Rolling the Bones

[4and20blackbirds]

Monday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Stirling Baker Street
Brush: Karve badger
Razor: Blackland Dart, #1
Blade: Astra SP, #1
Post: alum -> Stirling Baker Street aftershave

First use of the Dart: two passes leading to DFS face and a mix of DFS and CCS on my neck. Definitely felt the blade, so not the most comfortable shave, but the feedback wasn't too bad.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Tuesday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: DG Yuzu/Rose/Patchouli
Brush: EJ Silvertip
Razor: Blackland Dart, #2
Blade: Astra SP, #2
Post: alum -> DG YZP aftershave -> Nivea Sensitive Cool balm

Egad, what a rough shave. Two uncomfortable passes with significant alum feedback and a cut for good measure. All over the map, too--SAS to DFS. Still feeling it as I write this later. Yowza.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Wednesday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: HTGAM The Beach
Brush: Sanax badger-cased boar
Razor: Blackland Dart, #3
Blade: Astra SP, #3
Post: alum -> Suavecito Bay Rum aftershave

Better than last night and about the same as the first night. Which is to say, a not very comfortable two-passes with definite alum feedback, DFS on my face, and SAS/CCS on my neck.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Thursday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: Dr. Jon's Savannah Sunrise
Brush: Omega B&B Boar
Razor: Blackland Dart, #4
Blade: Astra SP, #4 and binned
Post: alum -> DJ Savannah Sunrise aftershave

Took the Dart steep tonight and it was mediocre. The two passes were more comfortable, but I still had significant feedback on my neck. And from a closeness perspective, it was the worst shave yet: a very small area of DFS and the rest was evenly split between CCS and SAS.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Friday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Declaration Grooming Nightman
Brush: Vie-Long Silvertip
Razor: Blackland Dart, #5
Blade: Big Ben Stainless, #1
Post: alum -> DG Nightman aftershave

First use of a Big Ben and it was probably the best shave I've had with the Dart in terms of comfort during the shave, though it's nowhere near what I'd consider actually comfortable and I'm getting some increased irritation as time passes. And my two usual passes were the least successful yet, with an awful lot of SAS, particularly on the right side of my neck.

And that will do it for the Dart.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Saturday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Martin de Candre Nature
Brush: Simpson PJ2 Super Badger
Razor: Yaqi Beast on RazoRock Radio Knob handle
Blade: Big Ben Stainless, #2
Post: alum -> mix of witch hazel and Lucky No. 6 aftershave tonic

Decided to pull out the Beast so I could finally fill in the numbers on the chart. Took it steep, natch, and what a shave. Such a difference compared to the Dart. Two passes and mostly DFS with one small patch of CCS. Only moderate alum feedback. Not as comfortable as my top razors, but very efficient. I really like this razor.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Five shaves over two blades with the Blackland Dart. An absolutely stunning razor in the looks and quality department, but I did not get along with it at all. Rough, not very efficient (especially on the right side of my neck, where I don't usually have any issues), and significantly uncomfortable, this one is not for me and I'll be moving it out of the den. The Dart slots in at 28, with a 3 for comfort and a 3 for efficiency.

Also adding in the Yaqi Beast numbers, which will stay at position 6 and gets an 8 on comfort and a 7 on efficiency.

	Rank	Razor	Comfort	Efficiency
Tier 1 - Keepers	1	Gillette Slim	10	6
	2	Schick Type L1	10	5
	3	RazoRock German 37	9	7
	4	Fine Marvel	9	6
	5	Parker Semi-slant	9	6
	6	Yaqi Beast	8	7
	7	Gem Junior	8	6
	8	Gillette fat handle Tech	8	5
	9	RazoRock Mamba	8	4
	10	Merkur 34C HD	8	6
Tier 2 - In Consideration
Tier 3 - Not for me	11	Timeless .95	8	6
	12 (tie)	1940s Gillette Super Speed	8	5
		1947 Gillette Aristocrat Junior	8	5
	13	iKon X3	8	6
	14	Gem MMOC	5	6
	15	Timeless .68	7	5
	16	Fine Superlite slant	7	4
	17	Parker 24C	7	6
	18	Karve Christopher Bradley, D Plate	6	5
	19	Karve CB, C Plate	7	5
	20	Karve CB, B Plate	7	4
	21	Maggard V2	6	4
	22	Gillette Ball-End Tech	5	4
	23	RazoRock Mamba 70	5	3
	24	Wilkinson Sword TTO
	25	Schick Injector Type E3	3	6
	26	Fatip Open Comb Slant	3	4
	27	Standard Razors Deep Black	4	3
	28	Blackland Dart	3	3
	29	Mühle R89 Grande	3	3

