OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Razor: Gillette Aristocrat 1947 (Birth Razor)
Blade: Voskhod Teflon Coated (6)
Brush: WDC-4 Silver Tip Butterscotch Handle (VIG) 24/67
Soap: TSD Iced TSD Signature
A/S: TSD Iced TSD Signature
Decanter: Old Spice Ship's Flask Flying Cloud Product ID#3630, Commemorates the Clipper Flying Cloud, 1985-87
Day 11
Outstanding shave this evening. The angle on my Aristocrat is getting better, which help with a great shave.

 

As I reported in another thread, I had purchased a New LC from eBay that had a cracked handle. The seller noted that the handle was cracked, but my assumption was that it was cosmetic. It wasn’t cosmetic and could not be used without repair. I returned home from vacation to find that two members had sent me replacement handles for my New LC. Herm2502 sent me a beautiful aluminum handle:



And Omaney (Tony) sent me not only a replacement Bar Handle, but a complete New LC razor!



I am truly humbled and really appreciate their generosity and kindness. This is a wonderful example of the warm and welcoming nature of the Shave Den. I am so glad to be associated with such fine individuals and with this group.

Thank you very much Herm2502 and Omaney!

 

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Mongoose with Triad Ti Helix Hex
Feather Pro #1
Varlet Mega
Crabtree & Evelyn Nomad Cream
Witch Hazel +++Menthol, Cucumber Melon Whipped Shea Butter
Floid Blue Aftershave

Sent from South of the Border on the Gulf of California in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Hasta la vista! Two pass BBS shave this evening. Getting ready for dinner out with my lovely wife after an excellent day at the beach. Finished this fabulous shave with a generous dousing of Floid Blue Aftershave. Ready to knock 'em dead.

 

October 12 Focus Shave 9

Did my usual 3 passes plus 2/3 of the 4th pass. No blood but a little irritation from some acne but when I applied the alum just a little sting. Finished DFS+, definitely not BBS.

I rate this shave irritation A-, closeness B+.

Homemade pre-shave
Simpsons Duke 3 Best
C&S 88 soap
Hart Steel 6/8 round tip
SRP strop
Speick AS
Edwin Jagger ASB
Chanel Antaeus

 

Good looking puppy.

 

Is that bowl brass or silver plate?

 

I thought brass, but the more I clean it, the more silver it looks.

 

I went to rite aid to look at there variety of shaving items. And can honestly say, I've never been so insulted by someone's prices. The ten blade pack that's identical to the ones I picked up at the PX for 1.49 was 8.99 on sale. A bottle of Clubman was 12.00. A bar of Van der Hagen soap was right at 10.00. I've never seen anything like it.

 

On pace for 2,849 posts this month. Just saying.

 

OCtober 30 Day Focus -- Cadet Open Comb

October 11

Razor – Cadet Open Comb
Blade – Ladas (Last Day)
Brush – AOS Fine Badger
Preshave – Olive tree tobacco and leather soap
Soap – Stirling Spice
Post - Cold Water Splash, Witch hazel, old spice


Very nice shave today! I am definitely enjoying using the Olive Tree as a face soap prior to shaving. The goat's milk and olive oil do a good job of laying down a slick base for the shave soap lather. I am now planning to try and find some tobacco scented soaps (I know RazoRock among others makes them, but will have to see what all I can find).

Used a fine badger brush today that was a PIF from one of the many amazing people here on TSD. It is definitely different from my VDH boar. So much softer and with much more splay. Both will take some getting used to and I plan to spend some time using it now that the cadet and I seem to be getting along.

The Ladas blade has done exceptionally well in this razor, just like it did in the L6. Never a let up at all. Concentrated on blade angle, which is imperative with this razor. As I found out early on, it will bite if you are at a bad angle. Once found though, the razor is a joy to use! After my usual 2 passes, I ended with a DFS, did some touch up and I dare say it was another BBS shave with this razor!

 

I have a Rite Aid and a Walgreens literally across the street from one another. The Rite Aid is always nearly twice the cost of the Walgreens for the same items. Clubman is $6.50 at Walgreens near me and $11 at Rite Aid. I guess Rite Aid just wishes it did not have to carry shaving supplies or something. Walgreens also had a buy one get one half price on the Nivea Post Shave Balms which I may have to go back and get based on some of the people on this site recommending it.

 

I took a partial break from the open comb by doing my first pass XTG with a straight razor I did my first full hone on. Not bad, but it could be a little smoother. I'll take it back to the stones later and see if I can smooth it out some more, but I'm pretty stoked I did as well as I did for my first time. I finished up my shave with a couple of passes with the OSS loaded with the Bic (2nd shave) did a little touch up and I'm calling BBS. I really like the Bic. It seems to be a solid performer. Little to no irritation. Happy Columbus Day, y'all

 

October 11th SOTD (6th shave of this focus)
Two and a half 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 Seville with M-bomb
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Aqua Velva Classic Ice Blue

I think I turned a corner with this razor today. It seems like with a DE we always say no pressure, and for me this translated into Straights as well. It seems though, that there are two kinds of pressure I use in a shave. Forward- actual cutting the hair across the skin surface. And inward pressure, pushing the razor against the skin. The forward pressure needs to be minimized, otherwise you are cutting at a bad angle, or tearing out the hair instead of cutting it. This was what I used for years to get more shaves out of my Mach 3. The inward pressure, pressing the razor into the skin seems like something I have been adjusting. With DEs, it made riding the cap and hitting the perfect angle easier. With Straights, I have to be pretty comfortable with a razor to push it against my skin. If you do it too much, you get a little ridge of skin in front of the edge, and then a big honking cut. (Or so I have heard.) I have noticed, especially with wedge grind razors, that if you keep the angle very shallow, you can sometimes get the flat surface of the blade to almost suction to your face, and glide down the skin, leaving a BBS in its wake. I have done this four or five times with my Dubl Duck, and wanted to try it with this girl. Success on my cheeks and jawline, on both the N/S and S/N passes. Neck takes a braver man than me to try and do that. Got a DFS there, so calling the shave a DFS plus.

Part of being able to get the razor to glide like that is having an incredibly slick lather. B&M delivered. Actually added a little too much water, which is almost impossible to do with this soap, and had it a little runny. Of the four scents of B&M I have, I think this is the only one I am going to replace when it is gone. Adding M-Bomb made it even better. Very little burn on the alum, and the Aqua Velva always delivers.

Depending on if I can get the Spike Razor honed on my day off tomorrow, I may be using it on Wednesday. Otherwise, it will be the Dubl Duck as I try out different wedge razors this month.

 

I've heard great things about the Nivea as well. I was really want to pick up a bottle of Pinaud but I couldn't do it at that price. I would've went to another store, it's just the only one I've ran across, and I don't like using GPS.

 

I use the Nivea Original Replenishing. I know a lot of guys like the Sensitive Skin formula but I'm fine with the original. The original formula does have a scent though. It's very nice, can't complain, and I often use it as my only aftershave especially after a rough shave. When I want to use The Veg or another aftershave I skip the Nivea.

 

Thanks for the reminder, I like how you're thinking!
(but only if it can't be NYMets. )

 

spoken like a true Cards fan!

 

That sounds great...I know it's a lather making machine and it looks great, so if you're not finding hairs on your face daily while shaving, then I think you have a winner....I want one too...

Great looking kit....
Stay with it....You've already paid your dues with the C3 so this ne should come together quickly...Hows the blade changing mechanism on these?