SOTD November 16 - November 22

[jgreenepa]

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SOTD MONDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 16, 2020

There's something about Sheffield Cast Steel’s edge holding ability that is just addictive along with, of course, the thrill of shaving with a 190-200 year old razor. One feels almost like a caretaker. This very early French Point Boker was built with imported Sheffield cast steel 70-80 years before Germany’s Import Act of 1891, and restored for me by Glen Mercurio. The three pass (WTG, ATG, XTG) mug shave left me velveteen smooth. My noggin shave, unfortunately, was not in the same category, but still satisfying. My best shaving injectors are my E Type and my Supply V2, but this repaired F Type delivered a smooth shave albeit leaving some very slight residual roughness in the valleys at the back of my dome. However, the able ministrations of my old Boker cleaned things up admirably in those two problem areas leaving me refreshed, clean, and smoothly velveteen!

RAZOR: Boker & Co. Sheffield Cast Steel French Point 5/8 (Mug), Schick F Type (Dome)
BLADE: Schick Injector 2
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: MrEE Aluminum Handled Monster Tuxedo Synth
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Krampert’s Frostbite AS Splash.

[drmoss_ca]

Mappin & Webb wedge, Vitos Red coconut, Omega synthetic, Pecksniff Fougere:

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[pausted]

Taylor Lavender soap (older formulation)
Yaqi white synthetic brush
Colonial General razor
Kai Captain Original blade
Dominica Bay Rum

[jgreenepa]

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SOTD TUESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 17, 2020

This morning was a classic shave. The straight razor selected for my mug was the Puma 88 5/8. Since I hadn’t shaved with any of my Gem safety razors in quite I selected the Model 1912 for the dome. The Puma is an excellent 20th century razor, and provided an excellent shave this morning along with the Model 1912 which sheared my dome stubble right down to the skin line. I feel cool, clean and smoothly velveteen, or as my Scottish friend Billy, of the TSD straight razor group says, “dolphin smooth”!

RAZOR: Puma 88 5/8 (Mug), Gem Model 1912 (Dome)
BLADE: Pella PTFE Gem
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Alpha Shaving T-400 Tribute w/ 26mm Boar Ferrule
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub.

[drmoss_ca]

Zowada Custom O1, homemade soap in a large scuttle, Simpson PJ3, Penhaligon LP No.9:

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I have enjoyed my little trip around the soaps on the Shelves of Shame, but it's awful nice to be back on the good stuff!

[jgreenepa]

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SOTD WEDNESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

I was up early for a couple of medical appointments, and didn’t have time to post this earlier. My favorite shavette/Barber’s razor is my Feather DX. I can always count on a quick excellent shave, and this morning’s shave was true to form. Unfortunately, while I was shaving my mug, my dachshund, Gromit, was feeling playful and knocked a Fine American blend to the tile floor and broke it! Although I tried to clean it up, the scent gave poor SWMBO a migraine, and I lost 10 minutes leading to a rushed dome shave. It’s only my third shave with the Tradere. I ordered it on the day it became available, but due to my safety razor glut, it sat in the razor stand, and was only used twice since it’s arrival several months ago. The handle is a bit longer than I’m used to, and in my rush to get to the doc’s ended up nicking the top of my right ear. Some Proraso Styptic Gel put that to rights, leaving me clean, cool, and velveteen smooth.

RAZOR: Feather DX Wood Handle (Mug), Blackland Tradere (Dome)
BLADE: Feather Super AC (Mug), Feather DE (Dome)
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Rooney Ebony Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub.

[jgreenepa]

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SOTD THURSDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 19, 2020

This morning’s shave featured my father’s Gold Black Beauty for my dome shave and the Witte Copperhead for my mug. My new Sapele/Resin handled Pro48 boar whipped up two glorious lathers. The thinner wetter mug lather resulted in the usual velveteen mug result. After opening up my father’s Black Beauty, I achieved the same result for my dome, but greatly prefer my Gibbs or Rex Ambassador, as both seem more comfortable in hand. They also appear to better clamp the blade, resulting in less chatter during the shave, which this morning required 2 passes and some selective buffing to achieve the same velveteen outcome as one and 1/2 with the latter. I feel cool, clean and velveteen smooth.

RAZOR: Witte Solingen Copperhead (Mug), Gillette Gold Black Beauty
BLADE: Feather DE
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Sapele/Resin Handled Pro48 Boar
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub.

