OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

I have definitely noticed that the cadet demands one ride the cap much more than the L6. Tomorrow I will be spending more time making sure I am using no pressure (or at least not using the wrong pressure) and riding the cap. I also plan to make sure the lather and prep is all exactly how I like it. Shall get a good reading then on whether it is the blade or not.

 

First time? Not by a long shot. It's just at my increasing age I tend to take longer to remember where I let it wander to.

 

voskhod blades hate my face. I still have a mild burning sensation all over. I'm going to give it 2 more days in 2 razors then ill PIF what I have left.

 

Have you tried other PTFE (Teflon) blades? GSB or Sputnik? Just curious if it's the teflon or just the way the blade is made.

 

VDH is some very good stuff. I never have a bad shave with it and I used it just like you, Bama. Like Arnold Horshack used to say, "when you least expect it, expect it."

 

"What Knockers!"

Everyone owes it to themselves to watch that movie again, especially this time of year.

 

I loved how every Halloween, or most anyway if I remember right, Frank on Everybody Loves Raymond, dressed as Frankenstein. What else would Peter Boyle go as, right?

 

I tried those blades for the first time this week and liked them a lot. It's funny how different results can be between two of us.

 

One of the benefits to shaving the right way versus the carts and systems is that you can individualize the shave to meet your specific skin type, scent preference, allergy concerns etc. etc. so that it is effective and beneficial to your skin. Not to mention a lot more enjoyable. Some people can't use teflon blades even though for me they are really the best. I have great results with platinum blades too, except for Gillette Platinums from St. Petersburg. Even with teflon the Voskhods are better than the others by a small margin. The others come from St. Pete's again. Something about that place doesn't agree with me. Soaps and creams are the same. Some love lanolin, some are actually allergic to it. Some people actually use new Williams and like it.....I think they are probably suffering from early dementia or something but hey, it works for them.

Before I threw the carts away I was one of those who was a system guy. Give me the Fusion shave gel, blades, razors, aftershave, whatever. Cost eventually drove me back to Barbasol canned goo so that was a slight improvement, but I never had a great shave with the "system" because it's designed as a one size fits all product. When it comes to shaving, though, it's all about the individual. Interestingly enough, Gillette has always tried to force the one size fits all down our throats. Look at their advertising from the 50s with blades especially. I know, it's all about profit, and I love vintage Gillette gear, but I'm glad the competition survived back then and is thriving now to give us the chance to get it right!

 

Another great shave tonight with a previously unused blade. Neal will recognize tonight's offering as a brother of the Voskhod, Rapiras, and Ladas being another product of the Mostochlegmash factory, and should keep me in the good graces of the Cartel.

Loaded one in the Phoenix DOC, used the Kong to whip up some WSP Barbershop, and started my first pass. Nice. Smooth no problems, good reduction. Second and third passes equally nice. The WSP is slick enough for some serious baby chasing and the Sharp Star came through. This blade is very comparable to its brothers. Thankfully it's not superior, as they're a little hard to come by in bulk. I finished up with the alum (very quiet), splashed on the Stirling WH&A and walked out safe in the knowledge that a small horde of blades from both Moscow and St. Pete lie stashed in the apocalypse box. (And a few are on the way from Mother Russia)

 

Ahhhhhhhh, yes I do recognize that particular blade. I've mentioned it a few times and used it as well. An excellent blade that I personally think is one of the best from Mostochlegmash. Voskhod, Ladas, Sharp Star - definitely top three for me. And yes, it is difficult to find in bulk.......though it can be done.

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My current supply for the coming apocalypse......or when the last single tuck I'm working on runs out. And yes, the cartel is pleased. Even Igor cracked a smile. It even got Ivan's attention and held it for more than 10 seconds. Well played, comrade, well played.

 

I grabbed a few tucks from Jason at Tryablade. I have plenty of Voskhod, Ladas, Gillette Yellows, and Astra SPs not to mention the 20 tucks of Gillette Blues on a donkey cart making its way to my home as we speak. Thankfully I have no issues with most of the St. Pete offerings, although Astra SS and Sputniks are not my favorites.

 

So far Jason has been the only source I've found for Sharp Star. Still looking though. Gotta love the donkey cart delivery service to the slow boat. Although my last two orders were very fast. Maybe after enough orders you get put on the special delivery list or something.

 

I really don't know where I am going, ergo I can't be lost.

 

You should have paid the extra fee to secure shipping via coal fired trains and steam ships. Way faster than donkeys on the frontside. Those donkeys get stuck in the Caucasus for weeks...

 

Gillette Old Type
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #2 with the Rapira Swedish Supersteel in my Old Type.
Did face lather and 2 full passes: Pass 1 XTG. Good reduction. Pass 2: ATG. Almost a DFS at this point. A cold water rinse followed by a moderate amount of touch up left me with a near BBS shave. The Aqua Velva stung a bit less than yesterday, but quieted down quickly.

A nice comfortable near BBS from the Rapira Swedish Supersteel in the Old Type. A much better shave than yesterday because I paid attention to basics. I had better lather today because I added water gradually and stopped when the lather looked and felt right. Another reason for improvement was that I slowed down and paid close attention to my angle of attack: I rode the cap.

For my Throwback Thursday, I went back to basics with my 20s' Old Type for a great shave. I hope everyone else scores a nice shave today as well!

 

I only tried VDH soap for 2 days in a row and I believed at the time, that I had a reaction to it...I felt it like burned me....could have been razor burn, but was unlike anything I'd felt before...

I'm one of those guys who doesn't tolerate something messing with my enjoyment....One tug and I'll toss a blade....of course I'll splatter the sink with blood for a month honing my shavette technique.......guess it's the ole subjective vs objective YMMV thing...

But anyway, I thought the VDH soap was giving me some kind of reaction, has anyone else ever had that feeling?

I didn't want to work through it...I just grabbed one of the soaps I know I dug and lathered on....ha,ha...

BTW....I'm digging. Arko Shave Stick so much I might use it every day for...like...ever! And my Omega Baby Pro and Schick Repeater....Man These things I'm Diggin so Hard....my SoS threads are really...like....talk about boring....

 

OCtober Focus Day 15:

Homemade PS Oil
Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Bay Rum SS
Gem Micromatic OC
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Bay Rum AS

Much better shave this morning. I would call it a DFS, and I have very little irritation. The Stirling Bay Rum was great; the AS has a burn like no other, even other Stirling AS, and I really like it. Just a great start to my day. Hope everyone has a great day as well.

 

10/15/2015
Razor – Wolfman OC with Triad Helix SS
Blade – Feather (3)
Brush – Romera Olivewood Synthetic
Lather – Mystic Water Lime
Post - Witch Hazel & Fine L’Orange



Another superb 3 pass work morning shave. This razor is so smooth that I can chase the baby without much downside at all. Mystic Water soap is fantastic soap but can be a bit tricky to lather. Tried it as a shave stick this morning which I found much easier to lather. I will be making some shave sticks for all my Mystic Water soaps shortly. Finished off with a splash of L'Orange.

 

30 day focus - Day 15
Fat Boy set to 9
Sputnik Blade
MDC Face Lathered
3 passes

I set the Fat Boy to 9 in order to see if there was any difference between 8 and 9. While there seemed to be little or no difference between settings of 7 and 8, there is for me a large difference between 8 and 9. I had a very close shave, but produced two weepers. this is either because the blade gap is too large or more probably because my technique is still a little off. I will keep it at 9 for few days and see what I come up with.