Arko August 2022
- Thread starter FoolishMortal
- Start date
Friday, August 5th- ARKO/Boarko on the down low (shave #4)- a two-pass shave, one tiny weeper that closed quickly; I'll score it DFS, 9/10:
Razor: Gillette Slim set on 5- picked this very used razor up for $10 in Brooklyn and it shaves fine; can't remember how long it's been since I used a Slim
Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum (4)- still okay
Lather: ARKO stick- nice enough lather
Brush: Zenith 506 unbleached- I've been breaking it in and after a couple of weeks this brush is almost as nice as my Omega Jade in use; wonder how long it will stay that way?
Post: rinse, then Anthony's ASB, my face is nice and soothed by this slightly mentholated balm
Have yourselves a great weekend!
Razor: Gillette Slim set on 5- picked this very used razor up for $10 in Brooklyn and it shaves fine; can't remember how long it's been since I used a Slim
Blade: Bic Chrome Platinum (4)- still okay
Lather: ARKO stick- nice enough lather
Brush: Zenith 506 unbleached- I've been breaking it in and after a couple of weeks this brush is almost as nice as my Omega Jade in use; wonder how long it will stay that way?
Post: rinse, then Anthony's ASB, my face is nice and soothed by this slightly mentholated balm
Have yourselves a great weekend!
Mike M
...but this one IS cracked.
Yeah we seem to be having a terrible problem with flies so I'm thinking of getting a few Arko sticks to hang around the house too.My two Arko sticks and my Arko puck should last me a good long time. I may get a few extra sticks to use as air fresheners around the apartment. On a side note, wishing @Mike M a happy weekend.
Razor Karve CB OC B plate
Arko
RR Plisoft
Astra SP
Brute AS
Great 3 pass DFS. The Karve is buttery smooth. Reminds me of a Gillette LC.
Arko
RR Plisoft
Astra SP
Brute AS
Great 3 pass DFS. The Karve is buttery smooth. Reminds me of a Gillette LC.
- Thread starter
- #246
Let's do a little check-in, shall we?
Arko August 2022 Participants List
Arko Gung-ho (all Arko, all August)
Arko MakeItUpAsYouGoGo (your Arko, your way)
Arko August 2022 Participants List
Arko Gung-ho (all Arko, all August)
- @FoolishMortal
- @steveclarkus
- @Multum in parvo
- @Big_T
- @RumpleBearskin
- @DalShaver
- @ajkel64
- @bluesman 7
- @InkStainedWretch
- @bdehne
- @Egmont
- @alla2465
- @uberbey
- @Draig
- @Yura_
- @Arbor Man
- @Steve56 (unless he's not)
- @JayFromBrooklyn
- @psfred
- @acantrel
- @RenoRichard
- @timetofly
- @Ravenonrock
- @Butch Waxx - ?
- @ewk
- @tjsgarden
- @Ted A
- @Kix
- @PRobots
- @shave/brush
- @La Malice
- @NorthernSoul
- @1Pet5_8
- @redrako
- @ChriWilson
- @Tom Bowman
Arko MakeItUpAsYouGoGo (your Arko, your way)
- @FarmerTan - he's 97% BoarShark
- @South Dakota Guy - a little Arko, a little Sharko
- @Vulcan Bubbles - 97%er
- @borwish - all Arko, some Sharko
- @Robbie7 - Arko-Sharko all the way
- @KMF79 - All the things! (Arko, Sharko, Boarko, Aventus - oh!)
- @Alohawyatt - It's a mystery...
- @JCarr - Arko-Sharko all the way
- @Filudo - umm...maybe?
- Mike M
August 5th
Tonight I face lathered ARKO with an Omega '49 boar brush. I loaded a 7 o'clock super stainless (15) into a UK Aristocrat. The plating on the Aristocrat handle has seen better days. But, a fantastic shave, especially that many would have tossed this blade many shaves ago. For me, it doesn't get much better.
Tonight I face lathered ARKO with an Omega '49 boar brush. I loaded a 7 o'clock super stainless (15) into a UK Aristocrat. The plating on the Aristocrat handle has seen better days. But, a fantastic shave, especially that many would have tossed this blade many shaves ago. For me, it doesn't get much better.
