SoS: June 22, 2015 - June 28, 2015

World Tournament of Blades - Russia vs. the World!!
June 23, 2015
Prep - Hot shower and towel
Brush - Omega Pro 48
Soap - Tabac
Razor - '46/47 Superspeed
Blade - (2)
Post - Alum, Nivea Balm

From India to Greece we go. The Bic Chrome Platinum is on the field and ready to go. Once again the Omega Pro48 and Tabac prep the field and off we go.

First observation - I do believe the Pro 48 is not the right brush for Tabac. The high loft is not as effective as a short loft brush. It gets the soap going, loads ok, but the water seems off. Now, the Vie-Long works great with Tabac probably due to its shorter loft AND the fact that horse stays wetter than boar, at least that's what I've noticed. So, in the future I plan to pair horse and Tabac more than boar and Tabac.

First pass very nice. The Bic remains sharp and is very smooth. The dragging I noticed yesterday with the Super-Max is barely there if at all. So, that tells me it was more the blade than anything else. I also noticed, though, that after the first pass my face isn't slick like it is with MWF or Arko. Tabac doesn't leave as much behind, at least on this first pass.

Second pass - XTG and I worked more water into the lather. That produced a better slickness but still not MWF worthy. Brush or soap? I'm thinking the two just don't work together well as I mentioned above. The XTG did feel good though, smooth, and produced a good result on the pass. I picked up a very small nick on my right cheek while going nose to ear, which is not my usual direction. Probably more of a technique nick but I'm counting it.

Third pass - XTG and G-slide on the neck. One minor nick under the chin. Hmmmmmmm. That's not technique. Soap perhaps but it's a nick. Finished with DFS.

Scoring - The Bic is sharp and earns the 1 for that. Smoothness? Honestly, I have to go a 2 because of a few issues but better than yesterday. I do think the playing field is more the problem here but both blades played on the same field and the Bic performed better in the conditions. Irritation - the two small nicks factor in here. Overall just a bit of a quick burn, the nicks a bit longer so a 2. Result - DFS so a 2.

Total - 7 First round was a 5 so not as good a result but......still good enough to say.........

The Winner is BIC!!!!!!

A lot of variables on these two blades it seems and I have to wonder if a different brush/soap combo might have made a difference....however the Bic pretty much outperformed the Super-Max Platinum in every way. So a great win.

Tommorow - The American blade has its day again - The Personna Lab Blue sets the bar against the Turkish Derby. Final two of the Elite Eight begins tomorrow!

 

Tuesday 23rd June







Warm shower

Hot towel

Stirling Lime bowl lathered

Finest Badger brush made by myself

Gillette New Improved (1922)

Polsilver Super Iridium (2)

Cold rinse

Thayers Lemon witch hazel

TOBS No74 Victorian Lime aftershave

 

SOTD 6-23-15




PRE SHAVE: MUSGO REAL ORANGE AMBER PRE SHAVE SOAP
RAZOR: MAGGARD 18C
BLADE: BIG BEN (1ST USE)
BRUSH: OMEGA S SYNTHETIC
LATHER: MUSGO REAL CLASSIC
POST: REEF POINT ADMIRALTY A/S BALM
SCENT: TOBS GERMYN STREET

Had a wonderful shave today. i'm still not convinced that the pre shave soap makes a difference or not but since this is my first time using a pre shave soap I haven't made my mind up yet. The Reef Point balm is awesome! great scent that seems to last a long time. i'm going to wait a while before I use and cologne or anything. thumbs up to Reef Point!! enjoy your shave ladies and gentleman.

 

Cobra Classic
Feather Pro
Oscar11 Chief w/ Plisson Synth knot
Tabula Rasa - Dark lavendar
Nivea - Energy A/S

http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Maison-Francis-Kurkdjian/Oud-14610.html

 

Thank you!

 

I would give SC Rose the following grade report:
1) Ease of lathering *****/*****
2) Scent *****/***** (The Rose is apparently based upon Dusy Kabinett, which is one of my absolute favorite Rose soaps)
3) Slickness ***/***** (I always pull out the R41 to judge a new soap and I could have used a bit more slickness in the lather. IMO, the weakest attribute of this product. I might change this score as I discover the ideal soap-water ratio.)
4) Post-Shave *****/***** Really lovely post shave.
5) Price Point: $15 for over 6 oz. of soap. Good deal.
Final thoughts:
I was pleasantly surprised at the overall quality of SC. The soap is fairly firm; but the container is too deep, IMO (takes up too much shelf space).
I finished with Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel and SC Rose Balm. Both fantastic rose scents.
Recommended.

