August 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Phoenix Comparison Focus Day 10:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Chiseled Face Sherlock
'58 Gillette TV Special
Stirling Unscented PSB
Tabac AS

Day 3 on the TV Special, and I was rewarded with a good shave. I have to say, though, the state this morning was the brush. I really got a great lather between the soap and brush. I am very impressed with how this brush performs.

 

AUGUST FOCUS - 1958 EXECUTIVE

Catch up info..On Monday morning I put the Exec on 8 and went for a very slow, very careful 3-pass shave. I had the feeling of impending doom and moved very slowly because I just knew that blade was waiting for one lapse of concentration on my part to slice me open. But, the result was actually very nice. I give it a BBS classification only because after dinner I realized I still had a very nice shave. I'm now convinced my problem on 7 last weekend was the blade. (The cut is still healing.)

For Tuesday, I decided to build on my success on Monday and put the Exec on 9. Again, I had the feeling of impending doom. I went very carefully and slowly and achieved another really close BBS category shave. The alum stung quite a bit, but not the AS. Unfotunately, an hour later and my face stings a bit.

Conclusion: On 8 or 9 this razor clears away any stubble you throw at it. But the resulting shave is at the cost of my enjoyment. I want a close shave, but not if it becomes "work" or I have to be extra careful. So, I think, unless it's a WTG quick pass on a 2 or 3 day stubble, the higher settings are not for me. So, my conclusion is that I'm confused and require more research? Being a Focus Month, I may still have to revisit these settings.

 

30 day Focus - Day 10
MDC Lavender Face Lathered
Rapira Platinum Lux Blade (Day 2 on blade, Day 4 on Rapira Platinum Lux)
Slim Adjustable set to 8
3 passes

I had a lousy shave today. I am not sure why, other than my technique was just plain bad this morning. I don't have any irritation, but I do have a fair number of spots that I obviously missed. Maybe I should have stepped closer to the razor. Maybe I should have had a second cup of coffee before shaving. At any rate, tomorrow's shave will certainly be better than today's.

 

Days 5 & 6 of a 7-Day Razor Trial
I failed to post this yesterday so a twofer for today!
Not a whole lot of difference between the two shaves as far as razor performance. Each of the past two shaves have been exceptionally consistent. Smooth (no irritation) and effortless!
Using this razor with a muted square point has made my decision easier to sell off my 'spike point' models.
I managed to try out a new boar brush (1/2 off vendor sale), which was, no surprise, somewhat stiff. It will no doubt soften with use.
Also found while rifling through my stuff a near-full tub of RazoRock XXX soap (a clear indication I've far too much shaving goods…). A very good performing soap, by the way, with a unique scent.

 

I actually like aggressive razors. I just rarely use a Fatboy and was using it on four while focussing on the Feather blades. I cranked it up to eight today and am much happier.

SOTD
Fatboy on 8
Feather blade (3)
TOBS Mr Taylor's cream
Omega Boar
Witch Hazel
Florida Water

Today was day three on the Fatboy and I kicked it up to eight. I had the best shave on this blade in the three days I used it. BBS on three passes with one minor weeper on my neck. This was a nice setup. I have been changing razors when I replace the blade and think I will use the New LC for the next three days.

 

8/11/15 SOTD (Shave 6 of this focus)
Two and a half days’ growth
Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Dubl Duck SatinWedge with Obnoxious Orange scales
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel/ Linen (20 linen/ 20 Leather pre and 10/10 post)
Soap: Maggard’s Orange Menthol
Brush: Omega 1066 Boar
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Maggard’s Orange Menthol

@Seabs, how are you liking your SatinWedge?

Went to one of my professionally honed razors as a comparison with the one I have been working on myself. This one is a very different razor, as it is a wedge and has a spike point. While the edge didn’t feel as keen as the “Our Leader” razor I have been using, the weight of the razor feels more substantial and seems easier to get a good shave with. I got BBS on 95% of my face and neck, but didn’t quite get it. Managed to avoid any cuts with the spike, and got a great shave on my chin. This razor seems to do well on my chin and jaw. Overall, great shave.

I might try a few laps on a stone with this razor, to see if I can get it a little sharper.

 

August 11, 2015

Adjustable August Slim-apalooza
30-Day Focus - Gillette Slim Adjustable

Hot Shower
Soap: Stirling Island Man
Brush: Omega 31025 Scarlatti (Boar)
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
TSD Witch Hazel
TSD Aftershave Milk: Iced Subzero
A/S: TSD Ying Yang

Changed just the 2nd pass on the Slim settings:
8 - WTG
9 - ATG
No touch-up or repeat strokes. This is as much about technique as it is about finding the best settings on this razor for me. My objective in this 30-day Focus on the Slim (and with any Focus I do on any other razor) will be to see which razor/blade combination will give the most consistently reliable and closest two-pass shave.

