JUNE 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

June 13th, SOTD (Shave 8 of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: Gillette New Short Comb
Blade: Rapira Platinum Lux
Soap: Homestead Ranch Goat Butter Soap (mixed scents)
Brush: Eveready 100T re-knotted with 22mm TGN Synthetic
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Aubrey Men’s Stock North Woods

Didn’t manage to get my last shave posted. It was a pretty good one with the Craftsman straight razor. For today’s shave, I wanted to use a DE I had just traded for. I traded a GEM SE for this one, because I have always wanted to try and OC. Effortless two pass shave that was almost BBS. Decided to chase the baby, and realized this is a mildly aggressive razor. Face and neck are BBS, but got some irritation and a few weepers on the neck. Very easy shave compared to straights, but not quite as satisfying as a straight razor shave.

 

Luckily my SR white whale has yet to appear as a genuine BLB restoration.

 

Cold water shave focus day 13:

Homemade PS Oil
WD High Mountain Badger 30 mm
Musco Real Classic SC
Ralf Aust 5/8 straight
Gillette Ball End Tech
Stirling Unscented PSB
Musco Real Classic AS

My first day off in a while, so I took the time to get a straight shave in. Managed a decent 3 pass shave, but still needed some clean up after using the DE. All in all a good shave. Love the Musco Real. The cold water shave just made everything better. I am really liking the way the razor gets cold in the water. I think I will go with some menthol tomorrow for an even frostier experience.

 

Safe travels and best wishes to the wedding party! I love being on the wharf in Monterey when the Army plays taps at the Presidio, the walruses sing along.

 

June Open Comb Focus
Day 10

Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Gillette New SC
Blade: Voskhod
Brush: Omega 10083 Boar Brush
Lather: Kiss My Face Lavender Shea Shave Cream
Post: Cold rinse, Alum, Witch hazel, TBS Maca Root ASB

KMF shave cream always surprises me for its post shave moisturizing effect.

I also found out that I get a more comfortable shave on the moustache area when going ATG by shaving SE to NW and SW to NE, then relather and shave S to N.

I hope that made sense or else I'm just confusing myself.

 

Day 11 - 12 May 2015

30 Day Rule with a Cadet OC!


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Day 2, I believe, on this blade. A really easy and smooth shave today. It seems like after eleven days, things are finally falling into place. The key to this razor is maintaining a consistent low angle to mitigate the aggressive geometry. This is a cap riding razor for sure. Throw in a little SR style stretching and 2 passes will get it done. I wasn't gonna shave today, but decided to anyway and was rewarded. Kept this real simple on the finish, just some alum and a little of the TSD ISZ AS Splash that everybody just ordered. Right?!? Other than that, still raining in Colorado...

Have a beautiful Sunday!

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Thanks for joining in on the fun!

 

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!!
June 13, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Vie Long 12705
Soap - Tabac
Razor - Van Der Hagen (Weishi 9306)

Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

Back to India in the World division today. It's the Super-Max Super Platinum and was the first Vidyut blade I ever tried. And, I found it to be a really good blade. One of the platinums that don't drive me to drink. Loaded up the Weishi again, grabbed the horse and galloped into a great lather. Tabac is another new addition to my den that will be permanent. I've definitely added to my soaps with it and MWF.

Hit the first pass early this morning....man I hate these monthly spiff meetings. Felt great, did a good job on the first pass and onward we go. Lathered up again enjoying the scent and did XTG. Finished with a quick touch up on the neck and had to call it good due to time. However, I probably wouldn't have done any more anyway to avoid irritation. Finished with a DFS and looked great for the busiest day of the week.

Sharpness....this blade is as sharp as the Voskhod and several others so it's a 1. Smoothness also a 1. Felt like no blade was even in the razor, though the mildness of the Weishi no doubt helped. Irritation was also not bad at all. Just a slight all over sting to the alum that didn't last long. It's a 1. Result? DFS so a 2. Total? 5.