 

SOTD 06.23.2015
June Open Comb Focus

Prep: Coconut oil, Hot shower
Razor: Gillette New SC
Blade: Voskhod
Brush: Omega 10083 Boar Brush
Über Lather: TBS Maca Root Shaving Cream/TOBS Sandalwood Shaving Cream
Post: Cold rinse, Alum, Witch hazel, Aqua Velva Ice Sport

This was surprisingly an amazing experience! The combination of the 2 creams worked great and created a very rich lather.

Highly recommend it for anyone that has both products.

 

• '47 Super Speed
• Treet Dura Sharp carbon
• Aramis soap

2 pass BBS. Fantastically smooth blade for a carbon; no irritation or nicks. I actually would not have guessed it was carbon if I hadn't loaded it myself. Not sure how many shaves they can provide but this blade is highly recommended.

 

Sounds like a nice soap. I think the tub seems a bit deep too. But it's cool, different =)

That's sounds like rose heaven! =D

 

SOTD - Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Cool shower
Prep: Homemade Lime PSO
Brush: Rubberset 49-4, 26mm TGN finest
Soap: Stirling Grapefruit + M-Bomb
Razor: Merkur 38C
Blade: Personna Lab Blue (4)
Aftershave: Iced Lime Sec

 

Haha u know I'm not even sure!

 

Now I know that Sears had everything. I knew Craftsman made tools, but razors? Wow!

 

How was the brush today?

 

This one has zero hone wear on it, and has reportedly only been honed once. Its a very nice smooth shaver. I think the dates on it are somewhere between 1930 and 1950.

 

Tuesdays shave

Needed to be quick today so with that in mind I chose the Stealth Slant and MDC and had a great shave.



Razor - Stealth Slant
Blade - Vokshod
Brush - Pilsson synthetic
Lather - Martin De Candre Fpugere
Pre Shave - Edwin Jagger hydrating pre shave lotion
Aftershave - Nivea moisterising aftershave balm

 

SOTD 6-23-15

PRESHAVE: Face wash with soap and warm/hot water
RAZOR: ATT H1 / MR22 handle
BLADE: Platinum Lux (3)
SOAP: Soap Commander "Purple" sample (1st try)
BOWL: VDH
BRUSH: Tweezerman Badger
POST: Rinse with warm/hot water to get soap off and then some cold water rinses/splashes and pat try.

Comments: Went with the ATT H1 today and did two passes plus some touch up and ended up with a DFS with no issues at all! No irritation or weepers/nicks! The handle is longer and heavier than I am used to but worked out fine and even better than I thought it would. I almost didn't use it because of it length and weight but glad I tried it out! This soap is the my first time with it and I like it alot. It is very good soap, great slick lather and protection. I have no idea what the scent should be as too me it is weak enough where I cannot make it out. This was the same issue with there "Blue" sample I tried but no big deal. I would much rather have the slick lather and protection than a scent that I can make out and/or is too strong! Shave was great today!

Please feel free to leave comments on any items used as I enjoy reading them to see what others say about the gear I am using/trying out! Of course, YMMV!

Thx.

 

Had a very nice shave with the Tip Top this morning. More details about the shave can be found here

Razor: Tip Top
Blade: REX wedge blade
Brush: L'Occitane Plisson
Soap: i Coloniali Mango
A/S: Anherb

 

SOTD for June 23rd consisted of;

Palmolive Shave Stick face lather w/SOC Boar
Merkur 1904 w/Derby
Witch Hazel and Canoe Aftershave

Quick single pass for a CCS!

 

That brush looks real nice!

 

Razor: Gillette Aristocrat, 1947, Birth Razor
Blade: Gillette, Platinum (5)
Brush: Semogue 1305 Boar Tri Colored Wood Handle.
Soap: Jack's Soap
Mug: Knock Out Shave
A/S: Gillette After Shave
Still not getting the quality of lather with the boar brush and certain soaps. This doesn't happen to me with Silver tip, Finest, Best, or other badger brushes I have. In fairness I have used badger brushes much more than boar. Did end up with a DFS after some messing around with the boar brush.