Thanks I got it from an antiques fair last year, not sure what it was for originally, I had to grate the Tabac puck as it was a little bit too small for the pot, its dam heavy though.
World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!! June 10, 2015 Prep - Hot shower and towel Brush - Omega Pro 48 Soap - MWF Razor - Razo Rock TTO Blade - (1) Post - Alum, Nivea Balm This late posting is getting to be a habit. Created by busier days in summer along with the need to take some time to evaluate results without using the snap judgement heat of the moment method. Today was especially one of those days. The Kai performed very well on the occasions I've used it so I was looking forward to today.. It's a Japanese stainless, famous for being the "second sharpest" blade after it's Japanese cousin the Feather. They also make some very fine Artist Club blades known for being more forgiving and milder than the Feather. So, I was really looking forward to starting the World round of the tournament with the Kai. Decided to stick with the RazoRock TTO as I like how it feels and works. Great all brass modern razor a bit more aggressive than a Gillette Aristocrat. Got the Fat out, the Pro 48 and once again got a very nice lather. I keep expecting to fail with the MWF once but so far so good. I'm very picky with it though and always try to follow @mantic 's rules for using it. Good stuff. Great slick lather so let's shave. First pass was....ummmm.....not too smooth, nor did it seem terribly effective. I know this blade is sharp. I've used it before so I'm confused. Rinse, lather, repeat only XTG. Wow. Can you say uncomfortable....and it hits me...I have a more aggressive razor on a sharp blade and that doesn't always work for me. It also hits me.......SHARP blade. Not Voskhod sharp, not Sharp Star sharp....we're talking SHARP. Explains the building irritation. Ouch. Finished the XTG with just a hint of blood and checked. Seemed almost DFS. Well, DFS face, not quite neck. Time to stop and call it before I do more damage. But wait.....who am I kidding. This is ME shaving here not some rookie, pansy, weak, lily-livered coward who is afraid of a little blood or irritation. Why, I've used some of the worst blades in the worst razors and with the WORST soap (yes, modern Williams I'm talking about you) and survived to shave again. So here we go....neck only.....lather it up good (learning to love MWF) and let's go XTG.....wow seems uncomfortable. Gotta do something else to get that DFS hammered. So what would you do with an aggressive razor, sharp blade, irritated face and growing realization that you're probably taking skin off? Why, do what I do next...let's Gillette Slide. Why not, right? It's only skin, and pain, and frustration and....well you get the picture. Rinse off, cold rinse after the warm one and let's go for the alum. Yeah, I don't even have to say it do I. I managed to take a great blade and razor, mismatch them, and then do everything except buff my neck (well not too much anyway) to make sure I created a true disaster. For the grading? Well it may be unfair to blame the blade for what I consider incredible operator error but a tournament is a tournament. Sharpnes is a 1. If you want to argue that I suggest you stand on a pile of Kai's and see if you don't change your mind. Smoothness? Wellllllllll.....with this razor I have to go 3. Memory tells me its capable of better but not today. Irritation. Oh baby....it's a 4 and I'm being generous. The fact the cold water rinse after alum cooled it down is all that saved the big 5. And the result? I was going CCS immediately after but decided to let it cool down and recheck when I wasn't jumping up and down so much. Decided a few hours later after constant checking that yes, it really did get DFS....the hard way. That's a 2. Total - 10. The blade I thought would be one of the best is the worst so far. Again, partly due to gear I'm sure but there you go. Like many things in Japan.....this result was surprising and not quite what you expect. Tomorrow - the SuperMax Platinum from India.
I loaded my shave #3 blade today into the Feather Weight and I have to say this is a much maligned little weapon. So mild yet so efficient. Such a different shave to the MMOC from yesterday. 2 passes and done DFS. My new soap recipe is working a treat face lathering, so much so I have yet to bowl lather with it. #6 Turkish brush and Witch hazel to finish. Steve
Planned Thursday SOTD Razor - Merkur Futur Blade - Rapira Brush - Vie-Long horse hair Preshave - Myrsol Emulsion Shave soap - Martin de Condre lavender Aftershave - Myrsol Agua Basilica AS Cologne - Ogallala Bay Rum, Peppercorns and Lime Another great combination of products I can bet on for a stellar shave. I'm finding the key to a great shave begins with a preshave treatment, be it a PSO or the amazing Myrsol Emulsion.
