August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Great breed! I wasn't sure because of the black. My grandfather always had GSP dogs and I shot many dove, quail and pheasant over them. I agree about the loyalty and trainability. I also like Brittany's for the same reason. Someday I will have a GSP. Enjoy him.

 

I'm starting to notice a pattern in my Feather focus. I like day two better than day one, even with a palm strop on day one. The blade settles down and is smother on day two.
SOTD
Gillette Double Ring
Feather (2)
TOBS Mr Taylor's Cream
Omega boar brush
Witch Hazel
AOS AS Balm
Old Spice AS
WSP Beard Oil
(Oops, I forgot Menthol Monday)

Nice three pass shave with no irritation.

Enjoy your week!

 

Two important points I also found. One common complaint has been that the Goose Drags. As Clint suggests, lowering the handle reduces drag and the blade being used does affect the angle. Longer strokes are more efficient and natural given the weight of the razor.

 

It is interesting that you are finding the second shave better than the first. I have noticed several blades seem to perform better on day 2 for whatever reason. It doesn't make sense to me, but it seems to be the case.

 

It could that the edge has a little roughness that gets stropped off on your face

 

August 30 Day Rule

Been out of town for the weekend trying to get my fiancee settled into her new apartment. Hate she is in a different city, but she has an excellent job opportunity to make it worthwhile! So while out of town, there was no shave Saturday. Sunday I realized I did not have my Stirling MITA with me, just completely forgot it. Fortunately I had some TOBS lavender in my travel bag so I used it. It produces a nice lather, but just not as slick as the MITA. Couple of great passes with the fiancee watching me on the second pass. First pass was WTG on face and XTG on the neck. Focused on the stretching on the neck. Pulling towards the ear works quite well except on my lower neck. On the lower neck I will be pulling from away from the back of the razor. Produced a very good pass. Second pass with the fiancee in the room went a little slower because I was focusing and paying attention while also talking with her and answering 100 questions about why I make the faces I make and pull my face the way I do and things like that. She loves the smell of the lavender soap though and stole some to use with shaving her legs. She left the bathroom before I finished the second pass, XTG on face and ATG on neck. Went very well and produced an excellent shave.
Felt good, felt smooth. Met up with my fiancee out in the living room and she touched my face. Her response . . . it is like a baby's bottom! Nothing like getting the validation on a good shave! She also approved of the AS, TSD Bourbon Vanilla, truly an excellent scent!

Today was Menthol Monday. Used my MITA again. Cold water shave today, something I am really starting to enjoy (especially in the South Carolina heat)! Had a good shave, but not a great one. The first pass went ok, smooth WTG on the face and XTG on the neck. Was really trying to focus on hearing the feedback and getting all the stretching right. Second pass just did not do well for me today. Again a XTG face and ATG neck. No blood drawn, but it just felt irritated. It was not widespread, but it was enough to note (especially when the ISZ aftershave hit). Have a feeling I tried too hard, but I really thought I was focused on not trying to chase the baby. I am going to give the GSB blade another try tomorrow to make sure it was not the blade giving out on me. I will definitely NOT be chasing the baby!

 

I used to strop all my DE blades before using them, and before each shave. I did 50 laps per edge on leather. IMO there is more truth to this statement than you think.

 

I'll strop the next one and let everybody know what it does for me. Thanks.

 

Shave 10
21/08
Pre: Proraso White
Soap: Tabac
Brush: Semogue OC Boar
Razor: Kai Excelia non folding
Blade: Kai Mild (4)
AS: Old Spice Musk

Looks like I lost my mojo already.
Rough shave again with a few weepers.
Not sure whether to stick with the Kai Mild or try a Feather for the next shave.

 

8/21 & 23/15
Two days’ growth
Prep: Face Wash
Razor: C.V. Heljestrand, No 24 & AJ Jordan Full Hollow 5/8" square point
Strop: @Drygulch Chromexcel/ Linen (20 linen 40 leather Pre, 10/10 post)
Soap: TSD Bayrum with 1x iced
Brush: Omega 46 synthetic
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Clubman Bayrum AS
Aftershave: Stirling post shave balm

Both shaves were nice, but I have to say that the shave with the AJ Jordan (GEMstar customer) was possibly the BEST shave I've ever had. Beyond bbs. From the stropping meditation to soap prep. I'm struggling with some major issues in my personal life, but the time that I have with my evening shaves has been very therapeutic.

 

Thanks Clint! Good advice. I'll give it a go tomorrow.

 

Kerry-

1) is the Gold Bond the one with the blue label?

2) are you going more shallow on your angles?

 

I have noticed this with some blades also.

 

And no irritation at all. I love this stuff!
Eric

 

August 24, 2015

Adjustable August
30-Day Focus - Gillette Adjustable Slim / Fatboy

Mid-morning shave.
Hot Shower
Soap: Arko (homemade travel stick)
Brush: Butterscotch Fauxmere 24mm synthetic
Razor: Gillette Fatboy (1961)
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (2)
After Shave: Proraso Green

Fatboy settings at:
7 - WTG
7 - ATG
No touch-up or repeat strokes. This is as much about technique as it is about finding the best settings on the razor for me.

This month has gone by so quickly as I've tried to learn the Slim and attempt the same with the FB. I've gotten very nice shaves all month. Given the time left in the month, I'm going to try to attempt a quick comparison using a mini 8-shave Rule, alternating every two shaves between the Slim and FB.

Shave 1 Fatboy (8/22 - two-day growth)
- first pass, solid. I continue to notice a good deal of audible feedback, as with both adjustables, in my brief experience with them. I rotate higher onto the cap, Close shave. FB feels very comfortable in my hand. noise lessens.
- second pass, AOK. Focusing on blade angle (which for me is minding the cap placement and relative angle of handle to cheek - it seems just below perpendicular)
Close shave. FB feels very comfortable in my hand.

Shave 2 Fatboy (8/24 - two-day growth)
- first pass - dared myself to almost go right to the top of the cap, so very shallow angle. Noise reduced from previous shaves, whisker reduction good.
- second pass - same angle. Very close, comfortable pass.

Onto the Slim (and back to work) tomorrow.

Cheers!
RT

 

It seems as if the angle sweet spot on a FB is large and easy to hit.

 

Classy Picture!

 

I wasn't going more shallow, I will try tomorrow. I had the head where it bends flat against my face this morning. It's this Gold Bond, I'm colored blind

 

Gotcha! I use the Gold Bond extra strength blue green tube sometimes. I like Gold Bond products very much.

 

I really like this product, it dries very fast, it's healing, it feels great on my bald head. It's pretty much taken the place of all of my balms.