Two votes for rubbing the bloom water on the face

one for leaving it on the puck

and a suggestion to try all three... And I think I will try all three, but I'll start with using the water on my face. I'll give it a go tomorrow and post how it goes.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Very nice looking razors Herm! I've been interested in trying a slant. I've heard some say that once you shave with a slant, it is hard to go back because they can be so much more efficient. I'd like to see if I can find one that is an open comb, but I understand there are very few out there. I have plenty of razors right now, so not likely to spring for a slant just yet. Besides, who knows what Santa may bring.

My hard soaps get stored in containers that prevent them from drying out. Old cream jars zip lock containers and the like. I'll add a tablespoon or 2 of hot water and leave it for near forever or until I use up the soap. Modern Williams and MWF are 2 that get this treatment from me.I've never noticed any souring because I pick up some of the water from the puck and sprinkle some fresh everytime I use the soap. They both got softer like a firmer croap.

Thanks Bill, but I must confess that the comparison photo was from the Internet. I don't know about an OC slant, sounds intriguing.

Its been great watching you do this with the MWF Bill. I just got a puck myself and hope to get to it this month. I'm a face latherer though, so Im looking forward to your next installment!

DEcember 2015!

Planned Day 5 - 6 December 2015


​

Finishing out my five day DeFitch trial, will likely write it up a little better later. Gonna stick with La Toja and the Veg and also day five for the GSB. Gloomy and 45F with fog out on the prairie. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.

Have a super Saturday!

​

About to shave with this setup.

unknown straight
rolls for touch up
JR#8
LaToja
homemade mentholated lemongrass WH
Pinaud citrus musk.

I've used both the Merker 39C and the Ikon 102 and like them both. Above the Tie makes an open comb slant. Pricey though at $185.

SOTD
Route 66 Sweeney Todd soap
AOS Pure Badger brush
Birth Quarter Gillette SuperSpeed (G4)
Feather blade (5)
Witch Hazel
TSD Iced Egyptian Spice AS
Have a great weekend!

I shaved with it.

Let's see I used
straight razor ? (no markings)
'35 rolls razor
Jayaruh #8
La Toja
home mixed lemongrass menthol WH
Pinaud Citrus Musk

I missed sending off the boxtour box because I slept in. The youngest had dental surgery and slept most of the day so he made up for it by being up most of the night. Being the parents we are my fiance and I were up most of it as well. Because of my missing the post I decided to try LaToja. I've seen too many good things to pass it up. I decided to bowl lather In my Old Spice mug since I was unsure of both brush and soap. More about the lather later.

I met with and traded with @Jayaruh yesterday. I'm sure we both feel like we got the better end of the deal which is how it should be. I walked away with JR#8. The only other experience I have with badger brushes was a Col Conk and I didn't enjoy it at all. I learned today that I was completely in the right when I carved the knot out of that brush. After a brief soak in warm water I swirled the shook out brush in the La Toja for about 15 seconds. I then moved to the mug and while adding water whipped up a thick creamy lather in no time. The Handle of JR #8 felt good in the hand. Now the true test, face feel for both brush and soap. The brush was soft but had enough scritch to it to make me happy. The best of both boar and synthetic. The soap had a very nice light scent (I didn't like it before it was lathered) and it was nice feeling on the face.

The unmarked straight isn't quite shave ready so Ill attempt to touch it up on a barbers hone tomorrow. I made my straight razor pass N/S with decent reduction but some pulling around the muzzle. I relathered and switched to the Rolls for the S/N pass. This was much closer to being sharp enough. It wiped away all but the thickest few hairs and it cut them off with only a very minor almost unnoticeable tug. I did some touch up under the nose and around the Jawline before I gave up with a near BBS. I didn't want to hurt myself chasing the baby and the part not there was the line of funky hairs running down the center of my neck.

I splashed on some of my homemixed mentholated lemongrass witch hazel for a nice chill and sprayed on a bit of Pinaud Citrus Musk to finish.

I'll likely try the LaToja and JR#8 combo tomorrow facelathered.

You forgot to mention the lather bowl...
where did you get it?

Razor: Merkur 38C Barber Pole
Blade: Wilkinson (6)
Brush: Omega 10066 Boar
Soap: Route 66 Barbershop Hop
A/S: Iced Barber Shoppe TSD

Etsy. NicolePangasCeramics

aahhh thank you!

