OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

10/25/15
Gillette NEW LC
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #3 with the Rapira Super Stainless in my New LC.
Face lather and 2 full passes: Pass 1 XTG. Great reduction. Pass 2: ATG. Back to side to side (ears toward the chin) on my neck today. Rinsed and did some touch ups where I could easily feel stubble. Very nice DFS at that point. A cold water rinse followed by a small amount of touch up captured the baby. Aqua Velva stung pretty good again today, then the menthol kicked in to give that icy feeling.

A nice BBS from the Rapira Super Stainless in my New LC. Once again the Aqua Velva let me know that I came close to irritation. I'm starting to wonder if I'm not using the best angle with this razor. It looks right, and I'm getting nice reduction on my passes, but I end up with the A/S singing. It feels great though once it quiets down. Perhaps it’s just that I haven't have enough time with the razor to find that sweet spot. I’ve only used it 9 times. Tomorrow I’m going back to the GSB so I can try some new shave creams. I'm also going to focus a bit more on the angle I use during my second pass and especially during my touch up.

Have a great Lords Day

 

SOTD
October 25, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Gillette Aristocrat
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: Gingers Garden Vetiver (Tallow)
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: Gingers Garden OakMoss
Gingers Garden has replaced MdC as my Sunday setup, I love this soap/aftershave. The Aristocrat is a joy to use, I'm searching the bay for a Shearton to see what that would be like. Anyone have a comparison? I'm watching Buf vs Jax on Yahoo streaming on my tv from London.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

 

30 day focus - Day 25
Fat Boy set to 9
Sputnik Blade
MDC Face Lathered
3 passes

Another very nice shave. The more I use the Sputnik blade, the more I get used to it. After 25 days of MDC, I think I am having LPL withdrawal symptoms.

 

10/25/2015
Razor – Gillette Red & Black New Deluxe
Blade – Feather (3)
Brush –Olivewood with TGN Finest Fan
Lather – TSD Yin Yang
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine L’Orange



Another excellent shave this morning. Not quite perfect but I would rate the shave as a solid A. TSD soaps really perform very well. Now with use, the Yin Yang scent is rounding out and I pick up the lavender along with the lime. This is really a very nice scent and a pleasure to use. Finished off with a splash of Fine L'Orange. Hope everyone enjoys their Sunday.

 

OCtober Focus Day 24:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Bain Amour Southern Gentleman SS
Phoenix Dbl OC
Stirling Unscented PSB -- Mentholated
Fine Platinum AS

So I tried another new product today, Bain Amour Southern Gentleman. The initial use was good. This was the first time I have tried a product from this maker, which I found while in Louisiana. The scent is great, and performance seems to match. It is thirsty, though.

The Phoenix and Voskhod combo worked well again this morning. I am definitely going to spend some time with this blade. Tomorrow, will probably be my last shave with the Phoenix for the month, as I will go back to my New LC. But I am going to pair it with the Voskhod to see how well it does with that razor.

 

The cartel is pleased. Even got some smiles now.

​

 

I would never want to run afoul with the Cartel.

 

October - Trick or TREET
October 25

Razor - Gillette 1948-49 Superspeed
Blade - (3)
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - TSD Lanolin Bay Rum
Post - Cold Water, Alum, The Veg

Well it's D-Day for the Treet New Edge. If it can pull of a third shave it will avoid being a trick blade. It is a carbon blade so that could factor in, but again it looks clean and smooth after leaving it in the razor and allowing it to dry and store on my desk. It's also my head shave day and that went well, though the lather threw me. How in the world I can miss lather with VDH that I do every Sunday is beyond me, but it took a couple of tries to get the lather right. Sheesh! Anyway, with that one out of the way it's the Treet's turn.

The Pro 48 and TSD Lanolin are an automatic combo. Did I mention that lather threw me today? The original lathering process wan't horrible but just didn't feel right. Seemed like the brush load was light but I got a good lather for the first pass. And, the New Edge performed well on that pass. A bit noisier than yesterday but still very smooth. Second pass. Lathered from the loaded brush and it was way too thin. Reloaded and got a passable lather. Seriously. What am I doing? Second XTG pass was also smooth but I did notice it's lacking in efficiency. The blade is fading but not to the point of discomfort, just the point of not cutting as well. Lathered for the third pass and stopped. Nothing left in the brush to work with except a thin soapy mess. Did I lose my mind? Thought about it for a second and shook the brush hard, then went back to the soap. Seemed a bit better so I added just a very small couple of drops of water to the soap and tried again. Bingo. There's that lather I'm used to. I had the soap a bit too dry and the brush a bit too wet, like what happens with MWF. Well, why not? They're both Lanolin based. Finally that third lather was awesome. Went ATG and XTG and Gslide on the neck to a DFS finish. Not the finest but still a very nice shave and finish. The blade, while becoming lame, still got the job done. So......the Treet New Edge is a TREET!

