Happy Birthday to you and Vlad ! I think its time Vlad shaved his head ....but I do see a striking resemblance Neal.

Happy Birthday, Neal! 60! Awesome.

Welcome to the 60 and over crowd, Neal! It's not so bad! Enjoy the party with the old geezers! Lol!

well happy birthday Neal....

very cool..i know where to send a black pearl..looking forward to your new creations..

Cool shot Blair. If I may ask, what is your background there?

Last truck I had had 32" tires. The previous owner only got 4 wheels for it. Flat tires were destined to be a hassle. Only had one.

Glad yours worked out.

Thank you Gary.

@Paul Turner

Warning, warning, warning
Danger Will Robinson, Danger

The big decision in this matter will be.....
The cake........
Or....
The puck

My Mother always called bar soap a "cake" . I should ask her opinion on shaving soap.

Happy birthday, Neil!

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That would settle the discussion once and for all. Once a mother speaks......ANY mother.......it's gospel truth!

I'll get back to you all with her answer .

It's been a while since I've done a theme month. I've seen some folks mention a No Variation November. I'm think about doing a cheapskate theme and and trying for the cheapest overall wet shave I can. I'm looking at the following:

Razor: Assured Dollar Tree DE ($1)
Soap: Williams ($1)
Aftershave: Barbasol Brisk ($1 on clearance at Family Dollar)
Brush: faux badger ($1.50 online).

I do have an Omega boar that was PIF'd to me. Technically that was free, but it feels a little like cheating. Thoughts on that?

Blades: not spending on new ones. I'll just be using Derby or some such that I already have. Blades average out at maybe $.10 each so if I limit myself to five blades for the month, that comes to $.50.

That makes it $5 worth of gear for a month.

Thoughts? Can I endure?

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very cool sir..it will bring some reality back..

I agree that Eric Latta does a nice job on that final ('ear to chin', under jaw') stroke. It is the most difficult for me, and the one I most often skip due to its difficulty. It is where I choose to settle for less than the coveted BBS.

Back to the comparison.

Making the exact same strokes, tool A vs. tool B, should be sufficient to draw a comparison between the two.

I have 11 straights. Most professionally honed. Some, dare I say, by the world's finest craftsmen. The best of them obtain superior results more easily than the others.

I must admit that my exposure and experience on shavettes is a bit more limited (I have only 2 styles). Both of them, in A vs. B comparisons, outperform straights for me.

Based upon the 30DC principles that Technique Trumps Tools, you are totally correct in stating that my skills with the true straights are lacking.

Therefore, I correct my recommendation to others.......
True straights are the ultimate shavers, providing you learn how to properly use them and maintain their edges. Get the shavette only if you are willing exchange the lower maintenance and costs for mediocrity.

I will never smoke another cigar.

In the past they lead me back to regular cigarette smoking, which I loved. A few years ago, while on my drive to the hospital having a heart attack, I decided that the cigarette I was smoking would be my last.

Many folks love Stirling Gentleman, it is worth a try.

Straights are fun. Great feel in the hand. The sound is intoxicating. The ritual of enjoying 'your time' with the soaps, scents, aftershaves always calls you back. The personal challenge of continous improvement drives you.

It can cost ($) dearly. It does not have to though.

No question that maintenance on a shavette is lower.

The debate all falls under the "wouldn't that just be" territory.

I have $thousands$ invested in straights and maintenance gear. I really don't like to be told that a $14 tool with a $0.10, 4 use disposable blade outperforms it. Would you?

Thank you Terry.


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Wow. That’s a beautiful razor Ken. I hope you hand heals quickly.


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