- Thread starter
- #61
Ah, that bear it is the same as in @JWCowboy 's pisgah! I take it is like a trademark from Murphy and McNeil. Nice badger!
4 Month May-August Sabbatical (QUADSAB)
- Thread starter Burundian Hawk
- Start date
Ah, that bear it is the same as in @JWCowboy 's pisgah! I take it is like a trademark from Murphy and McNeil. Nice badger!
I've been thinking about an earlier comment about the HC Merit 99-5.
It dawned in me that that was my brush for the FFFMM with MdC being my soap. I actually face lathered with that brush and soap for at least half of the shaves that month. No problems using that brush for face lathering IMHO. Tomorrow I have a similarly long handled brush on deck and will face lather with Mogno. Pictures forthcoming...
It dawned in me that that was my brush for the FFFMM with MdC being my soap. I actually face lathered with that brush and soap for at least half of the shaves that month. No problems using that brush for face lathering IMHO. Tomorrow I have a similarly long handled brush on deck and will face lather with Mogno. Pictures forthcoming...
So the Bear logos are for a couple of collaborative efforts between Murphy & McNeil and an outfit that calls itself "Black Mountain Shaving" which is named for a town here in western North Carolina and the two soaps they have collaborated on are Nantahala and Pisgah, named after nearby geographical features of a river and a mountain respectively.
Black Mountain, North Carolina - Wikipedia
Nantahala River - Wikipedia
Mount Pisgah (mountain in North Carolina) - Wikipedia
Most of Murphy & McNeils regular soaps have a "Celtic" theme and I believe they do some other collaborations as well....
- Thread starter
- #64
So the Bear logos are for a couple of collaborative efforts between Murphy & McNeil and an outfit that calls itself "Black Mountain Shaving" which is named for a town here in western North Carolina and the two soaps they have collaborated on are Nantahala and Pisgah, named after nearby geographical features of a river and a mountain respectively.
Black Mountain, North Carolina - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Nantahala River - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Mount Pisgah (mountain in North Carolina) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Most of Murphy & McNeils regular soaps have a "Celtic" theme and I believe they do some other collaborations as well....
You have very nice nature in North Carolina, sir! The Nantahala National forest in particular looks very nice. Congratulations! Why do Celtic themes, when you have an entire continent that one could use to make american themes... But marketing i guess...
As promised, a 28mm, Maggard's 2-band, Mojo Handcrafts used to face lather my Mogno today.
Joseph Smith again today
Mogno
Mojo Handcrafts
TOBS Eaton College
Lovely shave, but it's time for the Joseph Smith to go back to the Les Lateneuses for a little refresh. Hooray!!!
Also was the first outing for the new (to me) Red Imp 700 strop after it's clean up and conditioning. Very nice! (And purchased before the start of the QUADSAB.)
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- #66
@RumpleBearskin I have 6 Mognos on stock, but according to my predictions, i will use the first one next year. But i am happy to see you had a lovely shave. This makes my purchase more satisfying!
No foto from me today. I used the Yaqi green handle motherlode i bought in April, but i forgot to take a photo and now everything is wet and disassembled (i clean everything after shave).
No foto from me today. I used the Yaqi green handle motherlode i bought in April, but i forgot to take a photo and now everything is wet and disassembled (i clean everything after shave).
@RumpleBearskin you are killin' me, and I mean killin' me with your brushes! Absolute stunning eye candy......
Thank you again! You are too kind!
So here's the obligatory "shave of the day" pic and I'm happy to report that I made it through this first week just fine!
New razor for today and tomorrow so thought I'd post it.
Wacker, Old Sheffield
XPEC Original
Heritage Collection Klenzo
Pinaud Clubman
One of those shaves where all you can say is, "WOW!"
- Thread starter
- #71
Straight razor Sunday. No issues this week with RADS. Though I did feel a nanosecond-long pang when WSP sent another email advertising there was still Matterhorn soap available for purchase. Get thee behind me, beloved vendor.
Razor: Chicago Radiumite.
Brush: Shave Forge Horsehair
Soap: Mitchell's Wool Fat
AS: Floid's Amber from a sample that's been hanging around.
No cuts or weepers, but looks like I'll have to put the Radiumite to the 10k stone tonight. Two-pass shave was SAS only. I've gotten better shaves with this razor - it was the first or second straight I ever purchased and the first one I ever honed myself. But must be that time of the year to get the electrical tape, stone and spray bottle out.
@RumpleBearskin , I'll have to pick your brain at some point on what a good third straight would be. I absolutely love the French steel Grelot. The Tanifuji I used to own was great, but it's square toe caused too many nics. Once this QUADSAB is done I might pick up one last straight to make it a trinity and I wonder what your suggestion would be.
Also, has there been a reformulation of MWF in the past year or so, or was there a bad batch? I bought a puck of this soap back in November 2018 or so and could not get it to lather to save my life. It was always too weak and liquidey and I eventually PIF'd it. Then more recently I noticed that some folks had written on the soap's Maggards reviews thread that they had the same issue around the same time but that newer pucks were lathering up great. I bought a new puck last month and lathering it has been easy peasy, no issues whatsoever. I don't think my technique improved that much. I'm curious if anyone else has had the same experience.
Razor: Chicago Radiumite.
Brush: Shave Forge Horsehair
Soap: Mitchell's Wool Fat
AS: Floid's Amber from a sample that's been hanging around.
