Not necessarily…this is just what I've been told.
Either way, its not worth the risk selling & transporting considering it's pretty easy to make.

10-4.

@HolyRollah

Kevin-

Earlier on the thread you used Institut Karité cream in the silver tube. What is your method for lathering it?

Squirt a toothpaste-type dab on the brush end and commence with da' face-lathering…Add more water as needed.

Thanks! I will give it a go, I got some in the mail last week, ordered it after seeing your post.

IK is quite decent stuff. I enjoy both the soap and cream. the aftershave balm is the bomb! My wife stole my bottle.

Day 27 - 30 Day Focus with Cadet OC!


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Second verse, same as the first...another good shave on 2 passes. La Toja is a keeper in my rotation. Easy to work, Arko level lather that leaves my face feeling good. A nice shave after a calm afternoon. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a great Monday!
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For general info:

I will be creating the thread for July later this evening after I update the introductory post.

No Buy July anyone?

It's almost July!

!NEW! July 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

June 28 - Shave 19
Prep: Hot shower, Aveeno 5:1 face wash
Brush: Omega 48
Preshave: Stirling Mentha Preshave
Soap: TSD Signature 2x iced
Razor: Heljestrand, C. V. "No 24" 9/16 quarter hollow french tip. 20 x linen strop 40 x leather strop
Strop: @Drygulch Modern Barber Strop 24"x3"
Growth: 5 day
Post: Cold water splash, TSD Milk AS Signature 2x iced
Passes: WTG, XTG, WTG

Been waiting to have a lot of growth on a straight shave! So with 5 days of growth, I had to choose my blade (and strop) wisely. So, I went with the Swede - CV Helijestrand No. 24. I've enjoyed the semi-hollowness of this blade (since it's been properly honed by @gssixgun!) Making sure my prep was perfect, starting with my fav preshave oil, Stirling Mentha. Getting that nice tingle on, the TSD signature whipped up nicely. First pass was my real concern. If this was a cartridge or even a DE first pass with 5 days of growth, there would be significant cloggage in the head. Not with the Swede (I'd guess any other straight for that matter). First pass as clean as it would be with any other 1st pass with the straight. Once the first pass was complete (without the nicks) I finished up with the XTG and another WTG pass. Ended with a BBS just in time to watch the San Francisco Giants Madison Kyle Bumgarner pitch 7 innings and blast another homer with my pops. All in all, a great day.
Cheers,
Eric

06/29/2015
Razor – Gillette Old Type with Jürgen Hempel Ti
Blade – Feather (1)
Brush – Rubberset 400 with Omega Boar
Lather – B&M Latha
Post - Witch Hazel & Floid Blue Sample



Great near BBS shave this morning but this razor is so mild it required a lot of work to get there. I'm going to finish out the June OC Focus with this razor since it's only one more shave. After this I am sure this head will be retired. Finished off with a splash of Floid Blue from my sample pack and I am ready for Monday. At least I think I am.

June 29th, SOTD (Shave 19 of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co Green Lizard B45GL
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel Horsehide/ Linen (Post Shave Only)
Soap: Maggard’s Orange Menthol
Brush: Eveready 100T re-knotted with 22mm TGN Synthetic
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Maggard’s Orange Menthol Splash

First shave with my Lizard. Following @HolyRollah ‘s suggestion, I used a very light touch. This is a noisy razor, and it is very light weight with it’s plastic scales. . That actually made it more challenging, as some pressure was needed, but I still kept the touch light. Did two and a half passes, and the feedback with the razor was great. DFS plus shave. Alum was quiet today, and only a couple of the normal spots on my neck are keeping me from calling it a BBS. I am going to enjoy learning this razor more in July.

Good looking razor. Looks very hollow!

I'd better get my shopping done now. Where's that duck?

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!!
June 29, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Razor - Edwin Jagger DE89L
Blade - (3)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

And here we are at the last blade before the finals! Ladas has its chance for Russian glory as it takes the field on a cloudy day following tornadoes. Fortunately, shaving is unaffected by the weather but that sounds so dramatic.

