Kokak's Straight Razor journey...

20170822 Tue@2100
Straight Razor shave: 37

Prep: Stirling Lime Pre-Shave Oil
Shaving Soap: Mystic Waters Lime
Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl
Brush: Stirling Boar Brush (24 mm x 57 mm)
Straight Razor: Dubl Duck Special No 1 5/8" (10) WTG - XTG - WTG (face) WTG - ATG - WTG (neck)
Stropping: Tony Miller 3" Fast Bridle Leather "Plain Chocolate" (15x Linen and 25x Leather)
Splash: Humphreys Witch Hazel
Splash: Stirling Bergamot Lavender (+Menthol) + Orange Chill (+Menthol) + Sandalwood (+Menthol)
Balm: Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Another relaxing evening shave. Got a few new soaps in and will be testing them over the next few shaves. Otherwise it is just continued use of the straight. I have cheated on my straight razors twice in the past few days. I received a GEM MMOC SE as a PIF and have used it for a shave late Saturday and again on Monday. As I was using it, I found my self referring to it as a very sharp straight with a training guard. Both shaves were comfortable and without any blood. I could feel the blade against my face (similar to a straight) and my straight razor instincts kicked in and left me with very smooth results.

So here is the soap review:

Soap: Mystic Waters Lime
Ease of Lathering: 7
Lather Volume: 8
Slickness: 7
Scent Strength: 4
Scent: 7
Post Shave Feel: 7
Cost: $11.79 (4 oz tub from Mystic Waters Soap)

This was a very nice soap. I enjoyed the scent. But as the shave progressed, it seemed to get lost. The slickness of the lather was good and the post shave feel was also good. It provided good protection during my straight razor shave and was okay. All in all it was a better than average soap.
My shave with the Dubl Duck was nice and close. There was one small nick, on the left side the corner of my mouth. Otherwise, it was an awesome shave. I did go ATG on my second pass, on my neck. I think I will not be doing that anymore. While I have not cut myself and there is no residual irritation. It just is not comfortable. While it does leave a BBS shave on my neck, BBS is not that important to me. Comfort... is.

 

20170823 Wed@2100
Straight Razor shave: 38

Prep: Stirling Lime Pre-Shave Oil
Shaving Soap: Local Gent Leid Rhino Hula (Riverside Wetshave Meetup)
Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl
Brush: Stirling Boar Brush (24 mm x 57 mm)
Straight Razor: Dubl Duck Special No 1 5/8" (11) WTG - XTG - WTG (face) WTG - WTG - WTG (neck)
Stropping: Tony Miller 3" Fast Bridle Leather "Plain Chocolate" (15x Linen and 25x Leather)
Splash: Humphreys Witch Hazel
Splash: Local Gent Leid Rhino Hula
Balm: Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm

There was a Wet Shavers Meetup in Riverside California this past July that I went to. As part of the swag bag that I per-ordered, there was a soap and aftershave made for the event by Crown King for Local Gent (Leid Rhino Hula). The soap and aftershave had a Hibiscus and Vetiver scent. The review of the soap is below. The shave with the Dubl Duck was great and the resulting DFS was a nice way to end a hectic day. I got a Stirling devilry today; 4 bars of the Pineapple & Cilantro Bath soap, a tub of Black Cherry shave soap and a tub of Sandalwood shave soap.

So here is the soap review:

Soap: Local Gent Leid Rhino Hula
Ease of Lathering: 6
Lather Volume: 9
Lather Cushion: 9
Slickness: 8
Scent Strength: 6
Scent: 5
Post Shave Feel: 8
Cost: Limited 'grab bag' soap and aftershave for Riverside Wet Shavers Meetup

I have had this soap sitting on my shelf for almost a month now and I thought it was time to try it out. The scent was okay (this is why I didn't try it any sooner). It was a pleasant floral scent but not anything I would go looking for. It was a thirsty soap and took a bit of coxing to get the lather created. But once I got the right amount of water in it, the lather was thick and provided lots of cushion. This soap performed really well and provided me with an irritation free 3 pass shave. If only I liked the scent more...

 

It seems like the shaves are going well, well done.

 

Thanks. It is definitely getting easier.

 

20170824 Thu@2015
Straight Razor shave: 39

Prep: Stirling Lime Pre-Shave Oil
Shaving Soap: Mystic Waters Sandalwood Rose
Shaving Bowl: Fine Lather Bowl
Brush: Stirling Boar Brush (24 mm x 57 mm)
Straight Razor: Dubl Duck Special No 1 5/8" (12) WTG - XTG (face) WTG - ATG (neck)
Stropping: Tony Miller 3" Fast Bridle Leather "Plain Chocolate" (15x Linen and 25x Leather)
Splash: Humphreys Witch Hazel
Splash: Stirling Bergamot Lavender (+Menthol) + Orange Chill (+Menthol) + Sandalwood (+Menthol)
Balm: Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm

What I thought would be a nice comfortable shave, that I have come to expect, didn't go that way this evening. I tried a different puck of Mystic waters tonight. The soap performed the same as the last Mystic Waters soap I used (but I liked this scent much more). But I needed to stop after the second pass the shave was not very smooth by the end of the 1st pass and middle of the second pass. There were no nicks are cuts, but the blade was not gliding over my face as usual. I was experiencing a lot more tugging and pulling. I have all my honing stones in and am just waiting for my lapping stone to arrive. Maybe my stropping has not been very effective with this blade?

 

The overall condition of your razor's edge keeness, especially after multiple shaves, is dependent upon a couple of factors: the coarseness of your whiskers, the effectiveness of your stropping in maintaining the edge. Generally speaking, tugging and pulling are clear indicators that there is something amiss with the edge.
If you decide to take the razor to the hones, do so cautiously. I'd recommend a light touch-up— a series of easy strokes on a finisher (8-10k or higher), 30-50 laps on linen and leather and a test shave.

 

So you're saying to only use the higher grit stone (my Naniwa 12k)?

 

I would do about 15 laps on the Chromium Oxide on linen, before taking it to a hone. Then 30-50 on regular linen strop, and 50-75 on leather. If this doesn't make it buttery smooth shaving, then I would do a few laps on a finishing stone.

 

This is another option. I'm personally not a fan of ChromOx as I find it can leave a harsher feel to the edge—which sort of mitigates the edge left from the finisher.

 

I agree, if it's overdone. If I do too many laps on it, the edge become too sharp. As odd as this seems.

 

I will try with the 12k Ninawa stone, once I get my lapping plate in and then the Linen and Leather. It is taking forever for my lapping stone to arrive. Just checked Amazon and it isn't due in till Sept 11th.

 

For a simple edge touch up, you can probably get by without having to lap the Naniwa. It's not like those finer synthetic stones are horribly out of whack nor do you really need to raise a slurry.
Rinse it well, keep it wet & hone!

 

I will give it a try this weekend.

 

I am a 4 -ass shaver with a tough beard. After 2-3 shaves I do a couple passes on CrOx or Dovo red/black paste. After 6 to 8 shaves to a Shapton glass 16k or Zulu Grey.

 

Thanks

 

What are trying to say here, brother?

 

. I'm trying to think of something funny to say, but all I can say is that I've not tried that part of my body before.
Oh, something just came to my mind. "Pics, or it doesn't exist".

 

No No No... let's just take his word on this!

 

No wonder he was banished to Korea

 

Good thing I already have a custom title.