Oh, yeah I did use the bowl to create the lather. I loaded the brush from the tin and then used the bowl to create my lather. It worked fine but as I stated, my only issue is that I wish my bowl was shaped different or bigger to hold a puck in the bottom of it. It is just too small and not shaped that way so I cannot use it for pucks or samples like the TSD ones that is all I was saying!

MAYhem & Mercy
May 5, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Tweezerman Badger
Soap - Williams (Hmmm.....maybe there is hope)Mug Shaving Soap
Razor - Soyuz 1
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Replenishing Post Shave Balm

If I had to choose one shave as the worst I've ever had.....this is the one. First WTG stroke was all it took to get nicked. And the drag on this thing was horrid. Went ahead and finished the first pass and noticed a couple of things. First of all, extremely draggy, even sticky as it went across my face. The fact that I only got one nick was probably a miracle. I also noticed that when I changed edges the second edge was working a little better. Not much, but a little. I took a minute to examine the blade and I'm almost certain from its performance that, while it does have a bevel on both sides, they are not ground the same and, in fact, one side may not be fully sharpened. Debated what to do and threw caution to the wind and started the XTG using what felt like the "sharper" edge. Two strokes, two nicks. DONE!!! Grabbed my emergency exit razor, the Aristocrat with Voskhod and finished the shave. Alum was harsh where I had doubled up on the right side trying for the second pass, not too bad everywhere else.

As to the Williams issue...progress? I tried bowl lathering and got no real benefit other than letting the puck stay wet while I lathered and shaking it out before returning to reload from the puck. When I lathered for the second and even more on the third pass I started to get a better, slicker lather. Wet puck, drier brush....is it a clue? Going to work on that tomorrow. As for the blade and razor.....I will put the blade in the Rapira tomorrow and try it. The Soyuz does hold the blade slightly at an angle so maybe that will improve it. I doubt it, however, as the Zaza was at the same angle and worked better than this waste of steel. Bangladesh is not exactly known as a bastion of fine steel works. This blade seems to demonstrate why!

Tuesday 5th May



Warm shower
Hot towel
Catie's Bubbles Fouet L'Orange bowl lathered
Finest Badger brush made by myself
Gillette NEW DeLuxe (Made in England)
Gillette Nacet Stainless (2)
Cold rinse
Thjayers Superhazel
Myrsol Antesol aftershave

Tuesday shave

Yesterday's shave went so well I used the same set up again.



Razor - Stealth Slant
Pre Shave - Edwin Jagger moisterising Pre Shave lotion
Blade- Wilkinson Sword
Lather - DR Harris Windsor soap
Aftershave - Old Spice.

Thank you for your kind words I love the Myrsol products as I notice you do

that has to be the coolest straight razor I have ever seen! that's an awesome piece

Second day with my Weber and it was just as spectacular a shave as yesterday's.
I really, really love this razor.

Razor: Weber PH w/ Wave/Bamboo handle
Blade: Ladas
Brush: L'Occitane Plisson
Soap: Soap Commander Endurance
A/S: Myrsol Plastic Shave followed by Anherb later on

​

Aggressive Apri...errrr May? - Day 24 (5/5/15)

Prep: Hot shower
Soap: Arko
Brush: Omega 13522
Razor: Cadet OC
Blade: Sputnik
Post: Witch Hazel, Nivea Sensitive Balm
Scent: Tommy Bahama Very Cool

Tried a quick 1 pass ATG shave this morning since my shave was so good yesterday. Decent shave but not great. I really can't go ATG 2 days in a row.

May 5

Stirling Sheep facial soap
Weber PH
Feather blade (day 2)
Rudy Vey Shavemac two-band silvertip
MdC scented shave soap
Two passes
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm

I plan to eliminate the glycerin for the next few shaves to see if it makes a noticeable difference in the lather. The first photo shows a 30-second load to the brush, and the second photo shows the lather remaining after face lathering. It's nice and slick, but I like a bit more for successive passes. I'll try loading the brush longer (like it owes me money) and working it longer tomorrow. Bottom line, I had a great two-pass shave with enough lather remaining for the back of my neck.

Happy Tuesday!

Brush Focus: Day 4
Brush: Whipped Dog Sliver Tip 2, 24/65
Gillette Super Speed, 1947 Birth Razor.
Gillette Platinum Blade
Bowl: KO Shave
Soap: Jack's Soap
AS: Clubman lime
Old Spice Coffee Mug.
The Whipped Dog brush with marble handle (not much marble) in a fine brush. Has a very weak backbone (I believe this is the correct term) and it is better to use a painting motion. It does hold a lot of lather well and water. It is floppy to my touch, but does the job. Not my go to brush. I like the Clubman Lime A/S.
Gillette Platinum Blade is holding up. Three passes and a clean up.

