OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

That's amazing. Just eyeballing mine, I always thought I would go over 200 shaves with the 200 gr jar. However, I never hoped for over 2 years of shaves with one jar. Sure makes it a great value.

 

October 16, 2015

OC October - This month I'll introduce myself to OC razors.
Gillette New LC
Gillette Goodwill
Standard Safety Razor OC
Schick Type C1 OC

Morning shave
Hot Shower
Soap: La Toya stick
Brush: Vintage Rubberset Travel Brush
Razor: Schick Type C1 OC
Blade: Schick (China) (4)
TSD Witch Hazel
Aftershave: Vintage Old Spice



This was probably the last shave of the focus with this razor and my travel gear setup. I had consistent, solid shaves this week.

My travel gear needs to provide a consistent, reliable and most times, a quicker shave than my usual morning shave at home. This set-up provides it.

The La Toya produces a quick, easy and rich lather with just enough of a spice, tobacco and barbershop scent to linger awhile, while being subtle. When using the Arko stick, I get approximately the same result, except for the scent so I’ll be able to interchange these two for variety.

The C1 razor and Schick (Chinese) blade provides a very clean, consistent shave and will be reliable that way - as long as I ditch the blade after about three - four shaves. (Today’s 4th was still good but not as sharp as the first.) I’ll use this kit about once a week, so it will provide me an easy blade-changeout-schedule of once a month.

I’m happy to have found some vintage products that not only provides a solid shave while being extremely compact, but are also aesthetically pleasing as well.

Cheers!
RT

 

Few areas of technique have more of a YMMV Factor than skin stretching....I pretty much honed my current mode of Stretching while getting my Shavette technique together...Personally I don't suffer from ingrowns except rarely...Maybe when I was using my Slim on #9....

I started pulling my skin around to find flat areas for skin that is normally not flat, like chin etc...But with the shavette, I noticed with the right amount of skin pulling the hairs that normally lay down would stand up and offer enough resistance to the blade for a clean cut...Like a snap cut....

I continued using this tech. when using a safety razor and got equally closer shaves...For example,on my XTG pass, my cheek area is flat, but the hairs lay down close to the skin. If I pull tightly in the opposite direction as the stroke and puff at the sametime the hairs stand up rigid which allows them to be sliced off quite effectively...But like I said, I don't suffer from ingrowns, so everyone must find their degree of stretching through experimentation and trial and error, unfortunately....Hopfully not so much error....}8^))

Also along my jaw line, both XTG and ATG passes I pull til the hairs stand at attention, and chasing the baby becomes infinitely easier....and any former tugging is alleviated and has dissappered...

If there is any concern that stretching the skin will result in future loose sagging skin....adopting daily usage of alum and witch hazel will surely remove any fear of this occuring...

Let us know, your various pull excentricities, I'm sure some will identify and hopfully discover answers...

 

I'm with you William - I'll explore using other blades in my core razors, but I need to keep a good stock of my top, solid blades.

I'm keen to push the envelope from time-to-time, but I'll probably never rocket out of the atmosphere like our resident blade astronaut - @NCoxSTL !

 

That is the best way I have heard to describe this!

 

My shave kit early this morning....
.
The Schick G8 is like a Lamborgini....So fast and agile, and very intuitive....I can't help but race around my face with reackless abandom...I did get results as close as my best shaver (The Schick Simplified Automatic) albet, like with the E2....maybe a little more sting with the AS...ha,ha....Yep not quite as face spoiling as my C3...But very close and effortless...and Fast!

 

Thanks, my man...

 

I had previously used MDC in a couple of 30 day focuses. I was completely amazed at how little I was using. So, I decided to figure it out scientifically. I have a digital scale that reads down to .01 grams with which I have been measuring. I have also been measuring the usage every day and it varies only slightly, with a high of 0.32 grams and a low of 0.27 grams

So, I have used 4.87 grams in 16 days. I still have over 15 grams of the original 20 grams left over.
That means I have been using 0.31 grams / day (rounded up)
A jar of MDC is 200 grams. 200/0.31 = 645
Therefore, a jar should last me 645 days (rounded down), which is 92 weeks or 1.76 years
A jar costs about $75.00 delivered, and actually, I think it is now closer to $65.00 with the current exchange rate
So, $75/645 days = $0.12 / day (rounded up).

