2022 Shave Purchase Sabbatical - Shave Trek Season 2

[MuhleShaver]

Wow, as I'm waiting for my Feather shavette to arrive I decided to look into straight razors...so much to learn. At least I have a year to read up on things instead of just jumping in and buying what I think will work.

#51 still in. Heading to the holodeck for some R&R (was there ever an episode of Star Trek TNG where the holodeck didn't get them into trouble?)

 

[KQY61]

Unfortunately the exception re: blade try out group activities generously hosted by @Grundi hasn't made it into the catalogue of exceptions this year. In 2021 it was in line with the rules to enter into such activities as long as one didn't receive more than 3 blades.

I don't intend to start a debate on the rules of 2022 GRUYERE, however, I wanted to mention these group activities were great fun (and one didn’t need to spend any money).

#40 still in.

Hi,

If it was good last year, it's good this year. I simply copied and pasted the rules from the beginning of 2021 to 2022 since this is Season Two.

If the OK came later last year, it's still good this year.

Isn't this a B&B activity? Like The Great Blade Exchange?

B&B activities and items are always exceptions.

Stan

 

[KQY61]

Wow, as I'm waiting for my Feather shavette to arrive I decided to look into straight razors...so much to learn. At least I have a year to read up on things instead of just jumping in and buying what I think will work.

#51 still in. Heading to the holodeck for some R&R (was there ever an episode of Star Trek TNG where the holodeck didn't get them into trouble?)

Hi,

Yep. Holodeck equals at least one Oh! moment every time.

I have a couple SRs here I found in Dad's stuff. But, he never used an SR. So, I don't know where they came from. Might have been from his dad. Or just given to Dad. He was a toolmaker, so who knows. I found them in one of his machinist tool boxes. Maybe he used them as some form of scrapers. Machinists are weird like that. I can no longer ask him, of course.

I can do machine work myself, but really don't know the specifics of SRs. That looks like it could be the largest rabbit hole of them all here on B&B.....

Stan

 

[JAHE]

Hi,

If it was good last year, it's good this year. I simply copied and pasted the rules from the beginning of 2021 to 2022 since this is Season Two.

If the OK came later last year, it's still good this year.

Isn't this a B&B activity? Like The Great Blade Exchange?

B&B activities and items are always exceptions.

Stan

Hi Stan,

The rules of 2021 had been amended/clarified by Pepin in post #165 of 2021 GRUYERE thread.
See section "group exceptions "

QUOTE

After some discussion amongst the general Staff, as such, it was decided to offer some clarifications to group exceptions. The Complete set of rules is below, with the clarifications highlighted in blue at the end.

The Rules
1. Read all of the rules. From #1 through to and including number 16.
2. Start and end time are based on your local time zone.
3. Gentlemanly Restraint is restricted to all items related to shaving and the shaving hobby; though you can avoid other purchases as well.
4. No purchases of anything to do with shaving are allowed during the restraint period. NONE. No purchases even if you get a gift card to WCS, ebay, Amazon, etc. If you need something you may trade for it; that's why you are a part of a community that can help you out. This also means that you have enough stuff to see out about 12 months of shaving.
5. Gifts. You cannot ask for, solicit, hint at, etc., gifts in any way.
6. PIFs. You may OFFER PIFs (including associated shipping costs), but the PIF excludes those B&B members who are part of the annual sabbatical. You may not enter or request a PIF.
7. To clarify, not buying anything means not spending money (or redeeming gift cards) on shaving goods, period. This includes blades, cream, soap, brushes, scuttles, any type of cartridge, aftershave, stone, strop, lapping film, scuttle water heater, kettle for the bathroom, shaving related books, pictures, knick-knacks and on and on. You get the idea. You spent money on it? You haven't shown restraint. *
8. Plan your year carefully. Think ahead to make sure you have the razors, blades, soaps, creams, aftershaves, scuttles, towels, travel gear, dopp bags etc. for the next twelve months. If you travel, pick up a couple of the dreaded disposables. You can always ask before the start if you are not sure how much you will go through.
9. You must check-in on the 2021 GRUYERE thread during the specific times listed
March 29th to April 7th
June 28th through to July 7th
September 27th through to October 6th
January 1st through to January 10th 2022
10. However, at other times please feel free to post and let us know how you are doing in your goal of abstaining.
11. If a shaving item breaks in the restraint and you have no backup handy, one replacement may be purchased as an exception (example if the knot comes out of your brush when traveling, a cheap brush or superglue to fix broken brush is deemed acceptable in the 2021 restraint). Forgetting to pack your gear does not count, that will put you out.
12. The fine print on the grey areas: Functional maintenance, such as straight razor honing, does not count as a purchased good. Since we’re all gentlemen here, we leave it up to you to decide if PIF purchases for others count as purchases.
13. Gifts you receive are also dicey. Because these and other fuzzy areas may pop up, let's agree to be gentlemanly in our appraisal of still in or knocked out. In other words, you're in until you say "I'm out" and you're out if you spent money! If you buy something, announce what you bought so we can get our vicarious thrills at your expense and strike you from the list in an exciting chapter of our ongoing storyline.
14. Only if you succeeded in the 2020 Sabbatical, you have from January 1-14, 2021 as restock window.
15. If you have to ask for clarification, you probably should not be doing it.
16. Read rule number 1.

