30 days of boar brushes, and 30 days without using the RazoRock Bamboozled RAKE. There's a rumor of an elf delivering shave-related goodies at some point this month, so I'll probably use them as they arrive.
For December, I will focus on some of my soaps and soap samples. My goal is to get better at lathering different soaps and to see which ones really appeal to me. While I won't be trying for a BBS every shave, it will be interesting to see how often I get them because I’ll be using the Rapira Super Stainless in my New LC. This combination achieved 3 BBS shaves in a row in October. Pinaud Clubman Original will be my after shave. The Vulfix Super Badger will be the primary brush, but I may occasionally pull out the Frank Shaving Pur-tech Synthetic. I’ll use the Georgetown G12 Scuttle when I start using each soap. Among the soaps I'll be working with are: Mitchell's Wool Fat Pre De Provence WSO Signature I’ll add more as I go along. My thoughts at present are to use the scuttle until I'm consistently getting a good lather, and then try to get the same consistency with a face lather. I hope to accomplish this within 6 shaves per soap, but we’ll have to see how that goes. I'm looking forward to spending December with all of the 30 day crew. Let the shaves and shenanigans begin!
My focus for December will be on technique with a limited selection of hardware. Last month I didn't focus enough to improve my technique. I will be using three full hollow ground straights, a W.R. Case & Sons, a Boker Red Injun, and Henkels Inox Friodur. I will also be using the only boar brush I haven't gotten rid of. My technique focus is a two pass DFS shave, utilizing a scything stroke. Secondary focus is not to cut my jaw to the bone when I do that, and only mentholate the skin I intend to. Soaps and aftershave are open. My first shave this month will be with my Tech travel set up.
I find MWF to be excellent bowl lathered or face lathered I haven't tried the other 2 but the Pre De Provence is in the box and will get tried at some point both ways in the next few days.
I really liked Pre de Provence and even toyed with hanging on to it, but ended up sending it on. I scraped off enough (I hope) for 6 shaves to see if it does as well and is as enjoyable as my first impression - which went along with a BBS. I hope you enjoy it too!
In the can I'm not happy with the scent. I'll see how it changes lathered. I loved the prickly pear rose until I lathered it. Too much rose and it lost all the other scents I smelled in the can.
Should be a good month. Now, keeping the menthol on the right area, that will be the real test of skill.
I'm shaving with the Indian version of the Rapira tonight. The Gillette Sterling. We can talk about that. I think I'm going to change up the soap and try M-bombed Arko with it.
Welcome back everyone! On 1 December, I owe @Darkbulb a write up on the DeFitch razor. So, I will be doing a one day "Love it or PIF it" tomorrow using the DeFitch. Still formulating the plan for the remaining thirty days, though I may do something special on 24-25 December. I have been super busy lately, but plan on getting back with the program real quick. Sounds like we are off and running!
And from the Japanese faction, and on behalf of the cartel in general: Congratulations to Adam ( @Drygulch ) on an early Christmas gift named Juliet! Hope You, Mom, big sis and the newbie are all doing great!
Reviews on the Sterling seem to indicate it's made better than the Rapira. Although your face will be the best test.
Focus on Trying the wonderful things from Secret Santa. Practice nickel and copper plating. (much easier than you think) Turning and drilling brush handles (much trickier than I think) birfday razor, a '54 Superspeed flair Finish up the (explicative) tile tub surround by scraping out the (explicative) thinset from an (explicative) number of grout lines, and grouting.
I hated every shave I have tried so far. It looks like a rapira before the top cap stamp. maybe the smooth cap gives it more room to bend the blade? I let the kids use it sans blade because I dislike it so much. I'm going to try it with a good russian blade now that I have better technique. If it fails me this time it will stay with the kids stuff.
Its much easier to drill then chuck up the handle in something like this on the lathe to turn it. I did it the hard way and drilled after I turned it. Thats stupid and I could have badly hurt myself.
