JUNE 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

June 16, 2015

30 Day RULE - “Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Lather, Rinse….”

Morning Hot Shower
Prep: Pre-Shave Oil - The Art of Shaving
Soap: Arko
Brush: Omega Pro 48
Razor: Gillette Tech “Fat Handle”
Blade: Gillette Wilkinson Sword Stainless (India)
After Shave: Proraso Aftershave Splash Green



Great shave again today.


Just "riding the cap!"

Cheers!
RT

 

Day #5 of 5; 30-Days of June
Final shave using this large Wostenholm. Truly a comfortable and efficient shaver! This one will undoubtedly remain in my regular rotation as I really enjoy using it.
The razor takes and holds a very keen and more importantly, smooth edge. Strops easily, too. Some razors require some careful adjustment when striping due to shape and thickness. This one glides beautifully and noisily across the strops.
Speaking of stropping: I've gotten a few PMs from people asking about the type of strop stroke I use (angled; 'windshield-wiper' pattern) in lieu of the X-pattern many use on a 2.5"wide strop.
Its probably easier to demonstrate than use words to describe. I'll see if I can get my son to capture on video a demonstration.

 

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!!
June 16, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - VDH Boar
Soap - Proraso Green Tub
Razor - '59 Ball Handle Tech
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

Off to the final round on the World side of the sweet sixteen. We're on our way to Turkey to pick up one of the most common blades found...the Derby Extra. This is the usual blade sent with new razors unless they're Merkurs. Everybody has heard of Derby, everyone has learned to hate Derby from the day they first receive them (even if they don't use them) and yet they continue to be bought and sold in great numbers. Is it because they come from the land of Arko? Is it because they are so common to newbie shavers that they just get ordered automatically? Or....and hold onto your hats here.....could they actually be a good blade with a bad reputation? Shaving minds want to know!!!

I have never tried a Derby but SWMBO loves them. So, I chose to include them in the tournament given their ubiquity in the hobby. Now, putting it up against the Feather might seem totally unfair but hey, I'm no huge fan of the Feather so why not put two opposites together (if they really are) and see what happens?

Great lather with the Proraso and VDH Boar and off we go to the first pass. The Ball Handle Tech is a mild razor, chosen to match up well with the Feather, but I assumed it would also perform well with a blade like Derby. I was proven right. Very nice first pass. I've seen this blade called dull...it isn't. It's not the sharpest but definitely far from the dullest. Got a nice first pass, very smooth....as in I had to look to make sure the blade was loaded. Second pass, XTG again very smooth and effective. Decided to go for the full third pass given the fact my neck was still not quite DFS and just to see what was left. Much to my surprise the third pass proved there was little left to do ATG on my face and I ended with a rather aggressive Gillette Slide on both sides of my neck to finish with..................BBS! Wow.

The problem with an agressive Gslide is the fact that irritation is often born there. I rinsed with cold, grabbed the alum and discovered the faintest hint of irritation on the one spot I went at hardest. Other than that it was so mild I nearly forgot to rinse after a minute. I applied the Nivea with no further irritation and had a great shave! Apparently the multi-coated (Chromium/Ceramic/Platinum/Tungsten/Polymer) while taking some of the sharp edge off adds smoothness that compensates for it. At least for me.

Scores - Sharpness - 2. Not bad at all but definitely a bit less sharp than ones I usually use. Smoothness - 1. No worries here. Irritation - 1. It has to burn before it can get anything less. Result - BBS - 1. Who saw that coming, right?

Total - 5!

A great score that sets the stage for the Feather to have to go even further. Can you feel the tension?

 

I never would have guessed this one at all. I remember trying this blade along time ago as was not impressed at all. Maybe I need to revisit it.

 

I agree with his assessment of Derby. It's pretty good actually!

 

How is the menthol in Valobra versus ISZ or Osage?

 

This is the kind of report that we love! On June 2 did you think you would write that? Congrats! When you finally switch to another model of razor, the only things to pay attention to are angle (each model unique) and pressure (varying razor mass). All the other things really don't change that much, regardless of DE razor type.

 

What's tricky about it? I am gonna guess "angle of attack".

