April 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

Very nice pic.

Muahahahaha! Yes, yes, please, use more Derby and enjoy it! Enjoy the drag!

You learn quickly, joung Jedi! Good the picture is! Awesome master i am!

One by one, you recognize my contribution into making you serious photographers...

Happy Friday to you too and to your shiny razor!

Nice photo! Shiny meets shiny! I love shinies!

Nice background again!

Nice photo. I feel like i have improved you all!

Be honest now. Look at this photo. Do you see anything wrong? Yes, you can. All the items are nice, except for that godawful, 50 year old razor handle.

No, no, no! You haven't REALLY tasted Derby! In order to understand the ordeal that Derby is, you MUST try it on a WEISHI! Please, you will get an unforgettable non-shave! You will see! If you don't have a Weishi, but you have a Gilette Tech, try that, since Weishi has the exact blade exposure. And of course you agree, it's my job to be right!

P.S.: Someone posted a photo with an old Fatboy and something even older that seemed like a brick (you know who you are!). My eyes are still bleeding, please stop! I am going to have nightmares tonight with razors covered in rust.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PSeudofocus report:
Weishi FL + Treet Platinum + Proraso Blue + Omega 49:

Uhh... Most strange shave yet. Got BBS above jawline and BBS/DFS below, with 1 weeper in the most strange point (where skin is flat and tight and should have no problems), but i can't say anything positive about the blade... I tossed it already out of spite. The blade has medium sharpness, certainly lower than Astra, Dorco and Personna Red. I 'd say it reminded me of a hybrid of Derby and SuperMax Super Stainless, but in a bad way. I can't put my finger on it, but i didn't like it. Wasn't very smooth either. I think i prefer the humble SuperMax to this, despite this being described in my barber's shop as "definitely the best Treet blade". It was also i think a bit of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde blade, because it didn't seem to be cutting much, but it did give good final result and of all the places it could cut me, it decided to give weeper to the easiest one. I can't see me buying more of this, unless i have an epiphany next time i use one. I think i will just stock up 400 Personna Reds and maybe Dorco Primes (next in trial) and be done with blade hunting. I am also thinking of making official a 5 or 6 pass shave (for Derby i would probably need a 10 pass) , instead of constantly repassing the razor without lather. Maybe i will eliminate weepers this way and have an easier way of comparing results, as with the Weishi, most blades don't give BBS just with 3 simple passes (besides i don't go XTG). Maybe i should do something like WTG, WTG, ATG, ATG, WTG (or a final 6th WTG).

 

I'm glad cute pictures of my son distract from my notoriously bad shave gear photos!

 

The photo with Don Marco is actually nice (and despite me not liking b&W shaving photos), but the baby caught my attention and forgot about the photo!

 

Thank you.

 

I wonder if there is anything under it that shouldn't be there?

 

Papermart has 2 and 4 ounce tin containers that are cheap and smaller than a full size puck. They work well for the Sterling Samples.

 

Yes I did and there was space left but I ended up liking the extra space. Loading the brush was easy and had lots of room to catch everything. Also, if the mouth was any smaller, I would worry of the edge of the jar rubbing on the handle leaving a mark or cut line on it. To me, they work great! I think the puck from Stirling is about 2.75" to 3" diameter and so there is just a 1/4 " to 3/8" or so of space around the sample puck. Besides, if I buy regular pucks, there is plenty of room for those too.

I also think the 4.5 oz puck is the same diameter as the samples from Stirling so if one fits, so will the other about the same way. Also, since the soap is soft, it was real easy to squish it into place.

When I get a chance tonight, I'll take some photos of several of my samples with the lids off to give you a good idea.

 

Thanks ill check it out now

 

Awesome. Theres not much differnce in price on speciality bottle. I have a loose puck of gatlinburng soap thats in a big jar and it moves around and i hate that...

 

Stirling like most artisan soaps is soft enough to press down into the container so it completely fills the bottom. Harder soaps such as Fine can be grated and pressed into any container.

 

Quick update - the answer to my personal/family decision became apparent today. As often happens in my life following prayer, my wife and I had a "seemingly random" meeting with someone today, at the end of which, we both looked at each other and said "I guess we don't need to discuss this anymore". We may be missing out on a huge opportunity or a huge disaster, but it really doesn't matter. Having my wife and I in agreement and feeling that we are part of a bigger plan makes whatever "could have been" really unimportant. Thank you for all of you who prayed for us, thought of us, reached out to us, and/or put up with my personal post. You guys are awesome!

 

I keep hearing about grating. Are we talking about literally with a cheese grater? Then do you pour water on it and let it gel up and then dry out or something? Details, results, and/or pics would be interesting.

 

Yep, grate it with a literal cheese grater. Grate it into any container you wish. It will be soft enough to push down and form into the new container while grating. The only soap I've added water to while grating was Williams, and it was basically for an experiment. The Mitchell's Wool Fat that I have was grated into that container for make it fit. Doesn't affect the soap quality or lathering.

Get a cheap $1 grater from Dollar Tree or a similar store and just keep it for grating soaps. My wife glared at me when I mentioned using the kitchen grater for such a purpose. I have my own now.

 

What happened here, if I may ask? PM me.

 

For Fine Italian Citrus I just opened the box and used an old cheese grater. After is was grated I pressed it into a container. The soap really firmed up after I used it.



On a couple of other Fine soaps I put them in a bowl and soaked it in water for an hour or so. Then I cut off small pieces and pressed them into a shave sticks. I started with the stick dialed all the way up and lowered it as I pressed in the soap.

 

Good call, Perry!

 

My prayers during such times are that the correct door be opened and that I have the wisdom to recognize the correct path. Sounds like your prayers were answered and you were both smart enough to recognize it.

 

Glad to hear it!

 

You can see that the Stirling sample pucks can just be pressed into the containers easily. No need for a grater. Two are just pressed without deformation and the third was mashed a bit but it all works great

 

I don't think I posted Wednesday's shave. Went with a smaller razor. Geo. Korn American Double Hollow. Sings like a hollow, but stiffer like a quarter hollow. Good to be back on my soap rotation.