We have a TIE!! The Bic also scored 5. And, there is no overtime in this tourney. So how to break the tie? Well, as subjective as it is I have chosen to compare each section of both blades' scoring and add my opinion based on the results. I think both blades are equally sharp. Great on that point. Smoothness? Really couldn't tell the difference. Obviously they both got to DFS and neither produced any blood so we'll call that even. Irritation is left. The Bic was quiet. Not really a sting at all. The Super-Max did produce a mild sting. Compared to some others it was nothing, but compared to the Bic is is slightly, and I mean slightly worse. So.......change Irritation on this blade to 1.5 and final score is.......

Bic - 5
SMSP - 5.5

Winner by the slightest of margins is the BIC!!!

A confession - When I set up the brackets I fully expected Kai to beat the Super-Max Platinum and the Super Platinum to beat the Bic. I ended with the exact opposite results! It's surprises like that that make doing things like this so fun. And, it's why I refuse to pick a winner of the whole thing! Hope you all had a great Saturday! Tomorrow we move to the Treet Platinum as we travel to Pakistan for the next round!

 

It's nuts how the Weishi gets no love. It's a good razor.

 

I agree. It's also my first DE razor. I picked it up at Target along with an extra pack of blades (which I still have) and my addiction was born! It is a mild razor but hey, paired with the right blade a mild razor can perform very well. The Weishi is proof of that.

 

We started the same way.

 

Sunday's shave.... not as good as Saturdays. As usual passes 1 and 2 felt excellent but on pass 3 due to operator error there was blood. On my chin I made the mistake twice starting with too steep an angle and gave myself two cuts. I also nicked my chin. In the end a little more irritation than yesterday but my 2nd DFS.

Nivea cream for prep
Super lather: AoS tallow and Castle Forbes Lime
Simpson Polo 8 super badger
Ralph Aust 5/8
Harold Russian leather strop
Alum block to keep my fingers dry
Speick AS
L'Occitane Cade ASB
Guerlain Mouchoir de Monsieur EDT

 

No good about the chin! Very cool looking black razor, and cool brush handle. Could you post a tighter shot of the brush sometime?

 

Cold water shave focus day 14:

Homemade PS Oil
Vie-long Horsehair Brush
Stirling Glacial Spearmint
Gillette Ball End Tech
Stirling Unscented PSB
Aqua Velva AS

I love the cold water and Glacial combination. It is a face freezer. Aqua Velva to top it off. Have a great Sunday!

 

06/14/2015
Razor – ATT M2 with Triad Helix SS
Blade – Feather (1)
Brush – Shavemac Silvertip D01
Lather – MWF a PIF from @SDK
Post - Witch Hazel & Captain’s Choice Bay Rum



Continuing my month of focusing on OC razors, the ATT M2 is up for this week. The M2 and the R2 are on loan from my best friend. I had a great 3 pass near BBS shave. The only area is just below my nose. The ATT head is just a little thicker than the New OC razors causing me to have a little more trouble maneuvering the razor. I'm sure I will get it figured out over the remainder of the week.

The MWF was a PIF from @SDK and provided a very slick lather. Finished up with a splash of CC Bay Rum.

 

That's weird about the LC. I'll have to check mine when I get home and see if there's any pat info on it. Tried it today and it was a good bit more aggressive than my other LC. Up there with a New Improved.

 

6/14/15 - A Month of Proraso!!!

Last day using Red. It's been a good one. Seems a little thinner than the green but slicker. Maybe a wee bit different formula. Over all a great week with the Red.

The 1930's LC New. I used to think the SC was less forgiving, but this LC is a good bit more aggressive. My other LC is a lot less Troy mentioned one of his is different too. I think I have 3 LC's, so might do a comparison this week and see what the differences are.

Proraso Red Soap
Semogue Italian Barber LE
Gillette New LC
Pol-Silver Blade (1)
Stetson Aftershave

 

If the base plates are the same, many times it is a small difference in the width of the top cap that changes the aggression level.

 

Before I shaved this morning while putting the blade in, I did notice a difference in the bottom plate. After work I'll take some picks and see if there is a difference. Didn't know Gillette did that. Pretty interesting.
It also could just be using a new blade. The first day is usually rough for me.

 

Charlie, that's quite a collection of razors. I think a vintage razor focus is a great idea.