GRUME August Shave 3/16
No of Arko Shave 3
Prep : Hot shower
Preshave : None
Brush : Maggard Synthetic
Soap : Arko Stick
Razor : Merkur HD 34 C
Blade : GSB (no clue 4/5 who knows)
Post : Alum block, Aqua Velva
Well folks still in this. After all I am in the some arko boat so hard to fell off the boat.
I gotta say I do not enjoy it that much, not the smell just an overall feeling .. I applaud guys who use a boar brush, my lather are really bad with them , I must need to use more water for my face lathering.
On the plus side the use of Aqua Velva is growing on me.
No of Arko Shave 3
Prep : Hot shower
Preshave : None
Brush : Maggard Synthetic
Soap : Arko Stick
Razor : Merkur HD 34 C
Blade : GSB (no clue 4/5 who knows)
Post : Alum block, Aqua Velva
Well folks still in this. After all I am in the some arko boat so hard to fell off the boat.
I gotta say I do not enjoy it that much, not the smell just an overall feeling .. I applaud guys who use a boar brush, my lather are really bad with them , I must need to use more water for my face lathering.
On the plus side the use of Aqua Velva is growing on me.
Dang 7 years ... this is a long time to wait to use them ... I guess just like a good wine the Arko sticks gets better after a few years of maturation ... any advice for the best way to keep them meanwhile ?
Arko August shave number six for me today. Still Arko and still with the Gillette MiLord and the Astra SP on shave number six. A little bit more zing with the Alum Block today. One more shave on this blade and done.
rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
I believe that some keep them frozen and stored at <18°C. I have never had a need to do that as a dozen ARKO sticks only last me about 6 years.
Arko with last slivers of Old Spice Sport bar soap. I really like this combination.
D1 TV Special.
Lab Blue (15).
Vintage Fuller Boar and Avon Leather.
D1 TV Special.
Lab Blue (15).
Vintage Fuller Boar and Avon Leather.
Razor: King C. Gillette
Blade: Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Stainless
Shave Stick: Arko
Brush: Hawkins & Brimble Synthetic
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum
Eye Gel: Neutrogena Hydro Boost
10/10
Have a great day everyone!
Blade: Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Stainless
Shave Stick: Arko
Brush: Hawkins & Brimble Synthetic
Aftershave: Pinaud Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum
Eye Gel: Neutrogena Hydro Boost
10/10
Have a great day everyone!
rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
corrected
Arko August #6
Pre-shave: Stirling pre-shave menthol bar
Razor: Muhle R95 Rocca
Blade: Personna Crystal (1)
Brush: Razorock Plissoft Barber
Soap: Arko stick, bowl lathered
Aftershave: Clubman Pinaud Vanilla
Pre-shave: Stirling pre-shave menthol bar
Razor: Muhle R95 Rocca
Blade: Personna Crystal (1)
Brush: Razorock Plissoft Barber
Soap: Arko stick, bowl lathered
Aftershave: Clubman Pinaud Vanilla
Shark SS shaves 1 & 2
2 day growth
Razor: Simple Clean Shave razor
Pre: Warm shower with Kurt's Castile unscented.
Soap: ARKO COMFORT cream
Brush: 26mm Yaqi Timberwolf synthetic
After: none
I didn't have much time this week, so shaves 1 and 2 setups were identical. The results were pretty much identical as well. This nice sharp blade plowed right through the stubble with no problem. 3 passes made me Baby Seal Smooth with no drama. I figured as much. I had a tuck of Shark SS a year or two ago and liked them and the SCS razor preformed well with the Shark Platinum previously.
I know I'm on the verge of cheating Arko August with these Arko creams, but they are good. In fact, there's so much glycerin in them that I skip any aftershave because it's not needed. The comfort has a sort of cologne/soap scent. I definitely would wear it as an aftershave.
2 day growth
Razor: Simple Clean Shave razor
Pre: Warm shower with Kurt's Castile unscented.
Soap: ARKO COMFORT cream
Brush: 26mm Yaqi Timberwolf synthetic
After: none
I didn't have much time this week, so shaves 1 and 2 setups were identical. The results were pretty much identical as well. This nice sharp blade plowed right through the stubble with no problem. 3 passes made me Baby Seal Smooth with no drama. I figured as much. I had a tuck of Shark SS a year or two ago and liked them and the SCS razor preformed well with the Shark Platinum previously.
I know I'm on the verge of cheating Arko August with these Arko creams, but they are good. In fact, there's so much glycerin in them that I skip any aftershave because it's not needed. The comfort has a sort of cologne/soap scent. I definitely would wear it as an aftershave.
