I'm enjoying using a straight on my travels. I strop the razor with my @Drygulch strop the night before and load the coffee pot. In the morning I shower, grab a cup of coffee and shave. It doesn't really take me any more time than a DE shave. Travel was my only concern when it came to straight shaving. I was worrying about nothing. Nice shave today
Travel SOTD
Ogallala Bay Rum Shave Stick
Pure Badger Brush
Geneva Cutlery Company Razor
MK Sport Cologne
Have fun!

SOTD February 15, 2017

Blade: Chinese Schick
Razor: Schick I1 injector
Brush: Artisan badger
Lather: Chiseled Face Ghost Town Barber
Post: Witch hazel splash enhanced with Ghost Town Barber aftershave, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Nice shave today. Easy and bountiful lather from Chiseled Face's Ghost Town Barber. The I1 worked quite well as usual. Interesting scent but overall a nice shave with no nicks, weepers, or irritation.

Have a great day!

Thanks very much Clint. This Manchurian is outstanding. I think the two knots are good, but the Manchurian is better IMHO.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Simpson '58 Manchurian
CRSW juniper
OneBlade
Feather FHS-10
Gold Bond Green Lotion
CRSW Juniper Aftershave


​

Clint, you nailed it with your set up today! I hope you continue to feel better. I won't be available to help with your PT next week.

Well this won't help answer anything but the only printing on the blade is the brand and "Super Stainless". It's possible, of course, and probably likely, that they just coat some of their blades with an extra coating of platinum, call it a "Class", and put the different wrapper on them. Saves time and cost in blade printing changes. It does add an air of impressiveness when you compare it to an airline like that!

Feb 15, 2017

'52 Canadian Tech w Voskhod (2)
Stirling Gentleman
TGN Finest Fan/Maple Handle
Thayers Unscented
Stirling Gentleman Balm


Day 2 of the humble Canadian Tech focus. Nice 3 pass shave this morning. Love the soap (SWMBO, in her opinion, not so much...). So far the tech/voskhod combo appears to be a winner. A little tingle on the neck, so I finished off with the matching balm.
Have a great day all!

15 February 2017 HUMP DAAAY Blade/Focus Shave.
This morning I brought out the TOBS Coconut Luxury Shaving Cream. The 10098, using the dry brush technique whipped up one of my better lathering attempts. The GSB mowed down the weekday stubble. I had a little extra time this morning, so it was a three pass WWS(Work Week Shave). Alum was quiet. VIBR splash, walk the puppy and off to work. Have a good 'un people.

Beautiful picture, Clint!

Great picture, Mark. I really like the flowers in the corner. They add a nice touch to the composition.

February 15 SOTD:

Razorock Plissoft Brush
TSD Lanolin English Fern SS
Ikon X3 Slant w/Maggards MR5
Stirling Unscented PSB
TSD English Fern AS

I had a few weepers this morning, very small, but there nonetheless. This razor feels mild, but it does not seem quite as friendly to a rushed shave as a trusty Superspeed. Overall, it was still a nice shave, but I may have to spend a little more time with this razor to fully dial it in. I hope everyone has a great day!

I'm starting to wonder if I need to skip shaving for a day just to see how the Rubie does (or doesn't do) with the additional whiskers. On that note, we come to shave #2...

February 15, 2017

Razor: Sterling Tech/Junjie Handle
Blade: Gillette Rubie Platinum Plus (2)
Brush: Razorock Plissoft 22
Cream: KMF fragrance-free

Tempting fate, I decided to move the Rubie from the Fatboy to the Sterling Tech. It seems an appropriate move as Gillette sells a version of this razor bundled with the Rubie; I assume this means that some Gillette engineer things they would go well together. The original plastic handle has been replaced with the metal one from my recent Junjie purchase and represents probably the only usable part of the razor.

As for the shave... it was pretty uneventful. No dragging, no harshness, no weepers. The end result was pretty much my typical shave. There's an spot or two that don't seem as close as usual, but I'm not sure where to place blame.

Sorry, but for those who are waiting on a spectacular fail, they will have to wait at least another day.

That's a really nice set up, Brian. Your razor case is a beauty! I assume BC means "Been Chosen." Have safe travels and good shaves this week, my friend.

I agree about the Merkur. It did feel scrapey to me too. I have 2 more that came in my samples to test but I doubt it will be any different at this time. It was sharp but wasn't smooth.

Well, if nothing else, you're proving the subjective nature of blades. Just because a particular blade totally SUCKS for me, and sometimes even for the vast majority of shavers, there will be someone who will find it to be a decent choice. Sometimes even the preferred choice. I've seen the same thing with Merkur blades. Universally reviled and useless......until you read the shave of the guy who loves them and gets perfect shaves from them. Technique is definitely the largest part of success with any blade/razor, but sometimes the beard type, consistency and individual characteristics of the face being shaved rise up and make their presence known too.

Thanks Charlie. It went much better today. Monday was exceptionally painful as the worked to tear the scar tissue resulting from 8 abdominal surgeries. Oh my goodness that hurt. Today was just the usual and I can already see the results over two weeks with the pain decreasing and mobility improving.

Thank you Jim.

Beautiful antique filter Jim. Very cool look.