 

June 16 - Shave 12
Prep: Hot shower
Brush: Omega 48
Preshave: Stirling Mentha Preshave oil
Soap: TDS Signature 2x iced Soap
Razor: AJ Jordan Square point 5/8. 20 x linen strop 40 x leather strop
Strop: @Drygulch Modern Barber Strop 24"x3"
Growth: 1 day
Post: Cold water splash, Alum, TSD Signature Milk
Passes: WTG, XTG, WTG, DE Clean up

One thing that I forget to mention, I've returned to cold water shaving since last month. I find it to be more comfortable for me. New strop from Adam came in yesterday afternoon and WOW. Great piece of hardware for you straight shavers should consider. Got both linen and leather stropping in on my gemstar custom this morning and I believe it made all the difference in the comfort on the edge of the blade. No tugging our pulling in sight. Very comfortable 3 pass straight shave, and cleaned up with a fresh Wilkinson Sword blade. Funny, I was done with the straight and thought, "I could stop here...I have a DFS...NO LET'S CHASE IT!" Grabbed the DE and started humming Jimmy Dean's "Smoke smoke smoke that cigarette" - chase chase chase that bbs!




Cheers!
Eric

 

Lovin it!

Chase, chase, chase...chase, chase, chase...chase the Baby!

 

Could be. I had read so much about riding the cap etc, that I might have just been over thinking the thing. For me riding the cap didn't work. The angle that works for me is more like the angle for a Merkur 34c, or Super Speed. Once I quit thinking and just shaved it all clicked back the way I remember it. I will say that each one of the Vintage OC razors shave differently. Even different examples of the same razor.

 

Virtually nonexistent on the Valobra. If it weren't called 'menthol' you'd swear it's just 'regular' soap. Very nice lather, however.
I wind up adding a drop of M-Bomb for a menthol kick.

 

JUNE 16TH 30 DAY RAZOR FOCUS


RAZOR: MAGGARD 18C
BLADE: LORD (4TH USE)
BRUSH: OMEGA S SYNTHETIC
SOAP: C&E INDIAN SANDALWOOD
POST: CVS BRAND AQUA VELVA


Sorry i keep forgetting to post my SOTD in this thread. i have been using this razor all month and i have been getting some great shaves with it. it took a little getting used to as it is a much heavier razor than the others i have, but it works like a charm! the C&E soap is something i am a bit disappointed in. the lather is very bubbly and thin. it disappeared right after application. right after the shave i grated it in a bowl with a little water so we shall see if i can get a decent lather with it this way. i really hope so as the scent is awesome and i don't like to give up on a soap/cream.

 

This blade is actually one that suprised me too. I have not had any negatives with it, in a variety of razors.

 

June Open Comb Focus
Day 11

Prep: Coconut oil, hot shower
Razor: Gillette New SC
Blade: Voskhod
Brush: Omega 10083 Boar Brush
Lather: Proraso Green Soap
Post: Cold rinse, Alum, Witch hazel, Proraso Green AS

Everything went well this morning. Had a small nick under my chin due to carelessness.

 

Razor: Gillette Flare Tip D2 1958
Blade: Gillette, Platinum (5)
Brush: Semogue 1305 Boar Tri Colored Wood Handle.
Soap: Synergy Shaving Soap- Bay Rum
Mug: Soak my brush in the Old Spice coffee mug for about a minute.
A/S: Captain's Choice- Bay Rum
Day 18
Still struggling with he boar brush. Not getting enough water, or to much. Probably should stick with one soap to get used to the amount of water needed to make a good lather. That being said it is good to fail as I am learning more about the whole DE shaving process with each shave. Three pass shave with a cleanup.

 

I enjoy watching others and looking at the very nice looking SRs in the photos but I think not. I already have enough problems without creating another one.

 

What? You couldn't have given me that advice on June 1st?

just kidding - realistically, I wasn't yet ready to receive it. It makes sense now.

Though I was getting good shaves from the day I started DE shaving compared to carts - just because I could hit a ball once in awhile, it didn't make me a baseball player.
With so much to learn and experiment with, I realize it requires a progression of skills and discipline to improve abilities!

Thanks for modeling that.
Cheers!
- RT

 

Love the soap container graphic!

 

Good soap also.