Very Nice.

2nd shave of a chilly Dec
Soap: Stirling orange chill
Blade: Henry sears 5/8 round
Strop: @Drygulch special
Preshave prep: hot shower, Stirling Preshave soap, Stirling orange preshave oil

Looking for a clean 2 pass shave after a week in the road. A but more whiskers than normal (3 day growth)

Pain Stick Focus December 5:

Homemade PS Oil
Simpsons Commodore X3 Best Badger
Pacific Shaving Co Caffeinated SC
CJB Pain Stick
Stirling Unscented PSB
Barbasol Pacific Rush AS

I went back to the Pain Stick today with a relatively quick two pass shave. One or two minor nicks, relatively minor irritation and a CCS. This was a pretty decent shave. It has been a long time since I used the Caffeinated SC, and now I am not sure I like it too much. It isn't bad, just not that good either.

December Focus

The Twelve Blades of December!

Hard to believe we've almost put this year to bed. Wow. Where did the time go? But, here we are and as a gift to everyone here I'm offering up my shaves with twelve blades that have never touched my face, randomly paired with twelve of my DE razors. Two shaves with each setup to finish on Xmas Eve. So, sit back, get the fire burning and enjoy what I hope is an enjoyable month of further proof Technique Trumps Tools. I hope for that....my expectations aren't as optimistic.

December 5

Razor - '47 Gillette Super Speed
Blade - (1)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold water, Alum, The Veg

Day five of the twelve blades and it's the first day for a mysterious blade. The Gentle Man Platinum Steel. When I first encountered this blade the information connected with it said it was from Russia. Aha! Something new from.......Moscow? St. Petersburg? Chelyabinsk? Siberia? Kiev? Oh wait, that's Ukraine. I enquired as to the manufacturer and discovered that it is not a Russian blade, as far as we know. I was told it was made in America for sale overseas. But, that made little sense to me and, in fact, the seller was not able to confirm that from the supplier. There is nothing on the tuck that states a country of origin or manufacturer. And, a search of Google produces absolutely nothing. Other than, of course, the info from tryablade.com that I was working from in the beginning. So, off to the bay. Searched the name in all its forms there as in Google. Nothing. It's a ghost. Amazon? Same thing. B&B? Nope, nothing. I even posted in the razor blade forum asking for info and got nothing (though that's actually how they seem to work over there...post a question, get three answers that have nothing to do with the question and then silent). The blade itself is blank, no printing on it at all. And, nothing on the wrapper. I thought perhaps Chinese but can't find anything to prove anything. It's a silver blade, stainless steel, says it's platinum coating and that's that. So, what's left to do but shave with it, right?

The razor for the ghost blade is the '47 Super Speed. Love this razor. It was the second vintage razor I ever bought and was replated by Chris at razorplate.com. It's BoSFat for a lather since I want the best protection I can get against this blade. Just in case. Lather was perfect and rich, thick, and very slick. All's well in the beginning.

The first stroke was somewhat surprisingly not bad. Notice I didn't say good, but not bad. There's a bit of built in drag with this blade. Not really a pull or tug, but dragging. Reduction on the first pass wasn't horrible but wasn't great either. I began to think it might perform about as well as the Dorco Prime. Second XTG pass and the dragging continued. It's not horrible but noticeable. Clearly not as sharp as most. Definitely needed a third pass to finish. ATG and Gillette Slide and I ended with a DFS. Not the best, not the worst, but satisfactory. I didn't feel too irritated, nor was my neck terribly red so there's that. Alum provided a bit of extra sting than usual which I'm blaming on dullness and drag.

Overall for the first shave with the Gentle Man I'm not impressed. Yes, I got a decent shave, even to the point of DFS, but again I worked three full passes to get it. And, the dragging just didn't make it enjoyable. It wasn't miserable, just annoying. Now, to see if it gets worse tomorrow or stays the same. Hope your Saturday was a good one.

The Sledgehammer (39c) is on my Christmas list! Hoping SWMBO has understood. With my luck it will weigh 10 pounds and have a 3 foot wooden handle.

Well while it might be a bit awkward with that kind of weight and handle catching the right angle wouldn't be too hard. Just watch the amount of pressure you add!