For me, MDC is absolutely worth 12 cents / day.

 

Searched high and low today for a block to no avail. But got a block of osma on the way.
Thanks for the tip on riding the doors of the razor, I'll be trying to be conscious of that on the next shave

 

I found a Mongoose in my mailbox this afternoon and immediately put it to work. I know it's OCtober, but I've waited 13 weeks for this, and besides, I also said my focus this month was to use previously untried blades, and I've never used any of the artist club blades so . I started with a hot shower using Stirling South Padre soap. I used the Kong to face lather some Soap Commander Connection, loaded in a Feather ProGuard at the advice of @Darkbulb and did a WTG pass. First impressions are this razor is huge and heavy but very smooth. The blade angle is just short of automatic and the audio feedback is ice and loud. I vas very impressed with the amount of reduction in one pass. Second pass, XTG was equally smooth and effective. Could have stopped there for a DFS+, but that's not my style. Third pass, ATG still smooth. Did a little touch up, but not as much as I usually have to do and finished up BBS. Only the slightest irritation along my jawline, probably due to operator error. All in all a great shave and a definite keeper in the razor arsenal.

 

You found the Mongoose on your mailbox? Wait, I think that was supposed to go to MY mailbox...

Oh well, glad you enjoyed it!

 

OCTOBER FOCUS - OLD TYPE

I've had two shaves with my late 20's Old Type after two weeks with my 1907 Single Ring. This Old Type, with its slightly thicker 102a cap, is a different animal than the Single Ring with its thinner cap. I'm finding that getting the proper angle is more difficult. My two shaves have been OK, but only CCS close. Although both shaves have been under duress since my alarm clock is on the fritz. But I'm loving this focus stuff. So now I've got get back to focusing.

 

Razor: Gillette Black Tip (X3) 1952
Blade: Voskhod Teflon Coated (4)
Brush: Omega 10066 Boar
Soap: RazoRock Don Donato
A/S: Old Spice Lime Cologne
Day 16

Great shave tonight. A BBS. One little weeper as I hadn't tightened the TTO enough. A good shave soap and an excellent A/S.


Had a few Wild Turkeys in the back yard this afternoon. Looked out front and there where another 14 I counted. Usually happens this time of year.

 

Let me know what the shipping is. Thanks.

 

Congrats on receiving your Mongoose. You'll get used to the size and the weight.

 

When I bought the Myrsol it was $13.10. But consider that the price of two bottles and shipping would be the same price as one bottle and shipping from any of the US online vendors.

 

Welcome to the club!!

 

Ah man, I went backwards today,
Razor MTO
Soap TSD
Blade Wilkinson
Aftershave captains bay rum
Got a hot shower, I think my best later in the bowl yet and started the shave keeping in mind to use the doors of the razor as a guide.
I don't know if it was because this was the 3rd shave with this blade or if I was going to slow and concentrating too much on the angle. But when I was done with the second pass, I could feel the irritation. So I quit there.
Just when I thought I was on a roll.
No cuts, but when I get the aftershave, pure fire!
All in all, still a better shave than what I was getting with the carts but still felt like a step backwards.

 

It happens like that sometimes. I have found that when I try to over think things, I take a step backwards. A couple of hints that work for me. Turn the fan and water off so you can hear the razor better. Start out on your first stroke with the doors more flat against your face as you begin the stroke drop the handle towards your face until you hear the whiskers getting cut. This will get you very close to the optimum angle without over thinking things. Hang in there. We all went through the same things in the beginning.

 

Sorry you had some irritation, stop over thinking it and let what you've learned take over.