The 98 and Fat again did their part in providing excellent slick, cushiony lather for the blade. The Ladas is on its third shave and seemed fearless as the first pass began. Still sharp and still smooth. This is one stainless blade that I really like the feel of. First pass seemed a bit less productive than normal but it could be the crowd roar that makes it seem so. Second pass, XTG and just a hint of tug in areas. Enough to take note but not enough to dock the score. One more shave on the blade may be too many but for now it's doing well. Lathered for the third pass and went ATG face and XTG/Gillette Slide on the neck. Finished with a very nice DFS. Not quite as close to BBS as the Voskhod produced but it's DFS for sure so that won't hurt. The only question is irritation because it feels like it may be higher than normal. We'll find out.

Scoring - Sharpness - 1. The Ladas is a sharp blade that has some lasting power. Smoothness - 1. Hinting at some tug/drag but it's still smooth enough for the score. Finish - DFS for the 2. Irritation - This is either going to tie things up and force me to break the tie or it will end the suspense. Cold rinse, hit the alum and...............burn. Definitely more than yesterday, less than some blades but it persisted until the final rinse. Too much to avoid the 2.

Total - 6

And that, ladies and gentleman, means the winner is...........................

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After a great showing, the Ladas comes in second for the Russians. Still a great result! And, Voskhod moves on to take on the Bic starting tomorrow!! It's the finals! Enjoy your Monday!

Hollow' to the point of near-implosion.
Probably one the thinnest blades I've worked with, that Lizard does resonate mightily during the shave.
I found that razor a bit unnerving dragging it across my face, picturing in my head the fragile blade snapping in half...
A very light touch seemed to help mollify my concerns.[/quote]

30-days of June
Winding up by choosing my 'top three' over the past two months of razor use these final 3 days of June. Following yesterday's Friodur choice, I selected for today a razor I've had in my rotation for some time.
This large-bladed Wostenholm 'Pipe' razor was an antique stores gift from my wife that needed some restoration, including a new set of scales. I don't think I've ever had a bad shave off this razor and despite the large blade size, it has never felt awkward or cumbersome. I've used some nearly one-inch wide blades that were a challenge to use comfortably. So I suppose the lesson learned here is NOT all large bladed razors will shave the same nor feel the same in your hands. Sometimes you just need to try them before ruling them out of possible contention.
This one is a keeper!

Razor: Gillette Black Tip SS
Blade: Gillette, Platinum (5)
Brush: Omega Boar #10066
Soap: Les CocoNuts (test)
Bowl: Wife bought it for me in Montreal. $4.95
A/S: TSD Coconut
Day 29

Working with a new brush and shaving soap. This boar brush is working much better than the 1305 boar brush, for me, and it is new. As a result of being a new brush it did loose a few hairs tonight. Had a DFS tonight. TSD coconut A/S is a mighty fine A/S.

Monday's 2 + 2 shave:

Due to time and need for a BBS for Monday meetings I went with 2 passes with a straight and 2 passes with a DE. Using the Ralph Aust confirms that just like DE razors I prefer a heavier razor. 2 smooth passes with SR and the the ATT delivered the BBS. Almost no irritation.

Today I have a big meeting so I can't end the month with a straight razor shave. I used my 2011 R41 with a new Super Iridium blade. This was a good reminder that I still need allot of improvement with a straight. This is my goal to get as good a shave with a straight as with my R41.

Proraso Pre Shave
QCS Cubano Breeze
Woodheat scuttle
Kent BK8
Ralph Aust 5/8, 2011 R41
Dry Gulch strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Speick AS
L'Occitane Cade ASB
SMN Acqua di Cuba

This was my identical goal when I started SR shaving. It took a while, but I can now get pretty darn close to a great R41 shave with my straights.
Early on, I always seemed to find a rough patch I had missed with the SR—usually after I had a final rinse…grrrrr!
I dont chase a BBS shave often—but when I have time for a more relaxed shave, I spend a few extra minutes touching up and getting that uber-smooth mug.