Gillette Trac II Deluxe Razor (1972), with Vintage Trac II cartridge (8), Edwin Jagger STF XL brush, Lather-up with C.O. Bigelow, finish with water, Witch Hazel and Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum I love my Trac II. It's fun to shave with and the vintage cart is very sharp. Aces!
Pre:Hot shower with Stirling Vanilla Sandalwood soap and EBC pre shave cream Razor: WSC Jet Black Brush: Omega Pro 20102 Boar Soap: MWF Blade: Lord SS (4) Postickinson's witch hazel, Lucky Tiger and Stirling Executive Man psb Fragrance: British Sterling cologne Had a pretty good shave tonight. Have been using the MWF with a Lord SS blade lately and haven't had the same problem I did with the Astra SS previously; so I'm gonna chalk that bad experience up to the blade. I did have some irritation tonight, but it may be due to the blade being on shave four. Nothing my post shave team couldn't take care of though. I may try the Astra again with the EBC pre shave cream, just to see if it makes any difference. Loving the MWF though. I'm surprised at the number of people that say it's hard lathering or that it lacks slickness and cushion. The stuff is great! I get plenty of great lather with it fairly easy; which may be made easier by the Omega 20102. And I love the post have feel from it. I've never had a soap rotation before, but have decided to start one. I mean, why not right? So far, the two soaps I have for it are Stirling Vanilla Sandalwood (or any other scent I grab from Rod in the future, the stuff is just magical!) and MWF. Hope everyone has a great day, and a great shave. God bless!
SOTD Wednesday 10Jun15 Razor: ATT M-1 76 mm Atlas Handle Razor Blade: Wilkinson Sword Brush: "Oscar11" Custom 24/48mm TGN Super Finest Black & White Resin Handle Bowl: Arletta's Mug I {Daughter's White Coffee Mug} Shower: Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap Tea Tree Liquid Soap Shampoo: Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo - Extra Strength Pre-Shave Face Wash: Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face Wash Pre-Shave Oil: Pacific Shaving Co. All Natural Shaving Oil Shave Soap: Route 66 Bay Rum Post Shave: RazoRock Alum Block Post Shave: Jack Black Post Shave Cooling Gel Aftershave: Captain's Choice North WTG-XTG-ATG (adjusted angles for my beard) What worked well yesterday worked good today. I got a BBS/DFS with "No Nicks or Weepers" I am using a new shaving soap that is new to me. It seems to be very good. Maybe after all of these years I finally learned how to shave?
First SOTD post ever! Hot shower with some face and neck rubbing with wash cloth, Proraso pre, Ogallala BR soap, Mixed midget brush for face lathering, trying out Supermax Super Platinum blades in both the RR Mission and the Merkur 37c, one pass each, Splashes of warm then cold water, Proraso pre (as post, fab cream, never any burns since I started using it!) Finishing off with a few splashes of Portland GS Whiskey AS splash for å whiff of cedar and bourbon. Shaving every day with sharp blades = relatively smooth, and no issues with burns, nicks or anything Happy Thursday to all!
June 11 SOTD: Homemade PS Oil WD High Mountain Badger 30 mm TSD Lanolin Egyptian Spice Gillette Ball end tech Stirling Unscented PSB Clubman Vanilla AS
Lime satisfaction I used Reef Point Sublime again today and the results were similarly excellent. The Colonel quickly whipped up thick lather in my old bowl and on my face. I lathered over ML Lime pre shave butter, which added its fresh scent and slickness to the soap. I went with a 9/7/7 setting progression on my Fatboy again with the same drama free shave. Cologne Russe finished it up nicely, though perhaps a more citrusy aftershave would have paired even better. It's going to be a long day with graduation tonight, so I'm taking some Aqua Velva Ice Blue Sport to work for when I freshen up before the ceremony.
Another terrific shave with my Sabi Ebony Handle. The Godrej Menthol Mist cream delivered a damn nice freeze, and the Rubby Dubby Doo increased it 1,000 fold!
