Fantastic!

I hear that. I think it is rather telling how much a band director can touch a kids life when both of my children are becoming music teachers. And we are not a musical family, so they didn't get their passion for it at home.

So I guess that is a shout out to all of you musicians who are teaching our kids in whatever role you play. @PLAla, @Bird Lives and any others I am missing.

This razor will be a good experience. The Tech, as noted by @PanChango , will yield a smooth BBS in the hands of the experienced. The angle sweet spot is a bit tight, and this is due to the relatively flat razor cap. I consider the Tech a fine tool, and a true test if angle control. You may find that sharper blades are better in this razor, it's equivalent to your adjustable set to about 3. Have fun with it!

Good report! I use Arko in extremely hard water, that may make a difference. It's hard to tell from the photo, but that actually looks a bit thin, but again maybe just photo. Lack of slickness often means that water content is too high. I work Arko until it will hold peaks like egg white. You should try it a a shave stick for fun, though. However, if you find it drying, take heart, many people don't like the skinfeel of Arko.

Not at this time. I wanted to give the Parker a real trial for a month on one blade type, though I found it to be a good shave on vacation, no nicks or errors at all. For me, it's how I decide on razors. I reserve judgement for a month, unless it's just plain bad. The main difference between the Magic is the weight, the Parker is quite heavy, and feels more stable, though I do like the larger scales of the Magic. I would feel comfortable recommending either to someone looking for a daily shavette, the Magic can be had for $10-$12, Parker $19-$23, this makes either a very accessible and quality choice. They are both "pro tools" and may be sanitized in Barbacide, if you dig that kinda thing.

Could you please do a tight side by side of the Slim beside the Consul? I'd like to see the contrasts.

Member when I said harder soap usually takes less product? well you definitely got a bowl of lather.

Glad you are back in.

Thanks for the insight Chris. I am looking forward to it!

Wait a minute!

I was under the impression that more water increases slickness. It is the opposite?

I started much dryer and on each pass added lots of water, even on the touch up pass. What you see is the result of 4 adds. What I started with wasn't that slick compared to Stirling and Wheat State.

More water increases slickness until you put in too much and "break" the lather, which is what you did there.

Wrapping up the March Brush Scores



The Omega 49 is almost a carbon copy of the Zenith write up and score with a few exceptions. The handle on the 49 is plastic, but it doesn't have a cheap feel to it like some of Omega's smaller offerings, probably because of it's mammoth size. It isn't quite as dense as the Zenith, and the tips are just a bit less soft. The flowthrough is excellent, as is its ability to load soap and build lather. At $10, it might be the absolute best value there is on a natural hair shaving brush. Again, it is a better brush than its score reflects, and is one of those (IMO), every wet shaver should try one brushes. (Or any Pro model) A 49 was the first brush I ever bought, and I have always had one in my den.



So here is how the month wrapped up, score wise. In picking winning brushes I tossed out the scores of brushes nobody picked. In the case of ties, I chose the picking order by who entered first. If I missed something, screwed it up, or you just want me to clarify my reasoning, let me know. Oh, and the aftershave prize is CONUS only.

A pic of the prize pool:

I am a fan of Techs. They are fine tools.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

It does, but only until it doesn't.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

I know Clint said he would be interested in knowing which brushes are my 5 favorites, scoring not withstanding. Not in any definite order, four jump out at me:

Rudy Vey Chubby w/Shavemac 28mm 2 band
Doug Korn DK7 w/24mm Envy White
Simpson Chubby 2 Synthetic
Simpson Duke 3 Synthetic

The fifth one was difficult. There were a few that I was mulling over, and I actually had to just set them up in a row and look at them to decide. The Simpson Tulip gets the spot. I could just as easily have picked the Thater 3 band based just on the knot, but the Tulip's handle won me over.

Perfect.

OK, I'll play along. Sorta. I'm starting week four of DE shaving, and I have been trying to stick with one razor - despite the acquisition of about 6 vintage razors in the last 6 weeks - (a 40s Superspeed), one cream (TOBS), and one blade (Astra SP). Sometimes traveling some for work next week, I'm going to pack that in my Dopp kit and continue that for one more week. When I get back, I'll have some soup and cream samples arriving from http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/soap-pass-around-volume-ii-2017.54093/ , so I'll try to keep everything else relatively consistent, except for the soaps/creams. With a blade sampler pack PIF I won on B&B, we'll see how long I can hold out without trying a new blade or two.

2 April 2017 Blade/Focus Shave
Soapy Sunday
Goooood Morning 30DC!!
(I'm a little over cafinated this morning)
I'm back for another month of fun and frolic!
This morning's shave commences the blade trials for the Travel Razor that @Sparrow so generously put up for the raffle. First up the Gillette 7 o'clock Black.
Also for the first time Catie's Bubbles
"Barnegat Bay" Shaving Soap. Using my Omega 10098 I got a very nice lather, but I think I didn't use enough water 'cause as I started to go from my face from the bowl, it got kinda runny. Anyway it still provided good slickness and a 3 pass DFS was had. The 7 o'clock Black was on point. But all blades are on a two day growth. The rest of the week will tell the tale. A little VIBR and it's off to the fleamarket. Great to be back! See ya in the funny papers!

Day 7 of 30 days of Henckel straights

Another good day with the 4/8 Henckel. single pass and CCS.

Tomorrow I will be moving to my 6/8 Henckel for a couple of days before moving on to my 7/8 Henckel.

DIY Pre-shave Oil
ABC Face Lathered
24mm High silvertip set an extra 10mm deep
1 pass, WTG
Sampsons All Natural Aftershave Balm
4/8 Round Toe Henckel 89 1/2