August 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

That could be a shot from Southwest Kansas where I grew up. Western Kansas, Eastern Colorado.....add the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles and the corner of New Mexico and you have the 51st State. "Drywind, USA".

 

South East Texas, too. Gotta store those bales in a barn else they get moldy? Is that horse or cattle fuel? Stocking up for winter?
Inquiring minds...and city boys asking lots of questions.

 

Everything in between Aurora and Hays is just grass. 350+ miles of it.

 

I shave everyday and I now use my straights at least 5 days out of 7. Next frequently used tools are DE and Feather Pro based SEs(Cobra or ATT SE) and then an occasional SE or injector. When I travel it is a DE and when I don't have enough time it anything other than a straight.

I am thrilled to see the Dark Side gaining recruits.

 

August Focus Day 19:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Palmolive Classic Shave Stick
Gem Damaskeene
Stirling Unscented PSB
Clubman VI Bay Rum

 

August 19, 2016- Adjustable August

Razor: M3 Schick Adjustable (5/6)
Blade: Chick (3)
Brush: VdH Boar
Soap: Cella

Third shave with my "new" Schick Adjustable. It's definitely and interesting razor and I can see why it is so well regarded. I have to confess, though, that it seems to be highlighting flaws in my technique. In Wednesday's shave (no shave yesterday), I noted that I had a couple of instances where the face of the razor would adhere to my skin and cause the blade to dig in. At the time, I blamed poor hydration of the soap I was using (Williams) but, after today's shave, I'm not so sure.

My normal routine is one pass WTG with some addition XTG buffing on the cheeks plus an ATG pass on just my neck and the area under my chin. I seem to be seeing the adhering problem during the buffing. I think what is happening is that the WTG strokes are doing a very good job both with reduction and with removing any soap residue, leaving just some damp skin. OTOH, some combination of razor geometry (e.g., flatness, lack of blade exposure), angle, and pressure is just enough to cause the razor to drag on my face. Oddly, I don't seem to have these issues with my J1, possibly due to subtle differences in head geometry. I'd really appreciate any feedback from Tom, Billy, Rufus, or any of our other Injector gurus.

Obviously, I'm going to need to tweak my technique a bit for this razor. Still, I can't argue with the results so it will be worth doing.

I'm thinking one more shave with the M3 tomorrow and then come back to it as part of a SEptember focus.

 

August 2016 Adjustable August

August 12-17, 19

Razor: 58 Executive set on 6
Blade: 7'Oclock Super Stainless (Green pack)/GSB
Brush: Stirling Kong
Soap: TSD Interceptor
Post: Cold water rinse, Alum block

I have really fallen behind on this thread and in my posting. Spent some time just hanging out and then getting ready before my daughter headed back to school, all while still trying to combine my wife's stuff and my stuff into one house.

I shaved a couple times with the Green wrapper 7 O'Clock super stainless blade. It is a reasonably sharp reasonably smooth blade. Really nothing spectacular in either sense. I give it a good solid B as a blade. Today I shaved with my good and trusted GSB. I will not be shaving this weekend and so I wanted to make sure I got as good a shave as possible today. As always, the Executive and GSB combo did not disappoint. Monday I will be matching up with Neal in his blade trials again and using the Rockwell Razors blade (at least I think that is where he is in his list, if not then I will figure out another blade to try).

I have been using the TSD soap a lot the last week or so. It really is super high quality soap. I hate that the store is closing, but I think I will be picking up some more soap options before they are all gone!

 

August Straight Focus
I think I need to work on this blade some more. It provided a nice shave but the alum was noisy.
Route 66 Ghost Town
Wolf Whiskers Brush
Millikin Stub Tail
Alum
Thayers WH
Ogallala Bay Rum
Have fun!

 

SOTD 8/19/16
Razor: Case Red Imp 133 Spike Point
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcell Horsehide/ Hemp Linen
Brush: Dubl Duck M-2/ Omega Boar
Soap: Barrister & Mann 42
Post: Cold Water, Alum, Thayers Toner
Aftershave: Stephan Island Lime with M-Bomb

Forgot how awesome of an edge this razor has, very keen and smooth, thanks @HolyRollah! It is a little larger than most Case straights from the era, and is a great survivor. The scales have a little bit of a wave to them, but nothing that interferes with using the razor. Bluing is intact on one side of the blade, and the spike tip has never been muted. This morning was a very focused shave, and I had no damage from the spike. It is literally possible to pick off hairs one by one as I lined up my mustache with this razor. Two passes on the face, and a third on the neck, and I will call this one a DFS. I got BBS on my face, jawline, and chin, and a solid SAS on my neck. I had a couple of ingrown hairs from my last shave there, so didn’t want to push it. 42 has an awesome scent, and great performance as always. First time using the Lavender Thayers, and it worked and smelled great. The Bombed Lime aftershave is a great complement to the soap and Toner. I had to stop after my first pass and unclog the sink, so there was some extra hydration while the lather set on my face. Going to need to tear the trap apart and clean it out again this weekend.

