December 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Part of it is the honing, and upkeep. I'll save that for a retirement hobby. Most importantly, I DO NOT NEED another rabbit hole to fall into. I do not see myself looking for a den full of shavettes.

 

Thursday Night.....



-Schick "66"
-Flashy FinWrx w/TGN 24mm Finest
-Barrister and Mann Lavanille
-British Sterling AS

Very nice shave tonight with the strong scent of the Lavanille filling the room. I recently bought the British Sterling when I saw another member using it. It was actually the first AS I ever used as a teen. My dad dug a bottle out of whatever drawer he kept all the AS that he never used, and we kept giving him as gifts. So it did bring me back a bit when I splashed it on. It smells good.

Merry Christmas, Guys.

 

Didn't you have a post earlier today about not needing more soaps? It almost sounds like your looking for a new AD.

 

Very Cool Brush. I really like the color scheme.

 

No sir, just one razor. I sold my Artist Club a while back and have regretted it. This was a replacement of sorts. Besides, I sold a razor today, so my theme of nothing coming in without something going out stands strong. No new rabbit hole here.

 

Thank you. It reminds me of the rod stock in @Bobcat 's yellow one.

 

May is getting closer. I can almost hear the swearing.

 

Decadent December!!

December 8


Razor - Fatip Piccolo
Blade - (13)
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Alum

I decided to just let it all hang out and get decadent tonight. We'll let the overindulgence and luxury of a fine setup risk the moral decay and fall of society. Gotta go for it once in awhile. But....what setup should I use to try for that level of decadence? Well, the Fatip is a new favorite of mine and a Moscow blade is a requirement for decadence in my world. The Fat? Check. Wolf Whiskers Silvertip? Double Check. The only tough choice was the blade and I decided on the Swedish Supersteel. I don't use it much. Some here have it as their favorite Russian. It's not mine but hey, it's better than a non-Russian, right? Besides, it is a good blade.

To say that I may have found the best setup I've had in months is an understatement. The Fat was incredibly productive tonight with enough lather for an aircraft carrier crew. The Silvertip was luxurious and the feel of the Fatip and Swede together was as smooth as I've ever had. It was like the blade disappeared. No hint of it at all, yet, after two passes and a quick touch up on the neck, all I can say is.........

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Decadent December 2016 - Day 8



Round two with Lea Shave Stick
Half 2 of the generic test per Jim @jimjo1031
Not pictured: Lilac Vegetal

Spanish soap, plus best brush ever, plus inexpensive yet sturdy shavette, plus generic Personna...BBS on two with a little chasing. No weepers, alum burned a bit on the corners of the jaw...but I will claim success. These blades are up to snuff for shavette work. Got a super surprise that made my night from Charlie Danger ( @wristwatchb ), and it's a guaranteed great day tomorrow. I might even polish up the Fat Boy and use 'Murica's finest blade, Feather...and since its December...dial will be on nine, to help with the decline of civilization and the general spirit of "what's the worst that could happen?" And now a shout out to @Linuxguile --Andrew, I read the post about skin stretch techniques for newbies and am just busy. It's proving to be a difficult thing to describe concisely. Will try to hook something up soon! I've had too much Rock Star, it's 4f outside now, was only 17f today, and it's only 22:00. Might be chilly in the morning. Last night on the prairie was a night that even @PickledNorthern (Jared) would agree was chilly. When I woke up this morning, it was -12f and dead calm. My breath would just hang in clouds around me. Sky was so crystal clear! And in true Prairie fashion, 44f tomorrow. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a fabulous Friday!

 

Word!

Shavettes are even more of the unnecessary danger of open blade bbs goodness, but no real time or money commitment. Can't wait to see you get a month on it, you'll love it!

 

I know 4 passes sounds crazy but my beard is tough and with the right, prep, soap and sharp blade 4 passes is an irritation free path to BBS.

 

More December Decadence:

Day 3 with AoS tallow and time to turn up the heat. I broke out the tea kettle and the scuttle. My big Koraat and Kent BK 8 rounded out the lineup. While the AoS held up under the heat I had to keep adding water to keep it from getting to dry, this never happened before, it was always super wet. Well I just kept adding the water and 4 passes without blood and zero feedback from the alum.... faceturbating test... OK BBS. The edge on the Koraat was excellent today, very smooth fell yet very sharp, it is a big heavy razor so I just guided across my face and the weight do the work.

Irritation A+ Closeness A Smoothness A+ Sharpness A+

 

December 8, Decadent

Gillette Black Beauty ( 3 )
Schick Plus Platinum ( 11)
Edwin Jagger Super Badger
Proraso White soap
Alum and. Thayers Witch Hazel Original
Clubman VI Bay Rum

Brush exploration continued with the Super Badger tonight. Not sure what to think of it. After leaving it to soak in warm water and shaking it out, I loaded and lathered. I had to load soap for twice as many strokes as with the synthetics, then add five times as much water to my bowl, then go back to load more soap and then add still more water before I had a decent lather. Even then, I basically face lathered for awhile to complete what I started in the bowl. So it took quite a bit more product and effort to lather up with this brush than it did with either of the two new synthetics or with my little old drugstore boar brush.

On the other hand, the badger brush felt very pleasant on my face while I face-lathered (I think some people use the term cloudlike). And the knot is about twice the overall size of the others, so the need for more product and water is understandable. I think it will just take me a little longer to work out the right techniques for this brush than for a synthetic.

The shave itself was fine. No weepers or irritation at all this time, no sting from the alum, and I used the other products just because I have been. I am quite liking the mild warmth and the scent I get from the VI Bay Rum.

Tomorrow, I will try the Omega boar brush.

 

December 9, 2016
Mongoose B2 with Triad Ti
Feather Super Pro (9)
BSB 2 Two Band
MdC Original
Witch Hazel
Fine Lavender

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The BSB2 brush whipped the MdC into a wonderful lather. I love the scent of the soap and appreciate that it last throughout the shave. Two passes and minimal touch ups ended with my usual near BBS. I finished the shave with a splash of Fine Lavender. Everything just worked well together and the shave was wonderful. I hope everyone has a great Friday.

 

Beautiful brush!

 

Clint, that is another fantastic picture!

 

December 9 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
EJ SC sample
Gillette Slim
Stirling Unscented PSB
Clubman AS

Today is three in a row for the Slim. It is definitely a good shaver. It makes me wish I had kept the original one I had, as it was in a bit better shape. Anyway, it was two passes with no clean up for a nice DFS. The Clubman was a nice wrap up on this Friday. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

Thank you Jim. My wife noticed the photo and figured out I've been using her place mats as SOTD props . She didn't seem to mind too much.


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You're going to make me feel guilty as that Slim (I assume we're talking about the Gold one) is my favorite razor.

 

I've been following your reassessment of the Slim. You just about have me ready to give mine a second chance. I used mine last December and really never liked it. Which is somewhat strange as I like the my SS. I've kept both since they are my Birth Year razors and a very good examples. After reading your reports, I might pull mine out at some point and give it another go.