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

Oops. How did I get it twisted?

The Blackbird is only DE razor in current production that catches my eye. So sleek! The durability of steel is a big plus, too!

 

I really love it! The build quality, the shave quality are unmatched. Plus Shane is extremely great to work with. To me that is very important...

 

Today?

 

Does @Darkbulb know the answer to which handle feels more natural, or have an opinion on which balance is better?

 

BB? I've only ever used the longer handle.
I think @PLANofMAN has both though

 

Day 53 - 90 Day Intro to SR
SOTD - 22 February 2016



Whipped Dog 5/8
L'Occitane Plisson Synthetic
Route 66 - Lumberjack
Alum
Kroger Arctic Blue

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Day 53. Like @Norcalnewb , I kept it to a precise one pass DFS with the Dog, adequate for a Monday. I'd say my strop skill is adequate, this razor hasn't seen a stone since I got it, and it still passes the right ear to jawline test stroke perfectly. Once again, the Route 66 was flawless in the baseball SR application pattern, and today's shave really had good glide. @Keithmax has me undergoing all new expensive (pensive, too) fits of tobacco pipe AD, so I am glad that @Douglas Carey and @Salty Belle showed me the SAD Killer in R66 Lumberjack. This is far and away the finest tub style soap that I own. Don't look up now, it's snowing again on the prairie. Other than that...all is quiet in Colorado

Have a Terrific Tuesday!!


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Yes, BB. Steel seems dense enough that it would change the center of mass a bit.

 

Straights Focus February 23:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Frederick's Celebrated Razor
Stirling Unscented PSB
TOBS Sandalwood AS

A very nice one pass shave this morning. I truly do get better reduction with a straight than I was ever able to with a safety razor. It would be interesting to see how I do with a safety razor now, as I have heard that straights help with technique there also. Maybe something to try in a month or two.

Last night I read through the @PLANofMAN thread on MWF again, and tried some of the suggestions. I had gotten decent lathers from MWF, but nothing like I did this morning. I am a face latherer, so this is what was left over after my shave:



It was nice, slick, and lots of cushion. It set the basis for a great start to a Tuesday. Have a great day.

 

2/23/16

Gillette Old Type
Gillette Platinum Plus (2)
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Mitchell's Wool Fat
Georgetown G12 Scuttle
Pinaud Clubman Original



A nice comfortable BBS from the Gillette Platinum Plus in the Old Type. Slickness courtesy of the Fat. I did my typical 2 passes followed by a light touch up with some of the soap on my face, a cool water rinse, and a greater than average amount of touch up to catch the baby. The Clubman stung an average amount today.

I hope everyone has a nice Tuesday.

 

02/23/2016
Mongoose B2 with Triad Ti
Feather Super Pro (2)
DK7 with Druida Manchurian
Chiseled Face Trade Winds
Witch Hazel
Fine L’Orange
Whipped Shea Butter


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A near perfect 2 pass work morning shave. With just minor touch ups I managed to catch the baby which is very unusual for me on work mornings. As expected the CF Trade Winds provided a nice slick protective lather. Finished up with a splash of Fine L'Orange. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

 

SOTD February 23, 2016
Focus day 23
Day 7 of open comb use and comparison

Prep: Warm shower
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (2)
Razor: Maggard MR1 handle with V2 open comb
Brush: Trader Joe's synthetic
Lather: TSD unscented shave stick
Post: Witch hazel splash, Nivea sensitive balm
WTG, touch-up

Nice CCS this morning following a one-pass with touch-up approach. I haven't quite dialed in the soap stick yet. The Trader Joe's brush and soap stick combination is one that I might take traveling so I'm wanting to practice with it some. I just don't have the ratio and proportions down quite yet, but I'll get there. The soap from the TSD stick is amazing stuff regardless. I need to fiddle with the water on my face, on the soap stick, on the brush, etc.

Good results from the Gillette Silver Blue blade and the Maggard open comb continues to work wonders. I really like this open comb razor.

I hope you folks have a great Tuesday!

 

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Pre: Shower, Sterling Pre-Shave Soap, Chatllion Lux Pre-Shave Butter
Soap: Tabac
Brush: Druida D-7 Manchurian
Razor: Blackland Blackbird
Blade: Feather #1
Post: Witch Hazel, Whipped Shea Butter, Tabac Aftershave

 

Nice picture, Mark. Is that a cactus your bowl is sitting on?

 

You can't blame me for the pipe AD, somehow I ended up with a Dunhill pipe.

 

I'm on the road this week and am using my travel kit. The Mongoose gets a rest. I just did a quick two pass DFS+
SOTD
On the road today.
Palmolive shave stick
AoS Pure Badger travel brush
Schick type G
Chick blade
MK Sport cologne
Have fun!

 

Great write and photo.

 

Im guessing the smaller handle would be okay, it would be like choking up on a baseball bat.

 

Ready for an "on the road" story that may qualify for the "I Did Something Stupid" thread? I ran out of my tiny Barbasol shaving cream on the last day of my trip to Utah last April. There was a supermarket across from our motel, so I went in to get-here comes the "stupid" part-a LARGE can, not thinking to check for the "travel kit" section . I had the one shave on our final day, and then had to sadly toss out a near-full can of Gillette(too big for TSA's liking).

 

Have a safe and productive trip.

 

The few times I have used a DE since switching to straights have been almost zero effort shaves. Based on the feelings from knowing the blade angle on straights, it is really easy to find the angle on DEs. I don't ride the cap anymore, and seem to get good low irritation shaves. My definition of aggressive has also changed significantly.