March 2017 30 Day Rule/Focus Pix & Discussion

The problem is that if scar are badges of honor, I am beginning to look like Matt Urban.

BTW - Every American should know that name.

 

Razor: Supply Provision Custom 3 dot head
Blade: Chick
Brush: That Darn Rob silvertip
Soap: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag
Post Care: Thayers Witch Hazel
Alum
Osage Rub
Aftershave: Chiseled Face Midnight Stag

A quick two pass shave this morning, I skipped the straight because of (A) time and (B) I can't steadily raise my arms over my shoulders because of my workout yesterday. I didn't think sharp steel and shaky hands were a good combo this morning. I really like the scent of the Midnight Stag, I know it's polarizing but I'm a fan. Two shaky passes later I ended up with a DFS and no cuts, I love this razor. Have a great day folks!

 

March 30, 2017

Razor: F2 Gillette 195 Adjustable (4)
Blade: 7 O'Clock Sharpedge (2)
Brush: Cremo by Vie-Long Horsehair
Cream: KMF fragrance-free

I haven't used this brush in a bit so I figured I'd give it another go. I think I need to read up on horsehair brushes a bit as I seem to have a lot of issues getting the hydration managed correctly with this brush. Nevertheless, the lather came together nicely for two passes and a near-BBS.

 

I'm Playing catchup so forgive me if someone else already answered, but I believe they have a very mild geometry.

 

Catch up post. Two shaves:
Tuesday 3/28/17 SOTD
Razor: Geo W. Korn American Double Hollow 5/8
Brush: Dubl Duck M-2 with Omega 10066 knot
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Horse/ Linen
Soap: Wheat State Soap Sweet Tobacco
Post: Cold Water, Alum, Thayer's Rose
Aftershave: Stephen Island Lime with Menthol added


This was one of those razors I had purchased for next to nothing, due to poor pictures on the listing. I was the only bidder, and got it for the starting bid. Its from the Korn company, and he did grinding for many amazing American companies, including Cattaraugus, W.R. Case & Sons, and Kinfolks. If you look at the razor profile, you can see it was given about a 1/4 hollow grind, then a smaller grinder was used to hollow out part of the blade between the spine and the edge. This gives a ridge of thicker material near the edge, but a sturdy grind that doesn't flex much. I just got this one back from being honed on a JNat, so the edge was very sharp. Because of the thickness, it shaves like a wedge, but sounds like a hollow ground. Good shave, but I did get a cut where I set it down too hard.

Thursday 3/30/17 SOTD
Razor: Dubl Duck Special #1
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Horse/ Linen
Brush: Dubl Duck M-2 with Omega 10066 knot
Soap: Wheat State Soap Sweet Tobacco
Post: Cold Water, Alum, Thayer's Rose
Aftershave: Fine All American Blend


Just got this razor yesterday. Awesome looking work. Shaves very well. It is a small nimble razor that let me do a quick three pass shave, barely missing BBS this morning. Love the look of the entire blade being blued, and the see through scales. This is my 10th use of the Wheat State Soap sample. Someday, I will get a tub of this one, as I love the scent. Probably two more shaves in this sample, then on to my last soap sample. I think I can get through them both by the end of April.

Only seven shaves this month, all with the Wheat State Soaps sample. This is a new business, and a good soap that I hope does well. I've been trying to get the owner to join TSD as a vendor. Had a lot going on with my family this month, and appreciated the support of this group. Its amazing how a group of internet strangers can help so much when things aren't great. I didn't do much in the way of focus, but I enjoyed the time on the thread, and chipped in when I could.

 

I seriously enjoy Dean Winters series of commercials.

 

Beautiful Razor Adam. Love the clear scales.

 

That Korn is seriously cool. Nice catch.

 

I'm sending this one off to a new home tomorrow and decided to give it one last shave. I'm going to miss this baby
Mickey Lee Soapworks The Drunken Goat
Jayaruh #44 Brush
Wade and Butcher Razor
Lucky Tiger
Florida Water AS
Have a great day!

 

SOTD March 28th


RazoRock Mentor/ Barber Pole
Rapira Super Stainless
Stirling Mountain Man
Satin Tip The Purest
Florida Water

Its been a crazy busy week but things are finally slowing down right in time for the weekend. My last shave was on Tuesday and it was my first time trying Stirling Mountain Man. All I can say is WOW, what a great scent. To me it reminds me of a mix of Executive Man and Florida Water. I can definitely see a full size tub with matching AS purchase in the future. The shave wasn't as close as I would have liked, but I've got 3 more shaves with this razor/blade combo to nail it before I rotate razors. Have a great day my friends!

