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

I'm all healed now and I've had strict safety talks with my wife. Hope you enjoy your weekend as well.

 

Really nice shave this morning. I think I'm finally nailing the 1924 it has been a real battle this one. I actually started to think I was going to have to step away for a while and accept it as my arch nemesis. Not sure why it's been such a struggle but it seems I've got through it relatively unscathed. Enjoy the remaining weekend all

 

Great news Tom. I knew you would eventually get the hang of the 1924.

 

Thanks clint

 

What did you sing?

 

I do. I find that I really prefer non-pivoting, fixed-head handles with the Atra cartridges.
The Mach3 ones tend to clog and be too mild for me.

 

Other than the cost. It was the clogging of Mach's I hated the most. I used to nearly smash my sink trying to bang it out.

 

Yeah, Atras are so much better in that regard.

 

It's been forever since I tried Atra. Harry's 5 blade was my return to razor burn after eight years of vacillating between Hemingway and Lenin with hair and beard. Thank you to Harry for showing my face such a bad time that I found TSD better razors.

 

Superbowl Sunday, February 7, 2016

Soap: Mystic Water Barbershop
Brush: Shavemac Beehive Silvertip D01
Razor: Blackland Blackbird
Blade: Feather #1
Post: Fine American Blend, BB 1818

 

Feb 7 Focus Shave 5

Today's razor is Hart Steel 7/8 French point on Shapton 12/16k followed by Dovo red/black paste. My scariest straight and it always seems to have a sharp edge and usually unforgiving.

I cut myself on the first pass, I haven't cut myself in a long time. I am not sure what I did wrong. After that the razor felt a little tuggy, maybe it was all in my head due to the cut. I forged ahead and did four passes. Applied the alum and expecting allot burn I was surprised with just a light reaction to the alum. Then I was surprised I finished BBS.

Irritation A- Closeness A Smoothness B+ Keenness A-

Tabac
Omega 49
No scuttle
Hart Steel 7/8 French point
Speick AS
L'Occitane Cade ASB
Sonoma Scents Studio Tabac Aurea

 

Cool bowl/brush match, did you get it that way or discover them separately?

 

Thank you! The brush is from Germany and the bowl from Mexico.

 

Cool photo. Love the Zebra stripes.

 

Man, that is one of those times when you find the second one, you just know they match. SWMBO just rolls her eyes...

 

Thanks Clint!

 

...and shakes her head.

 

February Focus - German blades

February 6

Razor - Merkur 23c
Blade - (3)
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Soap - Arko Stick
Post - Cold rinse, Alum, Nivea, The Veg

Third and final day of the Elios. The wolf and Arko for the lather and as always it whipped right up into a fantastic lather. Should be a great surface to work on for this blade to try and redeem itself a bit. I hasn't been horrible, just not great. Two nicks on day one, none on day two but just not as effective and comfortable as I'd like.

First pass today was WTG as always and again, not too bad but just, ehhhh......average. No real pulling but I could tell it wasn't quite as good as either day before. The XTG on the second pass failed to produce a DFS and it took a third pass to get there again, plus some extra work along the G-slide areas. I was really hoping for a two pass DFS but not even close. Alum was again a bit warmer than I'd expect so there's that.

This blade is simply not impressive. But, it isn't a total bust either. Average would be a good word for it. Now, for the price. Best price I can find at the moment is a 10 pack for $5.78 shipped. That's nearly $0.60 per blade and that's Feather territory. This blade is no Feather so I wouldn't consider adding any to my stash for the price alone. Final rating is three steins. Average, as I said. Tomorrow, the Wilkinson Sword.

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Day 37 - 90 Day Intro to SR

6 February 2016



Ralf Aust 5/8
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Route 66 - Lumberjack
Alum
TSD ISZ AS under Pinaud Clubman​

Kept it real simple today. Blade felt really smooth and two passes yielded a mediocre DFS, alum was pretty calm though. I opted not to chase today, tomorrow will be a test shave with the Aust to see how far I've really come. Long day on the prairie...other than that...all is quiet in Colorado.​

Have a great Sunday!
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I really liked the Wilkinson that @wristwatchb sent to me to evaluate. Tomorrow should be a good one!