Day 1:



The month kicks off with Rod's latest brush offering. These low cost brushes have amazing knots, with some of the softest tips I own on any natural brush. The fan looks fantastic, with tips so white I am certain they must be treated considering the price. The handle is a classic style, and has a quality feel and heft. Despite being molded it shows no markings of any kind, and has been polished to a high gloss. The only thing holding its score back is the color. While I love butterscotch, this color can only be described as blaze orange, and probably qualifies as a DOT approved roadside marking device. I like the color it adds to my collection, but it is not a favorite, and if I had it to do over, I probably would have purchased it in black. I am kind of take it or leave it when it comes to branding/logos on the sides, but this particular design doesn't add to its appeal.

The brush loads as nearly well as any badger I own, or at least in the top tier, its flat top helping grab up soap. When face lathering the gel tips try to convince me that I am using a Thater 3 band, it's only the occasional blinding flash of the orange in the light that reminds me it isn't. The brush is light on backbone for a 2 band with more of a silvertip feel to it, but it has just enough oomph to give me scrub. This is probably because it isn't a super dense knot, but the flowthrough is fantastic, and some painting strokes on the cleanup gave up the last of its lather without my having to coax it out. It is a brush that sort of seems to bridge the gap between 2 and 3 band. It definitely plays in the big leagues even though it is a $40 brush.

So with a good performance this afternoon, the first scorecard of the month looks like this:



Coming up tomorrow is the Simpson Classic 2 Best, where a 3 band with identity issues is being allowed to compete with its Finest cousins.

Thanks a lot Andrew. Both the brush and razor work very well.

Pacific Rush, Arctic Chill and Original are the best to me.

Yes on all points.

The 15th of March is a good day for a bloodletting. Besides, this idiocy valor deserves hype. 30 Day Crew doing some thangz....

I hear you. It is a hard razor to close up in the cabinet.

Et tu, Brute? That is a very good idea. A good way to usher in Spring a few days later. Blood sacrifice or not (I'm hoping for not) it fits well. The Ides Shave it is!

One of the best written reviews of a brush that I've seen. Fantastic write up for sure. You've set the bar pretty high for the rest of the month.


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Will your friends be doing it for you on the Ides of March?

Thank you. That is high praise. I think this is going to be a fun month. Reviewing the film, I know that I gave it an extra point on scrub, but in reality, it should have scored higher on both softness and flow through, so all in all I am satisfied with the way the score came out.

I was surprised how much putting my thoughts in writing helped me feel out my scoring. I think for the rest of the month I will write the review before I do a final tally.

Per the 30 Day Charter and resultant By-laws, all injuries must be self-inflicted.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

PAA Switchback 400 Aluminus with TGN Finest
Fine Platinum
Asylum Evolution
Gillette Silver Blue #3
Fine Platinum Aftershave
Creed Adventus


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Sounds like a keepa Jared! Very nice review.

Probably some Russian blade.

One day, 7 pages and 133 posts...

Well this month will be focusing on riding the cap and my technique in general. But being March, I might through in some different blades and soaps.

March 1, 2017

Razor: Post-War British Gillette Tech
Blade: German Wilkie (3)
Brush: Cremo by Vie-Long Horsehair
Soap/Cream: Mineral Fusion (pass 1), KMF fragrance-free (pass 2)

I decided to start the month by revisiting the Post-War British Tech. The basic design is similar to the US one but with an Aluminium baseplate. The last time I used it, it seemed harsh though a subsequent shave using the same blade in a different razor got me wondering if I was dealing with a duff blade.

The Cremo brush continues to be a challenge to master. I think this is, in part, because of its small size. The first pass lather, using a hard soap, was usable but not great. OTOH, the second pass, with a good cream, was excellent.

As for the razor, the shave was better than the last time but this razor is clearly more aggressive than a US Tech. Part of the issue seems to be with finding the optimum angle; at times, it seemed like the smoothest strokes came were when I backed off riding the cap. I ended up with a comfortable DFS, though, so it's all good.

You can't tell the players without a scorecard. I love it!

The Lady Sputnik?

I have an idea. I will list all of the participants through the end of the month. Anyone who wants in, can pick who they think will come out on top, and a guess at the score. If somebody picks the winner, I will come up with a cool PIF. If there is a tie, whoever gets the closest to the correct score without going over wins. Open to everybody who has been here (active on the 30 day thread) at least since Feb., and I will ship Internationally. I will leave picking open until midnight Saturday.

Thank you. I get creative when I'm bored in a hotel room.