The Crazy Ivan in SEptember!
September 17

Razor - Ever Ready 1914 Lather Catcher
Blade - (3)
Brush - Vie Long 12705 - The Horse
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold Water, Alum, Nivea

Well day three of the PAL BC has arrived. Will it or won't it make it through the shave? I have babied this blade a bit by drying it and dipping in 91% alcohol after each shave to keep rust at bay. Even with this precaution there is some slight rust beginning on the edge this morning. We won't know the effect until we start. Oh, I also hand stropped it to try and smooth it out a bit.

The Horse and Tabac today, another great combination though I almost didn't get enough water in the mix. Tabac is forgiving, though, so if you get it too dry to start you can add water and keep going and it produces great lather that way. Again, one of my favorite soap scents. Ok, lathered up, ready to go, razor in place, angle set, let's go. Hmmmmm. Actually better than I expected and no worse than yesterday. Second stroke is the same and I am able to finish the WTG pass with no problems. Except....it's not quite as smooth a one pass finish. Lathered up and the XTG was not any worse either for feel but there was a bit more work to do to finish the shave up. Went ATG all over and slid the neck. Had to do a bit of scrubbing to get a DFS and it isn't as good a DFS as yesterday but still there. Water, the alum for the extra burn and Nivea to cool off.

I would have to say that the Lather Catcher does a fine job and the PAL BC is a good carbon blade. But, it's a carbon blade so life is shorter and shave is a bit noisier and rougher. Still an enjoyable three days overall going retro with this setup. As for the SE race I'd put the Gem 1912 over the Ever Ready 1914. And, I would put the Gem PTFE blade over the PAL BC, but again, two different blades so I don't expect an even comparison.

Tomorrow Ivan is going crazy again....it's another Chinese blade, the Patrix. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Day 17 - SEptember 2015

30 Days with a Schick G


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Same setup as yesterday, but I did change out the blade. The result was an easy near BBS version of the two pass automatic smoothness. Really focused on shallow blade angle, and the razor just does the rest. I am kind of surprised people ever could be convinced that five blade carts are better than this! Alum was cool, so was the afternoon. Somehow the Broncos are 2-0 despite an abject inability to block anyone in the run game. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a fantastic Friday!
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I cheated and used an old type today with a persona med prep. The usual Arko and semogue boar brush. I was at work so it was a quick 2 pass. WTG and XTG ending up with an irritation free DFS. A slash of Nivia sensitive post shave balm to finish. Hopefully ill have more time tomorrow and I can G back to the Gem bullet tip and Schick type G. Being rushed is terrible

Absolutely agree. Blades are too cheap to endure bad shaves.

I think you will like it! I'll be on the lookout!

You never let us down!

(Makes popcorn)

SOTD
September 18, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Mongoose B3 Dr. Bomber Handle
Blade: Feather Professional
Lather: Wholly Kaw Almond Medley
Brush: Red & Black Acrylic Silvertip 22/50mm
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Fine Platinum
I feel asleep at 6:30 pm last night, woke up at 1:30am ready for my day. Wholly Kaw is a very nice soap! Smells great, lathers wonderfully,slick and plenty of cushion. My custom Silvertip works great on these morning my hands don't want to. 3 & out with the Mongoose and I was rewarded with a DFS + October I'll continue to use my Mongoose along with some Gillette TTO's. With my focus of 3 and out.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

1953 (Y3) Tech
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #4 with the Gillette Silver Blue in my birthday Tech. A nice BBS shave.
Face lathered, then did 2 full passes: Pass 1 ATG on my face and XTG on my neck (top to bottom today). Pass 2: XTG on face, ATG on neck. Did a cold water rinse followed by a few targeted touch ups in my problem areas. Stopped chasing the baby as it seemed like at this point it just wasn't going to happen. The Aqua Velva burned a bit on my neck today, but settled down to icy coolness in just a few seconds. About 30 minutes later, I hunted for signs of stubble in my trouble spots. But I couldn't find any. How about that? A BBS shave.

