460 posts behind..... to busy to catch up but here is my shave report:

Next up for my sharpness feeling test is a full hollow Dovo 6/8. For the past three shaves, I used Tabac, slick and consistent so the only differences were the edges. The prior two blades were: Brian Brown 1/4 hollow and Hart Steel 3/4 grind.

First two passes: The Dovo and Brian Brown felt like they are equally sharp and both felt sharper than the Hart.

ATG on the chin and upper lip: The Brian Brown and Hart felt similar but the Dovo was a little sharper but still plenty sharp to get the job done.

Razor: Dovo Master’s 6/8
Strop: Kanayama
Brush: Omega Boar
Pre: Proraso
Soap: Tabac
AS: Enhanced DR Harris AS, Stirling ASB
Scent: Creed Himalaya
Watch: Ball Engineer III

I hope she is getting better. I missed 460 posts so not sure you gave an update. My thoughts are prayers are with her.

17/30.

Enjoyable reading on the forum wrt blooming yesterday. I like the interaction and banter.

I switched back to the 404. Got her wet and went at it. In fairness i got a good loading in no time. After a few swirls, i pre-loaded my face and went back to the puck to finish loading and got, what i thought, was a great result and a good head of lather on the brush.

1st pass was fab. 2nd pass was fab. 3rd pass died on its arse.
I had to go back to the puck to finish.

A nice shave. No drama. No cuts or soreness. BBS-. Residual slickness just about workable.

Afterwards, i wondered about the brush. I am not so sure loading (thus brush type) is really the issue. I got a good load of the puck (or so i thought). I had the notion that perhaps the knot is just not up to 3 passes? That can't be true can it, my little Omega had no problem getting 3 passes on the puck. I dunno though, the 404 doesn't seem to be the densest brush i have and i have noted that the loft could be bigger for me.

This leads me full circle. I don't think it negates my opinion on blooming this puck. As @Primotenore notes, you should be able to load any brush with any soap and i am getting to the same opinion. I no longer truly think this soap needs blooming to work although i can see that it would help. I don't think this negates my idea that there are brush/soap synergies. The Yaqi murders this soap and is a joy. The 404 is screaming at me that its a brush better suited for creams.

Face lathering is a single load and go affair and perhaps this brush aint up to to it. Perhaps bowl lathering (shudders) whete you can keep going back to the lather is a better choice?.

Anyway, i am sticking back with the 404 for the rest of my 30dc. My excursion away has done its job.

Yep. There is a lot of noise ( fluff and backslapping) in this thread which clogs it up imho. I would suggest you start a new thread for yourself.

Well, i have a 1950's rocket (the English version of the superspeed) and i have the 34c. I find the 34c a bit to mild and i find the rocket definitely on the more aggressive side. With a Feather blade and little experience, i am not surprised to hear you are getting cut up. I use Rapira blades mostly, which i find to be a milder blade and in the rocket, i can still get razor burn if i am not careful. So yes, i can see that your razor/blade combo is aggressive. Perhaps the forgiving nature of the 34c is punishing your technique with the super speed. Things i might suggest to help:

• Use a different blade. The feather is notoriously sharp and unforgiving and whilst seasoned shavers may crow that its the best and smoothest blade, for it to be so requires a stellar technique. I would suggest something more placid such as a Derby or an Astra blade. See here.
• Use a more cushioning soap and lather. I find some soaps and creams have more cushion than others. Lathering technique plays a big part as well. Perhaps use a pre-shave oil or cream.
• Ride the cap. Angle can be important with some razors. riding the cap can help tone down the razor.

Other issues could be that the razor just doesn't suit your skin/beard or that it is perhaps broken or misalligned. Expect much comments from the forum along the lines of "technique trumps tools" for the 1st comment but it is certainly something to consider if you really can't get on with it.

Best of luck!

Nice setup Neal!

Great report Keith!

