OCT 30 Day Rule/Focus Pic & Discussion Thread

Sweet kit!

 

Thanks! I cleaned up that brass or silver plated bowl with soap and water, but I don't think I'm going to polish it. The patina actually helps give it a little agitation for a good lather!

 

You're very right about patina.That SS is a classic design, it should serve you well for a long while, and is great with sharper blades. You're set!

 

I thought of you and the new pup when I saw this.

 

Mine is definitely a handful. Super alpha too, he already owns my nine year old... As in a seven pound pup bullied a 75pound dog out of his bed. Relentless in tug-of-war with the older one. Gonna be fun!

 

Practicing his mind games here:
"I am not the puppy that you seek... "

 

That is a beautiful dog!

 

Thank you sir! I think he's going to be a good one!

 

I actually look forward to tomorrow's shave. Two day growth is the best for chasing dfs on one pass...

 

@Rufus T

Are you liking OC better than injector? You've had quite a range of experience now.

 

Now that's a tough call.

For me,
I found the E, I, J and PAL Adjustable to be marvelous handling, two-pass injectors.
On the OC side, the New OC is fantastic.

At this point, I'd put the New OC just slightly above the injectors - but that's only because I've had a few more shaves with it. I bit off way more than I should have last month using just too many SEs (14-15 I think) - to where I do not think I gave any one of them a significant, focused look.

And then I went and bought this Mongoose.

After this month, (I still have a Goodwill to test) my hope is to pick one OC (probably the New LC), one or two injectors, and the Mongoose - and do an individual focus on each. Through my experience of the initial 30-day Rule on one razor (Gillette Tech) along with my observation of your monthly Focuses (Foci?), it's clear to me that I'll far better "know" a razor after living with it for an uninterrupted, extended period - rather than for just a few shaves, or a week or so.

Two last thoughts -

- I'm not experienced enough yet to make a call on a razor (or a blade, or a brush or soap, etc) after just one shave. Maybe that's something that comes in time, or maybe not. Because,

- I've learned that shaving requires a standard or general approach with each new razor. But then (at least I know this for myself) after the initial shave, it's necessary for me to experience it for a few shaves, learn it's attributes and constraints, and then with that knowledge, apply sound technique over a period of time to best discern the 'likeability'. Which of course, is a YMMV thing.

Well, if nothing more - that's my story and I'm sticking to it - for now anyhow.

 

Foci indeed, with a rule or three! Quite the response, and I like the way you look at this. You are at a point where you can probably make almost any safety razor a DFS experience in a couple of days, per your posts. You're also at a point where foci make way more sense than rules, because soap is fun too! It will be very interesting to see what you write about the New versus a given Injector after the trials conclude.

Now I haven't driven the FB on Nine and chased it yet...but I can definitely say the Schick G really mows it down. The FB on 8 is pretty sweet, and very surely the best TTO I'll ever use. Phoenix DOC is top OC for me, but only very slightly over Cadet. I believe the Maggard approximates New head geometry, and I got good shaves from the MR8 handle combo.

I am bookmarking this post for discussion in a few months. We will have both gained more experience, and we'll see if we stick to our stories.



Edited to fix quote boxes.

 

Yep, bookmarking is good.
I find myself trying to search back in these 30-day threads to find some of my comments on different shaves. I wish I was more like @clint64 and his spreadsheet and photo calendar of all of his shaves!

Because it occurred to me (again), that some of these razors I've tried were just rushed through. For instance - I just gave one shave to the G injector because the angle was a bit more difficult for me than the other injectors that had been so smooth. If I had done a Focus with it, maybe I would have broken through that initial fail and learned it well enough to appreciate it even more than the easily-learned injectors. And with the adjustables, I just raced through them, just to get to 9 without focusing on finding a sweet spot.

So remind me of all of this reflection when I bite off more than I can chew in one month.

I mean, we can't all be like @NCoxSTL with his 30 blades in 30 days!!

Actually, I'm glad there's only one of him...could you imagine?!!

 

The G kicked my butt for 4-5 days, then once I found the angles and realized a very little pressure required, it never fell below comfy DFS on the whole. I spent a month with a Slim in January, but now realize I was doing it wrong on the angles. 30 blades in thirty days could be fun!

 

October 20

Gillette New LC
Feather (3)
Kent BK4 silvertip
Trumper's Coconut
Two passes
Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, Fine L'Orange Noir, Terre d’Hermès

I started the day with a great shave, and it will be the last day for awhile with my Kent brush. I plan to use a new Semogue boar brush starting tomorrow. It's a little stiff, so we'll see how it breaks in. I really enjoy using the Fine aftershaves. I paired the L'Orange with some Terre d'Hermes this morning, and I'm off to work.

Way to go, Seth! The shaves will only get better as your refine your technique!

Have a great Tuesday!

 

Very nice set up. You are making great progress. @wristwatchb Charlie, what a great gesture in sending the PIF to Seth.

 

10/20/2015
Razor – Wolfman OC with Triad Helix SS
Blade – Feather (2)
Brush – Olivewood with TGN Finest Fan
Lather – B&M Seville
Post - Witch Hazel & Myrsol F/Extra



Another A+ 3 pass shave this morning. I didn't quite catch the baby but I came close enough to scare him pretty good. I am getting the hang of shave sticks now that I am using them more. This morning, I was able to get enough lather for a 4 or 5 pass shave. After working the lather and dialing in the right amount of water, the Seville was super slick. I finished off with a splash of Myrsol F/Extra. Hope everyone has a great Tuesday.

 

10/20/15
Gillette NEW LC
Vulfix Super Badger (660)
Proraso Sandalwood cream
Aqua Velva Ice Blue

Shave #1 with the Gillette Silver Blue in my New LC.

Face lather and 2 full passes: Pass 1 XTG. Good reduction. Pass 2: ATG. Very nice, the baby seemed in reach. A cold water rinse followed by some minor touch up and the baby came home. Aqua Velva was mild today.

A very comfortable BBS from the Gillette Silver Blue in my New LC. I needed to go over my trouble spots an extra time or two, but the result was worth it. I ordered 25 of the GSB from Amazon and they should be here today. This is my first non-sampler blade buy. I could have gotten them cheaper buying 100, but I was out and wanted some on hand to use when the Nation Wide Box Tour III box arrives.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

 

30 day focus - Day 20
Fat Boy set to 9
Feather Blade
MDC Face Lathered
3 passes

 

SOTD
October 20, 2015
Prep: Hot Shower. Axe Energizing Face Wash Boost
Razor: Gillette Aristocrat
Blade: Personna Lab Blue
Lather: TABAC
Brush: CK Switchback 400 24mm Duro #2 Synthetic Knot
Post: Thayers Cucumber WH. Gold Bond Ultimate
Aftershave: TABAC
Nice shave. TABAC never lets me down, the ease of lather, slickness, cushion, scent, post shave. Excellent soap. The Duro #2 knot is interesting as heck!
Never let the things you WANT
Make you forget the things you HAVE