Day 6
For my third Arko Boarko Loko shave, I tried to recreate a shaving experience from the dawn of Arko time. I understand that the company that makes Arko was founded in 1927. With a heavy emphasis on the "Loko" part of my Arko August journey, I chose this:
This is my 1934 NEW type "Red Black" DeLuxe Special and a 1930 NEW type blade from the first quarter of production (A1=first quarter 1930). This was Gillette's first slotted DE blade. It is carbon steel. Notice that the slot is shaped differently than a modern DE blade. I crossed my fingers and stropped it before I loaded it. Well, even Arko and my Semogue 820 Boar could not save a shave with this old blade. It was impossibly dull, so I switched it out for a different vintage (but 56 years newer) Gillette Spoiler on its 4th shave. Night and day. The Spoiler rescued my shave, which ended up being a blood-free DFS+ in three passes.
To be fair, even though I took this blade from an original paper outer wrapper, the inner wrapper was missing. Also, from the looks of it in hindsight, the blade may have been a used one that just happened to be put back in its original outer wrapper. I have a bunch (like 50) of these blades, some of which are definitely NOS inside a box still wrapped with cellophane, so I will probably try this again. I might also try one of my 1930 Gillette DeLuxe Kro Man blades. They cost $0.20 per BLADE in 1930 ($2.00 for a box of 10). These were apparently Gillette's first stainless steel blade, but also were an abject failure because customers perceived them to be brittle.
Whichever blade I select, I will use my 1930 Berkshire (another Gillette NEW type) to get everything to line up on 1930. Stay tuned
This is my 1934 NEW type "Red Black" DeLuxe Special and a 1930 NEW type blade from the first quarter of production (A1=first quarter 1930). This was Gillette's first slotted DE blade. It is carbon steel. Notice that the slot is shaped differently than a modern DE blade. I crossed my fingers and stropped it before I loaded it. Well, even Arko and my Semogue 820 Boar could not save a shave with this old blade. It was impossibly dull, so I switched it out for a different vintage (but 56 years newer) Gillette Spoiler on its 4th shave. Night and day. The Spoiler rescued my shave, which ended up being a blood-free DFS+ in three passes.
To be fair, even though I took this blade from an original paper outer wrapper, the inner wrapper was missing. Also, from the looks of it in hindsight, the blade may have been a used one that just happened to be put back in its original outer wrapper. I have a bunch (like 50) of these blades, some of which are definitely NOS inside a box still wrapped with cellophane, so I will probably try this again. I might also try one of my 1930 Gillette DeLuxe Kro Man blades. They cost $0.20 per BLADE in 1930 ($2.00 for a box of 10). These were apparently Gillette's first stainless steel blade, but also were an abject failure because customers perceived them to be brittle.
Whichever blade I select, I will use my 1930 Berkshire (another Gillette NEW type) to get everything to line up on 1930. Stay tuned
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Still in. Days 5 & 6 with the following setup: KCG razor and blade, Yaqi Cashmere brush, Arko soap, Lider Classic aftershave.
A "Down-Low" August Arko-lian Report, Day 6
Good Day Gents
Leaf razor
New 1/2 Nacet blade
Fendrihan synthetic brush
Arko and Cella soaps
Shave, 2x WTG using slide technique, DFS by my standards
Today I did a "down-low" shave by combining Arko and Cella in a bowl. The sweet almond scent of the Cella was more dominant than the "Ivory fresh" scent of Arko. I have to take into account that the Arko has been open for over a year and the Cella was recently purchased. The combined soaps make a good pair. It was the first time I mixed soaps together.
The Leaf razor is designed extremely well. It maneuvers better in tight quarters than any razor I have tried. I have another SE razor but I haven't used it in a year.
Good Day Gents
Leaf razor
New 1/2 Nacet blade
Fendrihan synthetic brush
Arko and Cella soaps
Shave, 2x WTG using slide technique, DFS by my standards
Today I did a "down-low" shave by combining Arko and Cella in a bowl. The sweet almond scent of the Cella was more dominant than the "Ivory fresh" scent of Arko. I have to take into account that the Arko has been open for over a year and the Cella was recently purchased. The combined soaps make a good pair. It was the first time I mixed soaps together.
The Leaf razor is designed extremely well. It maneuvers better in tight quarters than any razor I have tried. I have another SE razor but I haven't used it in a year.
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