May 2015 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic-Discussion Thread

05/24/2015
Razor – GEM MMBT
Blade – GEM Stainless PTFE (7)
Brush – Shavemac Silvertip D01
Lather – Mystic Water Lime
Post - Witch Hazel and Myrsol Limon Sample



Very good 3 pass near BBS shave this morning. First time using the GEM MMBT. It seemed to be very mild and not quite as efficient as the GEM FW I used for yesterday's shave. I think I have finally mastered lathering Mystic Water soaps. Today's lather was nice, thick and supper slick. I love the lime scent. Finished off with some Myrsol Limon from the sample pack.

 

Recovery and play with soap week!
May 24, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat
Razor - RazoRock TTO
Blade - (3)
Post - Alum, The Veg!

Well I have a week before June to relax and play with some soaps. Since I recently added Tabac and MWF I wanted to spend a bit of time showing them some love and seeing if I get any in return. I'm also going to work with my Vie Long more to get totally comfortable with it. Today, however, I chose the Omega Pro 48 since it is my first time attempting to lather MWF. I've watched a couple of videos and taken some notes. Some say this is a difficult soap to lather so I wanted all the help I could get.

I soaked the top of the puck in warm water while I showered then shook out the Pro 48 from its soak. Started loading the brush and loved the mild scent this soap has and noticed it almost instantly produced some very big bubbles. As I continued to load the brush it began to lather up a bit in the brush and on the puck. Went to work on a face lather and loved the feel and aroma and it didn't take long to get a decent lather up. Nothing spectacular but enough to shave with. I added a bit of water and kept working until I had a very slick lather. Still a bit thin but not bad.

I still had the Sharp Star blade (all hail the Russian blade gods) in my RR so I used that for three passes. Felt great, the lather was very slick and the second lather went a bit better. My face was wet so I think the extra water helped. By the third pass I had a very nice DFS with only one nick that was caused by my over exuberance at having a great shave! Alum was a bit biting on the neck and the Veg lit it up but smells ohhhhhh so good. The Fat is a great soap and I am looking forward to working with it until I master it.

Todays picture is just a combination of some of my favorite new things, other than the Lord Platinums. They were just included with the razor. Hope you all have a great holiday weekend! I've gotta get the grill fired up and the ribs on before the next round of thunderstorms rolls through.

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May 24th, SOTD (Shave 13 of this focus)
Two days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: Dubl Duck Satin Wedge with obnoxious orange scales
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel Horsehide and Linen (25 Linen/50 Leather)
Soap: Barrister & Mann's Seville
Brush: 24mm Finest Badger in Quilted Walnut handle
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Pacific Shave Company Caffeinated Aftershave


This blade has been less than smooth since I purchased it. I just received some chromium oxide, and pasted a vintage linen strop with it. I did 10 laps on the pasted strop, before going to my main strop and doing a few more laps then I normally do. This made the razor very smooth and easy to use. I did one pass N/S, then a second pass S/N, except on my chin where I went sideways. What was interesting, was while doing the ATG pass, at a very shallow angle, the wedge blade seemed to suction itself to my skin, and still glide up my face. Where it did this, there was some lather on the face side of the blade after the stroke, and my face was BBS. I had this happen on my cheeks, and on my neck, under my jaw. I was very happy with my two pass shave, but tried to get the trouble spots on my neck, and ended up getting some razor burn. Third pass on my chin was ATG, and with skin stretching and a smooth razor, I got one of the best shaves I have ever gotten on my chin.


I broke my Mayhem rule of a different brush every shave, and am glad I did. I used lots of water and overloaded the brush, so I ended up making a very watery lather, but very thick and slick. It worked great. I switched to a different aftershave, because of the irritation on my neck, so the actual aftershave I used isn’t pictured. Pacific Shave Company makes a very soothing balm.


Overall, DFS, with a bunch of BBS. I am very happy I didn’t screw this razor up trying to make it more comfortable.

 

Neal, I found out the MWF puck is so dry that after a few uses it becomes much easier to load the brush and the quality of the lather improves.

 

I had heard that mentioned. I appreciate the confirmation. Some suggest soaking the puck before use but I didn't want to soak it in a wooden bowl so just soaked the top but I assume it will soak in over time. And yes, MWF is a very hard puck. Freeze it and I think it could take the place of a puck on the ice!

 

I wouldn't bother soaking it but if you use it several days in a row you can see the water absorb into the puck. I borrowed some last year from a friend to try. I never got fantastic lather but it got better with each use. The stuff is so super slick that it made shaves a pleasure.

 

Day#23 of the 30-Day Focus
..and Day#3 of 7 with the J. A. Henckels Zwillingswerk #472 'Friodur' Straight Razor.

Early morning shave & late-posting of this. Another day, another flawless, comfy shave with this razor. I do appreciate that I've actually taken the time this month to use these razors for consecutive days. The daily use of the same razor for seven consecutive days is truly eye-opening as to allowing me to recognize the merits of all these razors. I may continue to do this after May as I am eager to 'thin the herd.' I'll keep those razors that really mesh well with my face and ease of use. Those that don't will be sold. This would be a very difficult decision if I had to part with any of the four razors I've used these past 3 weeks—but I've a drawer-full of other razors still awaiting this type of testing.
This Friodur will not be on the 'for sale' list…...

