May 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic-Discussion Thread

I was thinking how lucky I was that my stubble wasn't as thick or tough as yours. At least you know what the problem is.

 

Prep: Hot shower
Razor: Genco Henry XX
Soap: Arko
Brush: Omega 48
Post: Pinuad Bay Rum

Today's shave left a lot to be desired. Could I have possibly messed the edge up? I did notice I picked up the razor kind of awkward while stropping and today I rolled it over on the spine. With several nicks and rough patches after 3 passes I just decided to call it a night. I might stray slightly from my focus and use a shavette and send this razor off to get rehoned or at least pay somebody to look at it and tell me if it even needs it. I know the problem most likely is me but I feel like I'm being repetitive with everything and can't think of something that would change the quality of my shaves.

 

I think I'm gonna do the same.

 

Process of elimination lol

 

@Seabs and @txskimo and @Drygulch - You're doing great guys. I'm loving your posts this month along with @HolyRollah as the mentor of the group. Keep it up...you'll be thumbing your noses at all us DE and Artist Club riff-raff in no time!

 

I was wondering why I was getting irritation from my SR shaves, it did not occur to me to change the angle depending upon WTG, XTG and ATG. One the reasons I get a shave my 2011 R41 is that I change the angles... I never realised it until I read this post.

 

Blade Focus Day 8:

Homemade PS Oil
Vie-long Horsehair Brush
Stirling Bay Rum SS
EJ Chatsworth Barley
Bic Chrome Platinum
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Bay Rum AS

Fay 2 of the Bic, and a bit better. Still a couple of weepers, and the Stirling Bay Rum AS stung quite a bit. Not sure if I am going to do Day 3 or not just yet.

 

I knew you would get it figured out, Charlie. I'm really enjoying your photos this month. That brush is amazing.

 

05/08/15
Razor – Gillette New LC
Blade – Lab Blue (1)
Brush – Rudy Vey with TGN Finest
Lather – B&M Seville
Post - Witch Hazel and Floid Amber AS Sample



I decided to take a day off from the May Focus and use a razor that I have neglected this year. This New LC was replated by Nick at Sport Shaving and is one of my favorite DE razors. I had a very good 3 pass shave this morning with no nicks, weepers or irritation. The shave was not as quite as close as I get from the Mongoose with a Super blade. I believe that is due to the simple fact of how much I have used the Mongoose in particular and SE razors in general this year. After finishing this month, I plan on spending some time with both this New LC and my New Deluxe LC to refresh my DE skills. Finished off the shave with witch hazel and Floid Amber from my sample pack.

Leaving early today for another motorcycle trip this weekend I will be using a Schick Injector as my travel razor. I hope everyone has a great Friday and a wonderful weekend.

 

MAYhem & Mercy
May 8, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Tweezerman Badger
Soap - Williams (As good as it's going to get)Mug Shaving Soap
Razor - Soyuz 1
Blade - (1)
Post - Alum, Nivea Replenishing Post Shave Balm

The good news - no cuts, nicks, weepers or any other problems. The bad news - a blade this dull CANT'T cut you even if it wanted to! Seriously....this thing is DULL. As in NO SHARPNESS. As in I could have done better with some sandpaper and it would have felt better too. Three passes to failure. Didn't get CCS this morning and took extra time trying. Wow. Just wow. Plenty of irritation from trying but that's about all I got for it. Will throw it in the Rapira tomorrow to see if that helps. Sheesh! Happy Friday to all who were able to shave today! I just went through the motions!

 

I don't think I would sign up for a week of bad shaves for internet points, but I am throughly enjoying hearing you struggle with it.

 

Day#7 of 30-day Focus
Friday, May 8
My final day of using the Böker 5/8 straight before switching over to the next razor for a week.
Some observations: I knew this razor was a fine shaver, and having used it for consecutive days (6 of the past 7) only confirmed this fact. One of the easier razors I have to pull off a successful near-effortless shave. Consistent results, smooth performance, holds it's edge, lightweight and easy to navigate/maneuver. The perfect-sized razor for a straight razor beginner—although ideally, as I've mentioned before, a round tip is probably a wiser choice versus a square or spike tip for novices. Beginners aside, this razor is a real keeper and besides, being it was my first straight razor, I dont foresee parting with the Böker anytime soon!


