December 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Monday, December 12, 2016

Chubby 2 Candy Stripe Manchurian
Panna Crema Nuavia Verde
Wolfman WR1-SB with WRH3 Brushed Titanium
Polsilver Super Iridium #1
Barrister and Mann Reserve Cool

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Beautiful brush and picture, Mark!

 

Thanks Jim!

 

Decadent December!!

December 11


Razor - 1959 Gillette Super Speed
Blade - (2)
Soap - Route 66 Sweeney Todd
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Post - Alum

So, yesterday I opened a Feather blade. Something I rarely do. And, paired with the Fatip it performed very well, if a bit harsh. Yeah, putting this sharp a blade into an aggressive assassin like the Fatip - bold move. So, since it's out of its wrapper I figured I'd just switch it to a milder razor and chose my '59 Super Speed. One of my favorite razors and its humble status belies the fact it is one fine shaving machine. I chose the BoS for the brush and stayed another day with the Route 66 Sweeney Todd. No complaints there at all. In fact, it's now in my rotation. Top three soaps, in my humble opinion - Mitchell's Wool Fat, Tabac, and Route 66. What order are they in? Doesn't matter. They're my top three. Add Arko for blade trials and Proraso (pick a color) for the occasional diversion and there you have it. The soaps in my den.

Fantastic lather by the Omega and 66. I think this soap prefers a boar brush, at least in my hands, but I do use boar more often than anything else. First pass was very smooth and definitely a better feel than the Fatip. The milder design of the razor tames the Feather down nicely. Second pass was all that was needed to finish off a very nice BBS. A bit of touch up but not much. One fine shave with one fine setup.

My weekend has begun! And starting with that kind of a shave......nothing left to say but.......

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Decadent December and homage to QCS:

Less than 18 hours since my last shave so no SR and just 3 passes. I never tried lathering QCS cream with a boar so today is the today (well at least I don't remember it) and broke out the Rocnel P. In deference to the cartel I loaded it with a Perma Sharp. 3 passes and no irritation and BBS. Of to work with a smooth face.

 

December 11, Decadent - Single Supplier Sunday

Supply Provision Single Edge injector (mild plate)
Vintage Personna Injector II blade (1)
Supply Provision synthetic brush
Supply Provision tallow soap ( Juniper )
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Original
Supply Provision post shave balm (Juniper)

For Single Edge Sunday, I broke out my Supply Provision stainless steel injector, then decided to go Supply Provision all the way and use all their other gear. They have tried to set up as a one-stop shop so that somebody just considering getting into wetshaving with one of their injectors can get everything necessary for a good shave at the same time and at a good price and quality. The prices were market-competitive and, based on tonight's shave, the quality is there too. The only thing I didn't use was one of their blades, which are simply the standard 20-blade white plastic Personna injectors, offered at a decent price.

Somebody on a thread on another board wondered if the Supply Provision SE injector could take vintage twinjector blades. Nobody was quite sure, so I broke out my Version 1 SE to test it. Depending on how much the V2 now on offer differs from V1, the answer is "sort of, yes". You cannot get the twin blades to inject into the razor properly without scraping the edges dull on the blade stop. However, you can unscrew the interchangeable baseplate, fit the blade in place on the bladestops, and then screw the whole thing back together again. And I presume that I will have to remove the old blade the same way when I am done with it. So you can shave using twin blades in this razor, as long as you are willing to load and empty manually instead of injecting.

Mind you, now that I have shaved with a twinjector blade after previously using plain injector blades in the Single Edge, I am not sure why anybody would want to bother: I don't notice any improvement in the closeness of the shave, but the blades get all gummed up in the crack between them and are almost impossible to rinse clean.

Anyway, to start back at the beginning, the Supply Provision synthetic brush is a chunky handle with about a 25mm knot in it of good density and backbone. Easy to pick up soap, worked up a good lather and painted the face nicely. As a synthetic, of course, it rinses off and dries quickly.

The tallow soap comes in a squishable cake, softer than MWF and harder than Cella. Scent was "juniper", with stuff like bergamot, lavender and patchouli mixed in. Overall a pleasant "woodsy" scent that was not overpowering. (SP now also sells a 2nd scent of soap and balm called "barbershop"). It lathered easily, and compared to the TOBS, Proraso White, Ogallala Bay Rum and Williams soaps I have mainly used until now, it provided wonderfully slippery glide during the shave and a great soft skin feel afterwards.

Shave was near BBS on the face and almost as good on the neck. Alum was dead quiet. I used the Thayers just because I always do as much for its skin clearing properties on my upper face and shoulders as for its razor repairs on my lower face and neck.

The Supply Provision post shave balm completed the soothing and softening feel on my skin started by the soap. Not surprising as its main ingredients include aloe vera, witch hazel, glycerin and shea. It is in a matching juniper scent, which fades into the background within a few minutes.

Overall, I think a new injector shaver could equip at Supply Provision and be well-served with good products for a lifetime of excellent shaves -- and also with some variety if the Barbershop scented version of the soap and balm is as nice as the Juniper. I don’t know who makes the soap and balm for the company (other than some artisan in the US), but they are certainly great products.

I expect I will continue with Supply Provision Sundays throughout the remainder of Decadent December (maybe a few weekdays too, actually). The only change I will probably make will be to ditch the twinjector blade in favour of a regular injector one.