SOTD 5-5-15 Cinco de Mayo!

Razor: ATT H1 plate with MR1 handle
Blade: Platinum Lux (5)
Soap: WSP Sandalwood
Bowl: Shaveworks
Brush: VDH Boar
Post: Gentleman Jon Alum block

Preshave was just face wash with warm water and post shave was rinse with warm water then some cold water splashes and pat dry, then apply the alum block

Razor: As usual, no complaints! I am liking the H! plate alot!

Blade: This is a very good blade and one of my main go-to's so no issues at all! Fifth shave on the blade today and still felt sharp and smooth!

Soap: First time with this soap and I like it. It lathered easy and got plenty of it for my two passes and almost no touch up. Great slickness and protection! Post shave feel is real good! The scent of this Sandalwood seems to be a little stronger and longer lasting than the WSP Vetiver I used yeterday but not that strong, just lingers and I can actually smell it easier but I also think that I got a better lather with the boar brush today vs the Tweezerman with the WSP Vetiver so that might explain it! Either way, no complaints on scents as it is still milder than most so issues at all!

Comments: Shave was very good and very close. I got a DFS easily and a BBS on most places even most of the neck area. One small nick from a little razor twist (brain lapse) but no irritation based on the Aum block. Another very good shave with no issues! I think the less passes were based on the better lather I got using the boar brush vs the Tweezerman badger so it took one less pass but I also face lathered it in and did not transfer it to the bowl!

Please feel free to leave comments on any items used as I enjoy reading them to see what others say about the gear I am using/trying out! Of course, YMMV!

Thx.

SOTD for May 5.............

Semogue 1438 w/Speick Shave Stick (face lather)
'67 Black Handle Super Speed w/Voskhod Blade (3)
Witch Hazel & Nivea Sensitive Balm
Pinaud Clubman Classic Vanilla

2 -passes WTG & XTG for a DFS!

Nice setup!

Mike, have you gone through all of the plates yet? The H1 seems like it's a winner, didn't someone or you say it shaves a lot like the Weber? Thank you for writing such detailed reviews of your SOTD.

Edwin Jagger DE89L razor
with Astra S.P. blade (1),
Edwin Jagger STF XL brush,
Lather-up with CRSW American Barber Shop,
finish with water, Witch Hazel
and Clubman Bay Rum for a DFS!

I wonderful close and comfy shave, I adore my products. Aces!

I have and H1 and I find it slightly more aggressive than a Weber but at twice the cost, if you can find a Weber go with the Weber.

SOTD - Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Shower
Prep: Homemade PSO
Brush: refurb Rubberset 49-4, TGN 2 band
Cream: La Toja
Razor: Weber Wave handle
Blade: Personna Lab Blue (3)
Aftershave: CVS Old Spice knock off

I haven't tried the H2 yet but will soon, unless it sells. I really am liking the H1 so far and dont think it is too aggressive at all. Maybe there is more hype on it than I thought. Dont get me wrong it can bite and requires full attention but after using these plates I absolutely see no need for the M ones as they will seem like they don't even work. When I tried out the R plates, I like them and thought highly of them til I tried the H1 and now although I love the R plates the H plate is just a step above that!

I dont recall saying the Weber and H plates are similar. I have used the Weber and think the H plate is above the Weber and closer to the R plate from what I recall. I would say somewhat between the M and R but closer to the R side.

Thx. for the kind words about my SOTD's as I just try to express my opinions on the items I use good or bad! I enjoy reading others comments to learn a little something about other gear, soaps and blades so I hope some folks will get a little out of what I say.

Just remember I am still pretty new at DE so take my so called "reviews" with a grain of salt! LOL

Mike

Again it took me many changes of mind and a lot of going back and forth to my shave den which is scattered all over the house before I finally decided on what to use for tomorrow!

Wednesday's equipment: (Let's hope I don't decide to change my mind again!)

Neutrogena Men Facial Wash
Large Horsehair Barbershop
Super Speed/SuperMax Blue day 3
Chiseled Face Cryogen SS
Gold Bond Moisturizer
Alcolado Glacial Menthol Splash
YSL Pour Homme EdT

I decided to push the menthol level up one small notch by using the Cryogen soap - after using my Glacials so regularly these past few days, I see that they're really not far behind the Cryogen when it comes to the menthol freeze. Ron Wiebe, the owner of Chiseled Face Groomatorium is also quite a master when it comes to soap making. This stuff has very, very good lather with its off-the-charts freezing sensation and pretty good skincare. I'll turn to the Gold Bond again for some additional coolness and soothing, and then I'll let the Penguin freeze me some more!