OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

...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!

 

+1 on Ladas

 

You gave way more effort then I did on the tiger. I think my sense of self preservation is more refined.

 

I agree with these comments on blades. I am doing a blade focus this month and am finding that some popular blades just don't work for me. For example

Today is day three with the PolSilver Super Iridium and this blade will not be staying in my rotation. While I'm getting nice shaves, I am also getting some irritation.
SOTD
TOBS Grapefruit cream
Rubberset 400
PolSilver Super Iridium (3)
Witch Hazel
AoS AS Balm
Florida Water
Have fun!

 

I prefer to think of it as my sense of adventure is more highly attuned. Yeah, that's it.

 

OCtober - Trick or TREET
October 15

Razor - Gillette 1959 Ball End Tech
Blade - (2)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold water, Alum, Nivea Original

Onward and forward to day two with the Falcon carbon. I checked the blade and found no signs of rust so apparently my method of drying and storing it worked. That's a good sign. This blade surprised me yesterday with a really fantastic shave ending in BBS. So, let's see if it has legs.

BoSFat for the lather today and it is almost as much fun just making the lather as it is shaving with it. Maybe more, actually. Just a fantastic face lather after an easy load. And off to the first pass we go. WTG and I am impressed again. Feels as smooth as yesterday. No sign of any issues with sharpness or smoothness. Nice audible feedback and away we go to XTG on pass two. On the face everything seems perfectly fine. I do note a hint of roughness on the neck but just a hint. Still no real issues so a rinse and off we to go ATG. As I start to lather I notice a small nick on my neck, just above the adam's apple. Hmmmmm. Didn't feel it so not sure if I got heavy handed or the blade skipped. Oh well, no worries, lather up and go.
Now the world begins to turn. ATG on the face is fine, but when I go back to the neck to work it ATG and Gslide I can feel a difference. And, coming across under the goatee line on my chin I feel the bite. Yep, that one's gonna leave a mark. Nothing shows up immediately so I continue on. Finish up the X and go for the G with a pretty sharp angle trying for a quick finish. Now the marks under the chin are showing themselves along with another small nick on my left neck. Wow, this thing is losing it fast it seems. Finish the G-slide up and call it good. As I'm drying off and checking it out SWMBO sticks her head in and comments instantly on the redness and visible irritation. I note the same issue as I hit it with the alum and fairly jump off the floor. Even my face is reacting pretty strongly to the alum. As I apply the Nivea I can feel enough left to call this a DFS, and not a great one. I'm not sure I've ever had a shave change direction this fast before.

So, now to figure out the cause. Technique errors? No, not that I can determine. I kept angle right, pressure off and did my usual passes, directions etc. I don't see a problem with that. Lather issues? It's the FAT so no. But not just because it's the FAT. It was a good lather, cushion and slick, all of that. And, I didn't work without lather on any areas after a pass. The blade? Looks like it. I'm suspecting that it just isn't able to hold an edge, or at least not for long. Now, that brings us to tomorrow's planned third shave with it. I'm going to go off my usual routine and hand strop the blade just before shaving. See if that changes anything. And, if it is headed south at an even faster pace when I start I'll have a Russian rescue setup and waiting.

Looks like the first Trick of the month may be in the making!

 

Arko burns for me. I used it one day, then tested it on my forearm and got the same reaction. I traded the rest of the stick for a blade for my shavette. No turkish shave goodness for me.

 

October 15, 2015

OC October - This month I'll introduce myself to OC razors.
Gillette New LC
Gillette Goodwill
Standard Safety Razor OC
Schick Type C1 OC

Morning shave
Hot Shower
Soap: La Toya stick
Brush: Vintage Rubberset Travel Brush
Razor: Schick Type C1 OC
Blade: Schick (China) (3)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Vintage Old Spice


Two-pass shave and another CCS with this setup.



On this day in 1969, JC Martin’s bunt in the bottom of the 10th resulted in bringing home the winning run as the throw to 1st ricocheted off his hand into right field. The Mets took a 3-1 series lead against Baltimore and won the Series the following day. They had been a 100-1 longshot against winning the World Series that year…Amazin’!

Let’s Go Mets!
RT

 

October 15

20's Old Type
Astra SP (5)

Not a lot to say about this shave, just another one-pass CCS with just a little neck irritation. (I really need to look into an aftershave balm.) This is the longest I've used an Astra SP and I'm impressed with how its hanging in, though I will probably replace it after tomorrow's shave.

I'm trying to stay with this combo and really work on my technique. For some reason, though, I am really having to fight the urge to use a different razor just to break the monotony. Is the siren song always this loud?

JR