NOV 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic&Discussion Thread

Wednesday, November 18, 2015
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RazoRock Black Mamba
Feather #1
El Druida Black & Red Barberia
Al’s Shaving Sapone’ da Barba
Alum, Witch Hazel +Menthol, Al’s Shaving After Shave Balm
Fine American Blend

Today's shave was an outstanding 2-pass near BBS. The secret of the Black Mamba was revealed over on TSN. There are two shaving angles with this baby. I rode the cap to the normal cutting angle suggested by the head of the razor for the first WTG/XGT pass. I flattened the shaving angle close to parallel for the second XGT/AGT pass. The result was the closest shave yet using the Black Mamba. Al's Soap is a top performer with an excellent super slick lather. Al's ASB is a soothing moisturizer, love the floral barbershop scent. Finished a little later with a dousing of Fine's American Blend. Wow, my face is singing. I'm ready for the Rest Of The Story.


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Im also a TOBS fan. The Grapefruit is one of my favorites.

 

Today was day 11 on the same blade and one of the best shaves yet. I did a two pass shave with some XTG cleanup and have a DFS+ with no irritation. The Florida Water barely stung. I'm pretty danged excited to be figuring this thing out. I have a question for my Feather AC Brothers. How many shaves do you get out of a blade? I was making a mistake tossing them after one week.
SOTD
TOBS Grapefruit
Rubberset 400
Feather AC SS
Feather Professional (11)
AoS AS Balm
Florida Water
Have fun!

 

I am going to try that at some point. I started with TOBS Sandalwood and have tried the TOBS Lime.

 

This is a great write up and Im glad to hear that you made the necessary adjustments to get the lather correct.

It does take a longer time to lather up soaps, and you have to just keep loading after you see that initial proto lather. Just go to town on that puck and leave no doubt...lol. At the end of the day it's just soap...lol

Thanks for sharing.

 

I decided last night that I would rather read some more on my current book and hit the bed early then I would like to shave.

Everyone talking about TOBS, I got an empty tub of Jermyn street and an empty Trafalgar tub from Truefitt&Hill. They both smelled amazing when I opened them. The trfalgar doesn't smell that good anymore. I keep Williams in it so it doesn't dry out, seems to lather better. The Jermyn street tub holds my used but still have life blades rewrapped in the paper. Still smells great. Those 2 are on my list to try later.

 

I will throw out Jabonman/ Eufros soaps. These are some of my favorite soaps, and the aftershave balm to match them are top notch.

 

I have taken one up to 14 shaves. It was starting to tug, but I figured a month was long enough and threw it out.

 

November 18, 2015

No Variation NoVember
This month is perfect for me to learn skills with new-to-me equipment.

Razor: Mongoose B3
Blades: Feather Artist Club Professional (5)
Soap: Saponificio Varesino Manna
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti Boar
AS: Changes at will. Today: Proraso Green



Two-pass shave. (XTG, ATG) Face-lather.

Building a foundation for the correct shaving angle for this razor. Excellent, clean shave for the second day in a row. I think I’m there in terms of establishing the angle. Now I need to build muscle, visual, and audio feedback memory.

Cheers!
RT

 

November 18th SOTD (Shave 9 of this focus)
Two days' growth
Preshave: Hot Shower
Razor: Union Cutlery Co Spike (near) wedge 11/16
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Oiled Latigo with Hemp Linen
Brush: EverReady 100T with TGN 22mm Synthetic Knot
Soap: Eufros Dama De Noche
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer's Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Jabonman Dama de Noche Balm (w/ Menthol)

I couldn’t take it anymore. This is my first straight razor shave this month. Pain Stick brothers, you should seriously get a straight and go to work. A straight is so much more forgiving than the Feather AC or CJB Handles. My visitors are still at work so I had to be careful with the straight, but it rewarded me with a DFS+ 2.5 pass shave. Closeness was A- and irritation was an B. Great lather, and just focused on wiping it away with the razor, rather than shaving. One nick on the neck, but overall great shave. I do need to try this soap with the pain stick before I get back to my rotation.

 

Hope your elbow feels better soon!

 

Thanks, buddy! It's still on FIRE! I have full range of motion so I'll make it.

 

Planned Day 18 - 18 November 2015

No Variation November!



Utopia 3-piece
Gillette Silver Blue (18!!)
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Proraso Red
Alum
TSD ISZ AS Splash under the Clubman!

Have a triumphant Thursday!

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Day 18 ended up being the automatic 2-pass smoothness! This month is making me rethink blade life in a big way. Proraso is automatic, TSD ISZ is chilly, Clubman was the finish. Calm alum today...spent the afternoon repairing wind damage. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

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I think I will try your idea of overloading the soap tomorrow morning. Not sure which one I'll try yet. Pre De Provence and Mama Bear's Black Code Type are the two hard soaps I'm considering. I'll leave the softer soaps for later.

 

My first soap was the remnant of an old Williams puck stuck in the bottom of my old shave mug along with a nasty old boar brush. Both mine from the 70's so not as off putting as it sounds. 4 days later I had some VDH soap and my badger brush. After 12 days I made the jump to cream. So, I'm pretty new at soaps.

 

Thanks for your encouragement JR, and the suggestion about WSO soap. I did enjoy it once I had enough soap on my brush! I'll try going to town on the next puck and see how I do.

 

Loaner Sets:
I have two razors and two strops for loan for those that would like to try straights but are worried about spending a bunch of money before they know if they like it or not. Thanks to @priest2705 for donating the Fredrick Reynolds. Both razors are pre-1890 Sheffield full hollow ground square points. One is off center in the scales, the other has worm eaten scales and a piece of scale missing. The strops are both Chromexcell Horsehide, one is 24x3 inches with a linen second element, the other is 18x2 inches with a cotton second element.


If you are interested in a set for December, please let me know. I would love to see more people come to the dark side. I wanted to offer to the folks on this thread before I consider a more open post looking for volunteers.

 

Having shaved with both of them, I can guarantee that those who have a chance to shave with them will be happy with their performance. Thanks to @Drygulch for getting me started in straight shaving

 

PS..... the dark side is fun