Where does it rank in the world of carbons? Well I still like the Black Beauty at number one, but this one or the Silver would be a good number two blade. I think this blade is actually smoother than the Silver so maybe the New Edge by a razor's edge.

Tomorrow - the Treet Classic. Carbon blade again. Schedule says Schick Krona. I may switch the razor to the Gillette Aristocrat. It wasn't an option when I started the month as it was awaiting opening on my birthday.

 

Shave Den Sunday!

25 October 2015




1959 Gillette Fat Boy
Gillette Silver Blue (1)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
TSD 2x Iced Barber Shoppe Shave Stick
Alum
TSD 2x Iced Barber Shoppe AS Splash

​

A beautiful morning on the prairie, crisp chill in the air! It feels like a TSD Sunday! Kudos to @Douglas Carey! Looking forward to his calendar release, and glad he reminds us how great TSD Exclusives are! Be sure to check out my links, TSD Exclusives are hand made...order yours before the holiday rush ensues! Today is separation day in the NFL! Spending the day with the dogs and Mrs Samurai. Weather is perfect and the dogs are happy. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado!

Have a great Sunday on TSD!


​

 

October 25, 2015

Shave Den Sunday

Fell off my OC October to prep for No Variation November.
I’ll be using a Mongoose in NoVember, so I need to determine a blade for that month. (Spoiler Alert: I think I found it!)

Morning shave
Hot Shower
Scuttle: Georgetown Pottery G12
Soap: TSD Lanolin Unscented
Brush: Butterscotch Fauxmere
Razor: Mongoose B3
Blade: Feather Artist Club Professional (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: TSD Yin Yang



Two-pass shave.
Observations:

• Damp, cold weather has started to move into Seattle. I’ll appreciate using the scuttle for the next 5 - 6 months! Warm lather…mmmmmm.
• This blade passed the test. I’ll be getting a 30-day supply for NoVember. Though if I’m to believe some of the hype from the Mongoosers - I may only need two blades! (We’ll see - YMMV)
• All the time while I was shaving and as I sit here two hours later just rubbing my hands over my smooth face I’m reminded of the Big Red Button at that office supply store!

And I always seem to enjoy Shave Den Sunday!

Cheers!
RT

 

Was there a noticeable difference between the Pro and the Pro Guard? I've been getting great shaves with the Guard, but I'm probably going to try the regular Pro tonight and see how that does. I'm hoping to get at least as good a shave with them as they're less expensive.

 

I've only had one shave with each and about a week apart, so YMMV....

I'd say the Pro is minimally smoother and sharper - I seemed to get as good shaves with less to no touch-ups. I will be using the Pro for NoVember.
(Amazon has the Pro at a good price.)

 

Really nice Fatty!

 

Thanks Herm! It's been fun to experiment with and learn...I am thinking Gun Kote finish, or maybe just good old nickel. Thoughts? I am only going to restore one vintage, and this is it.

 

Say Herm, for what it's worth...I had the impression that Chris is fairly trim.

(He's not one to let on that he's insulted, but...just saying.)

 

I train simply so that I might eat more cookies!

 

Headed uptown in NOVember! I hope you really master it and have a blast. It's a cooool looking razor!

 

Razor: Gillette Red Tip (A3) 1955
Blade: Gillette Platinum (6)
Brush: Black Badger Wood Handle (Grandfather's) Whipped Dog 20/65
Soap: TSD Coconut
A/S: TSD Coconut
Day 25
Excellent shave with my favorite TSD soap and A/S. Was nice and light with my touch tonight and had a DFS. Went to Grandsons hockey game this afternoon, they won their tournament. Off to Grand daughters game at 6:30. Have a great night.

 

Great write up. My guess is 4 Feather Pro blades for the month.

 

During my blade test the only really noticeable difference between the Pro and the Pro Guard was the price.