I cut myself including on the ear and nose. I said no problem, last time I did not draw any blood with this razor and these days my SR shaves even with the Feather DX are blood free. During the first pass I did hold the razor flat enough and before I could feel anything there was a line of blood on my cheek. I caught myself with the point . This one the easiest part of the easiest pass. One thing I will say for this razor it does take a very sharp edge, I did not feel a thing. Well I finished my shave but used a Rocnel SE for the final pass on my throat. I finished BBS and no irritation but I do have to downgrade the irritation grade this shave due to the cut.

Irritation B Closeness A Smoothness B+ Sharpness A+

 

Thanks y'all! I appreciate the well thought out answers and I value your opinions!!