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

February Focus - German blades

February 16

Razor - Merkur 23c
Blade - (2)
Brush - Wolf Whiskers Custom Silvertip
Soap - Arko stick
Post - Cold rinse, Alum, Aqua Velva Musk

This is Wednesday. I have to remind myself since I'm a day off this week. What does that mean? Nothing, really, except to try and keep me on track the rest of the week. Age creeping I think. Don't change the old man's routine. He gets cranky and irregular. We can't have that.

Day two on the Croma Diamant blade which underwhelmed yesterday. Average at best from the first day. Maybe it will improve its standing with me. Grabbed the Arko stick and Wolf today. I am considering adding a La Toja stick to the rotation at some point. A few people around here rant and rave about it so I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger. But for now, Arko is my stick of choice and the Wolf really gets a great lather out of it.

First pass WTG and underwhelmed is the word of the day. Not painfully rough but far from smooth. It's the kind of feel I expect from a cheap Indian or Bangladeshi blade. Well, ok, maybe not as bad as a Bangladeshi but you get the idea. The result on the first pass was not good either. Just acceptable. XTG on the second pass. Still underwhelmed. The feel of the pass would make me cranky at any age. Again not so bad as to be unusable but I can certainly do better than this. Third pass ATG and G-slide to a DFS finish. Mediocre DFS. And a nice alum burn to go along with it on the neck. Apparently the German engineers who produce the Timor, Bolzano and Wilkinson have never visited the Croma plant. One more day to go. Maybe I'll sleep late tomorrow so I have to rush the shave before work and stop at two passes. That's the idea! Happy Wednesday!

Oh, the boys finally checked in. I demanded to know where they were and what they thought they were doing and got these in response. Yuri and Kolya seem to have found some friends. I suspect I know why they disappeared.

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Blade rating today..........giving it three steins. Seems less effective than yesterday, and I'm making it pay for my irritation at sending the guys to Germany instead of going myself!

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Another Blues fan! Awesome!!

 

Razor: Gillette Red Tip
Blade: Personna Blue (3)
Brush: Fendrihan Silver Tip 22/49
Soap: Route 66 Ghost Town
A/S: Fine American Blend

Re shafting Vokey Wedges, 60*, 56*, 52*. Excellent DFS. Thanks to all for the, "LIKES".

 

Next Shave - Denver!

 

But oh, verbosity (i.e., diarrhea of the mouth - as they say in the most informal vernacular) is so much more sophisticated when using 'loquacious'.

(oooo, I just get all tingly just saying the word -
l o q u a c I o u s....mmmm. )

 

Perhaps prolix fits better!

 

I am starting to feel like I may not meet the minimum IQ requirements for this thread!

 

You may not be alone.

 

Day 17 - Schick repeater focus

Nailed a BBS today with the type C2. Second day on the Dutch made Schick blade is nirvana when it comes to this combo. 12 hrs later and Im still smooth...if it wasnt for a need of variety in my shaving life I could easily choose this razor as the only one in my den. I plan to keep on enjoying the C2 until the blade dulls and then move on to the Open comb version C1 for the rest of the focus.

 

Congratulations
Nice brush also.

 

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Soap: Savonnerie Du Bon Berger Cedar Mandarin
Brush: Shavemac Silvertip D01
Razor: Blackland Blackbird
Blade: Feather #3
Post: Fine L’Orange Noir

 

The brush bowl combination is out of this world.

 

At least I wasn't redundantly pleonastic.

 

Definitely a beautiful combo @Boojum1 They look like they were made together!

 

Thanks Doug.

 

Straights Focus February 18:

Shea Moisture Shave Butter as Pre-shave
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Pre de Provence SS
Ralf Aust 5/8
Stirling Unscented PSB
Brut Classic AS

I had a nice, easy one pass shave this morning with CCS results. The PdP was great, and I really enjoy its scent. I wrapped up with some Brut, which my dad used to wear when I was young. The smell just takes me back k to the days when I used "shave" with him using the back of a comb. A great start to this Thursday.

 

2/18/16

Gillette Old Type
Feather Hi-Stainless (1)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
The Strop Shoppe Baker Street
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



Back with a Feather in the Old Type. 2 passes with great reduction, followed by some minor touch up with the lather on my face after the second pass. A cool water rinse and a tiny bit of touch up brought the baby home. The Clubman stung like fire, but it didn't last. The Baker Street provided tons of slick and creamy lather. When I finished, I had enough for at least 3 more passes.

A nice BBS provided by the Feather in my Gillette Old Type. Along with a fantastic soap gifted by @clint64: Strop Shoppe Baker Street. Picked up a weeper on my neck during my first pass. Seems like I forgot that a fresh feather is sharper than a 3 day old GSB.

I hope everyone has a great Thursday.

 

Bill, I am glad you are enjoying the soaps. I agree SS Baker Street is a really nice soap with a great scent and lather.

 

02/18/2016
AlumiGoose with Triad SS
Feather Super Pro (6)
Olivewood with TGN Finest Fan
Chiseled Face Trade Winds
Witch Hazel
Fine Platinum
Whipped Shea Butter


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A very good 2 pass with touch ups near BBS shave this morning. I did manage to get a small nick below my lip. I was moving to fast and put the razor against my face to quickly and the Goose bit me. Finished up with a splash of Fine Platinum. I hope everyone has a great Thursday.

 

SOTD February 17, 2016
Focus day 17
Day 3 of open comb use and comparison

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Personna lab blue (3)
Razor: Maggard MR1 handle with V2 open comb
Brush: Satin Tip 'The Purest' synthetic
Lather: Ginger's Garden Salty Mariner
Post: Witch hazel splash, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Another nice, easy, and comfortable CCS this morning. One pass with touch-up gets the job done on weekdays. The Ginger's Garden soap is really great stuff. It lathers in just a few seconds and makes a great, cushiony, protective lather. I have really enjoyed using it the past few days.

The Maggard V2 open comb head is growing on me. I really like it. The sound while saving is more audible and the soap builds up efficiently under the teeth. Today's shave and yesterday's were pretty smooth for just one pass with touch-up. I'll be interested to see what the closed comb feels like when I try it again down the line. Right now the open comb is doing fantastic.

I ended up with two tiny weepers on my chin, but the cold rinse and witch hazel took care of that. All in all a nice shave.

Go out and enjoy your Thursday!