Sounds like I need to spend some Focus time with my boar brush and my shave stick before giving up on that combination.
John, most of the time I load the brush from either a container of soap or cream. I load the brush with soap for about a minute or cream for about 15 seconds. For creams in a tube, like C.O. Bigelow, I'll squirt about a 1" bead on top of the knot. I also rub a shave stick or sometimes the puck on my face and build the lather that way. I think the key with a shave stick is to use plenty of soap. Maybe try increasing the amount and see if it helps. You'll have to get quite a lot of soap on your face to come close to the amount you'd have in super goop. It's worth learning how to effectively use a shave stick, as they are handy to have in your travel kit. I'm sure you'll get it figured out. Keep us posted on your progress.
Congrats, Andrew, on figuring out the MJ-90! Our little 30DC man is growing like a weed, and he's on the move today. It's always a pleasure to see him in your Friday posts! Thanks for sharing him with us.
With Ingram, I apply the cream to my face, like a girlie man. Then face lather it with synthetic unicorn mane hair.
I installed several of those recently. Also repaired the sheetrock where the door knobs knocked holes in the walls. Going to visit my daughter and grandkids over the holidays. I should pick up a half dozen of these with different sized springs and mount them to a piece of wood. And give the little ones sugary treats just before I head home!
Saturday shave: I broke the big gun, literally. The M Martinez blade is my biggest and heaviest razor, it is a little over 8/8. It is surprising easy to handle and maneuver. If only my dolphin smooth faces last longer I could have called this an epic shave. Have a great weekend. Irritation A+ Closeness A Smoothness A+ Sharpness A+ Razor: M Martinez 8+/8 Stop: Mastro Livi Brush: Whipped Dog Pre: Proraso Soap: Sample E AS: Castel Forbes ASB Scent: Bill Blass Mr. Blass
NOVember!!! November 17 - Qshave Focus Razor - Qshave Futur Clone Blade - (1) Soap - Truefitt & Hill 1805 Brush - Jayaruh #46 Post - Alum From here on out there's only one setting on the Futur. Mine. Wide open at 6 and ready to either shave or strip bark. Whatever's needed for the day. I'll be using some blades that have performed well for me in trials, and are not Russian. I've chosen the Treet Platinum, Treet New Steel, Gillette Platinum Plus (Brazil), Kai, and to start with tonight, the Israeli Red Personna. This is a blade I've only used in trials along with its cousins by different names but who all seem to perform the same. It will be an interesting comparison to the Qshave American Personna. Truefitt & Hill 1805 with the JR46 tonight and I can now say, after two successful lathers with it, that I have this soap dialed in. Great lather, slick, nice and cushy and not at all difficult to get that way. Once you get the water right, at least, and I seem to have the formula figured out. With the razor wide open it's just so easy to get a great first pass. The Qshave Personna was rough. Not serious enough the first night to cause problems, but on the second night it was getting worse fast. The Israeli Personna - smooth, effective and comfortable, just like in its trials. The second pass was just as easy and comfortable. I used diagonal "X" patterns on the neck to touch up and finish and the baby is in the house. Alum is just slightly warm on my neck. No worries. I like this razor when it's on my namesake setting. And this blade is a winner with it as well. I'll stick with it a couple more days and just enjoy the shaves. Have a great weekend! The last before Thanksgiving!
Saturday early morning November 18 - if at first you don't succeed, repeat with the same setup Supply Single Edge injector V 2.0 / Personna ( 7) Semogue Owners Club cherrywood boar brush Arko stick Alum and Lucky Tiger Yesterday I had trouble getting sufficient lather when face lathering Arko with my Semogue SOC boar brush. I had to apply more soap in between passes. Today I tried again, following in particular the advice given by Charlie @wristwatchb and Perry @PLAla. I rubbed the stick on much more heavily as Charlie suggested and wet the soap all over with the brush before starting to lather as Perry suggested. It worked. I ended up with a soap laden brush holding enough lather for three passes (one more than I did). I think I still prefer a synthetic or badger for face lathering a shave stick, but I can definitely make the Semogue boar work if I wish. Overall a pleasant shave and a worthwhile experiment. Thank you to everyone who chimed in to say I shouldn't give up so quickly on using the boar brush; the tips I learn on this thread are much appreciated. Shaving is just whisker removal in the end and not an earth-shattering activity, but it has become one of life's little pleasures for me now that I have learned to do it well, and that is mostly thanks to you gentlemen.
