DEC 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Thanks Keith. I'm even more interested to try SR shaving based on your comments. I'm very glad to hear you're also doing same focus in January. I'll be taking notes.

 

Straights to the Finish Line!

December 27

Razor - W.B. Speed Rabbit
Brush - Vie Long 12601 - The Pony
Soap - TSD Lanolin Bay Rum
Post - Cold water, Alum, Nivea

Final day of practice before going Soviet. I shaved before work since I didn't go in until 11 today. Things are getting a bit more natural, with grips and angles seeming to come better into focus now. So, speeding up a bit too. Managed a two pass CCS, probably the best I've had so far with no injuries. That's it, folks, tomorrow I change to the Red Russian. Am I ready? We'll find out won't we! I'm feeling confident in my ability to handle the razor, just not as confident in its ability. Going to be interesting. I'm off the next two days so plenty of time each day to work with it and also plenty of recovery time in the ER if necessary.

Not sure if it's an omen or not but we have major flooding going on around us tonight. Not close enough to be any danger to us, but getting around St. Charles County right now is a bit of an issue. I-70 closed both ways at the moment due to water over the road and we're still expecting up to 3 inches more rain before it ends sometime tomorrow. Fear not.....the route to the hospital after the shave tomorrow is safe!

Hope you all enjoyed the long holiday weekend!

​

 

You are so right!

 

Thanks Chris, it sure is!

 

Best. Opening. Ever.

 

I feel like I need to reintroduce myself. I'm William and I have been gone for about 750 posts. Had a convergence of factors equaling the perfect storm. Got sick (have an auto immune disorder that made things 10 times worse than it should have been). Then as I recovered the county decided to do some construction on the drainage line behind my house cutting my internet connection in the process. Time warner refused to fix it until they finished construction because the county refused to agree to try be work around the bright orange cable running along my back fence line. Then my cell phone finally gave out. So that was my fun leading into Christmas.

Had an amazing Christmas though with lots of food and lots of family time! Couldn't ask for better. Hope everyone had a Merry And Blessed Christmas and I an sure I will read about then as I try and get caught up. Finally have internet and the time to try and get caught up.

Tomorrow I will try and post some about my shaves including detailing where the @Bama Samurai vs @Rufus T. Settings war stands. Hint . . . not much has changed since my last post about 800 ago except the number settings on the executive.

Will spend some time getting up to speed on everything going on (I assume @NCoxSTL is still kicking and hasn't done anything too crazy yet) unless some one wants to give me a summary . . . @Drygulch? Y'all have a good evening!

 

Glad you're back and hopefully feeling lots better! You're just in time for my Soviet shave tomorrow!!! Perfect timing. I've spent the past week with a "real" straight razor in preparation for tomorrow. Pull up a chair, pop the popcorn and you're right back in the swing of things.

 

Thanks! Doing better but not 100% yet. It will take time.

Sounds like I just got all the summary I need. Neal using straights and about to use a Soviet straight. Definitely glad I made it back when I did!!

Oh and good luck tomorrow!!

 

No worries! Welcome back to the show that never ends. Just start up again! Nice to see you here!

 

@wristwatchb I never kept track of how many shaves I had on my straight but when it started tugging I would strop on cardboard or newspaper instead of leather. When I used a straight before I didn't know anything about pasted strops but cardboard and newspaper worked with many many more laps.

The longevity of my straight's edge depended on my angle and the amount of passes I had to make. If I left it a day or 2 between shaves a 2 or 3 pass was needed but with everyday shaves a 1 or 2 pass was enough. If I rushed I didn't keep optimum angles and the edge had to be refreshed sooner. I also had more irritation.

 

Don't get nuts.
Soup cans are workable.
Route 66. Get some.
I going dark side.
New guys are killing it.
Something about Osage. And Nuts.

That was your update.

 

I started the process and am two shaves in with a Soviet straight, and am making it work. Neal starts with a worse Soviet straight tomorrow. We will all keep an eye on him.

 

Epic.

 

Excellent summary. I feel like I never left!

One point of clarification though. The Don't get nuts. Does that mean don't listen to the Ivan-Igor-Boris-Neal voice in your head or as in don't scratch with menthol hands? Or maybe both.

 

So we can all thank you for the upcoming thrill ride with the Soviet straight.

. . .

 

You going dark side huh? I assume not with Soviet straights along with Neal and Adam. Definitely will be interested in reading about it. One day maybe I will test it out. Probably not but maybe.

 

It's all that.

 

January through March on SR.

What's the worst that could happen?

 

12/28/2015
Razor – Gillette Super Speed (J4)
Blade – Feather (3)
Brush – DK7 with Druida Manchurian
Lather – B&M Seville
Post - Witch Hazel & Folsom & Co Shambala



It's hard to believe that the month is almost over. The B&M Seville lathered up easily this morning. It is a thirsty soap but once the water ratio is dialed in the lather is nice and slick with great post shave feel. Now that I am used to this brush, I had more than enough lather for 4 or more passes. Back to the trusty SS Flare Tip to finish up the monthly focus on vintage razors. Just an automatic 3 pass with minor touch ups near BBS shave. Finished up with a splash of F&C Shambala. I hope everyone has a great Monday.

 

12/28/15

Gillette New LC
Rapira Super Stainless (3)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Strop Shoppe Baker Street
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original

Squeezed out my brush and loaded for about 20 seconds from the soap container. I worked up the lather in the scuttle adding water from time to time until it was nice and rich.


The lather went on my face nice and smooth. 2 full passes: Pass 1 XTG. Very good reduction. Pass 2: ATG with a small amount of touch up. A cool water rinse followed by a moderate amount of touch up. The Pinaud Clubman stung like fire, especially around my Adam's apple where it is particularly hard to get all of the stubble. But the sting faded and my skin felt nice and warm in no time at all. Still had tons of lather when I finished. Enough for at least a couple more passes.

A nice BBS from the Rapira Super Stainless in my New LC with the Strop Shoppe Baker Street. The New LC seems to be more efficient than the Phoenix Double OC, but it could simply be that I haven't gotten the angle down with the Phoenix yet. It would also help to use a sharper blade. I'll stay with the New LC through the end of the month and then take up the Phoenix for January.

I hope everyone has a great Monday!