Group exceptions:

• ALL Badger and Blade branded items including B&B Group Buys
• Sue Moore Memorial Auction items
• Badger and Blade contributor badge
• Sending out / receiving pass around boxes (including incurring shipping costs) for the purpose of B&B group activities. You sample items and pass on the box, or you can exchange one item for one in the box, but there is no net change in your stock.
• A pass-around box is not a PIF, and is part of B&B group activities.

As a compromise to those who are enamoured with PIF’s:

• You can have a PIF as an exception; play PIF roulette
• Sending out / receiving blade samples (up to 3 single blades) for the purpose of B&B group activities (including incurring shipping costs)
• Sending out/receiving soap samples (up to 1/4 oz, you know those small plastic containers) for the purpose of B&B group activities (including incurring shipping costs).

UNQUOTE.

IMO a properly working rule catalogue. IIRC there has been no mayor discussion in course of 2021 about these rules.

 

[KQY61]

Hi,

Works for me.

And there's the Three Blade OK. I like the soap sample idea as well.

Stan

 

[JAHE]

Hi,

Works for me.

And there's the Three Blade OK. I like the soap sample idea as well.

Stan

Cool! Perhaps @Grundi might continue this sort of activity *blink blink*

 

[bjm]

Bowing out before even starting?

For the record, I didn't quit; I chose not to participate. I had agreed to purchase some gear from a fellow B&B member who had been holding onto the items until the 2021 sabbatical was over. I was hoping to complete the purchase before today's deadline. If that had happened, I would have added my name to the list again and rejoined the crew.

Because of personal reasons on the seller's part, it didn't happen. And since I plan to honor my side of the deal whenever the seller is ready to complete the transaction, I will not be a part of the 2022 sabbatical. I saw no reason to sign up for the challenge while fully expecting to be out before the end of the year.

Good luck to all of you. Have fun...

 

[ruckin]

I can do machine work myself, but really don't know the specifics of SRs. That looks like it could be the largest rabbit hole of them all here on B&B.....

The rabbit hole goes even deeper once you wander into the mystical world of honing and the miriad ways of doing it.

 

[Grundi]

Cool! Perhaps @Grundi might continue this sort of activity *blink blink*

**Shhh; in hushed tones from the Lower Deck** we do have a a few planned, so I'm grateful that Capt @KQY61 has added the 3-Blade B&B Group exception!!

 

[MuhleShaver]

The rabbit hole goes even deeper once you wander into the mystical world of honing and the miriad ways of doing it.

Yeah, that's what I'm reading about now. I have water stones up to 10K grit already for tool sharpening, so I can start with those. Thankfully I have a year to read, absorb, and plan before picking up a straight, strop, and honing items.

 

[CzechCzar]

Yeah, that's what I'm reading about now. I have water stones up to 10K grit already for tool sharpening, so I can start with those. Thankfully I have a year to read, absorb, and plan before picking up a straight, strop, and honing items.