P.S. Time for a baby update


We did have to resort to using some of the gas drops, but they are helping quite a bit.

 

The pic of your son is entirely too cute. You made my day.

 

That is a beautiful looking razor. Until you said the date, I would have thought it was new. Congrats on the shave...

 

Super cute photo and so serene


Oh, I forgot to ask. What do you think of the Razorock razor?
I do like that brush. The black knot with the rich midnight blue is very cool. Is it new? What are your thoughts on the brush?

 

March 29th - I couldn't wait....

Merkur 34C
PolSilver Super Iridium Day 4
Dark Chocolate brush(JR#148)
DIY PSO
Wheat State Soaps Vanilla Sandalwood
Alum/Thayers WH/ AOS Sandalwood

In my mad cap lust for the Soap Pass Around box, Adam (Drygultch) sent me a sample of a vanilla sandalwood scented soap in hopes to quench my desires for a spell. Both the wife and I just love all forms of sandalwood and especially vanilla sandalwood. At first, I was going to wait to try the scent for the weekend since I am usually in a rush and the wife won't be able to sample what I smell like after the shave during the week. She likes to see what the bathroom and I smell like afterwards. I woke this morning and I felt like a kid who has just stolen one of the candies in the bin at the grocery store. I just had to try it. So today, this Vanilla Sandalwood was put to the test!

Being a new soap and not knowing anything about this soap, not even the name of the manufacturer, I grabbed a demitasse spoon's amount (yes, I used a demitasse spoon! it is not just for espresso it seems) and pressed it into the lather bowl. I think it is on par with Stirling in softness. Some water got into the bowl from showering which turned out to be a few dropped away from perfection. Dribbled 3 times and rich slick and shiny lather resulted. Having only used AOS, TOBS and Stirling ( and Stirling was my only soap. the other were creams), I am very glad I was able to lather another soap so easily. I attribute that more to the soap than to my lathering talents .

Lather was very slick. It was so slick that when some dropped in the shower, I stepped on it and slipped! No joke. I found it more slippery than Stirling but had less protection. Got 2 nicks on first pass. Blade was 4 days old too so it might not have been the soap's fault.

Irritation post shave seemed to be less than with Stirling. Wondering if the greater slickness was the cause.

Scent was great! Loved the scent. It was very vanilla and had tones of butter in it. I felt like I was eating fresh baked vanilla butter cookies (with the oven next to me) in the middle of a lumber company cutting sandalwood. The Sandalwood stood out as well. Nice combo. Wife said that it was more woody instead of cologny. I definitely like it. I think it is more like Stirling Vanilla Sandalwood scent than say TOBS Sandalwood scented. In either case, if you like Stirling VS, I think you will like this too. Without them side by side, I want to say this VS is a little stronger that Stirling but without them side by side, it is a tough call.

Would like a little more protection but maybe the lower protection is why I got a BBS from a 4 day old blade. Nice all the way around. I will have to play with the water a bit to see if I can up the protection but I would say this vendor will see repeat business from me.

By the way, earlier this morning, Adam revealed that the soap was from Wheat State Soaps (https://wheat-state-soaps.myshopify.com/). I will have to check out more of their line. I did enjoy the shave using their soap.

Finished up the BBS shave with alum and TWH and let the wife smell the leftovers. Both agree it was a great scent. Had enough extra for 2 more passes. Only needed the usual 3 passes and some touch up. Alum bit a little but in all was tolerable.

In all, a great start to the day...

 

+1

 

Thank you Frank, It is a good razor, it is toted as being an aggressive razor and has plenty of blade gap and exposure but it doesn't feel overly aggressive. I think this is one of those few razors where you need to come off the cap just a bit to be in the optimum angle. I think that's why the shave wasn't as close as I would have liked.

Thank you, Clint!

Thanks, Brian!

 

Oh, and I absolutely love this brush. The tips are super soft but the fibers have a bit of springyness to them that really give it some good backbone. The knot is a bit smaller at 22mm but is able to whip up a great lather and has no problems letting go it.

 

Sounds like a good soap. Out of curiosity, why do you feel the protection isn't as good as Stirling when you had increased slickness and less irritation? Was there something else lacking when compared to Stirling?

 

Nice picture, Ben!

 

Great set of pictures, Andrew! Your son has already grown.