Thanks Herm, you put that in a way that I wasn't yet able to grasp myself!

Each shave and each time I moved up a setting, the shave had no different feel that I could easily discern, yet especially today I am beginning to notice just slight upgrades in the shave.

This may have as much to do with my renewed focus on technique as much as anything - but it is a great feeling.

I'm tempted to jump up more than 1 setting at a time to see if I can tell any noticeable difference due to the setting change, because with my lack of technical expertise (and poor eyesight) regarding blade gap, etc. the thing may just be stuck in the same setting and I wouldn't know it!

8/5/15 SOTD (Shave 3 of this focus)
One and a half days’ growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: “Our Leader” JAS. G. BARRY Co. Chicago, ILL’S Made in Germany
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel/ Linen (50 laps Linen/ 50 laps Leather pre and 10/10 post)
Soap: Barrister & Mann Seville plus M-Bomb
Brush: Omega 1066 Boar
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Osage Rub

Another shave with a razor I purchased for $5 (including shipping,) and used my hones to refresh. Have customer vistiors in the office today, so have to look my best. I still didn’t have much stubble after Monday night’s awesome shave, so today I did an XTG instead of a N/S pass, followed by a S/N pass. Did a touch up pass on my neck, but kept it quick so SWMBO could get in the bathroom. Overall DFS. Had some irritation on my chin with the Alum, which is typical for me if I shave more than three times in a week.

First time using Osage Rub aftershave. This stuff is freaking cold. It goes on smelling like a medicine, and then your eyes start watering and your sinuses loosen up. Then your face freezes. By that point you either can’t smell it or it is so mellow you don’t notice a scent. It’s awesome.

Perfect! That's how it is supposed to work!

The sounds don't lie!

Using both hands! I love it.

Osage is the real deal. Mrs. Samurai says it smells like baby talc after it dries. I agree with you though, one does not merely use Osage, it's more of an experience.

.


Thank you. Isn't it amazing what we can learn if we pay attention? I'm going all the way up to 9 to see what happens. Why not join me? Like you said, we just have pay closer attention to technique the higher we go. What's the worst that can happen - we take a couple extra layers of skin off?

It takes a bit of practice and I'm not quite there yet.
It makes things interesting though!

I actually get pretty good results with my off hand. Since there isn't muscle memory to overcome, if I concentrate I can set it up, and have things seem easier each time I do it.

I totally agree with the "pay attention" part.

My knees are getting a bit wobbly regarding the "going all the way up to 9" part.

I'm assuming you've used an adjustable before?

If you are already at 5 why not try out 7 first. In a way going up the dial does force you to pay attention to technique. It for certain teaches you the meaning of no pressure. Herm, going up the dial is no way near as intimidating as my first use of a GEM razor and that paint scraper of a blade.

Razor: Gillette Executive (1960)(5)
Blade: Gillette Platinum (3)
Brush: WDC-4, Silvertip Badger, Butterscotch. (VIG) 24/67
Cream: The Real Shaving Company
Bowl: "One a Marine always a Marine"
A/S: Pinaud Lime
Day 5
Picked up The Real Shaving Company cream today on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart. Thought I'd try it today and I am very impressed. Very easy to work into a great lather and gave me a very close BBS shave. The Executive FB is a very good razor. It also works well with the Gillette Platinum blade to assist in providing a close smooth, and comfortable shave. Pinaud Lime is one of my favourites.

If you ride the cap and exercise strict blade angle discipline, you could use nine any time you like. I thought the Slim was underwhelming until I opened it up to 7 and higher. All this of course depends upon how your skin will react. Nothing wrong with a slow steady progression though....

Pinaud Lime is on my "must try" list. I love all of the Pinaud stuff I have tried.

@Herm2502 and @Douglas Carey I am also curious at what # the shave is similar to your Red Tips.

Good question. I believe it is difficult to compare the Executive FB to the Red Tip as they are very different in construction and feel. (IMO) They both give outstanding shaves. I will take a wild guess and say the Executive at #5 would be close. Like I said they feel very different in the hand. I will be interested in @Herm2502 response. He is a very wish man.

Thank you. That would have been my guess as well.

Crashing the Adjustable Party: I am late to the party on this Focus thread, but I wish to pop in with another 'one week-one razor' evaluation. I've found that, thanks to the previous two months of the '30-day' testing, in order to truly get a reliable and accurate assessment of a straight razor, one needs to spend sufficient consecutive days using the item. Seven consecutive shaves gives a pretty good idea of what the razor brings to the shaving experience. This has allowed me to separate the keepers from those expendable and heading for the selling block. This isn't a knock on those razors destined to leave the fold, but merely indicates my own personal preferences when it comes to what I personally look for.

Starting tomorrow, I'll commence with the initial seven-day trial using a razor new to me — a lovely Japanese-made FEON 172, a 3/4" full-hollow Takehana, generously loaned to me by Mike @entropy1049
This is the first Japanese Western (J-West) straight I've had the pleasure of using so looks forward to the experience.
In subsequent weeks, I have two other razors I'll be trying out for the first time as well. TBD.

I see a bunch of J-Wests in your future Kevin...

The more the merrier! Welcome back!

August 5

Gillette Slim G3 (3)
Feather blade (3)
Edwin Jagger XL Synthetic
Trumper's Coconut cream
Two passes
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Trumper's Coral Skin Food

A fantastic shave to start the day!