I am a face latherer. Depending on the soap, sometimes I will go for a reload in between passes. From my experience not all soaps and brushes like each other. Boars tend to like hard soaps and my badger hates them . Whatever works I guess.

Just my schedule, with storm prep and rain time. But prep without need is better than need without prep. I cannot imagine the bahamas, my heart goes out to them.

Correct me if I took this the wrong way.
The noise ( fluff and backslapping) isn't meant to distract from the main topic of shaving. Yes sometimes we all get carried away but I dont think its fair to say that we are not a helpful group . When I first joined this group there was alot going on but not one single question I asked went unanswered.

Thanks for the comment as it mirrors my experience closely.
A 3rd pass reload seems to be my gateway to using the Cade/404 successfully.

Who has said that? I find the group extremely helpful!

Maybe I worded that wrong. Just seen where you suggested he start a seperate thread and was wondering if he wasnt getting the help he needs .

Nah,

His issue is that on-topic posts are being drowned out by pages of off-topic and low resolution stuff and it is a fair observation i think. (we are on page 84 and only 5 days in!)

It is a common habit for forummers in forums to congregate in single threads to the demise of the thread topic and other threads. It is a constant dilemma for mods and admins to get the balance between allowing the free flowing of posts and restrictive modding just right.

He is getting the help, he just can't wade through the traffic to find it!

FTR, ( @NTR ) i use the alerts to help navigate. I have turned off the alerts for likes and now i just get alerts for mentions and quotes. I find this helps quite a bit to navigate this behomth of a thread.

I also do not literally respond to every comment i am mentioned unless i have something to add as as that also gums up the thread and that is what the like button is for.

I see what you mean . It does move at quite a fast pace here last few months and takes getting used to. By turning off the alerts would help him to navigate better and that was good advice.

SEptember 5th
Razor: Blackland Sabre L2
Blade: Gem PTFE (4)
Brush: Grizzly Bay PureMagic
Pre-shave: Stirling Mentholated
Soap: Stirling Executive Man
Stirling mentholated witch hazel
PAA unscented Star Jelly
AS: Stirling Executive Man

Stirling SEptember

Good morning!

Great shave to start the day! Three passes for near BBS with a tickle from the alum.

Have a great day!

Terrific picture, Jim!

Very nice Jim!

Good Thursday morning all.
Last Ever Ready flip top (shovel head) in the den enjoyed. Gonna have to figure out what gets used next. Have a few in the top 10 category but I will have to decide later.
Nice 2 by 2 shave, about like yesterday, but a little slower. New blade each time keeps these razors running at top performance. No issue shave, just razor goodness.
Out of all of them, this is my least liked, the handle is sorta smallish.

Ready for the day
All
Enjoy

Sounds like the brush worked out a bit better this time.

I do want to say, I don't discount that people have favorite combos or experience synergies with certain brushes and soaps/creams. I definitely believe wet shaving is a YMMV experience. I just like to caution people on declaring equipment as being suspect, as this is a trap I have fallen into many times only later to find out the equipment was fine but my technique was off.

Bowl latherer. I believe some of this experience may be lather 'fade' or 'wilt', where the lather created initially (regardless of brush or load amount).....slowly dissipates over time between passes. A couple of soaps I have used need a little more swirling between applications to maintain lather loft, especially for that 3rd pass. One or two soaps that, IME, fade pretty consistently (even after being applied), have been relegated to other non-shaving use, i.e. hand soap. I've done that with a couple of soaps that don't measure up in the slickness quality as well. Sure, I could compensate by creating more lather in the beginning, but, um, no. If I have XY product (or combination of products) that doesn't have that problem, bin 13 product WX (or combination) that does, and move on.

Somewhat against the grain, I'm not 100% in the technique trumps tools mind set, but maybe 98%. Sure, great technique can fix many problems of inferior tools. But, once technique is acquired, some will always search out better tools for the job at hand.

That’s great news David. I hope you’re able to catch up. I’m glad it missed you guys.


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Great looking photo and shave Jim.


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