January 2019 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

hey .cool .i ve got dust like that too..nice set up ..

 

Thanks Terry!

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I use to think like that... Now I have over 50 soaps

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I like your blade description, John! I may have a few on those blades coming up!

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Or, if you PM me your address I will send you a sample or two

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Shave #5 On Rapira Swedish steel blade, 2 passes smooth as silk. Shavette Fu at its best.

 

Thank you guys!

 

I hope your wife never reads this forum Andrew

 

I had a very similar experience this morning, except it was on the neck, below the jawline. I should’ve waited until she was done yammering to finish the shave.

 

Also @Trigger

VDH is a very good shave soap.

 

January - Shavettes and Jeeves!

January 14 - Blade Trials - Razor comparison

Razor - Rapira
Blade - (2)
Soap - Arko
Brush - Jayaruh #54
Post - Alum

Well, the plan was to move on to the next blade in line but I decided after following the discussion today that I needed one more shave with the Gillette Blue. Mostly to get the Rapira razor out and compare it to the Gillette razor from last night. We know that the Gillette is lighter and also that you can't totally exchange heads between the two. Different size threads. So by shaving with the Rapira again I hoped to discover the differences beyond weight. Boy did I.

The blade gap on the Gillette razor is small. The cap bends the blade right into a curve that gives it the same look as a Gillette Tech. I mentioned last night how mild it felt and how the angle was tough to find and hold due to that. When I loaded the Rapira I checked the gap and saw what I expected. The blade barely curves. It's almost a straight out horizontal look to it. Bigger gap, lots of angle but that slightly bent blade becomes a bit of an obstacle. Well, I've used it before so let's try this blade in it.

I was very happy with the first two passes. Great sound, great reduction, just a great shave, really, if a bit on the side of heavy blade feel. I did a bit of touch up and noticed the blood. Right by my goatee. Just like this razor likes to do. With that blade angle it's easy to catch the corner in that area. Then, as I took care of that, the small slice near my right ear where I sat down wrong on the XTG started up. Nothing major, but two dings in one shave. The first two this month. Well, I can say I tried again for an excellent result out of this razor and failed to get it. I did, though, end up with a near-BBS, not counting the blood, and that ain't bad!

These el-cheapo razors serve a purpose. They can both be used, though I wouldn't recommend for a daily driver. Camping, travel, temporary fixes, all appropriate. Just be prepared to deal with overly-mild on the Gillette and a bit of dodging a blade edge on the Rapira. On to the Vi-Tech blades tomorrow!

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We need to mention Proraso for beginners as well. Choice of scents, reasonable price, easy but good lather.

 

Thank you. It’s fairly strong. Reminds me of sitting in a movie theater with a box of licorice.

 

Thank you. My Secret Santa was beyond generous. This is a picture of what he sent. I accidentally left the 1912 razor out of the pic. The one in the picture is a 1924.

 

My 2 cents:
Soaps for newbies should serve 2 purposes.
One- they should be easy to lather. Proraso, Palmolive Cream, Most Croaps or a few of the easiest lathering artisans (Stirling comes to mind). Something with a wide lathering ‘window’. Triple milled pucks or sticks should be put on the back burner.
Two- they should elevate the experience. Going with the cheapest product without noteworthy scents or quality reduces the reasons why someone would want to stay with wetshaving. Something with a good face feel to show folks what they’ve been missing.
Lots of options within those parameters.

 

Great comparison. I have an unopened Rapira that I may just have to test drive .

 

I approve of that also.

 

It's not so much that the blade isn't held securely. My issue is more with the amount of blade that is exposed, or the lack there of. I have quite a few shavettes that I am fond of, and am just not motivated to keep frustrating myself with one that isn't for me. For you guys that love them and have mastered them, I have nothing but mad respect. That's one of many reasons I like this group - "YMMV, and that's ok".

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Agreed. Mad respect to the Dovo-devotees.

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