SEPT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Of the blades I’ve tried, these are the ones that did well and that I really liked in my Super Speed and Fat Boy and that I will be continuing to test in my other razors:

Astra Superior Platinum
Rapira Swedish Supersteel
Gillette Silver Blue
Personna Platinum (Israeli Reds)
Gillette 7 O’clock Super Platinum (Black)
Lord Platinum class

Of course, I'm still trying new ones as well.

 

08/31/2015
Razor – Wolfman OC with Triad Helix SS
Blade – Feather (1)
Brush – Rudy Vey with Shavemac Finest
Lather – B&M Latha
Post - Witch Hazel & CC Bay Rum with menthol added



A great 3 pass with touch ups BBS shave this morning. The Wolfman razor is so easy to use and provides a very smooth and efficient shave. Latha provided a very slick and protective lather. Finished off with a splash of CC Bay Rum and I think I am ready to face Atlanta traffic.

 

Just seeing if you were paying attention. There's an old story about scientists who were trying to determine what 2+2 was. An attorney sighted case after case that conclusively showed that the answer was 3. An engineer showed that the answer was somewhere between 3.8976 and 4.2457. Finally an accountant was brought in. The scientists said, "What is 2+2?". The accountant closed the door and said quietly, "What do you want it to be?"

 

So I've decided my focus is going to be the r41 this month. Getting the angle just right and less irritation with it. Gave it a shot the other day and while it felt like a little demon had run across my face and flayed a couple of layers off I'll give it a shot. I want to get some derby blades this month. Maybe they'll work better with it than the gillette silver blues. Either way I will only be using one or two soaps (one being chiseled face ghost town barber) and a PAA soap when it arrives, and my semogue 1250. That'll go in my ikea bowl. Speaking of which...

Lather explosion

 

+1
(Looks like I'm dropping my old accountant. You available Herm?)

 

I don't know if it can, but I am excited to find out!

 

I wish I could afford an accountant like that. I suppose I'd have to make enough to justify an accountant before hand though

 

My tentative plan is to do an OC OCtober as well. Definitely been interested in all the recent OC activity on the board.

 

Aloha! Got a great shave, just shy of BBS. Used Neal's favorite blade in Clint's old razor. A little slide and j- hook, and I do remember how to ise a DE. Travel setup pictured.

 

I don't think it is the mongoose, either!

 

Looks like a ferret to me.

 

Glad it's working out for you. Just took a while to get back the old skills.

 

Soooo... I ordered some derby blades to try with "the bloodletter" aka the r41. The only other blades I can find locally are some Walgreens brand ones and Wilkinson sword blades. Gave the blades away that came with it. Anyone ever used those? I won't be shaving every day that's for sure!

 

August 31, 2015

Single-Edge SEptember
Injectors and perhaps a GEM

I'm jumping ahead by a day and starting today. (I'm a Monday thru Friday kind of guy because I'm prone to skipping a shave or two on the weekend.)

During this first week, my first with injectors, I’ll look to familiarize myself with them by starting with one that has been described as mild and perhaps move to experiment with others along the aggressiveness spectrum. I’ll be doing SEs all month.

Hot Shower, Morning Shave
Soap: Proraso Green
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Schick Eversharp Type J3 Golden 500
Blade: Schick Injector (China) (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave Cream: Proraso Green
After Shave: Proraso White



Two-pass shave (WTG / ATG).

The grip - obviously lighter than DEs. I chose to start with my longest handled (and mild) injector razor - providing me the ability to adjust my leverage.

Blade angle / pressure - I started with the flat part of the razor (with the blade) positioned flat against my face. It moved smoothly with hardly any sound. Tilted the handle down slightly and received positive feedback with sound and feel. I think I found a good cutting angle. The razor lightness creates a reaction to add pressure. I fought that urge for the most part.

Maneuverability - definitely much easier to approach my trouble spots - jawline areas, neck, that trouble spot just behind the jaw joint under the ear, and trimming around my shaped mustache and goatee. As with pressure, the lightness of the razor can get me into trouble. I could sense a tendency to zip around the face more quickly. In fact I did once and payed the minor price with a weeper / nick. I corrected that by focusing on the length and duration of the stroke - a little longer length and more deliberateness in the stroke. Once I slowed down, I was not aware of any intentional, added pressure to the stroke.

Overall - the shave was outstanding in all aspects - easy to find blade angle, maneuverability, little feeling of irritation (though the aftershave lit me up a bit more than most days. I'll have to be even more aware of blade angle, pressure and repeat strokes.

I'd like to avoid jinxing the rest month, but this was as good a shave as I can recall, and I just had one of my best shaves yesterday with an OC. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week with this one.

Cheers!
RT

 

Great start to SE September. Thanks.

 

The key is gonna be riding the cap of the razor on your skin at all times. This will effectively narrow the gap window and present the blade at a very shallow angle. You should consider giving it a month trial.

Love this! I really like aggressive OC razors. I hope you master it! Derby is probably a good choice, very smooth and not quite as sharp as GSB, it should be good.

 

Me too! I skipped it last year because I was still learning angles (joined TSD in sept), and can't wait to do it this year.

 

The walgreens brand is Israeli Personna. Good blades!

 

Catch some rays for us!

 

After your stint on DE, I knew this would be your reaction! Injectors rock! You will adjust your angle naturally, just listen to the whiskers as they break against the blade edge. When it sounds like you are peeling Velcro off your face and yet it barely feels like a blade is present...you have arrived! Great start!