Welp. That settles where my Floating Head is going. Wow.

There's several things going on at once here Paul.

Some folks are practicing a Rule - same soap, brush, razor, brand of blade, & aftershave for 30 days. No changes in gear means learning to get the best from one set of tools. It's the ultimate technique training session. Very good for new guys that only have one set of gear, and to reduce variables in equipment that happen when Acquisition Disorders make for shaving confusion.
Many are doing a Focus - using a particular piece of equipment all month, but allowing variations of other gear. The not required but cool because it has alliteration Fat Boy February theme for anyone that wants to. In this case the razor is being focused on, but soaps, brushes, blades, etc. are optional. It gives for variety to the more seasoned shaver. If you choose you can Focus on one soap, or a soap of the week. Still the idea is to spend 30 days trying to get better by paying attention to particular gear.
There is also a Shenanigan/Mayhem Division. This happens spontaneously for the most part. We are honest about having a bad shave because we're trying to improve. It may involve styptic, alum, band-aids, stitches, and associated blood and scaring. No one is required to participate or even watch. Usually it's harmless fun. Where the Shave and/or Shower of the Day thread is a place to show your cool gear like Show & Tell at school, this whole 30 day crew are the guys behind the gym telling rough jokes or building hot rods in the Auto Shop class. (Forum Rules still apply here.)
There are a number of running conversations from years ago, or just last month. If something doesn't make sense Adam @Drygulch was appointed Historian. He hasn't accepted the title yet so you might have to pose question to the thread but now that you are in all will be made clear.

And penguin droppings.

That turned out gorgeous. Must resist sending mine out

Thank you, Clint!

Ask Adam about Osage rub (insert evil laugh here)

It is all how you justify it!

That covers it well, Rick...thanx . I am definitely a "more seasoned shaver".

I will, thanks. he's the Historian, eh?

You know me-I love the Washington Capitals so (Pittsburgh)Penguin droppings work for me .

If you sell off some gear to pay for a replate and keep it revenue neutral does that keep you in NB17? Like replacing a needed supply, the finish was "consumed" and you just got more!

I like the way you think

Seems to me a replating on a razor like that is pretty much preventative maintenance....

No. Youre screwed. Revenue neutral doesn't count. That's what I did when I swapped out my Feather for the Kai, AND before the year ended last year I announced that I was sent the Feather by mistake and might swap it out. No money can change hands, only bartering.

It's a tough crowd over there.

I keep waiting for some one to call my out on my NB17 Software Edition. That's not a hedge, its a big topiary forest.
I'm treating NB17 like I treat my focus for the month. What are the goals I want to get out of it? (Use up some of the software I have, and get the total soaps and aftershaves way down.)

Beautiful razor.

I just want to have a smaller den at the end of the year. I pretty much know where I am going on razors, and as long as I stay away from straights, there isn't a lot of room for me to move. Straights aren't a rabbit hole, they seem like more of a dark gaping chasm that scares the hell out of me.

I have pretty much come to the conclusion that I collect brushes like a twelve year old would collect Pokemon. I can live with myself on that. It's a sickness.

But I have WAY too much software. At least for me. I am a piker compared to some of the guys around here, but I really gotta dial it back a bit. I want to get under two dozen soaps and stay there. And aftershaves need to get down to a handful.

All I know is that the longer I stay in NB mode, the better.

So what I am reading is that you want to borrow the loaner kit next? You aren't buying anything, so you wouldn't be violating NB.

Oy! The difference is like night and day. Nick at Sport Shaving took a heap of scrap metal and turned it into a working work of art! Tell the NB'17 thread that not only was it a commitment from a prior year but it wasn't preventive maintenance so much as a mercy mission to rescue the dying.

And it looks like I'll have to add Sport Shaving to my list of re-platers and re-coaters for when I am ready to get my grungy FatBoy and Black Beauty (and a few other wrecky vintage razors) redone.