July 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

30 day rule - Day 21
MDC Lavender Face Lathered
Ladas blade
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes


I kept the slim set at 8 for all three passes in order to check out whether or not my theory that I was getting better shaves by adjusting the slim between passes was working or not. It does not seem to actually make any difference. While I originally thought it made a difference, it was simply my technique that was better on the days I tried setting the slim lower. I will stick with the slim at one setting for all passes..

 

I have a birth year Slim that I have only used a couple of times. I really need to pull it out and use it more.

 

I own a fat boy, a few Old type, a few new types, and a slim. The slim is my "go-to" razor.

 

I got it when I was pretty new to using a DE razor so I think my bad technique clouded my thoughts on the razor. I'll use it some next month.

 

I really should try this...

 

My typical strategy is to do a 2 blade test using tryablade.com as my source. Then I buy the tuck samplers I need for PIF action, and 100 bulk purchases of the ones I know I'm going to use a lot of. I will probably have a PIF that will include quite a few single blades at some point...I don't always use the second blade on a trial if the first blade either performs great or horribly. I will take a tuck of the ones I like but don't use in bulk out of the tuck samplers just to keep in my own stash. After a month away from purchasing anything I'm down in the 700's for blade count. In other words, I'm OUT so there will be more to come in the next couple of weeks. I just get too nervous when I'm down that "low". Nothing wrong with me, right?

 

30 Day Rule - July 2015
July 20th
Razor - Feather SS AC/Gillette New LC
Blade - (5) (2 2/3)
Brush - Omega 10066 (BoS)
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Water splash, Nivea

Day off shave, though I did have a Dr. appointment to make so not quite as slow a morning as Tuesday usually is. Another great lather and ready to give the Feather its run. First pass very nice again with the modified style. I did have to back off around yesterday's cut to avoid reopening it but I'll clean that up with the New. Went XTG over my face and neck, again working around the cut, and finished that pass with a bit of irritation coming but no major problems. Finished with the New and Feather to get a very very nice DFS. Managed to leave the cut closed so points for me! The Feather is beginning to feel automatic on most of my shave. A few areas around the goatee still puzzle me a bit but I'm getting closer. Hit the cold water and skipped teh alum today. The Nivea gave me a fair burn, not bad, and off to be checked out. Hope you all have a great day!

 

I mostly enjoyed my 1961 Gillette Slim when I was DE shaving regularly. I alternated using it with the similarly-styled 1960 Fat Boy. Easy to pull smooth shave from it and the adjustability was a real plus. Overall, despite the fact I preferred the handle length of the Slim, I found I favored the stoutness of the Fatboy. Both are top vintage razors whose appeal is evident by the popularity of both models.

 

Phoenix Dbl OC Focus Day 19:

VDH Boar Brush
La Toja Shave Stick
Phoenix Dbl OC
Stirling Unscented PSB
Barbasol Brisk AS

No pic today, but a good shave after a day of no shaving. A DFS this morning with the Phoenix and La Toja.

 

I have finished up using my SuperMax Super Platinum blade for its rotation.

It was a horrible blade the first shave, got lots of irritation. Not smooth at all and felt like it was not sharp enough to do any good. My first shave took 3 passes to barely get DFS. If the second shave had gone the same way, it would have been terminated at that point. However, the second and third shaves were excellent, smooth as can be. No idea why the difference, but it just kept getting better with each shave (it seemed to be the exact opposite of the Voskhod blades, which just got worse for me). I am looking forward to testing the blade again to see if it was a fluke or if it will always be better after a use or two. Also, it was a great blade with a couple days growth but not good the first day when I had shaved the day before. Maybe it just really wants beard to chow down on to keep it smooth. Next up Gillette Superedge. Then will make my way back through them.

It is going to take more than a month to get through all the blade samples because I have had several significant spans where I did not shave due to illness or vacation etc. So looking forward to finishing all of them off and then giving them all another chance. I went ahead and picked up some other brands of blades that I will eventually try. As things stand right now, I think I will be buying some Astra SP and will use them for my 30 day Rule to get the technique down and then will go back to trying other blades because I am not sure any of these would be the perfect blade for me.

 

Razor: Gillette Black Handle Flair Tip (P1)
Blade: Wilkinson Sword (3)
Brush: WDC-5
Bowl: KnockOut Shave
Soap: Jack's Shave Soap
A/S: Lucky Tiger
Day 21

Still getting a great lather with this brush and soap combination. DFS this evening with a great A/S. Lucky Tiger is one of the best, and my go to A/S.
In a few days I'll change brushes and finish off the month with the Semogue 1305. Have a good night.

