OCtober 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

20 October 2016



Fatip Grande
Gillette Silver Blue
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Arko!!!!!
Alum
Pinaud Lilac Vegetal



Aggressive. Efficient. Still keeping the faith. Alum was cool and the face was smooth. Riding the cap is the best approach for this razor, as it's pretty high on the aggressive scale. Frost finally set in on the prairie this week. It was the end of a fabulous season. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a great weekend!
☺

 

Good photo Adam. Have a good weekend.

 

October 22, 2016
Wolfman WR-01 OC with Triad SS
Feather (2)
Doug Korn DK7 with Druida Manchurian
Route 66 Rum Runner
Witch Hazel
Captain’s Choice Bay Rum

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After reading description of Route 66 Rum Runner by @Douglas Carey late yesterday, I decided to pull it out of the cabinet and give it a go this morning. The performance of Route 66 is top notch and Rum Runner is no exception. The scent reminds me a wonderful hot rum cocktail which is perfect for a cool college football Saturday morning. With a wonderful slick lather, I went with a traditional 3 pass shave was very close to a perfect BBS. A few touch ups later and I am happy to report the baby is caught. A cold water rinse followed by witch hazel with menthol left my face feeling smooth and fantastic. I finished off the shave with a splash of Captain's Choice Bay Rum with menthol. I hope everyone has a fantastic Saturday.

 

SOTD October 22, 2016

Blade: Chinese Schick
Razor: Schick L1 injector
Brush: Semogue 1520 boar
Lather: Stirling Barbershop
Post: Witch hazel splash, Mennen Skin Bracer, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, XTG

What more to say? Stirling continues to provide great lather for a nice shave. I really enjoy the Schick L1. Skin Bracer followed the witch hazel today as a little change-up from the Stirling aftershave. Two passes and I'm feeling smooth.

Have a great day!

 

Saturday OCtober 22, 2016

Simpson M-7 Manchurian
Savonniere du Bon Berger - Cedar Mandarin
Gillette Aristocrat
Personna 74 #18
Fine L'Orange


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Well he'll have to do better than that. I can do one shave with a Russian straight and double that. Actually, I do have one major scar from abdominal surgery. Starts about an inch below the breastbone and extends to the belt line. 25 staples in that one when I woke up. Surgeon had said he'd make a 4" incision. I think 11" is closer to reality. But, as we so often like to say......chicks dig scars!

 

It's definitely a pleasant surprise from Gillette, though their idea of promotion is a bit strange. I'm not sure of your experience, but trying to find the page for the Platinum Plus on their website is a definite challenge.

I like the bullet points on the image, too. It looks like they couldn't remember how to sell a DE blade in the US anymore so they pulled some ad copy from the 50's. (Designed for wet environments???? I would certainly hope so. And what shaver in 2016 would even consider the idea of sharpening a blade?)

Walgreens' pricing seems to be very much a localized thing. I think the pack I bought was $5.99 (in Central NJ), but I've seen some variance even between local stores. Their own Personna blades also vary by location.

It surprises me more in that the actual blade packaging doesn't really seem suited to the US market. The Brazil plant has apparently been in operation for years, though, so this is probably a blade originally intended for something like the Mexican market and comes to us by way of NAFTA.

I thought you would like them.

It would be interesting to see a price/performance comparison to the Personna. The problem is, again, the price variances between Walgreens locations on both blades, particularly when you factor in that the generic Personna blades can often be had for much less at the supermarket. Still, even with the extra price, I suspect they are a much nicer blade than the VdH. Hopefully, Gillette will eventually get this blade out into more locations.

 

My trick on finding that info on the Gillette site was simply to Google "Gillette Platinum Plus image". And yes, that graphic is quite interesting in how they're trying to promote it. How many younger guys have even seen a DE blade before? I did notice the razor they show in it looks like a modern Muhle/Merkur/Edwin Jagger head so they're obviously trying to promote to those who are newer to the process. And yes, the "wet environment". Had me laughing.

The price they show on the page is anywhere from $2.99 to $6.99 per 3 pack, I believe. Clearly there's some room for retailers to work with the price.

 

October 22, 2016- Reset

Razor: H2 Slim Adjustable (4)
Blade: German Wilkie (4)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: VdH Luxury

I skipped yesterday's shave, so today was two day's growth. Since I'd been having mixed luck with the Goodwill and the Wilkinson Sword blade, I decided a bit of a reset was needed, so I decided to go with my favorite razor, the Slim Adjustable. (Oddly enough, between the last couple of focuses, I really haven't used a Slim much in a while.) Specifically, I went with my backup one; this is the heavily brassed one that I recently swapped the doors on, so I was also curious to see if it still shaved as well as always.

In a word- yes, it did. Two passes to something pretty close to a BBS. I did reopen the cut on my chin (again!), but it stopped bleeding with cold water and Alum.

 

The next blade up in the Grand Blade Trial is the Wilkinson - the Indian one. Probably get to that around the middle of next week.

 

Using Google is cheating... to find it on their own site, you have to do something like search "Replacement Blades".

The "wet environment" part is especially odd since it's not something mentioned with their other blades. If I was young and sarcastic, I'd be tempted to write them saying that I normally shave in a very wet environment and ask if I would be better served by the Platinum Plus over the Fusion ProShield since the former specifically says it is designed for wet environments.

As for the prices, I suspect that part of that latitude may also have to do with blade count/package. I've heard that there are a few supermarkets which also stock the Platinum Plus and may actually sell them in a pack containing one tuck of 3 blades.

 

So, do I win if I have 29 staples?

 

October 22 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Bay Rum SS
EJ Chatsworth Barley
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Bay Rum AS
Ogallala Bay Rum Cologne

I honestly don't remember when I last used this razor, but I think it was long before I saw the light on riding the cap. I paired it with a Gillette Platinum Plus blade, which was a pleasant surprise. After some great lather, I did two easy and smooth passes. I had a couple of little spots on my neck that need some clean up, but got a nice DFS from this set up. My wife scheduled a family photo session a while ago, and so I had to try to look my best, so the shave is a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, I have lost 10 lbs after my ordeal last week, so it is probably a lost cause. Well, at least the Bay Rum has me smelling good. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

Grand prize baby!

 

It was nothing. Just me being totally honest with some fine people about the best possible product at the best possible price.

 

Razor: Timeless Stainless Steel Open Comb w/Timeless Knurled Handle
Blade: Gillette Platinum (2)
Brush: Shavemac Zebra, Honeycomb 2 Band
Soap: Route 66 Rum Runner
Aftershave: Fine American Blend

Definitely a 3 pass BBS shave this evening. One weeper around the chin, but that was user error. Because the blade in the Timeless OC is beveled when tightened down you don't have the same angle of attack as you do with other DE razors. I believe @clint64 mentioned this in a previous post. Sometimes you just forget.
A excellent shave with these tools. Route 66 soaps never provide a poor lather. The Rum Runner always provides a slick lather, protective cushion and glide and a soothing post shave conditioning. Can't say enough about Fine American, it is an excellent aftershave IMHO. I'll change handles tomorrow and use Timeless TRH2 Pineapple design handle.

 

Another great shot, Doug!

 

Beautiful pictures and products amigos. Two amazing brushes.

 

Thanks very much @Norcalnewb. Cold wet rainy day here today. Got the wood stove rocking.