Unrelated note- If you want to get some TSD soaps or aftershaves, check out Queen of Blades’ post in the vendor’s corner for a discount code. I ordered two soaps, and aftershave, more M-Bomb, and menthol crystals today. Have to stock up while we can.

 

one of the nice aspects of a sharp spike point is being able to do the 'detail work' in tight places without much effort. If one has existing facial hair, they sure come in handy!
These vintage Red imps scales have a rep for being prone to warping. I've had 5-6 in my possession at one time or another and all had some existing wave or warp to the plastic. All were serviceable but you had to watch the blade edge carefully when closing.

 

Friday Shave

Brush- AOS Fine Badger
Razor- Schick Adjustable (8)
Blade- Schick Twin
Soap- Stirling Glacial Eskimo Tuxedo
Post Care- Crystal Alum
Thayers Witch Hazel
Osage Rub
Bombed Florida Water

Another fantastic shave with the Schick adjustable! Paired with a twin blade it is very efficient and a comfortable shave. I did three passes this morning and 6 hours later I still can't feel a single whisker. The Stirling felt great this morning, the AOS brush is working real well and you can't beat the Osage Rub/Florida Water mix. Have a great day folks!

 

Still kicking. Have not been posting much as I don't want to bore you guys with everything. My rule is still going great and shaves are still effortless BBS's. No nicks or irritation.

 

Awesome Adjustable Arko August!!!!

August 19

Grand Blade Trial -Week off

Edwin Jagger DE89L
Blade - (2)
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Post - Alum, Clubman

Second day with the NOS Gillette SP blade and another fantastic two pass for the very near BBS. If I'd take half a pass of touch up I'd hit the baby every time with this blade I think. Super smooth as well. The day they moved production of this one out of St. Pete's was a sad day in DE blade history. Makes me want to email Gillette and call them all kinds of names but.....I've sent multiple emails to them already without an answer just about their production as a whole. Something tells me calling them stupid won't help.

One more day with this one, maybe two. We'll see. Grand Blade Trial starts again on Monday with the Rockwell blade. Haven't hear much good about that one so I'm going to enjoy this one while I can! And, in honor, I'll even shine a little glory on St. Petersburg. It may not be the home of Russian's absolute finest steel....but at one point....it had a contender!

 

August Focus Day 20:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Wholly Kaw Jamestown Gentleman
1955 Gillette Diplomat
Stirling Unscented PSB
Wholly Kaw Jamestown Gentleman AS

My first shave with this razor, one which I had wanted for a while. It was very smooth, very similar to my Aristocrat. I may have to do a little direct comparison between the two. The soap and AS worked beautifully to get this shave just right. A great start to my busy Saturday. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

August 20, 2016- Adjustable August

Razor: M3 Schick Adjustable (5)
Blade: Chick (4)
Brush: Chinese floppy badger
Soap: Nutragena French Milled Soap

Fourth shave with the Schick Adjustable. Taking the advice I've received to heart, I tried to focus on not doing excessive buffing of already shaved areas and to relather before changing directions. It definitely made an improvement in that there were no scary moments of the razor dragging to a halt. One or two spots ended up needing some touchup, but it was evident that this razor is really efficient and that a lot of my re-shaving of areas is not necessary.

Next week I'll probably switch back to my original focus, under appreciated razors, and come back to the Injectors for SEptember.

 

So got a pretty epic haul this morning and my rule "accidently" got thrown out the window. On the plus side I did accomplish what my overall goal was for this rule...just got it done quicker then I expected. Learned the ins and outs of my 30mm Whipped Dog Behemoth and got so comfortable with the Rockwell 6S that it is my dummy razor (half asleep, rushed, drunk, ect) I know I can pick it up and have no issues what so ever. So even though I am bowing out 11 days early I am overall happy with what I have learned.

Pics coming soon of what killed the rule.

 

August Adjustable; Staying the Course!

C.O.B & Vulfix 660S in suribachi bowl
'59 Gillette 195 @7 w/ Voskhod blade
Alum, Osage Rub, The Veg


The cool weather has left the building. Back to August as usual. Jumped ahead for a Menthol Monday on a Saturday afternoon. C.O.Bigelow in a bowl lathers so well. Good ole Fat Boy with a Voskhd...unless you've enjoyed the experience what can I say? Get one now! Quiet on the alum, cool with the Osage, feeling good in The Veg. Not quite the same as a Florida Water finish. Because it's The Veg

 

AAA
GSB 2, days 4-5



Back later for shenanigans...

Have a great afternoon!
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