February 2020 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion | Page 348

jgreenepa · Feb 22, 2020

jluc said: ↑

Excellent shave, Jeff!

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jim!

PLAla · Feb 22, 2020

NCoxSTL said: ↑

February Favorites

February 21

Razor - 1918 Gillette Old Type
Blade - View attachment 218657 (1)
Soap - Stirling Bay Rum
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Ogallala Bay Rum

Ok, I'm time warping a bit here since it's after midnight but here is my shave from Friday. I was on a bit of a different schedule due to a date with my wife. We went to the St. Louis Witches Ball (1920's theme) for a fantastic dinner and dancing. So, I shaved early today, around 4 p.m. And, since I was going in proper 20's attire to a proper 20's themed Ball, I also chose my shave gear and technique to match. I wanted a razor that would have been used in the 1920's. With several in my den to choose from I settled on the 1918 Gillette Old Type from a military kit. World War I razor is perfect. But, then comes the blade choice. Obviously a Gillette Blue Blade would be the authentic thing except they all SUCK because why?? They're old CARBON blades. Well there you go. Pick a carbon blade and use that. Stays in theme. I checked my stash and found a few Treet Silvers. Very nice carbons. Smooth and nice from my reviews during the Grand Blade Trials. So razor and blade checked off.

The lather? Well Bay Rum was a popular one back then so out comes the Stirling Bay Rum soap and I'll use a badger brush because synthetics didn't exist back then either. The brush and soap made plenty of great lather with that great Bay Rum scent and that allowed for a very fine, if modified shave. Modified how, you ask? Well, back in the days of our fathers and grandfathers, they didn't do things like three passes and all of the things we do with it today. Well, a few may have, but most who have told stories of watching their dads shave tell of one pass, some touch up, throw on the aftershave, and get out the door to make your money. So, that's what I did. One pass, WTG. Then, some touch up on the rougher patches. Finished DFS which is perfectly fine and matches the result back then. And the after shave? Well if it's a Bay Rum shave it's going all the way. I broke out my bottle of Ogallala Bay Rum and splashed it on. Then, off we went to the Ball to dance until we dropped.

You know - there's something to be said for tradition.

Hope you had a great Friday and you have an even better Saturday!!!

View attachment 218658
Click to expand...

Outstanding shave and post, Neal! I really like the aftershave bottle.

jgreenepa · Feb 22, 2020

Edison Carter said: ↑

Been rolling along doing the Artist Club DX blade trials from the tryablade.com sampler pack.

The standard bearer for me is the Feather Professional Super. I just love the way a light touch does the trick.

View attachment 218668

The Schick Proline P was a solid performer I could be totally satisfied if that was my only blade.

Then along came the Feather Light blade. Use it right and like most stuff can deliver a nice shave.
View attachment 218667
Me?..... I hated it. The reduced width takes away some of the lower angles afforded by the Supers, or any of the others.

The normal width is 8mm, Supers are 8.2mm, and the Lights only 7.4. Here is a photo of Light and Super together.

View attachment 218666
The angle tolerance for shaving is reduced. I would recommend avoid them. I saw no reason to use it again.

Another poor performer for me was the Soft Guard blade. The shrouding has wavy parts that stop short of the edge and are prone to snag in use.
View attachment 218671
For the 'guarded type' blade I liked the Feather Pro Guard best.

Edison Carter reporting for Network 23 or 20 min into the future.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Bill! I have stayed away from the light and guard blades with my AC razors. I use Schick Prolines as my preferred blade, but also like Feather Supers.

clint64 · Feb 22, 2020

jgreenepa said: ↑

View attachment 218677
SOTD Saturday, February 22, 2020

This will be my third and final shave with the Barbasol Floating Head. The problem with having too many vintage razors is that some of them are just exemplary shavers. The Barbasol Floating Head is one, but tomorrow I’ll be shaving with another, the Cooper Monobilt. The Barbasol has delivered two great shaves, the first a DFS and the second a BBS. After waking up to a beautiful sunny morning in Philly, I decided to enjoy a leisurely three pass shave with no goal in mind other than a pleasurable shave. The pieces were all in place.