No cuts or weepers, but looks like I'll have to put the Radiumite to the 10k stone tonight. Two-pass shave was SAS only. I've gotten better shaves with this razor - it was the first or second straight I ever purchased and the first one I ever honed myself. But must be that time of the year to get the electrical tape, stone and spray bottle out.
@RumpleBearskin , I'll have to pick your brain at some point on what a good third straight would be. I absolutely love the French steel Grelot. The Tanifuji I used to own was great, but it's square toe caused too many nics. Once this QUADSAB is done I might pick up one last straight to make it a trinity and I wonder what your suggestion would be.
Also, has there been a reformulation of MWF in the past year or so, or was there a bad batch? I bought a puck of this soap back in November 2018 or so and could not get it to lather to save my life. It was always too weak and liquidey and I eventually PIF'd it. Then more recently I noticed that some folks had written on the soap's Maggards reviews thread that they had the same issue around the same time but that newer pucks were lathering up great. I bought a new puck last month and lathering it has been easy peasy, no issues whatsoever. I don't think my technique improved that much. I'm curious if anyone else has had the same experience.
Attachments
@Bjlefebvre - I actually have a few restored straights I could "loan" you to check out during our self imposed exile from acquisition. PM me with interests out preferences and I'll see what I can hook you up with...
As for MWF, I only started using it about a year ago and just started my second puck. No issues lathering either I have used, but I do know some say there was a bad run for a bit.
As for MWF, I only started using it about a year ago and just started my second puck. No issues lathering either I have used, but I do know some say there was a bad run for a bit.
Thanks for that generous offer, Alan. I might take you up on that as soon as work quiets down a little and I can write you a DM.
This week's set:
Declaration Grooming/ Chantillon Lux Gratiot League Square soap and AS. Both performer very well. It's a leather fragrance but has a nice top that to me smells sweet/spicy. The soap scent is like "new car" smell when you first open the canister but mellows out upon use. The AS scent is the game winner IMO - I think it even beats out B&M's Leviathan. I have the matching EdT as well.
Razor: Blacklands Vector with a Schick Pro-Line blade. Can't say much besides what' already been written. My favorite safety razor hands down.
This week's set:
Declaration Grooming/ Chantillon Lux Gratiot League Square soap and AS. Both performer very well. It's a leather fragrance but has a nice top that to me smells sweet/spicy. The soap scent is like "new car" smell when you first open the canister but mellows out upon use. The AS scent is the game winner IMO - I think it even beats out B&M's Leviathan. I have the matching EdT as well.
Razor: Blacklands Vector with a Schick Pro-Line blade. Can't say much besides what' already been written. My favorite safety razor hands down.
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The more I read about the vector, and frankly all of @Blackland Razors offerings, the more tempted I become! It is a stunning looking razor! I may end up using my exception on one!
Not a Vector, but a SE nonetheless...
GEM Featherweight /GEM Personna SS PTFE
MdC Fougere (face lathered)
Simpsons Duke 3 in Best
4711 AS & EdC
A very nice GEMonday shave.
GEM Featherweight /GEM Personna SS PTFE
MdC Fougere (face lathered)
Simpsons Duke 3 in Best
4711 AS & EdC
A very nice GEMonday shave.
I am trying to finish my Nantahala sample. The soap works fine for me. It is nothing really special but the scent puts me off. I have let it air out for over six months and it is still too strong. Thankfully, my sample will only last two to four more shaves.
What has been your experience with this soap? Do you like the scent? I also don't care for the clay they put in it. It seems to dull my blades a little quicker. Maybe it helps with slickness but mine is not any slicker than any of my better soaps, about the same as Vitos and a lot less than Tabac.
Soaps are maybe the most YMMV of all shaving items.
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I've only used my sample one time, but overall I found it to be a decent performer (as are all M&M soaps), but nothing overly special in my book. The scent was not at all disagreeable, just nothing special to me.
Not sure about the clay. I haven't noticed any issues with dulling more quickly, but I haven't been looking for any effects.
- Thread starter
- #79
Another easygoing shave. During the restock period of the next Quadsab, i think i will get 1 or 2 croaps. Just because i am too curious about them and reasonable in price. For the timebeing though, no temptation. The weather has improved here too, so i have ventured out for some walk in the park. Unfortunately we have some more rain coming in in the next days, but summer is almost here, so patience.
After many years, i also went back to...almost bowl lathering. Because the horse gets into my nerves when face lathering with the later disappearing. By "almost", i mean, that i do produce lather in the bowl, but i make it perfect on the face. So i finish with facelathering. To my surprise, it worked. The horse produced a ton of lather in the bowl and while using much less than the last time, i still had enough lather in the bowl for 2 more passes easily. Maybe i will start doing this on permanent basis. It is fun to bowl lather too.
After many years, i also went back to...almost bowl lathering. Because the horse gets into my nerves when face lathering with the later disappearing. By "almost", i mean, that i do produce lather in the bowl, but i make it perfect on the face. So i finish with facelathering. To my surprise, it worked. The horse produced a ton of lather in the bowl and while using much less than the last time, i still had enough lather in the bowl for 2 more passes easily. Maybe i will start doing this on permanent basis. It is fun to bowl lather too.
W. Greaves & Sons
WK Fougere Bouquet
Rudy Vey 2020 B&B Contributors' Brush
TOBS Eaton College
This is my general method. Sometimes it's 100% face, but usually I do 95% of the work in the bowl and finish the perfect lather directly on my face. That's my method for "bowl/scuttle" lathering.
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