February '16 - 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion Thread

Focus #2 - Feb 2
New Forest Tubby 2​

Continuing my NF brush focus

Chubby 2
Loft 56mm;
Handle Base diameter: 46mm
Handle height: 45mm.
Knot: Two-Band Super, 26mm

"Rating": I'd give it a 7/10 - love the knot but the shape and size of the handle does make it just a bit less comfortable, to me, than a lot of Peter's other creations.

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Just for perspective, what are you ideal specs for a brush? How deep do you like the knots set?

 

I find that I really like 26mm knots.
I think 'best depth' sometimes depends on the type of knot/how much backbone the knot have but somewhere around 48mm

 

Great pic clint

 

Thank you, Tom

 

February Focus - German blades

February 1

Razor - Merkur 23c
Blade - (2)
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Soap - Tabac
Post - Cold rinse, Alum, Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Second day of the Timor as we work our way through the German countryside of blades. I chose the BoS and Tabac for lather today. Tabac has become SWMBO's favorite of my soaps based on the scent. I may have to invest in the after shave and other Tabac products. She also likes MWF, but not as much as Tabac. I started lathering up and she walked by the closed door and stuck her head in to comment on how great it smelled and how sexy. So, a good choice. The lather wasn't quite as rich as I wanted it but I added a bit of water and got it to an acceptable texture. I seem to have to work Tabac a bit more than The Fat to get the right lather. But, it's a fantastic soap and puts the other half in a good mood so I can't complain at all!

The Timor blade felt the same today as yesterday. Incredibly sharp and smooth, though it took a bit more effort to get to the final result. I also didn't get quite to BBS, ending on a high DFS after two passes and some extra touch up work. The question in my mind is how much difference the lather from the Arko made in yesterday's result. As usual, the face lathered Arko made a sinkful of lather that was slick and cushiony. The Tabac lather was less rich even when I adjusted it today. Another note in my experiment book to try these two soaps on identical new blades to remove the second shave variable. And, I want to work Tabac a bit more to see if I can produce a better lather than normal.

DFS after 2.5 still qualifies for a great shave and the first German is proving its worth. I can't give it a perfect score today, mostly because it set such a high standard yesterday, but 4.5 steins seems reasonable.

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Bit late to the party with a photo, but work got in the way.

Here's my focus-group this month, with reasons described in my previous post.

 

This is a great focus. Very informative and I'm already enjoying it.

 

Day 2 Of February Focus

Gillette Fat Handle Tech/ Voskhod (2)
JR #23 Silvertip Brush
The Fat
The Veg


Day 2 into my focus and I am pretty surprised... I have found the sweet spot for MWF and am no longer struggling with it ( I even did a test lather with my Synthetic and my Boar Brush just to make sure I had it dialed in). Also Thanks to @Bama Samurai I started messing around with the angle and my neck is irritation free and BBS and my upper lip is no longer all jacked up and I can happily say it is DFS approaching BBS. A few healthy splashes of The Veg and I am ready for the day.

 

What a difference!!
Within the first stroke on the first pass my razor felt much better. I couldn't believe the reduction from 1 xtg pass. Followed up with atg and touch ups I was BBS.
Now for a few additions to my focus.
I will continue with the 2 passes on the 1924, using maca root cream with alum and kistna balm. In addition I am going to count my touch ups In a effort to get the number down. Since only doing two passes my touch ups seem to have doubled. I am also pledging every head shave from now till the 15th will be BBS regardless of time or irritation. If I haven't mastered it by the 15th I will step away and use a new razor. Not giving up but taking a break. Hopefully on the 15th I will step away because I have nothing more to learn. Forgot to post my touch up count was 7 I aim for 6 or less next.

 

Love that brush. Glad @Bama Samurai was able to help, he has a habit of doing that.

 

I've noticed And I love the brush as well...I honestly don't see myself using another brush anytime soon....

 

My youngest has a Weishi and I've compared both of them and as far as I can tell they pretty much are identical.
I would not hesitate to buy a Weishi at all, matter of fact I've seen some of the new ones that they have out that are stunning. Maybe I'll get one..

 

Yes. Smells fantastic! Very nice soothing aftershave.

 

I'm totally getting this. Love stouts

 

I use an inch and a half wide piece of leather to strop DE blades. I typically do 20 short strokes on each edge. I don't like used.d my palm from stripping because I'm accident prone.

 

Good call!

 

I leave you guys alone for a day, and every one is picking on me. Is this going to happen every time someone mentions Osage Rub?

 

SOTD February 3, 2016
Focus day 3

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Rapira platinum lux (3)
Razor: Maggard MR1
Brush: Omega 10049 boar
Lather: Soap Commander Vision
Post: Witch hazel splash, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Nice shave again with the Soap Commander Vision and the enormous Omega boar brush. I'm enjoying the Maggard MR1 razor as well. As part of a month's focus I will be shaving with the closed comb version for two weeks and then switch to the open comb for comparison.

CCS results with the one pass plus touch-up approach. No irritation and skin feels smooth and refreshed. Soap Commander says their samples are good for about 5-7 shaves. This is my fourth shave with the Vision sample, and a practiced a lather one day, so I've taken five shaves worth of suds away. It's still going strong! I will surely get more than two more shaves out of it. It's good stuff!

Hope you all enjoy your Wednesday!