The Omega Pro48 Boar is just a wonderful shave brush! Great backbone along with well-broken-in feather soft brush ends generates a thick paste from the scuttle that is then applied to both face and noggin. I really enjoy the luxurious face and head brushing that also exfoliates as the lather builds. My barber who I see about once a month for a straight razor head and face shave taught me the method. I had complained to him about being unable to generate a decent bowl lather with MWF. I’ve found his approach - building that initial rich, glistening, yogurty MWF lather on the shaving surfaces instead of in the scuttle - and then wetting the brush in hot water from the faucet as needed and adding it to the paste on the face and dome leads to the cat’s meow of lathers! It’s never failed, regardless of water type, and the process just feels great!

The shave was a joy this morning. I began with my usual cold water rinse. I have stopped using PAA Preshave Cube soap about five days ago. It had been a regular part of my shave routine, but 22 days of MWF has done away with the need for it. After lathering up, I enjoyed a very comfortable first WTG pass with Madame Barbasol who swept away the 24 hrs of whisker growth with aplomb. The secondXTG and third ATG passes left me with a bloodless, baby-smooth, face and dome.Three great shaves, and it’s time to return Madame Barbasol to her case and boxafter a good cleaning. After a wash of my face and noggin with the MWF brushsqueezings, Fine Accoutrements Snake Bite completed what turned out to be aperfect Saturday morning shave, leaving me feeling cool, smooth and refreshed!

RAZOR: Barbasol Floating Head
Blade: Feather
PREP: Cold Water rinse
BRUSH: Omega Pro48 Boar
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with Fine Accoutrements Snake Bite
Click to expand...

Excellent shave report and photo Jeff.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

PLAla · Feb 22, 2020

I've gotten way, way behind on the thread. Been busy with our county's honor band since Thursday night. Will be there today most of the day. Wonderful experience for the students, though, and that's our main focus.

Yesterday was Fat Friday, so I used The Fat with the Fatboy on 9 with Polsilver blade. Fine American Blend to finish. Always good.

This morning I used Stirling Dirty South Shavers meet-up soap, Superior Lather Catcher SE with GEM blade, and Fine L'Orange Noir to finish. Terrific shave.

Enjoy your day!

jgreenepa · Feb 22, 2020

NCoxSTL said: ↑

February Favorites

February 21

Razor - 1918 Gillette Old Type
Blade - View attachment 218657 (1)
Soap - Stirling Bay Rum
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Ogallala Bay Rum

Ok, I'm time warping a bit here since it's after midnight but here is my shave from Friday. I was on a bit of a different schedule due to a date with my wife. We went to the St. Louis Witches Ball (1920's theme) for a fantastic dinner and dancing. So, I shaved early today, around 4 p.m. And, since I was going in proper 20's attire to a proper 20's themed Ball, I also chose my shave gear and technique to match. I wanted a razor that would have been used in the 1920's. With several in my den to choose from I settled on the 1918 Gillette Old Type from a military kit. World War I razor is perfect. But, then comes the blade choice. Obviously a Gillette Blue Blade would be the authentic thing except they all SUCK because why?? They're old CARBON blades. Well there you go. Pick a carbon blade and use that. Stays in theme. I checked my stash and found a few Treet Silvers. Very nice carbons. Smooth and nice from my reviews during the Grand Blade Trials. So razor and blade checked off.

The lather? Well Bay Rum was a popular one back then so out comes the Stirling Bay Rum soap and I'll use a badger brush because synthetics didn't exist back then either. The brush and soap made plenty of great lather with that great Bay Rum scent and that allowed for a very fine, if modified shave. Modified how, you ask? Well, back in the days of our fathers and grandfathers, they didn't do things like three passes and all of the things we do with it today. Well, a few may have, but most who have told stories of watching their dads shave tell of one pass, some touch up, throw on the aftershave, and get out the door to make your money. So, that's what I did. One pass, WTG. Then, some touch up on the rougher patches. Finished DFS which is perfectly fine and matches the result back then. And the after shave? Well if it's a Bay Rum shave it's going all the way. I broke out my bottle of Ogallala Bay Rum and splashed it on. Then, off we went to the Ball to dance until we dropped.