[drmoss_ca]

Livi Damasteel 7/8 antler, homemade soap, large scuttle, Apothecary Shop brush, Tabac aftershave:

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[pausted]

Mitchell's Wool Fat soap
Semogue Mistura brush
Colonial General razor
Kai Captain Original blade
Dominica Bay Rum

[drmoss_ca]

Fancied a coticule-only shave today. My oldest Livi Damasteel 7/8 briarwood, Klar Kabinett Sandelholz, Simpson PJ3, Trumper Marlborough:

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[jgreenepa]

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SOTD FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 20, 2020

This morning I decided to shave with my 1976 Gold Bicentennial Edition Schick Krona. I shaved with a regular Krona for over 50 yrs until it broke. They are excellent shavers, and this particular safety razor did the job. Coupled with my C-Mon Special, new Sapele/Resin handled Pro48 boar, and MWF the shave was spectacular. Alum check revealed no heat. I feel cool, velveteen smooth, clean, refreshed and ready for the day.

RAZOR: C-Mon Special 11/16 (Mug), 1976 Gold Bicentennial Edition Schick Krona (Dome)
BLADE: Feather DE
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Sapele/Resin Handled Pro48 Boar
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub.

[brothers]

Semogue 2000 and Asylum Vetiver Bourbon. Good matchup of brush and soap.

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[EL Alamein]

Fancied a coticule-only shave today. My oldest Livi Damasteel 7/8 briarwood, Klar Kabinett Sandelholz, Simpson PJ3, Trumper Marlborough:


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Well, how did it go? Was the blade smooth and close?

Chris

[drmoss_ca]

It was quite curious, Chris. The shave was unusually close. I'm still pretty smooth this morning, good enough for work. But it was not as sensation-free as a blade that's been on a good finisher. Exactly what one would expect from a sharpened blade that hasn't been refined. I'm going to strop it a lot more and try again. Overall, it wasn't as pleasant as some other razors I have shaved with straight from the coticule, but Damasteel is sui generis, so maybe not surprising.

[drmoss_ca]

And so I did. Today's shave was just as close, and a lot more comfortable afterwards. I can see why coticule-only shavers like what they do, but they must spend a long time taming the edge on canvas to get it as comfortable as a razor that's been on a finishing hone.
Livi Damasteel 7/8 briarwood, Klar Kabinett Ginger and Lotus, Simpson E3, Cacharel Pour Homme:

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[jgreenepa]

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SOTD SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020

My current bride suffers from a severe fragrance allergy which can lead to migraines. My first wife loved both AS and Cologne resulting in a comfortable collection of AS and cologne, but give as she’s currently residing on the other side of the grass I’m usually limited to scentless products with the exception of lime, and as long as it isn’t too long lasting. Today’s selection fit the Bill and provided the foundation for a delightful shave.

Despite the fact that the Dovo Special I selected for today’s mug shave led to a fearful facial injury five years ago, it was my first straight razor and is a tremendous shaver. I have come to enjoy shaving with it. This morning’s shave was a two pass (WTG, XTG) that left your humble narrator clean an velveteen. The Feather Super loaded in my Vector cleaned up my dome in its usual one and 1/2 pass (ATG) way and delivered a comparable dome shave. The combined shave left me in very pleasant lime-scented, velveteen bliss.

RAZOR: Dovo Special 5/8 (Mug), Blackland Vector (Dome)
BLADE: Feather Super
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Rearden Razor 316L SS Tuxedo Synth
CREAM: Castle Forbes Lime
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with Glyce Glycerin soap followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Old Spice Fresh Lime.

[jgreenepa]

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SOTD SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 22, 2020

Great combination shave this morning as we prepare an early Thanksgiving send off for my stepson this afternoon prior to his visit to his girlfriend’s parents who don’t believe the Covid plague is real. In any case he has accepted that he will have to shelter in place for two weeks uponn his return. This year we’ll have Thanksgiving twice. Once today, and then again on Thursday with my clan pod.

The shave was excellent this morning and featured the Saito SK3 7/8 for my mug and my Schick E Type for the noggin. The Viking Silvertip Badger is just a great brush and easily generated the two types of lather that I like - a thinner, wetter, slick lather for the mug, and a thicker, yogurty lather for the dome. The three pass (WTG, ATG, XTG) mug shave was a pleasure. The following two pass (ATG, ATG) dome shave checked all the boxes as well. I feel clean, velveteen and refreshed.

RAZOR: Saito SK3. 7/8 (Mug), Schick E Type (Dome)
BLADE: Proline B-20 Injector
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Viking Silvertip Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Pre de Provence Bergamot & Thyme Balm.

[drmoss_ca]

Continued stropping is making this edge get better and better day by day.
Livi Damasteel 7/8 briarwood, Klar Kabinett Citrus & Leather, Vulfix 2 band, L'Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu:

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