Yes you truly belong in the 30 Day thread.

Seems as if the Astra is especially nice in aggressive Razors. One of my favorites in the R41 (have yet to try a Fatip).

My benchmark is a wide open Futur - I'd rate that razor a little higher than the (fantastic) R41, because the Merkur is less finicky when it comes to blade choice. I've had one straight razor shave that came pretty close - and your Feather Shavette provides really strong competition.

So here's shave #15 of my October Focus. Yeah - it's definitely autumn:



- Barrister & Mann "Baudelaire"
- The Grosvenor "Finest"
- Feather Artist Club SS
- Feather Professional Super (#5)
- Tüff sensitiv Rasierwasser

Epic shave today - absolutely nailed it

I guess you all know that feeling when everything just magically works out? Today was such a day ... the brush whipped up a fantastic lather effortlessly, I did not have to think about what I was doing with this very sharp object on my face, all the movements were more or less natural.

The usual two passes WTG and ATG - my face is dolphin smooth, no nicks, no cuts, no irritation. This shave was so close that I already know I won't have to shave tomorrow

Have a great day y'all

I love my Futur too, yes the R41 is finicky about blades, I can only use a Super Iridium or GSB. I was disappointed with the 2013 R41 and don't use it.

Happy to see how quickly you mastered the Feather.

October 26, 2016
iKon B1 OC with Hempel Ti
Feather (3)
Rudy Vey Rover with TGN Finest
AOS Sandalwood
Witch Hazel
Captain’s Choice Sandalwood

​

A good shave this morning. After 3 passes and touch ups, I ended up with the usual near BBS. However, the shave was not as smooth as the previous 2 shaves with this razor. The AOS Sandalwood soap was a gift from my wife and daughters. While it is easy to lather, I find it not as slick as most of my other soaps. Overall I would grade the shave out as an "A-" I finished off the shave with Captain's Choice Sandalwood. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

SOTD October 26, 2016

Blade: Chinese Schick
Razor: Schick L1 injector
Brush: Vulfix 2006c badger
Lather: Stirling Barbershop
Post: Witch hazel splash, Stirling Barbershop aftershave, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Not much to report. Nice shave again with this combination. I'm eager to get back to using a variety of soaps and razors but at the same time have enjoyed this month of no decisions. The Stirling just stays out and I don't have to figure out what I'm going to use. Nice shaves have been the norm this month.

Have a great day!

Wednesday OCtober 26, 2016

Bob Quinn Elite Razor Gold Laced Onyx with Envy White
Savonniere du Moulin
iKon OC DLC with Black Mamba
Personna 74 #22
Folsom - Capri


​

S(hower)OTD for Wed.

bodywash-Dial 4 Men(Complete Freshness)
deodorant soap-Coast
shampoo-Clubman Country Club****
deodorant(post-shave)-Mennen Speed Stick Original

****I highly recommend this for Clubman A.S. users.

I love the color combo and design of the bowl(the large one).

October 26, 2016- Off-focus shaving for fun

Razor: '48-'49 Gillette Milord
Blade: Astra SP (3)
Brush: Floppy Chinese Pure Badger
Soap: Nutragena French Milled Soap

Since the Milord and Astra SP combo was so nice yesterday, I decided to stay with it for today. Changing things up a bit, I went with my favorite not-a-shaving-soap and rubbed it on my face like a stick. The cheap Chinese badger, while too floppy for puck loading, works nicely with a soap stick/bar and produced plenty of slick lather from the Nutragena.

Another great shave, perhaps a bit closer than yesterday's.

While I was shaving, I had a bit of time to muse on this razor, wondering what sort of person it originally belonged to. It's not as mainstream as the SuperSpeed that it is based on. Being gold-plated, it was a premium razor, though not as much so as the contemporary Aristocrat. I wonder... did the original owner purchase it for himself or was it a gift to a husband or father? This particular one was definitely well-used, enough so that the gold wash is missing from the safety bars and portions of the doors but not enough that there is any pitting or obvious brassing. In its final shaves, though, it was definitely rode hard and put away wet as I purchased it off eBay covered in a crust of dried soap. One can only wonder...

Oct. 26
Soap - Proraso Green Tub
Brush - Omega 10098 Boar
Ceramic Suribachi Bowl
Blade - Blade - Gillette Silver Blue - Russia
Razor - 1937 Gillette Sheraton
Aftershave - Sterling Glacial Lemon Chill aftershave with some Florida Water as cologne.

I told myself that I was changing my blade, but I was very interested to see how many GOOD shaves that I would get out of this blade. The answer is 3. Today was the fourth shave. It was a rough shave. There were no nicks, cuts or weepers, but my face was hot enough for me to finish off with some alum. I got feedback everywhere. The good news is that after splashing on some Glacial Lemon Chill, all you can think about is the extreme citrus menthol and not the rough shave (watch what else you touch before washing your hands ). Great Shaves everyone.

Great looking brush, Mark. The bowl is fantastic, too.

October 26 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
IB Amici
Gem Junior
Stirling Unscented PSB
The Veg

It was a great shave with the Gem Junior. I used this soap for the first time, and it was vvery nice. I got it in a trade, but I think the price is very reasonable. The scent is pleasing, and it offers similar performance to the Razorock Don Donato soap I have. A little Veg to wrap the shave up with, and it was a nice start to my day. I am going to take advantage of this time off work and eat lunch with my kids today, so it should be a good one. I hope everyone else has a great day, too!

SOTD 10/24/16
Razor: W.S. Brown Special
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Soap: Eufros Dama de Noche
Brush: Troth Handle/ 24mm Envy White knot
Post: Cold Water, Alum, Thayer’s
Aftershave: Jabonman Dama de Noche

SOTD 10/26/16
Razor: W.M. Elliot #224
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Soap: Barrister & Mann Lime, Lavender, & Cedarwood
Brush: Troth Handle/ 24mm Envy White knot
Post: Cold Water, Alum, Thayer’s
Aftershave: Stephen’s Island Lime

Last two shaves. Haven’t had time to hone anymore razors, but staying on focus with just using razors I have honed this month. The W.S. Brown Special is a very keen and comfortable edge. This one was honed on my Welsh Slate stones. Three pass shave gave me a very nice DFS, just short of BBS. I did manage to hit my earlobe with the muted spike point, and a whole lot of bleeding ensued. Ears bleed a lot.

The Elliot razor was originally honed on my Arkansas stones, and had an incredibly keen edge. When I used it last time, I said it was the best edge I had ever used. 8 hours later, I realized I had a lot of irritation. Apparently I had flayed off the top level of skin, because my entire face and neck were irritated. I took the razor to my Purple Welsh Slate, and just polished it out with some slurry. Today's shave was just as keen, but seemed smoother. This afternoon will tell me how the irritation is.

Is Mr. Ezlovan aware of the fact that you did an all-Stirling month?

Not that I know of.

OCtober Pre Fatip Mini Focus

Arko and Burma Shave boar brush
Gillette #195 at 9, Astra SP (freshie)
Alum block & Pinaud Lilac Vegetal



Using the search box, I'm reading post from when the Fatip was fresh and trendy. It was prior to my introduction to wet shaving. I already have two possible alternative handles; Gillette Fat Tech & Muhle R89. I'm looking for blade recommendations, too. Someone suggested what I used in my FB today.
Newest old style brush, familiar superior soap, cranked up Fatty, and a new blade; Three Passes for the Win! No nicks or blood with a quiet alum pass. The Veg found a couple sensitive spots and I'm OK with a bit of Manly Alcohol AS burn.
Good day Y'all!

Good photos Adam.

Great stuff amigo!!!