You know - there's something to be said for tradition.

Hope you had a great Friday and you have an even better Saturday!!!

View attachment 218658
Click to expand...

Great shave, Neal! Sounds like you enjoyed the night out with the bride!

blondblue · Feb 22, 2020

Not too pleased with my shave this morning. It's going to take me some time to negotiate this Duke Cannon Co. Shave Cream(in a tube). I was reading in the site that not much is needed. To me, MUCH is needed. It comes out of the tube quite thick. If you use a little bit, it appears to just evaporate into your face. It's like the invisible Rise creams, and I still have a few of those. But it IS visible right away. I got the major parts, but missed a few, and had 2 cuts. I'll keep it around, but tomorrow I'm going to the bullpen and bringing out a better cream. I had the Clubman Special Reserve aftershave, which was a nice finish. This Duke Cannon remains a work in "prOHgress". Barely Excellent.

jgreenepa · Feb 22, 2020

PLAla said: ↑

I've gotten way, way behind on the thread. Been busy with our county's honor band since Thursday night. Will be there today most of the day. Wonderful experience for the students, though, and that's our main focus.

Yesterday was Fat Friday, so I used The Fat with the Fatboy on 9 with Polsilver blade. Fine American Blend to finish. Always good.

This morning I used Stirling Dirty South Shavers meet-up soap, Superior Lather Catcher SE with GEM blade, and Fine L'Orange Noir to finish. Terrific shave.

Enjoy your day!
Click to expand...

Enjoy your day with the band, Perry! Great shave!

jgreenepa · Feb 22, 2020

Paul Turner said: ↑

Not too pleased with my shave this morning. It's going to take me some time to negotiate this Duke Cannon Co. Shave Cream(in a tube). I was reading in the site that not much is needed. To me, MUCH is needed. It comes out of the tube quite thick. If you use a little bit, it appears to just evaporate into your face. It's like the invisible Rise creams, and I still have a few of those. But it IS visible right away. I got the major parts, but missed a few, and had 2 cuts. I'll keep it around, but tomorrow I'm going to the bullpen and bringing out a better cream. I had the Clubman Special Reserve aftershave, which was a nice finish. This Duke Cannon remains a work in "prOHgress". Barely Excellent.
Click to expand...

Sorry your shave didn’t work out the way you would have liked! Enjoy your day!

timabababaluka · Feb 22, 2020

Edison Carter said: ↑

Been rolling along doing the Artist Club DX blade trials from the tryablade.com sampler pack.

The standard bearer for me is the Feather Professional Super. I just love the way a light touch does the trick.

View attachment 218668

The Schick Proline P was a solid performer I could be totally satisfied if that was my only blade.

Then along came the Feather Light blade. Use it right and like most stuff can deliver a nice shave.
View attachment 218667
Me?..... I hated it. The reduced width takes away some of the lower angles afforded by the Supers, or any of the others.

The normal width is 8mm, Supers are 8.2mm, and the Lights only 7.4. Here is a photo of Light and Super together.

View attachment 218666
The angle tolerance for shaving is reduced. I would recommend avoid them. I saw no reason to use it again.

Another poor performer for me was the Soft Guard blade. The shrouding has wavy parts that stop short of the edge and are prone to snag in use.
View attachment 218671
For the 'guarded type' blade I liked the Feather Pro Guard best.

Edison Carter reporting for Network 23 or 20 min into the future.
Click to expand...

Sweet report, Bill! I know next to nothing when it comes to AC type blades, so this gives me a nice frame of reference

jgreenepa · Feb 22, 2020

clint64 said: ↑

Excellent shave report and photo Jeff.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Thanks, Clint!

timabababaluka · Feb 22, 2020

jgreenepa said: ↑

View attachment 218677
SOTD Saturday, February 22, 2020

This will be my third and final shave with the Barbasol Floating Head. The problem with having too many vintage razors is that some of them are just exemplary shavers. The Barbasol Floating Head is one, but tomorrow I’ll be shaving with another, the Cooper Monobilt. The Barbasol has delivered two great shaves, the first a DFS and the second a BBS. After waking up to a beautiful sunny morning in Philly, I decided to enjoy a leisurely three pass shave with no goal in mind other than a pleasurable shave. The pieces were all in place.