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Next is the Yaqi Mellon. This was the one I thought I was buying when I bought the Beast. Glad I made that mistake and looking forward to try this one, which I’ve read good things about.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Sunday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: K Shave Worx Frosen
Brush: Shavemac badger
Razor: Yaqi Mellon, #1
Blade: Astra SP, #1
Post: alum -> Gillette Cool Wave aftershave

First shave with the Mellon and it was very nice. In spite of the all-blade look, it was comfortable during the shave and only a little bit of feedback from the alum. Two passes and an all-around DFS.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Monday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: MdC Fougere
Brush: Omega Mixed Midget
Razor: Yaqi Mellon, #2
Blade: Astra SP, #2
Post: alum -> Brut aftershave

Another pretty comfortable shave tonight. Two passes and touch ups leading to an all-around DFS. Not too much feedback, but some mild irritation after the fact. I've also decided that fougeres are not for me. I kept the MdC around thinking it would grow on me, but it has not--nor has the Brut, so both will be moving out of the den.

Tuesday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: Lather Bros. No Probllama
Brush: Simpson Astor A1 Best
Razor: Yaqi Mellon, #3
Blade: Astra SP, #3
Post: alum -> LB No Probllama aftershave

Two passes for a mostly DFS with a small patch of CCS. Some mild feedback, but no irritation after.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Wednesday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Lea stick
Brush: Omega 10290
Razor: Yaqi Mellon, #4
Blade: Astra SP, #4 and binned
Post: alum -> Aqua Velva aftershave

Two passes, a little feedback, and mostly DFS.

Friday shave

Prep: Noxzema
Soap: Salter Wild Rose
Brush: Epsilon horse
Razor: Yaqi Mellon, #5
Blade: Big Ben, #3
Post: alum -> Gillette Cool Wave aftershave

Skipped last Night and shaved this morning. The usual two passes, which were very comfortable with only mild feedback. A mostly DFS with some areas of CCS on my neck. Once again, some post-shave irritation on my neck.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Saturday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: C&E West Indian Limes
Brush: Vulfix Grosvenor
Razor: Yaqi Mellon, #6
Blade: Big Ben, #4 and binned
Post: alum -> Pinaud Citrus Musk aftershave

Two passes, minimal feedback, mix of DFS and mostly CCS on my neck. The Big Bens performed surprisingly well for such a cheap blade. These are probably going to have a place in my den, but I'll reserve judgment until I've finished the entire tuck.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Monday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Turtleship Te Java
Brush: Sanax badger-cased boar
Razor: Yaqi Mellon, #7
Blade: Treet Classic, #1
Post: alum -> Pinaud Clubman aftershave

Got in late Sunday so skipped that night's shave. First use of a Treet Classic was very nice indeed: smooth and tug-free. I started out by going steep, but didn't like it so changed to a typical angle and the result over two passes was minimal feedback, and mostly DFS with some CCS on my neck. Decided to make the Turtleship part of the den-clearing as I continue to pare down to my favorites.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Wednesday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Grooming Dept. Tao
Brush: Vie-Long Silvertip
Razor: Yaqi Mellon, #8
Blade: Treet Classic, #2
Post: alum -> Lucky Tiger aftershave

Man, I've been lazy this past week--skipped another shave. Wednesday's two passes again resulted in mostly DFS with some CCS on my neck. Some feedback from the alum.

Thursday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: Cella
Brush: EJ Silvertip
Razor: Yaqi Mellon, #9
Blade: Treet Classic, #3
Post: alum -> Pinaud Clubman Classic Vanilla aftershave

Standard two passes for DFS on my face and mostly CCS on my neck. Alum feedback was minor, but wow I felt the aftershave!