A surprise BBS from the Gillette Silver Blue in the Tech. I thought I might have pushed a bit much today on my neck and a cold water rinse seemed to show bits of stubble that wouldn't yield to the blade, but once the Aqua Velva soaked in, I had a nice BBS to show for my efforts. Tomorrow I'll try the Personna Red for the first time in my Tech. Hopefully it will be a decent shave. It was in the Fat Boy, but each razor can behave differently.

Have a great Friday and weekend!

09/18/2015
Razor – Mongoose B2 with Triad SS Helix
Blade – Feather Super Pro (5)
Brush – Rubberset 400 with Omega Boar
Lather – Mystic Water Lavender
Post - Witch Hazel and Myrsol F/Extra



I stuck with the same 2 pass plus touch ups routine this morning and ended up with a near BBS. Now that I have figured out Mystic Water soaps, I truly enjoy using them. The lather is super slick and the post shave feel is fantastic. Finished up with a splash of Myrsol F/Extra.

Going to the NC mountains on the motorcycle this weekend. Probably not the best thing for my back but I am going stir crazy. I will be using my Schick J3 Golden 500 for this trip. Happy Friday everyone.

SEptember Focus Day 18:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Pre de Provence SS
Gem G Bar
Stirling Unscented PSB
Clubman Vanilla AS

Put a new blade in this morning and took my time again. I was rewarded with a great DFS. I still had a little irritation on my neck, but I think that was left over from yesterday.

The Pre de Provence was a high light this morning. I was quite honestly dragging before I lathered up, and the scent just woke me up. It almost made me feel like I was in an old Coast soap commercial. It got my day started. Have a great Friday.

Thank you! I guess it was just the wrong blade/razor combination for me. My face is actually still a little sore in places. I do not have sensitive skin so that blade really tore me up. I skipped this morning's shave, so we will see how the voskhod does tomorrow.

Love the GSB blade. Good luck with the reds! Hope it treats you better than it did me!

I am with you. I don't have sensitive skin either and they tore me up so bad I couldn't finish the first pass before changing the blade. I've never tried them in another razor.

Well the shave is in but I'm out the door so let the drama build until tonight.......did he finally find a Chinese blade that actually shaves? Was there physical and aesthetic damage? Was there a temper tantrum from the crappiness of yet another Chinese blade that caused throwing of shaving accessories? Will he ever learn who the father of his Aristocrat is? Tune in tonight for another edition of............"How the razor cuts!"

Bon Voyage! Have a safe trip and enjoy yourself.

Enjoy your ride! Lots of beautiful areas in the mountains! We expect some impressive pictures with the Golden 500!

Thanks guys. The weather forecast for the weekend is great. Now if my back will cooperate, it should be a good time. At least I have adult beverages in the evening to help with any pain. Just going to spend some time riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway Saturday which should be a nice and easy ride.

Today was the last day with the Gem G-bar and I'm running out of things to say about it. It is a consistent shaver giving me very nice two pass DFS's with just a little cleanup. I'm not sure I will ever get BBS but I'm happy with the shaves I'm getting.
SOTD
Gem G-bar
Gem Stainless (5)
Rubberset 400
TOBS Grapefruit cream
AOS AS Balm
Florida Water AS
Happy Friday!

Love that brush and glad you are getting consistent DFS. Shame it is not hitting BBS for you.Where do you get all your after shave samples? You have a good many in that photo.

Goodmorning guys my shave this morning was ......well great ...at first but by now I have this weird stubble in patches popping up......don't get it maybe you guys know something I don't........... Oh well it was a 2 pass with a touch up.cold water rinse the on goes some Bay Rum AS and off to work.on another note I have a new supervisor... Well I have known him for years so not new to me but new to the position and I'm feeling quite good as I have just perfected my cig rolling tech so I'm pretty happy about that..hope everyone's day is going well