Very nice Shovelhead Chris, under the nose is the hardest place to get with these razors. I find myself pushing the tip of my nose with my offhand to get it out of the way so I can go WTG. The other passes aren't so bad.

Cool story Chris, sounds like you have an amazing family!

Be careful flying looks dangersous in the US these days.

OK fellas, some advice needed: The Fields&Streams shave soap I got(Local Gent Co). suggests it is best used when "blooming". I've seen this term many times in here, but haven't thought much about it...til now. I need a Blooming 101 lesson.

Thanks LOL. I figured a little humor would be reached by someone! In reality, the test is more about getting my lather right and using more seems to make finding it easier. I figured a little humor leveraging my fugality (is there such a word?) would add a nice twist. .

As for sandalwood, I have used AOS, TOBS, Wheat State Soaps and Stirling (Sandalwood and Vanilla Sandalwood). All tend to be very good. I might be lightly irritated by it but have been protected by the PSO I use. I feel this is possible due to the side that irritated was the side I did not add PSO. None of the others nor the other times I have used the TOBS appears to be irritated but then again I could have written it off as razor burn instead. Will need to pick another day or week to just run through them all and see. Since it was a new blade that I have never tried, some could be caused by the blade. Late yesterday, the skin still felt raw and I had several blood spots on that side that resembled freckles or bloody pores. Gratefully, things went better today.

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Paladin Sumo
Mystic Water Barbershop
Colonial Razors The General
Feather Pro
Barrister and Mann Reserve Cool
Brooks Brothers 1818


​

If I make a Westward move in the future(as is still on my mind), I'm driving out-don't want any flying involved. No TSA needed for my car-just walk in and sit on the driver's seat!!

Blooming = Soaking (You're welcome @swarden43 ). It simply means to put water on top of the soap and let it soak for a few minutes to soften up a layer on top of the soap, then you dump the water off and load. Totally unnecessary IMO as even the hardest soaps can be loaded without soaking.

Excellent photos, Gentlemen!

oh, well, I've already done that...with Williams. I didn't realize blooming and soaking were the same. Thanks, Lino . (note-and if it's shave soap in a puck, I just squeeze the moist brush into the soap and load away, as I've been doing).

I thought the same thing, and prefer the SC over the LC.

Very nice, Mark!

Thank you Jim. I am really enjoying the scent.

Thanks Andrew!

Go West young man, go west!

Wonderful photo Mark.

Thank you Andrew.

May 2, 2107- Tech Mini-Focus

Razor: Pre-War Fat Handle Tech
Blade: Dorco ST-301 (2)
Brush: Razorock Plissoft 22
Cream: KMF fragrance-free
Post: Alum, Listerine, WH

Second day with the pre-War Tech and the most-common Dorco DE blade. Nothing really to report. The whole shave would have been completely uneventful had I not had a technique fail and caught myself under the nostril. A DFS nonetheless.

Tomorrow, I move to the post-War US Tech. As near as I can tell, it is a pre-1950 model as there is no date code but the baseplate spells out the word "package". I'm going to continue with the same blade as I'm curious to see how it holds up after the first two or three shaves.

I remembered yesterday that I'm going to be on vacation the week of 14 May, so I need to start thinking about what razor to take on travel.

I also had a great idea last night. (I know that phrase usually means "hold my beer, I got this" amongst the 30DC, but this may actually be a real live good idea). OK, probably not, but in the spirit of MAYhem, I'm forging ahead it anyway.

The above is the start of a new thread I created here that I hope you will all participate in. Here is the full text of the full first full post in the thread. I think it could be a lot of fun if people jump in: at http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/30-dc-first-annual-mayhem-award-pifs.55616/

I also had a great idea last night. (I know that phrase usually means "hold my beer, I got this" amongst the 30DC, but this may actually be a real live good idea). OK, probably not, but in the spirit of MAYhem, I'm forging ahead it anyway. (For you non 30DC folks, I encourage you to check out the thread http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/may-2017-30-day-rule-focus-pix-discussion.55578/
and participate. In order to do so, you must watch the initial video at the start of the thread to familiarize yourself with the 30DC and MAYhem rules and disclaimers.

Instead of handing out random PIF's this month to show my appreciation for the generosity of others around here. I have decided to come up with a few MAYhem awards PIFs. Same principle as a regular PIF, just a lot more entertaining, and having the added bonus of rewarding stupid behavior. As I think there are really not enough rewards for stupid behavior, I'm here to help. Anyway the idea works like this:

First, I'll be creating a list of potential awards. Some awards may be awarded sporadically, while others will be awarded at the end of MAYhem. For example, awards like "most inadvisable MAYhem stunt" or "most blood drawn" would need to wait until MAYhem was over in order for everyone to get an opportunity do something stupid. While I'm pretty sure that @Drygulch has the inadvisable category wrapped up, the month is still young, and I hate to deny anyone else a shot at greatness. Besides, it happened in April, so the judges are still deliberating on that.

I bought a huge lot 'o shaving stuff, much of which I will not keep. Shortly, I will add a list and pictures of some items that may be available as award PIFs. I'll also try to post and keep updated a list of Award Categories, as well as any Nominees the Academy (i.e. me) accepts in each category.

Also, in order to recognize that this community is not an oligarchy, but more a group of teeming masses who amuse each other despite being looked on in confusion and disdain my much of the "non shaving community", the master list will also record "dissenting vote awards" as they may be requested. If you think somebody got screwed out of an award or nomination, you are welcome to award and post a "dissenting vote award" as long as you offer up and deliver them a PIF reward of your own from your own inventory. You may at that point, add add this information to the master list.

Everyone is encouraged to participate, offer up potential award categories, nominees etc. Although everyone's feedback will be considered, all final decisions for the categories, nominees, and PIFs I am awarding will be made by the academy (i.e.). If you want to award your own PIF by adding your own categories, nominees, and valuable prizes, then you call the shots on that one, and I would welcome this. You'll just be responsible for adding these to the master list and distributing the PIFs accordingly.

I'll try to make sure the master list is easy to update as we go, but I do have a full time job, so if this thread becomes anything more than 3 posts long with crickets chirping in the background it might not be updated as often as you'd like. I'll do my best, but may need to rely on other 30DC members to jump in and help if things get out of hand.

One final thing. If you win an award, you will have your chance to request the top 3 PIFs you'd enjoy that are still on the board. Although this is no guarantee, it may help winners to get something they actually like instead of walking away with a genuine coconut shrunken Ubangi head. (Having said that, this may be the only appropriate reward in a category, so the winner should be prepared to win whatever is awarded, by the Academy regardless. No whining.)

This may end up being a few PIFs given away with very little thread interaction, or it may end up making me ineffective at having any chance of an appropriate work/home/hobby balance for the next 30 days, depending on how many people want to jump in and participate. I'm good either way.