August 2016 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

Day 12
AoS best badger brush (broken in)
Proraso Green Shaving Soap Jar
Gillette New Long Comb
Astra Superior Platinum Blade.
Alum
Lucky Tiger AS splash

I got crazy trying to mix in some Lime Sec AS in with my soap and hosed up the foam. Lesson learned, no Lime Sec mixed with Proraso. Anyway, Two passes N to S & E to W. Third and final shave with the blade. Solid DFS. I'm not really doing a 30 day challenge, but a 30 shave challenge. I will keep my razor and blade combo for 30 shaves, but may switch up the brush & soap starting in Sept. Happy Friday!

 

Awesome Adjustable August!

B&M Ferox; White Label, Tallow, Discontinued
Omega Pro #248 Boar & Suribachi bowl
'59 Gillette 195 FatBoy @7 & Voskhod blade
Alum block & Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve


Discontinued soaps... Oh well. Enjoy em while they last. B&M Ferox has/had a peppery cedar scent and pairs well with Clubman S.R. As well as a Fat Boy and a Voskhod. Or a Big ole boar brush and my face. Three passes in a down/up/across for DFS+.
It's been a fun month. I do enjoy the Model 195. It's getting harder to find them in the wild for less than auction site prices.

 

AAA
Still GSB two!




Two passes to auto-DFS...can't wait for SEptember! Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado!

Have a great Friday evening!

​

 

Razor(s): Case Easy Aces (pictured) and Cattaraugus Seneca (not pictured)
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel Horse/ Linen
Brush: Dubl Duck M2/ Omega Boar
Soap: Route 66 Sweeny Todd
Post: Cold Water, Alum, Thayers Toner
Aftershave: Aqua Velva Iced Sport

Straight razor shave number 204, and I finally did it. My wife walked in while I was rinsing the soap of the blade, and I whacked the Easy Aces on the faucet. Twice. I was one cheek into my first pass. Two chips in the blade, and this one needs to be honed again. Damn it. Pulled out the Cattaraugus to do the rest of the shave and ended up with a DFS. Enjoyed the Sweeny Todd quite a bit, and the Aqua Velva gave a nice finish.

 

Ouch, battle damage. Good for you that the honing skill set allows you to bring the Case back online. No boxing up, shipping, waiting. Just bench time and a bit of lost steel.

 

Well, I have the stones and the theoretical knowledge. I have made several shaveable edges, but they weren't as comfortable as other people's edges. This one was honed by Glen, so I have a high mark to hit.

 

We had a big name free agent signing and she arrived last night so today is her first shave. I set everything up for success from using my favourite strop, a latigo from @Drygulch to take my time with a Saturday shave. I even added a few drops of Florida Water to the lather after reading another Den member doing it.

Four passes and the razor felt great, the edge was amazingly smooth and very sharp. The alum test.... nothing. faceturbating...... yes an epic shave.

Irritation A+ Closeness A+ Smoothness A+ Sharpness A

Allot of times first round picks and big name free agents are a big let down but this time I think we have a winner. The razor hits all my wants, size 6/8, it is heavy, shoulderless, shaves great and looks great.

 

Sounds like an epic shave, I'm stealing the Florida Water idea

 

Looks like a great month shaping up there.

 

Awesome Adjustable Arko August!!!!

August 24

Grand Blade Trial


Razor - 1962 (H1) Gillette Slim (6)
Blade - (2)
Soap - Arko
Brush - BoS Omega 10066
Post - Alum, The Veg

I was ready to go this morning and see if a bit more aggression would bring the carbon Treet to life. I checked first for any visible rust on the blade and found none which was good. I had dried the razor and blade well yesterday then dipped the head and blade in 91% alcohol to rid it of any remaining moisture. Seems to have worked.

First pass confirmed that the blade likes a bigger gap. The audible feedback was there like it should be and the reduction was better. No issues with the pass as it was smooth and didn't create any problems. Second XTG was more the same. Still lots of noise and a good second pass result. Near DFS. Third pass was ATG and Gillette Slide for a high DFS finish. I'll take it any day of the week. Alum was still quiet overall.

Since the blade isn't the sharpest on the block it may be even better tomorrow IF there is no degradation from rust. I noticed tonight that there appears to be a spot starting center blade high on the bevel even with the drying and alcohol routine this morning. As long as it doesn't advance to the blade edge I'll stick with this blade. If it creeps to the edge I'll switch to a new blade for the wide open 9 tomorrow. Hope your weekend has started well. I'm looking for two big days of sales. Or is that hoping and praying? Need them.

 

I also stole the idea. It worked great.

 

I think so, too! After a month of shaving every other day with an adjustable DE I'm going to enjoy even closer shaves.
I have pinned down the unit I called "L-1 (possibly ?) a yet to be identified and needs-a-handle Project". It's an N-1 manufactured no sooner than 1980.
Being from another series I'm considering how to replace the handle. Restoration of the original bits seems right out. It was less than carefully repaired using silver duct tape. The adhesive soften the plastic. If it's ABS like Lego bricks I might just gob it up with the Kragle.

 

Franchise QB signing

 

I'm available if you want to send it down to the minor leagues.

 

August Focus Day 27:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Ben Franklin SS
Gem Junior Bar
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Ben Franklin AS

Just a great shave this morning. It was super efficient and smooth. I got an easy two pass BBS with no clean up required. This razor really did the trick. I set it up using my favorite soap, the Ben Franklin, and topped it off with the matching AS. The only down fall: I am off to work, as we have started an outage that will last through October it may be a long few months. I hope everyone has a great day!

 

August Straight Focus
This Kamisori is one of my favorite razors. I'm becoming a big fan of the shorter blades. It is very easy to maneuver.
The Body Shop Maca Root Cream
Wolf Whiskers Brush
Hien 650 Razor
Alum
Lucky Tiger
Fine American Blend AS
Have a great weekend!

 

I need to figure out what I'm going to do. Issues at home rule out the Drug Store Aftershave focus, so that leaves my original plan of going with SEptember. At this point, that means two razors (J1 and M3 Schick Injectors) and Chick blades unless something comes along during the month.

Two things also complicate matters slightly- on Monday, I should be getting a FatBoy from @RyX (his side of the trade) while Sept. 5 is my one-year anniversary on the site with, I think, my one-year shaving anniversary coming on the 8th. So, I'm not sure how to fit those into the focus (or, for that matter, how I'm going to acknowledge those days, anyway.)

Thoughts/Advice/PIFs welcome.

 

@John Ruschmeyer No Focus Focus?

 

Hi guys, just checking in! Having a busy weekend, might be really scarce until tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great afternoon!

 

Day 13
Jayaruh #94 Whipped Dog high mountain badger
Proraso Green Shaving Soap Jar
Gillette New Long Comb
Astra Superior Platinum Blade.
Alum
Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum

Loaded up my new brush and made a whole bowl of foam. Went for 3 passes, N/S, E/W, S/N. I rode the cap the whole way, very little feedback from the alum. After applying this great after shave I declare this shave BBS!