I would actually recommend dropping out of the sabbatical, and going and buying several thousand dollars worth of honing items. You can never be too careful, or too stocked up.

 

[Sotiris_A]

Yeah, that's what I'm reading about now. I have water stones up to 10K grit already for tool sharpening, so I can start with those. Thankfully I have a year to read, absorb, and plan before picking up a straight, strop, and honing items.

I dropped out of the 2020 Sabbatical because of falling in the SR rabbit hole. Be careful because this one has no bottom. Limitless options and combinations of razors, strops, pastes, hones, lapping plates...

IMHO, the Feather artist club razors are a great substitute, similar to the feel of a quarter hollow SR. You won't be missing anything in terms of quality of the shave, once you learn how to use it.

 

[Angus MacAngus]

Still in. Nice head shave today.

Russian Rubin Adjustable (6 setting)
Gillette Minora Platinum blade (2 & bin)
Stirling Bay Rum
Omega Boar

 

[Ruva]

#43 Still in.
My order of Palmolive shave cream arrived. I was going to stop there for my restock but I ended up buying AV Ice Blue while at the store. Hoping it's another successful year for me.

 

[MuhleShaver]

I would actually recommend dropping out of the sabbatical, and going and buying several thousand dollars worth of honing items. You can never be too careful, or too stocked up.

, I don't think my wife would be too happy with me. I need to stop looking at straights, strops, and stones and just work with what I've already got and the shavette that will be arriving shortly.

 

[MuhleShaver]

I dropped out of the 2020 Sabbatical because of falling in the SR rabbit hole. Be careful because this one has no bottom. Limitless options and combinations of razors, strops, pastes, hones, lapping plates...

IMHO, the Feather artist club razors are a great substitute, similar to the feel of a quarter hollow SR. You won't be missing anything in terms of quality of the shave, once you learn how to use it.

Agreed - my Feather artist club shavette that I ordered during the restock period should be showing up in a week or so. I've successfully completed the 2018-2021 sabbaticals, hopefully using the shavette doesn't throw me off the wagon.

 

[JoWolf]

January 14​

Tenth fixed-four weekly shave. Ease and familiarity with Kit continues to raise comfort. Advantage on a purchase sabbatical. Shave porn replaced with pure thoughts of technique.

Grande & Feather
Zenith B-35 Boar
Saponificio Varesino Felce Aromatica

A close comfortable shave. My light touch heavier than I would like. A few alum licks on sensitive neck skin areas. Warmth but no sting. Head shave was great. Overall, less skin comfort compared to last weeks shave. Kit‘s performance flawlessly. The weekly scheduled shave is working better than I anticipated. Shaves are very enjoyable.

Happy Shaves Gents

 

[ruckin]

Yeah, that's what I'm reading about now. I have water stones up to 10K grit already for tool sharpening, so I can start with those. Thankfully I have a year to read, absorb, and plan before picking up a straight, strop, and honing items.

After five years of back to back (successful) sabbaticals I didn't start in 2021 because I figured I would want some lapping film to get better at honing and I didn't want to drop out. I bought some so I think it was a good choice. This year I didn't join because while I have some stones for my woodworking and kitchen knives that go up to about 12k I wanted to add some water stones. I made a comment about not being able to promise that they would not touch one of my razors (or more likely my razor shaped objects...) Some folks claimed if I bought them for the shop and they were inadvertently or subsequently used for the razor it should be okay, but in my mind if I imagined the use (publicly no less) it would be over the line in my mind. Even if it might not have been due to a technicality it was closer to the line than I wanted to be.

So I follow along with the installments and will occasionally place an order for cookies and see who I can temp to the dark side. Other than the lapping film and 3 water stones I have not purchased anything sharpening or shave related in three plus years. I have too much stuff and am trying to 3017 the stuff I have. It is likely to be more than a decade before I buy anything else.

 

[JAHE]

Second week has been completed successfully

#40 - still in!

 

[Lee93]

Another great shave. I decided to dedicate the weekends to samples, also to break the routine, I'm 3017 Cella Red.