The Omega Pro48 Boar is just a wonderful shave brush! Great backbone along with well-broken-in feather soft brush ends generates a thick paste from the scuttle that is then applied to both face and noggin. I really enjoy the luxurious face and head brushing that also exfoliates as the lather builds. My barber who I see about once a month for a straight razor head and face shave taught me the method. I had complained to him about being unable to generate a decent bowl lather with MWF. I’ve found his approach - building that initial rich, glistening, yogurty MWF lather on the shaving surfaces instead of in the scuttle - and then wetting the brush in hot water from the faucet as needed and adding it to the paste on the face and dome leads to the cat’s meow of lathers! It’s never failed, regardless of water type, and the process just feels great!

The shave was a joy this morning. I began with my usual cold water rinse. I have stopped using PAA Preshave Cube soap about five days ago. It had been a regular part of my shave routine, but 22 days of MWF has done away with the need for it. After lathering up, I enjoyed a very comfortable first WTG pass with Madame Barbasol who swept away the 24 hrs of whisker growth with aplomb. The secondXTG and third ATG passes left me with a bloodless, baby-smooth, face and dome.Three great shaves, and it’s time to return Madame Barbasol to her case and boxafter a good cleaning. After a wash of my face and noggin with the MWF brushsqueezings, Fine Accoutrements Snake Bite completed what turned out to be aperfect Saturday morning shave, leaving me feeling cool, smooth and refreshed!

RAZOR: Barbasol Floating Head
Blade: Feather
PREP: Cold Water rinse
BRUSH: Omega Pro48 Boar
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with Fine Accoutrements Snake Bite
Click to expand...

Wonderful, wonderful photo, shave, and report, Jeff! One of those reports that makes you say, "What are you doing in front of a computer, dummy? Get up and shave!" Even if you've already shaved

blondblue · Feb 22, 2020

jgreenepa said: ↑

Sorry your shave didn’t work out the way you would have liked! Enjoy your day!
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff.....maybe a good workout at the gym will help. Have a good one yourself.

timabababaluka · Feb 22, 2020

PLAla said: ↑

I've gotten way, way behind on the thread. Been busy with our county's honor band since Thursday night. Will be there today most of the day. Wonderful experience for the students, though, and that's our main focus.

Yesterday was Fat Friday, so I used The Fat with the Fatboy on 9 with Polsilver blade. Fine American Blend to finish. Always good.

This morning I used Stirling Dirty South Shavers meet-up soap, Superior Lather Catcher SE with GEM blade, and Fine L'Orange Noir to finish. Terrific shave.

Enjoy your day!
Click to expand...

A fine couple of shaves, Perry! I've loved all the Lather Catchers I've ever seen, and L'Orange Noir is a fantastic scent profile to end just about any shave

timabababaluka · Feb 22, 2020

Paul Turner said: ↑

Not too pleased with my shave this morning. It's going to take me some time to negotiate this Duke Cannon Co. Shave Cream(in a tube). I was reading in the site that not much is needed. To me, MUCH is needed. It comes out of the tube quite thick. If you use a little bit, it appears to just evaporate into your face. It's like the invisible Rise creams, and I still have a few of those. But it IS visible right away. I got the major parts, but missed a few, and had 2 cuts. I'll keep it around, but tomorrow I'm going to the bullpen and bringing out a better cream. I had the Clubman Special Reserve aftershave, which was a nice finish. This Duke Cannon remains a work in "prOHgress". Barely Excellent.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear the shave cream didn't work out for you, Paul! You'll dial it in the next time you bring it out of the den

Trigger · Feb 22, 2020

jgreenepa said: ↑

View attachment 218677
SOTD Saturday, February 22, 2020

This will be my third and final shave with the Barbasol Floating Head. The problem with having too many vintage razors is that some of them are just exemplary shavers. The Barbasol Floating Head is one, but tomorrow I’ll be shaving with another, the Cooper Monobilt. The Barbasol has delivered two great shaves, the first a DFS and the second a BBS. After waking up to a beautiful sunny morning in Philly, I decided to enjoy a leisurely three pass shave with no goal in mind other than a pleasurable shave. The pieces were all in place.

