OCtober 12th Gillette Old Type w Feather (3) TGN Boar TFS Farinik SS Thayers Chatillon Lux Gratiot League Square AS Another nice shave this morning. Whipped up a decent lather with the Farinik. I find it a little different that the other TFS soap I have, and not quite like any other scent profile I own. The excellent Gratiot League Square seems to pair very well with it. 3 routine passes with minimal touch up and no weepers. These have been the first 3 days with a Feather. Obviously this is a blade with a reputation for being very sharp and I've no doubt it is a very sharp blade, but I'm not sure it is significantly sharper than some of my Russian favourites. A good blade so far, but not a gamechanger for me. I'll switch to a NEW LC and use the Feather with it as well. Have a great day all!
October 12, 2017 Razor: NDC Post-War Gillette Tech Blade: Tian-Li Super Blue Blade (2) Brush: Razorock Plissoft 22 Cream: KMF fragrance-free Post: Alum, Listerine, WH I decided to try this blade from @Linuxguile one more time and, just to be safe, stacked the deck as much in its favor as I could: lighter beard, mild razor, and palm stropping. The result was a smoother shave but, overall, kind of "Meh!". The Alum was totally quiet but it is clear that the reduction is not as good. I suspect that the Tech might actually be *too* mild for this blade. (Which sounds a lot like some of Neal's experiences with various blades.) Call it a CCS and move on. Overall, I'd say the blade is usable but not one of the greats of China or anywhere. I suspect it is probably intended for sale in either an impoverished area or for domestic consumption. On a different note... It occurs to me that I should probably give you all a quick update on my ongoing health issues. First the arm is better, though still not 100%. The EMG definitely showed signs of Carpal Tunnel though I haven't gotten the final report from my Primary yet. The Stress Test showed signs of a possible blockage of the right coronary artery or the one behind it. I have a Cardiac Catherization scheduled for Tuesday and, if a blockage or sufficient narrowing is found, my Cardiologist will impact a balloon stent. Obviously, we are nervous but hopeful. Thank you all, so far, for your prayers and well wishes.
Route 66 Twisted Tweed Soap Jayaruh #155 Brush Millikin Stub Tail Razor Thayers WH WSP Gaelic Tweed After Shave Have a great day!
OCtober 12, 2017 Shavemac 400 Silvertip D01 Two Band Mike's Natural Soap Pine & Cedarwood Blackland Blackbird OC with Triad Ti Polsilver Super Iridium CRSW Juniper ADP Blu Mediterraneo Ginepro
Thank you Brian. I have wanted to try a Shavemac Flat Top and couldn't let the opportunity pass. I love the look of the razor. The scales give a different look from many of your other razors.
Thanks for the medical update. At least you are getting some answers. Hang in there. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
You have a wonderful collection of brushes Mark. This one has to be one of my favorites. Perfect handle shape with a color that compliments the knot so well.
What a fantastic photo, Clint! We must have somewhat similar beard growth and/or techniques as I find my touchups are almost exclusively on my right jawline and neck as well.
Thank you Jason. I had noticed the similarities as well. Most days I settle for perfect everywhere but my lower right neck.
12 OCtober 2017 Sure Happy It's Thursday Shave Pre: Mucha agua caliente, soap from the container and a hot towel Razor: Gillette NEW Short Comb circa 1932-1940 Blade: Gillette Silver Blue Brush: JJ#1, USS Belleau Wood CVL-24 tribute brush by @jimjo1031 Soap: Regiment Shaving's "High Speed" Post: Hot/Cold water rinse, alum block, cold towelx2, Dominello Vitali Calming Post Shave Moisturizer After Shave: Fine Accoutrements "American Blend" This morning I felt like a little citrus, so I broke out the "High Speed". There are notes of lemon and lime in this soap that compliments the slickness and cushion. As usual JJ#1 did an outstanding job whipping up a great lathering. The NEW/GSB duo smoothed out my mug with a near BBS shave. Splashed on some Fine "American Blend" and 'Murica! Have a great day!
