OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

I'm with the Pirates!

 

I attempted the Voskhod again but after the first pass it didn't reduce my beard much and I already had irritation. So I backed up and traded it out for a similar blade without Teflon, Ladas. It seemed to cut smoother but already irritated I couldn't tell if it was any better. It did raise up some weepers.

It's getting cooler so I used the semogue boar since it holds heat better then the synthetic. I used spieck cream and it lathered well but I don't like the smell. When my sample is gone I wont be getting any more. I used the triangle guard hole ball end tech. If I can't tame this razor it is going in the box tour box when it gets to me.

I was bleeding and irritated so I embraced the pain and turned my jumbo styptic stick sideways and rubbed my entire face. I waiting till I could think of G rated words again then rinsed it with cold water and finished with Nivia Sensitive post shave balm. I'm debating on whether to pull out the clubman tonight or not. On my skin it mixes with the scent of the nivia and makes something wonderful.

My razors have been banished to a box because I'm expecting DSS to stop by for an inspection as part of the custody fight between my ex-wife and I. Poor things are left in the dark.

 

Mr. C having fun in Sun Dog! Enjoy yourself.

 

oh I almost forgot, despite the pain these blades caught me the baby with a 2 pass shave and a 3rd partial touch up. The Ladas with have a day tomorrow before I return to blades I know I love for my tech focus.

 

Enjoy the trip and enjoy San Diego!

 

Sorry to hear about the rough shaves and the need to put the razors in the dark. Hopefully Ladas will be a good blade. It is one of my favorites and did well even when Voskhod did not do as well.

 

Sorry for being away today... Just sat down for the first time today. No shave due to being busy. I hope everyone has a great Shave Den Sunday!

 

Hiding the razors away should only be temporary. They normally live on a taller shelf bladeless but just in case I removed everything that was sharp and all the meds out of the cabinets and locked them up.

I hope the ladas gives me good shaves. It was hard to tell today after the voskhod got to me. Part of my problem is the tech that I'm learning to use. Does the triangle hole guard techs tend towards aggressiveness?

 

October 17th SOTD (9th shave of this focus)
Two and a half days’ growth
Preshave: Hot Shower
Razor: Boker Red Injun 101B and Cattaraugus Mini
Strop: Drygulch Leatherworks Oiled Latigo
Brush: Handturned Tulip Poplar Badger
Soap: Barrister & Mann Firside (Brandy Scented)
Postshave: Cold Water Rinse, Alum Block, Thayer’s Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Vintage Avon Deep Woods in the Camper Special bottle

I decided to take a day off from my Wedge focus for the month. Got the Boker Red Injun 101b as a trade. It had a couple small chips in the edge, so I did a little work on it. I tightened the pins, sanded out some deep scratches, and honed it. Used a slurry on a Welsh Dragon’s Tounge stone, followed by a translucent Arkansas hone. Stropped the heck out of it, and went to work. N/S pass was excellent. I nailed the lather today. S/N pass was also great. Chased the baby a bit on my jawline, and happy to say BBS on my face and jawline. It would have been a great shave if I had stopped at this point.

I didn’t. I used a much smaller razor, with custom textured horn scales to try and get my trouble spots on my neck. With the left hand, reach to the right ear. Pivot of razor right at ear. Do short strokes going down from ear to Adam’s Apple, which is ATG. Finally getting somewhere on my strip of trouble spots. Then the first point where the angle of my skin changes, I managed to stab myself in the neck with my straight razor. @HolyRollah , you will be happy to know this thing is still freaking sharp. Finished my pass with a much lighter touch, and didn’t get as much hair cut. Could feel the irritation while finishing. Alum was noisy tonight. Aftershave just freaking hurt, but smelled good. Took three rounds with the styptic pencil to get the blood to stop.

Good news, I think this process will work for my ear to my apple pass. Bad news, not sure how much blood it will cost to learn. I am considering taking one of my razors that is past saving, and seeing if I can round the edge, so I can put something non sharp against my neck to practice the motions.

 

Thanks for the idea about Cotton. I was not sure what to try next, so Cotton it will be.

 

Your post has all the eliminates of a great short story. Thanks. Good picture also.

 

Isn't that the truth.

 

I have noticed that packages can take some weird routes to get to a location. I don't understand the logic, or lack of logic, behind their reasoning.

 

Gillette NEW LC
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Georgetown Scuttle G12
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #2 with the Rapira Swedish Supersteel in my New LC.
Used the scuttle today for the warmth and also to provide the best lather I could to give this blade a chance to perform better. 2 full passes: Pass 1 XTG. Pass 2: ATG. Almost a DFS at this point. A cold water rinse followed by a quite a bit of touch up trying to catch the baby. Thought I had it, but he wound up just out of reach. The Aqua Velva was mild today.

Another near BBS from the Rapira Swedish Supersteel in my New LC. At this point I'm just not feeling the love for this blade. Seems to take more work than some of my other blades without coming through with a BBS. At least it doesn't chew up my face. I've only had 1 uncomfortable shave with the blade and that was minor and caused by my continuing to chase the baby beyond reasonable limits.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Lords Day

 

Thanks, you also.

 

SOTD
October 18, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Mongoose B3 Dr. Bomber Handle
Blade: Feather Professional
Lather: Martin de Candre
Brush: CK Switchback 400 24mm Duro #2 Synthetic Knot
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: PAA FU Fougère
Excellent shave!! The Mongoose is my favorite razor. Like that. The Switchback 400 is a sweet brush, has some weight to it. This #2 knot has backbone but is still very soft, I like it a lot. MdC. The best soap on the market.
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE

 

OCtober Focus Day 17:

Homemade PS Oil
Simpsons Commodore X3 Best Badger
TSD Lanolin Egyptian Spice
Gem Micromatic OC
Stirling Unscented PSB
Old Spice Classic AS

Today was the last day I'll use the Micromatic OC this month. It is definitely an aggressive razor, the most aggressive of all my razors, and I would honestly need to devote a full month focus to mastering it. I get decent shaves, but aways some irritation and occasionally a nick or two. The Egyptian Spice was the high light of this morning, though. Have a great Sunday!

 

10/18/2015
Razor – Gillette Red & Black New Deluxe
Blade – Feather (1)
Brush –Olivewood with TGN Finest Fan
Lather – TSD Signature Scent
Post - Witch Hazel & Captain’s Choice Bay Rum



Much better shave this morning with the New Deluxe. I got through it with no nicks, weepers or irritation. The TSD Signature Scent was great and pairs very well with CC Bay Rum. Hope everyone has a great Sunday.

 

30 day focus - Day 18
Fat Boy set to 9
Voskhod Blade
MDC Face Lathered
3 passes

The Fat boy and my technique have really been coming together over the last few days. Since changing the setting to 9, I have been getting consistent BBS shaves. Late at night I can feel my cheeks and know how well the morning's shave has gone. In fact, I am getting such nice shaves off the Fat Boy, I am seriously wondering whether I prefer the Slim Adjustable or the Fat Boy. And, using MDC makes all shaving easier.

 

Razor: Gillette Black Tip (X3) 1952
Blade: Voskhod Teflon Coated (6)
Brush: Omega 10066 Boar
Soap: TSD Iced Old Spice Type
A/S: TSD Iced Old Spice Type
Day 18
Ice on the bird bath this morning. Excellent combination of great products for a BBS shave. Hope there is some football on today.