On the practical side: Thoroughly drying a straight razor post-shave is essential in maintaining the life of a straight razor, particularly the blade edge. Think of the 3" straight razor blade as a large, non-stainless DE razor blade. Damp carbon steel DE blades are notorious for being prone to rust and decay fairly quickly if left wet or in a moist environment. The same is true for carbon steel SR blades. My routine: I'm not one of those guys afraid of getting the SR wet during the shave (i.e. this is called 'wet shaving' for a reason) but I am conscientious about drying my razors. Post-shave, I throughly rinse off the blade, pivot end of the scales under the faucet. I towel dry any visible or excess water on the blade and scales. I then take a sheet or two of bathroom tissue, fold it in half and insert the folded end between the scales and wipe off/dry between the scales. This is slightly more difficult with a 3-pin razor, but I follow the same procedure for all SRs. Dry around the pivot pin (which can be one of the first areas to see rust), and wipe down both the tang and blade. I then strop 12-15 laps on the linen/canvas section of a strop. Some use leather. All will accomplish the same thing: ensuring a dry edge. A final wipe down with a dry towel post-strop. Back into the drawer it goes. I used to keep straights on my counter top but I realized my bathroom is too moist an environment so I now keep them in the drawer. I also keep several silicon packets in the drawer as well to ensure dry conditions.

 

Ah but it's your support that keeps me loading these hunks of steel into a cheap piece of metal.

 

Love the Stirling vintage effect.

 

That LC is a beauty!

 

I tried face lathering with my Omega silver tip and the results were less than stellar. The lather stayed a little thin, even though it was slick. I went to the bowl for the second pass and it thickened up a bit more.

 

Hey all. Sorry to be missing the fun. Wound up in the emergency room last weekend and diagnosed with severe pneumonia. I have been shaving a bit, and the Mongoose continues to impress...

I am starting to feel better, and will get a proper update posted over the weekend!

Cheers!
Scott

 

Prayers sent for a speedy recovery, Scott! Pneumonia is treacherous. Hope you're on the mend soon!

 

May 2015 ... 30 day blade focus ... yikes, this is my first post in may, and it's already the 8th!?!?!

during this month, i will be continuing the blade focus i started in april. i started from the outside-going-in on alphabet with respect to the blade names. some gillettes and personnas will make up the last few blades. i'll then pick my final four ... for a mini tourney near the end of the month.

pre: dr.bronner's, PSO(diy)
brush: EJ best badger medium
lather: proraso green soap
razor: EJ89lbl
blade:
post: alum block, thayer's witch hazel (various flavors)

05/02/15 ... Sharp DuraBlade (1) ... 2 1/2 days growth ... i'd say this was a middle-of-the-road shave. no nicks, cuts, or weepers ... no irritation as with the dorco ... sharper than the treet or supermax ... but not as overall smooth and sharp as some of the others. at the end of it all, i had a nice, respectable shave.

05/05/15 ... Sharp DuraBlade (2) ... 2 1/2 days growth ... yikes! lesson time!! first, by the end, all was well, but this started out as a potential disaster. due to some family issues, i was in a rush this particular morning. after building the lather in the mug, i forgot to rinse and went straight to the face with the brush. after a few swirls, i realized what i did (or didn't do). i decided to keep going. when i got to the thick/coarse area around the chin, the tugging adn pulling actually turned into a little pain. with a grimace or two, i finished the first pass, rinsed, relathered, and tried again. luckily, there was no bloodletting during this (mis)adventure. while i am done with the sharp for this focus, it certainly deserves another shot down the road.

lesson learned ... water is good; it's called wetshaving for a reason!

April ... wilkinson, 7am, voskhod, astraSP, treetdurasharp, crystal, supermax platinum, dorco st301,
May ... sharp durablade, next up ... Gillette 7o'clock SharpEdge (yellow)

 

Prayer for a quick healing