It is a nice styled handle, and the flat top knot catches my eye every time I see photos. I visited their website, poked the Configurator, got frustrated because I couldn't find that handle. Duh, it an LE. How often does Shavemac do that type of special brush?
Ken, I'm glad to hear that the stropping made a positive impact on your shave. I picked up a neat little blade stropper the other day that looks like you can load any type of blade into. I need to do some work on cleaning it up. But it sounds like it will make for some fun experimentation. Fabulous photo Clint, the depth of field is really rather stunning! Perry, do you typically shave right after a shower ? I find that if I shave after a shower I don't need any other kind of prep. But when I shave at night I use a decent local artisan soap (Rocky Mountain Soap Market, Available in our Safeway stores) to wash my face with. I leave the soap on my face while I load my brush and whip up my lather in my scuttle. Then I rinse my face off, apply my lather and shave. This is the only way I can shave as comfortably as when I shave right out of the shower. Without this prep I have horroble tugging not matter what gear I'm using. Fantastic photo Jason, I see you trying to hide the grotesquely ugly Farinik label! Lucky the rest of your beautiful gear distracts the eye! Serriously I don't know what TFS was thinking when they made that label and those of a few others. John, I decided to scap my trial on shave #2 of the blue blade. So dont feel bad. Now I just need to figure out what to do with the other 39 tucks of them that I have. I guess I will keep experimenting using them in different razors and hopefully I will find one that likes them, and then use them up in a 1 and out manner. I hope your arm continues to get better and that your procedure on Tuesday is completed with the best possible outcome. You and your family are in my prayers. I love seeing the Stub Tail, Brian. The thought of shaving with a 200 year old razor is just too cool! Beautiful photo, Mark! Very nice. Cella is one of those soap that I want to try, but I have sooo many soap and there are sooo many others that I want to try, It's hard to make it a priority. Awesome setup!
Thursday morning October 12 - reminiscing Tarnished Gillette Ball End Old Type / Topaz Platinum (2) Alluminati Envy White badger brush TOBS Avocado Cream Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Original Astringent My first "real" soap - after canned goop and Williams that I never figured out how to lather properly - was a tub of TOBS Avocado shaving cream. I used it intermittently between bouts of electric shaving for years. It eventually dried to a medium soap consistency, but still lathered well. When I first joined the Crew, I used it in my first Rule and then continued until it was finally used up. Which took three months. I started calling it my Eternal Tub. I replaced the Eternal Tub with a new fresh creamy tub but was sick of avocado and never opened it. Until today. Today I went back to my first "good" setup that I began using when I joined the Crew -- TOBS Avocado Cream, my first really good brush, alum and my first regularly used postshave product. The only thing different was the Open Comb razor instead of my Rockwell 6s. It was a good shave. I had forgotten how nice the TOBS lather can be. I face lathered it today and the badger brush full of thick creamy smooth lather felt like a pillowy cloud as it painted my face. Two passes with the century old Gillette brought me a workable BBS. I had a couple small weepers on my neck where I lopped a couple of pimples but the rinse and then the alum rub stopped them. The Thayers WH was a simple but satisfying finish. Sometimes I have to stop chasing the latest and greatest products and Just Shave. Today was one of those days. In fact, now that I have tried my two Gillette OC razors, I may make that my unfocussed Focus for the rest of the month - Just Shaving.
I shave directly after showering. My shaves without the pre-shave soap are just fine but I find using this has taken up the quality a little bit. Is it necessary? No. But I'm intrigued by the process and enjoy the light menthol touch.
Shavemac will make different styles of handles if you ask and even different colors if you provide the blanks. Take a look at the 400 style handle in @Boojum1 SOTD photo as an example. Also, Rudy Vey makes brushes and has stock of Shavemac knots as well.
