OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

So far Jason has been the only source I've found for Sharp Star. Still looking though. Gotta love the donkey cart delivery service to the slow boat. Although my last two orders were very fast. Maybe after enough orders you get put on the special delivery list or something.

 

I really don't know where I am going, ergo I can't be lost.

 

You should have paid the extra fee to secure shipping via coal fired trains and steam ships. Way faster than donkeys on the frontside. Those donkeys get stuck in the Caucasus for weeks...

 

Gillette Old Type
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #2 with the Rapira Swedish Supersteel in my Old Type.
Did face lather and 2 full passes: Pass 1 XTG. Good reduction. Pass 2: ATG. Almost a DFS at this point. A cold water rinse followed by a moderate amount of touch up left me with a near BBS shave. The Aqua Velva stung a bit less than yesterday, but quieted down quickly.

A nice comfortable near BBS from the Rapira Swedish Supersteel in the Old Type. A much better shave than yesterday because I paid attention to basics. I had better lather today because I added water gradually and stopped when the lather looked and felt right. Another reason for improvement was that I slowed down and paid close attention to my angle of attack: I rode the cap.

For my Throwback Thursday, I went back to basics with my 20s' Old Type for a great shave. I hope everyone else scores a nice shave today as well!

 

I only tried VDH soap for 2 days in a row and I believed at the time, that I had a reaction to it...I felt it like burned me....could have been razor burn, but was unlike anything I'd felt before...

I'm one of those guys who doesn't tolerate something messing with my enjoyment....One tug and I'll toss a blade....of course I'll splatter the sink with blood for a month honing my shavette technique.......guess it's the ole subjective vs objective YMMV thing...

But anyway, I thought the VDH soap was giving me some kind of reaction, has anyone else ever had that feeling?

I didn't want to work through it...I just grabbed one of the soaps I know I dug and lathered on....ha,ha...

BTW....I'm digging. Arko Shave Stick so much I might use it every day for...like...ever! And my Omega Baby Pro and Schick Repeater....Man These things I'm Diggin so Hard....my SoS threads are really...like....talk about boring....

 

OCtober Focus Day 15:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Bay Rum SS
Gem Micromatic OC
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Bay Rum AS

Much better shave this morning. I would call it a DFS, and I have very little irritation. The Stirling Bay Rum was great; the AS has a burn like no other, even other Stirling AS, and I really like it. Just a great start to my day. Hope everyone has a great day as well.

 

10/15/2015
Razor – Wolfman OC with Triad Helix SS
Blade – Feather (3)
Brush – Romera Olivewood Synthetic
Lather – Mystic Water Lime
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine L’Orange



Another superb 3 pass work morning shave. This razor is so smooth that I can chase the baby without much downside at all. Mystic Water soap is fantastic soap but can be a bit tricky to lather. Tried it as a shave stick this morning which I found much easier to lather. I will be making some shave sticks for all my Mystic Water soaps shortly. Finished off with a splash of L'Orange.

 

30 day focus - Day 15
Fat Boy set to 9
Sputnik Blade
MDC Face Lathered
3 passes

I set the Fat Boy to 9 in order to see if there was any difference between 8 and 9. While there seemed to be little or no difference between settings of 7 and 8, there is for me a large difference between 8 and 9. I had a very close shave, but produced two weepers. this is either because the blade gap is too large or more probably because my technique is still a little off. I will keep it at 9 for few days and see what I come up with.

 

...buffoon?

 

Thanks. The circles were very pronounced when I received it. I believe the plating is a little thin there? When I cleaned it up they almost disappeared. Guys here said it was normal.

I was very, very rushed today. But I noticed this OT seems heavier and shaved very differently than the Single Ring. I need more focus and more research.

 

I have tried other PTFE blades with no problems. I think it may just be too sharp like feathers are. I love Kai blades and they are super sharp too so I'm not sure what's going on. I'm letting it stay in the razor for 2 more shaves just in case.

 

SOTD
October 15, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: iKon Shavecraft 101
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Klar Kabinett
Brush: Stirling Synthetic
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Folsom & Co. Shambala
Klar Kabinett is my second favorite soap right behind MdC. Outstanding shave! The SC101 is very consistent, load and go. I've been on a Lab Blue run for a bit now, great blade on my face. Shambala is
Today is The Great California Shakeout! Drop. Cover. Hold on.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

 

I have one of these in my super sampler from tryablade. I'll get around to it at some point.

 

OCtober 30 Day Focus -- Cadet Open Comb

October 15

Razor – Cadet Open Comb
Blade – Personna Lab Blue
Brush – VDH Boar
Soap – Stirling Gin and Tonic
Post - Cold Water Splash, Witch hazel, TSD ISZ


Today was day number 2 with the Personna blade. I kept everything the same as yesterday to try and determine whether it was technique or blade that was more responsible for my poor shave. I generated a great lather with the Stirling Soap just like yesterday. Set out to use good technique and give this blade a proper go. Water off, listening for feedback, set the razor down on the cap, started my first pass WTG on my cheeks. Good feedback, kept the blade angle. Made sure to let the razor do the work, everything felt great as far as muscle memory and what I was doing. First pass WTG face and XTG on chin and neck. I still find a little tugging during the first pass and still a little irritation. Moved on to second pass ATG everywhere. Again took my time, let the blade and razor do the work and finished with no weepers or nicks today. But, it was not a comfortable pass. It sliced through everything remaining and gave me a DFS shave, but it was not worth it. Definite irritation. Used the witch hazel and actually did a double shot before applying the AS. Well, I was on fire again on the neck and chin. These areas have my thickest and coarsest growth and this blade in this razor just could not handle those areas apparently.

Will be moving on and heading back to the GSB for a few days to make certain all is well, both with my technique and my face. Once I finish with the GSB, I will be having to pick a new blade to use. Debating between several, but that is a decision for another day.

 

GSB is one of my top 3 blades right now along with kai and personna blue. Top 5 would add in astra sp and personna reds. Med preps are exactly the same as the blues for my face.

 

GSB is my top blade. The Voskhod I have had mixed reactions with unfortunately. In my mild Lord L6, it was a very good blade, basically the third best blade I have tried (it was right there with the personna lab blues). However, in my more aggressive Cadet OC the blade just suffers and does not do as well. It just was not a match (the exact same can be said for the personna). It really is amazing to me just how YMMV everything can be. If you have not tried the Ladas blades, you may want to give them a go. I have used them and the GSB to great success in both the L6 and the Cadet so far.

 

Sometimes, certain blades just do not work for you. Voskhod blades worked very well for me, along with the 7 O'clock Blacks and Blues. However, certain other blades just left my face on fire.

 

I just hope I don't have too much of a hard time getting thru my super sampler from tryablade. I have read about some of the truly terrible blades and have a few in there. It's going to be like @NCoxSTL last May for a few of those blades.

 

Med Preps are the exact same blade as the Blues......they just get a final wash in order to make them usable in medical applications. Nice selection of top blades there.

 

Well the secret is to go into each new blade with an open mind. Sometimes you get surprised. However, if you hit one that is clearly so bad you can't imagine another shave with it then toss it and move on. No reason to try three shaves with a blade that's obviously that bad. Flying Eagle's didn't even get a full shave from me. And that's ME!