The Omega Pro48 Boar is just a wonderful shave brush! Great backbone along with well-broken-in feather soft brush ends generates a thick paste from the scuttle that is then applied to both face and noggin. I really enjoy the luxurious face and head brushing that also exfoliates as the lather builds. My barber who I see about once a month for a straight razor head and face shave taught me the method. I had complained to him about being unable to generate a decent bowl lather with MWF. I’ve found his approach - building that initial rich, glistening, yogurty MWF lather on the shaving surfaces instead of in the scuttle - and then wetting the brush in hot water from the faucet as needed and adding it to the paste on the face and dome leads to the cat’s meow of lathers! It’s never failed, regardless of water type, and the process just feels great!

The shave was a joy this morning. I began with my usual cold water rinse. I have stopped using PAA Preshave Cube soap about five days ago. It had been a regular part of my shave routine, but 22 days of MWF has done away with the need for it. After lathering up, I enjoyed a very comfortable first WTG pass with Madame Barbasol who swept away the 24 hrs of whisker growth with aplomb. The secondXTG and third ATG passes left me with a bloodless, baby-smooth, face and dome.Three great shaves, and it’s time to return Madame Barbasol to her case and boxafter a good cleaning. After a wash of my face and noggin with the MWF brushsqueezings, Fine Accoutrements Snake Bite completed what turned out to be aperfect Saturday morning shave, leaving me feeling cool, smooth and refreshed!

RAZOR: Barbasol Floating Head
Blade: Feather
PREP: Cold Water rinse
BRUSH: Omega Pro48 Boar
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Thayers Lavender WH and finished with Fine Accoutrements Snake Bite
Click to expand...

Superb Saturday shave, Jeff! I enjoyed reading your Philly post.

Trigger · Feb 22, 2020

PLAla said: ↑

I've gotten way, way behind on the thread. Been busy with our county's honor band since Thursday night. Will be there today most of the day. Wonderful experience for the students, though, and that's our main focus.

Yesterday was Fat Friday, so I used The Fat with the Fatboy on 9 with Polsilver blade. Fine American Blend to finish. Always good.

This morning I used Stirling Dirty South Shavers meet-up soap, Superior Lather Catcher SE with GEM blade, and Fine L'Orange Noir to finish. Terrific shave.

Enjoy your day!
Click to expand...

Have fun, Perry!

blondblue · Feb 22, 2020

timabababaluka said: ↑

Sorry to hear the shave cream didn't work out for you, Paul! You'll dial it in the next time you bring it out of the den
Click to expand...

Thanks Tim...right, I'll certainly have some time until then to plan a new strategy.

Trigger · Feb 22, 2020

Paul Turner said: ↑

Not too pleased with my shave this morning. It's going to take me some time to negotiate this Duke Cannon Co. Shave Cream(in a tube). I was reading in the site that not much is needed. To me, MUCH is needed. It comes out of the tube quite thick. If you use a little bit, it appears to just evaporate into your face. It's like the invisible Rise creams, and I still have a few of those. But it IS visible right away. I got the major parts, but missed a few, and had 2 cuts. I'll keep it around, but tomorrow I'm going to the bullpen and bringing out a better cream. I had the Clubman Special Reserve aftershave, which was a nice finish. This Duke Cannon remains a work in "prOHgress". Barely Excellent.
Click to expand...

Well, you got a workable shave, despite the cuts, Paul! Enjoy the day!

blondblue · Feb 22, 2020

Trigger said: ↑

Well, you got a workable shave, despite the cuts, Paul! Enjoy the day!
Click to expand...

That's right Joe....I've had worse before. You enjoy yours too .

Name your favorite!

Straight razors.

Vintage DE razors.

Modern DE razors.

SE razors.

Pain sticks.

Badger brushes.

Boars

Synthetics

Cookies

Polls that don't take 10 minutes to fill out!!