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Friday shave

Prep: Neutrogena Razor Defense face scrub
Soap: La Toja
Brush: Omega Mixed Midget
Razor: Yaqi Mellon, #10
Blade: Treet Classic, #4 and banked
Post: alum -> Skin Bracer aftershave

Two passes for mostly DFS with just a small spot of CCS in the usual spot on my neck and a little bit on my chin. Lots of feedback from the alum, one weeper, and an irritated neck, so not exactly a comfortable shave tonight. And that will do it for the Mellon.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

A total of 10 shaves with three blades for the Mellon. I kind of like the blue and it’s got a nice weight to it, but this one was pretty average to me—didn’t really stand out and tended to leave me with residual neck irritation so this one will be moving out of the den. I’m putting this one at position 22, with a 5 for comfort and a 4 for efficiency.

	Rank	Razor	Comfort	Efficiency
Tier 1 - Keepers	1	Gillette Slim	10	6
	2	Schick Type L1	10	5
	3	RazoRock German 37	9	7
	4	Fine Marvel	9	6
	5	Parker Semi-slant	9	6
	6	Yaqi Beast	8	7
	7	Gem Junior	8	6
	8	Gillette fat handle Tech	8	5
	9	RazoRock Mamba	8	4
	10	Merkur 34C HD	8	6
Tier 2 - In Consideration
Tier 3 - Not for me	11	Timeless .95	8	6
	12 (tie)	1940s Gillette Super Speed	8	5
		1947 Gillette Aristocrat Junior	8	5
	13	iKon X3	8	6
	14	Gem MMOC	5	6
	15	Timeless .68	7	5
	16	Fine Superlite slant	7	4
	17	Parker 24C	7	6
	18	Karve Christopher Bradley, D Plate	6	5
	19	Karve CB, C Plate	7	5
	20	Karve CB, B Plate	7	4
	21	Maggard V2	6	4
	22	Yaqi Mellon	5	4
	23	Gillette Ball-End Tech	5	4
	24	RazoRock Mamba 70	5	3
	25	Wilkinson Sword TTO
	26	Schick Injector Type E3	3	6
	27	Fatip Open Comb Slant	3	4
	28	Standard Razors Deep Black	4	3
	29	Blackland Dart	3	3
	30	Mühle R89 Grande	3	3

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Next up: the Mühle R41…

 

[thombrogan]

the Mühle R41…

With rosegold handle for extra efficiency no less!

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Saturday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: MdC Agrumes
Brush: Shavemac two-band badger
Razor: Mühle R41
Blade: Astra SP, #1
Post: alum -> Myrsol Limon aftershave

This razor has such widely--and wildly--differing opinions that I had no idea what to expect. I used my usual two-pass shave and found it not to be nearly as rough as I'd feared, nor, oddly, as efficient. There was some definite feedback from the alum, particularly on my lip, which is a first, but I've had worse (see, e.g., the Dart from a few weeks ago). A great DFS on my face, but a mostly CCS on my neck. That could be because it's my first attempt and I'm not used to it yet. Overall, not too shabby. The razor itself is a looker and feels great in the hand.

 

[4and20blackbirds]

Sunday shave

Prep: Cleansing Story White Clay foam
Soap: Meissner Indian Flavour
Brush: Omega 10290
Razor: Mühle R41, #2
Blade: Astra SP, #2
Post: alum -> Stirling Lemon Chill aftershave

Another good shave tonight. Two-passes plus neck touch ups for an all-around DFS. Moderate feedback.


Monday shave

Prep: PAA Ice Cube 2.0
Soap: Noble Otter Two Kings
Brush: Epsilon horse
Razor: Mühle R41, #3
Blade: Astra SP, #3
Post: alum -> NO Two Kings aftershave

And another good shave. My lather wasn't up to snuff, so I didn't go for any touch ups, but in spite of that I still had only mild feedback and managed a mostly DFS over two passes. I've about made up my mind to move the Epsilon along--it's a neat brush, but it eats lather and I prefer a knot that isn't packed so tightly. The Two Kings may follow it, too, as I'm kind of ambivalent about it and as I narrow down the den I'm focusing more and more on stuff I really enjoy.