I noticed, btw, that Rockwell Razors is now starting to try to do the same thing Supply Provision has. When the T1 adjustable ships in March, it is being offered not just with blades but also with a synthetic brush and with a complete line of care products all in a Barbershop scent: pre-shave oil, soap, cream, post-shave balm, beard oil, deodorant and body soap. The main difference in approach is that Rockwell is going vegan and is also covering non-shaving bodycare products.

 

The Cartel is pleased.

 

Ooh, candystripe.... Love it.

 

Beautiful Brush.

 

December 12, 2016
ATT Calypso R1
Feather (1)
Simpson CH2 Synthetic
MdC Fougere
Witch Hazel
Fine Lavender

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The ATT Calypso R1 razor is an aluminum version of the ATT R1 stainless razor. It is machined out of 7075 aircraft grain aluminum and then anodized. The color in person is much darker than it appeared on the ATT website. As expected with an aluminum razor, the Calypso is very light weighing in at 40 grams. Overall the machining of the razor is up to the standards expected of ATT products. The CH2 synthetic whipped up the MdC Fougere into a mountain of lather. When properly hydrated, I find MdC to be more than slick enough. I truly enjoy the Fougere scent. Loaded the razor with a new Feather blade for the maiden voyage, I went with a traditional 3 pass shave, WTG, XTG and ATG followed by touch ups in my usual trouble spots. The shave ended in a smooth irritation free near BBS shave. Once I became accustomed to the light weight the Calypso was a joy to use. The Calypso is just a lighter and less expensive version of the ATT R1 stainless razor. Overall I am very pleased with the razor. I finished off the shave with a splash of Fine Lavender. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

That razor looks great, Clint. Very nice setup this morning!

 

Morning did you get much snow?,

 

Good picture this morning Clint. Very informative write up on your new razor. Is there any vintage Gillette razor you could compare to the Calypso with?

 

Thank you Jim. Each year my Mom gives all the kids and grand kids money for Christmas during out Thanksgiving. Each person is to buy a gift and have it wrapped for our family Christmas lunch. This way we get something we want and she gets the fun of watching us all unwrap gifts. The R1 Calypso was my gift from her this year.

Good question Doug. On the vintage front it is very similar to the New Long Comb but with less blade feel. It is not nearly as efficient or aggressive as the Timeless 0.95 OC. The Calypso is an efficient razor that you shave with no thought of the blade or cutting yourself. It's so light that I need to be careful not to add pressure. I hope that helps.

 

Thank you for your time Clint.

 

So, here it is almost the middle of the month and I have not made a single post before now. As they say, "Life Happens!" Well, anyway, here we are. I received a package from Dr. Jon yesterday (Canada Post was actually delivering on a Sunday) and I got my order of out Anne Bonny shave soap and after shave (I also ordered the solid cologne). I had not yest shaved so I was going to get to try out this new product.

It was an evening shave so I did not have the benefit of a shower right before, but I decided to pass on the Prorasso Pre-shave. I just took my time wetting my face while the Omega 49 boar brush soaked and the soap bloomed. I bowl lathered and let the bowl sit in hot water so it would be nice and warm when applied. I went with my Merkur 38C with a Gillette Silver Blue blade. It was a two pass shave with some touch ups followed by Thayers Lemon Witch Hazel and the Anne Bonny after shave to finish. I have to say, I love the smell of this soap and after shave.

 

December 12, 2016

Razor: Gem 1912
Blade: Gem Stainless Steel
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: Williams

"It was the best of shaves. It was the worst of shaves..."

After a week with the Schick Adjustable, I decided to go for some old-school decadence with the GEM 1912 and (modern) Williams. The result was somewhat of a mixed bag. On the upside, the baby showed for a rare appearance. On the downside, he came with three weepers, woke the Alum, and left a long, slow burn on my neck. Thankfully, the Every Man Jack seems to have resolved the latter issue.

I'm not quite sure where this one went off the rails though I suspect that a different soap would likely have improved matters. I also need to wean the Shave Gods of their need for a weekly Monday blood offering.

 

SOTD December 10th


Cooper MonoBilt
GSB(2)
Satin Tip The Purest
Blades Grim Smolder

Good morning friends. Been kinda busy but I wanted to relay my experiences from my shave on Saturday, getting ready to go to a baby shower (Yes it was being held for my wife and I ). During this shave I did my first experimenting with skin stretching. I stretched the skin opposite of the direction of the hair growth and performed two passed one WTG and one XTG. The results were amazing! I had a very high DFS bordering on BBS after just those two passes. I did not chase the baby (I figure I'll be chasing a baby plenty in a couple on months ) even though I had TONs of lather left over. I definitely want to expand my understanding of skin stretching and will be practicing it more in hopes of maybe one day achieving the two pass BBS. Have a great day my friends!

 

Brush Omega 10098 big boar
Soap Mitchell's Wool Fat (thank you secret santa).
Razor 1947 Aristocrat
Blade Feather (3)
Aftershave Lucky Tiger with a good amount of Florida Water.

It seems that for every new soap that I try, there is a learning curve. Maybe next month I will include the soap in my focus. This month, I am just focusing on the razor / blade combo with the technique of riding the safety bar. This morning I think I loaded the brush and it was too wet because my lather was a little thin & bubbly. Riding the safety bar does take concentration & I was not completely focused on blade angle when I took my second pass as I had a tiny weeper on my neck. I am making some mental observations about this technique and will share them at the end of this month's focus. Some future focus may be using this technique and trying different blades, but for today one tiny weeper and a DFS on the last day of this blade.

 

Lathering "The Fat" has been the topic of many threads on many forums. Just remember to load it like you stole it.