Blood! Arrrrrrrrrh….Mommmyyyy!

One of my few nicks ever! Right on the corner of my mouth on the first pass. I really have to respect the more aggressive settings. The pass on “9” also provided irritation (mostly just on my chin/mouth area) that I’ve never experienced in 3 months of wetshaving.

Though not as smooth as I’ve experienced, this was a VERY close shave. I am certain that with limited touch-ups I would’ve been bragging in ‘baby’ terms.

I’m thinking about a few things:

• this is the most aggressive pass I’ve made on my face.
• I did not use shave oil today.
• I used a different soap today. (Daughter's birthday today, she loves the scent of Island Man!)
• Technique is MOST critical as one progresses with the more aggressive razors / settings.

So tomorrow and for the rest of the week, I will stay on these settings, but return to my trusty standards of pre-shave oil, Arko and Omega Pro 48, just to narrow it all down to technique and hardware.

Cheers!
RT

 

I'm loving it for sure! Between the wedge and the swede, I've been in heaven. Super busy lately so I haven't been able to post like I have in the past, but here are the last two shaves.

 

Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable (1965)(5)
Blade: Gillette Platinum (2)
Brush: WDC-4, Silvertip Badger, Butterscotch. (VIG) 24/67
Cream: Proraso Shave Cream
Bowl: Old Spice Late Glass Mug 02 - 1964 to 1978
A/S: Pinaud Lime
Day 11

This is one excellent shave cream. The best I've tried so far. I'll use it for a few days. The Gillette Slim adjustable is an outstanding razor. Pinuad Lime a super finish. Heading out so I'll check back L8r.

 

Curious about this AS. Is it a strong lime scent?

 

August 30 Day Rule

I did not shave today so that I could verify the mapping of my beard growth. I think I have it all mapped out. Lets just say it is all over the place, and in some places, it literally grows in every direction. On my next shave I will be paying extra attention to the directions I am going so that I can get consistent WTG and XTG. I have a couple areas that can only get close to smooth with an ATG pass, but have not done it every time. I think I will add it in for those areas that need it to be DFS and still not worry about adding ATG in other areas that are pretty smooth with WTG and XTG.

Hope everyone has had a good shave!

 

The Pinaud Lime is as strong as you want. By that I mean if you want it strong splash it on, if not just apply a little. It's a great A/S.
IMO.

 

oh my! luve the bar curls!

 

Here is a photo of my (I think) Shawmut set:

More photos in The Haul thread.

 

Great looking razor.

 

So, decided since it's a day off to enjoy another not really necessary shave.

Asusual, started withe a hot shower followed by Proraso preshave.
TSD sample bombed, same as yesterday.
Slim on 4, but seeing I just shaved yesterday I did a bit of an unconventional 2 pass shave. First pass xtg, second pass atg. Worked great!
Ended with the Proraso preshave as a balm followed by Gabel's Stay Cool.

Loving 4, one more shave and I'm upping it to 5.

 

I guess i had better start looking.

 

Taking a break from my straights tomorrow. Talked to a VP at work about a job posting, and he wants to "chat" with me for a half hour or so before he gets on a plane tomorrow. Not really an interview, but it would be better if the spike on my Duck doesn't make me look like I got in a fight with a cat. Should I go with one of the 300 Russian blades I haven't used yet in my DE?

 

Nice bars! Looks like you are in need of some quality time with your Duck though.

 

August Focus - Slim and Feather AC
August 11
Razor - 1964 Gillette Slim (J1)
Blade - (3)
Brush - Omega 12601
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Post - Cold Rinse, Alum, The Veg

After a day off for injury it's time to get back at it. The cut and nick look much better so let's load up the Feather in the Slim at 3. Last time with the Slim at 1 it was a less than great shave. Just not enough gap to work with even for the Japanese killer. So it's up to 3 and of we go. I chose the pony again and got a magnificent lather from the MWF. I'm really starting to like the horse brushes. I've always preferred boar, but the horses are catching up fast. The extra scritch from the 65% tail hair is awesome. There is a brush with a 25/75 mix that I have on my radar. I'm sure it will be in the stable soon.

Went after the first pass and immediately noticed a difference between the settings. This setup really got a great first pass. Very smooth, great feedback, though the two day growth helped. No cuts, issues at all. Second XTG did open a slight weeper on the cut but that sealed up right away. Went XTG on the neck as well and rinsed and reset for the third pass. Decided to go full third pass with some ATG. My face went BBS. Neck finished a a near BBS after just a bit of G-sliding to work a couple of areas down as normal. Great shave. Maybe the best I've had with a Feather. But...irritation? The alum says NO! No irritation beyond a slight sting on my neck. Very slight. Beautiful finish, applied the Veg and off to the Doctor's to make sure my heart is still beating. Home again to get ready to grill....it was Porterhouses and grilled corn tonight followed by watermelon. Life is good.