 

I'm sure when you "thin the herd" some people will end up with some very nice razors!

 

I finally made time to shave although it was a bit of a let down. Several minor nicks and some rough spots after three passes which I was hoping for a smoother finish. Tried out P160 for the first time and man what a great soap scent and performance wise. I placed an order for alum blocks so hopefully that will help with stretching the skin and getting closer shaves but overall it was still a passable shave.

 

May 24

MdC facial soap
Weber PH
Feather blade (day 2)
Kent BK4 silvertip
Le Père Lucien shave soap
Two passes plus touch ups
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm

Everything about this shave went well. In fact, it is a very predictable set up for me. I really do like the LPL, but it doesn't lather as easily as other soaps in my rotation. I plan to finish the month with this set up (didn't get to the XPEC yet) and move on to something new in June.

I have enjoyed following everyone's progress this month, and I have learned a lot from you all. It has been exceptionally fun learning about straight razors. I am amazed by Neal's patience and his ability to heal so quickly, and I'm ready to try a Feather Super in my Mongoose thanks to Clint.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

 

Brush Focus: Day 2/30
Brush: Frank Shave Finest Badger (travel brush) 20/45 Faux Ebony Handle
Gillette - K-4 (1965) Slim Adjustable. (5).
Gillette Platinum Blade (3)
Soap: Arko
Bowl "Once a Marine, Always a Marine".
A/S: Lucky Tiger
Old Spice Coffee Mug.(soak brush)

First time I have used this double bowl. Filled the bottom with boiling water and added a sliver of Arko to the top half. Kept the soap nice and warm all through the shave. This is my design and I don't believe I have seen anything like it. The Frank Shave brush is a favorite of mine. Small in stature but delivery's a load of lather. Fits my hand perfectly, has a great feel to my face. Great shave tonight all around.

 

Charlie, you might want to wait on Scott's update on his experience with the Super in his Mongoose. Hopefully he will be healed up well enough to post an update soon.

 

Day 24 - May 24 evening shave

30 Day Rule with a Schick!




Please take some time today to reflect upon and honor those brave souls who have paid their sacrifice in full.

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13
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Today was a much more relaxed, unhurried shave than yesterday, and the results proved it out. I used the same Astra SP (5) blade, and '51 fat Tech razor, holding the razor just below the head, with two fingers. The resulting light hold and great lather with the Maca Root cream from the Body Shop, gave me a DFS - BBS shave, with no irritation. Now to see if this blade will last a week......

 

Memorial Day SOTD:

Homemade PS Oil
Vie-long Horsehair Brush
Stirling Cool SS
EJ Chatsworth Barley
Astra SS
Stirling Unscented PSB
Aqua Velva AS

Day 2 on the Astra, and even better than day 1. I enjoy this blade quite a bit. This is a definite purchase for me.

Thank you to all the veterans and prayers for those who gave all.

 

May 25

MdC facial soap
Weber PH
Feather blade (day 1)
Kent BK4 silvertip
Le Père Lucien shave soap
Two passes plus touch ups
Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Pinaud Clubman

Remembering those who served (and who serve today) to protect the freedoms that we enjoy.

 

Memorial Day
Remember those who paid the ultimate price


05/25/2015
Razor – GEM 1912
Blade – GEM Stainless PTFE (8)
Brush – Olive Wood with TGN Finest Fan
Lather – B&M Seville
Post - Witch Hazel and Myrsol Antesol Sample

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May 25th, SOTD (Shave 14 of this focus)
One and a half days’ growth
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: W.B. Speed Rabbit marked
Strop: Drygulch Chromexcel Horsehide and Linen (25 Linen/50 Leather)
Soap: Barrister & Mann's Lime, Lavender, & Cedarwood
Brush: Eveready 100T re-knotted with TGN Synthetic
Post Shave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Aubrey Men’s Stock North Woods


Overall, great shave today. DFS with two passes, and some touch up. (Goal met for this focus.)

First, brush and soap. I am coming to really like the scent of this soap, as in my favorite of the three B&M soaps I have. I used my synthetic brush today as well. Its weird not to soak the brush, but it works well. I got the right mix of water in the soap today, and this brush is velvet soft on my skin. Combined with the scent of the soap, it was great.

Second shave with this razor, it was a great one. N/S, then S/N, with a third pass/ touch up on the chin and neck. I got one pretty deep cut smack in the middle of my chin from setting the blade down too hard doing the XTG there. Whoops. Blade is sharp.

Best part of this shave? 20 minutes including shower. I am getting there!

 

Well I wish I could be improving like everyone else but today was another disappointment. Three passes and still there's plenty of rough spots. The only nick I got came from the same spot I cut several shaves ago I just seem to keep opening it up. I will say today was rather rushed so I won't worry to much about it. Tomorrow after I take my time if I still have these same results I'm not sure what to think. The first shave with this razor was amazing and it's been downhill the two shaves following. Alum was shipped out so hopefully that will help with being able to stretch the skin as half the time I just gave up due to my fingers slipping.

 

I think you will be amazed at how different the alum on your fingertips will make it. Question, are you using short strokes with the straight, or long strokes like with a DE? That was a big change for me, doing very short strokes, like 1/2 to an inch each stroke. That allowed me to hold the skin pretty tightly.