 

July 21, 2015

30-Day Focus - Blade Trials for Gillette Tech
Weekly Trial for: Personna Red, Derby Green, Gillette Silver Blue, Voskhod

Hot Shower
Pre-Shave Oil: Gingers Garden
Soap: Catie's Bubbles Mile High Menthol
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle”
Blade: Voskhod (3)
TSD Witch Hazel
After Shave: Myrsol Agua De Limon



Another great two-pass shave. Yep, Voskhod's a keeper!
Cheers!
RT

 

1956 Gillette Super Speed Flair
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue
Current Blade under review: PolSilver Super Iridium

Shave #1 with PolSilver Super Iridium blade. Almost BBS results. Very close, really comfortable, no nicks, irritation or razor burn, but I did pick up one small weeper during touch up.
2 Full passes: Pass 1: WTG on my face (N/S), and XTG on my neck (N/S) except for the outsides which were WTG (S-N). Pass 2: ATG. At this point, I had a near BBS shave.
Lathered up again for touch up. I used some stretching to get the remaining spots with a slight stubble just below my jawline. Today there was more to cleanup than yesterday, and I needed to go over some of them two or three times. That's when I picked up my weeper. On my final rinse I could not feel any remaining stubble. The Aqua Velva burned a bit this morning, but my face quieted down pretty quickly.

A nice 2 pass shave from the PolSilver Super Iridium. Parts of my first pass felt as though I didn't have a blade in the razor. After 2 passes I could have walked away with a DFS. Unfortunately, while everything initially felt smooth, about 15 minutes after the A/S, I searched and found fine stubble below my left jaw joint. I had hit this area 3 times with stretching and blade buffing, but somehow it escaped my efforts. This is usually the first stubble that appears after my shaves. My whiskers are light, so no one can see it, but I know it’s there. I think I need to review parts of my grain map. Perhaps I’m not going ATG there like I thought.

 

If only they made a Fat Boy with the handle about 1/2' longer than a slim, but the thickness of a Fat Boy............ If only!

 

Wednesday shave #11

New razor in the house. I prefer heavy razors and wanted to try a bigger razor so I bought a used Hart Steel 7/8 razor in maple scales.

The first two passes were great, the most stubble I ever removed with a SR and zero irritation or blood. So.... I did a 3rd pass and clean up. No blood, not even a tiny weeper, some irritation but less than normal with a straight. DFS except one spot I missed. Without a doubt my best ever straight shave. I am not sure sure if it is the razor or I am just getting better. The later was awesome today too.

The razor is huge and heavy. I definitely like the weight and I think I prefer it over full hollow grinds.


Proraso Pre Shave
QCS Iced Key Lime
Simpson Tulip 3 Super
Hart Steel 7/8
Dry Gulch strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Alcolado Glacial AS
Spieck ASB
Dior Eau Sauvage

 

OMG yes!
How could I refuse the PIFer of the most generous of PIFs?!!

An August focus on the Slim you sent me is great timing for me - after more than 2 months on my Tech, perhaps it's time to try something new in the razor department?!!

 

Why then you'd have the following...

 

Charlie you actually went from your electric razor to a straight?!! Yeah I can see where learning technique right away would have been imperative - dare I say life affirming!

Wow! Im in awe of all you straight-edge guys!

Perhaps in my younger days when my hands were more steady...but today I'll just leave all that hard work, and sweat and BLOOD to you young, steady guys and live vicariously through all your tales of adventure here on the Den!

Old age wisdom comes from knowing ones abilities AND limitations!

 

TSDenizens of the 30-day Rule/Focus Thread and Grand Poobah - @Bama Samurai

I submit my assessment of my July focus as a success!

I have focused on four brands of blades, using the Gillette Tech that I learned to DE shave with in my June 30-day Rule. I have shaved between 3 - 4 times with a blade from each brand finding two (Gillette Silver Blue and Voskhod) to fill my every day needs with this razor.

With 10 days remaining in the month, I would have moved to a fifth and possibly sixth brand to assess, but...

I have been sooooooo blessed recently.

My in-laws (from Vancouver , Canada) have provided my family with use of their island cabin for a week starting tomorrow! It sits on Mayne Island off the coast of British Columbia.

Also, though I don't shave very often on this type of vacation, but I have recently received a "loaner PIF" of a ’46-47 Aristocrat ! from yet another great Denizen @NCoxSTL



So I’ll be taking it on vacation with me (don’t worry Neal, I’m insured!) and trying it out on my trip. Details and perhaps some more photos to follow.

I sincerely hope this doesn’t violate any provisions of the 30-Day Association, for I’m also looking forward to another great learning experience in August spending 30-days with my new Slim courtesy of yet one more great Denizen @wristwatchb

Gosh you guys are GREAT!
RT

 

You had a great focus for the month and looks like a great time to finish it! The fact that your top two blades from those shaves are Russians, and two of the best Russians puts a warm glow in my heart. I'll alert the Russian Blade Godfather that we have another in the fold.

Hope the Aristocrat treats you as well as it has me. I know it loves Voskhods. My original 30 Day Rule in January when I was first really learning was with that razor and Voskods. Eager to hear what you think of it. I am a bit irritated, though, that it will be off to the island while I swelter midst the heat and bullets of St. Louis. Ah well, I guess I'll have to settle for the paradise here.

Have a great and safe trip!