OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

OCTOBER FOCUS - Gillette Old Types

Razor: 1907 Single Ring
Blade: Gillette 7 O'Clock Blue
Brush: Omega 10049
Soap: RazoRock Don Marco
AS: Old Spice Classic

Yesterday, my cheeks hurt all day (strangely, not my neck) and I was really wary of today's shave. Last night I slept with some of my wife's Dermacil lotion on my face to help soothe things. But, I am pleased to say that after several days of miserable, face-scraping shaves with my Single Ring, I think I finally got my act together again this morning.

Today, on Kerry's advice I really "rode the cap", and was very, very light on the touch. At times I thought I was just "riding the cap" with no blade in play because I didn't think I was accomplishing anything. I used a very, very shallow angle and after 2 passes I called it quits, both out of concern for my face and because I was running out of time. To my surprise, while it wasn't the closest shave of my life, I can call this a reasonable CCS or maybe a lower level DFS. There was no baby in sight in my bathroom, my house or in the neighborhood. My skin feels fine, is not screaming, and actually it feels soft and moisturized. This razor is really light-weight and sometimes I find it difficult to maintain the ideal shallow angle, but I'm not giving up. This why we FOCUS, right? Obviously the equipment...er...my technique is to blame.

 

Sounds like you are on the way to getting the Single Ring sorted out.

 

Thanks Charlie! Tonights the night for D&M.

 

The show is pretty good, and has been voted Best Las Vegas show for 3 years running. I wouldn't resist the inevitable, a happy wife makes for a happy life!

 

How does one "sneeze out the excess lather"? That's a technique I'm unfamiliar with. Is it Chinese?

 

The lather is a commonly occurring creature that infests the knot of a shave brush. It does not want to leave its nest on its own, so it must be squeezed to force it to leave it's home. Running water while squeezing the brush is an often recommended method of purging the brush of the infestation.

 

So does one need to sneeze while squeezing? Since you did say sneeze on your original post.

 

HaHa, I never noticed!

 

That's a great order. I'm interested on your thoughts on the Bay Rum and the shave stick.

 

I try to keep the lather out of my nose to start with.

 

10/8 & 9/15

Gillette Old Type
Frank Shaving Pur-tech Synthetic
C.O. Bigelow cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #2 & 3 with the Lord Platinum Class in my Old Type.
Did my normal face lather and 2 passes both days. On Thursday, I picked up three weepers. I never felt them. My lather was a little thin, so that might have accounted for the apparent lack of protection or perhaps I let my angle of attack wander. However, todays shave was much better. Both days were nice BBS results. The Old Type is the most aggressive razor I own, so I need to be careful with it. But it sure does shave close!

Today’s the day my bride and I will be going to the Donnie & Marie show at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. While my wife is a huge fan and I’m just going along, this is isn’t the first time we’ve done this. We saw them in 2013. The show is pretty good, and has been voted Best Las Vegas show for 3 years running. I’m not going to run out and buy any CDs, but I won’t complain about it if my bride picks some up. I know better.

 

That is the only Bay Rum I have liked the smell of.

 

October 9th SOTD (5th shave of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Preshave: Hot Shower
Razor: unrestored J. Wostenholm EBRO, from around 1865
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Oiled Latigo (20 laps linen/ 20 laps leather pre, 10 /10 post)
Brush: Handturned Tulip Poplar Badger
Soap: Barrister & Mann Bay Rum
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman with M-Bomb added

Got a little overconfident today on my S/N pass, and set the razor down a little hard on the base of my neck. Felt the sting, then the blood started. Cut-throat shaving indeed. Other than that, it was a good shave. Only did two passes, and got a DFS. Face and jawline are BBS. Required the syptic pencil today.

 

Had a great garage sale score (in my opinion) I got to glass bottles with stoppers, a antique brass bowl, perfect for lathering, and an apothecary style mug. As soon as I figure out how to upload picture I want to show everyone. Got it all for 10$!

 

Here it all is! Pretty happy with it all.

 

Razor: Gillette Aristocrat 1947 (Birth Razor)
Blade: Voskhod Teflon Coated (4)
Brush: WDC-4 Silver Tip Butterscotch Handle (VIG) 24/67
Soap: TSD Iced Bay Rum
A/S: TSD Iced Bay Rum
Menthol Crystals, (@clint64 )
Day 9
Another DFS this evening with great products. The Gillette Aristocrat is an excellent razor, and the TSD Iced Bay Rum is outstanding. Added some menthol crystals to a small container and sprayed in some alcohol, then added a teaspoon of hot water and added that to the TSD Iced Bay Rum. Worked perfectly! The whole family coming for dinner tomorrow, kids grandkids, and spouses. Should be a wild and fun day. Have a great weekend everyone.:hooray:

 

Looks like a sweet deal to me!

 

I'm really happy with it. I think I want to leave the brass bowls patina on it, just clean it up a little

 

Nice score!

 

Great score. Congrats.