Cool! I'm in then....That one's fine, Mike.
Razor: Schick M1 Dial Adjustable
Blade: Schick (China)
Soap: Stirling Almond Creme
Brush: Semogue beech-handled boar
These blades last pretty long so I'll probably only use two or three.
FFFMM (Fixed Four For March Madness) 2024 Edition
- Thread starter Cal
- Start date
Razor: Schick M1 Dial Adjustable
Blade: Schick (China)
Soap: Stirling Almond Creme
Brush: Semogue beech-handled boar
These blades last pretty long so I'll probably only use two or three.
AimlessWanderer
Remember to forget me!
My fixed four kit for this year will be...
Brush: Edwin Jagger 19mm best badger
Soap: Phoenix and Beau Iceni
Razor: Game Changer 84-P
Blade: Wilkinson Sword Classic
The razor and brush are quite new to me, so they are my focal point this year.
Brush: Edwin Jagger 19mm best badger
Soap: Phoenix and Beau Iceni
Razor: Game Changer 84-P
Blade: Wilkinson Sword Classic
The razor and brush are quite new to me, so they are my focal point this year.
Last year was my first Fixed Four and I learned a TON from the experience. My ability to hold an angle finally came together and I figured out the pattern that works for my neck. I've been cashing in on what I learned in the 2023 event ever since.
On the downside, I also learned if I use the same soap scent for more than three weeks it somehow morphs into poison evil vomit smell to me. No matter what. I've "ruined" two soaps that way now, sadly one was my favorite up to that point. I still sort of doubt that would happen with MdC agrumes - but now I'm scared to find out
.
I'm sticking with the brush from last year's event, an old friend now, but am changing up the rest.
Razor: Gillette English Tech, from a Set No. 27, with a RR Vintage Thin handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Omega 011842, the Jade from Connaught Shaving
Soap: Canada Shaving Soap
I'm looking to see if I can replicate the OBiF single-pass success I've had with the Athena using my favorite FBT. These single pass shaves are really forcing me to do my best and I've enjoyed the challenge and feeling my shaves improve over a short 30 day period. FFFMM is upping the challenge even more - Another month of shaving technique workouts!
I'm riding @Beto Salatini's blade choice with the GSB I realize. First, I secretly want to be as cool as he is (if only!). But I also want to explore the idea of joining The Cult. I've used a GSB once and that was early in my shaving adventure - I only remember thinking that I preferred the Gillette Platinum somewhat. But I didn't know anything back then and am looking forward to re-evaluating the fabled blade.
An unscented soap seems like the right choice for someone emotionally stunted like me, for whom love inevitably turns to hate. Maybe I should try an unscented girlfriend next time!
I've had a dozen shaves with this jar of CCS and it still looks brand new. My goal for FFFMM is to put even the most minor of visual dents into this bucket of hard soap.
On the downside, I also learned if I use the same soap scent for more than three weeks it somehow morphs into poison evil vomit smell to me. No matter what. I've "ruined" two soaps that way now, sadly one was my favorite up to that point. I still sort of doubt that would happen with MdC agrumes - but now I'm scared to find out
.I'm sticking with the brush from last year's event, an old friend now, but am changing up the rest.
Razor: Gillette English Tech, from a Set No. 27, with a RR Vintage Thin handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Omega 011842, the Jade from Connaught Shaving
Soap: Canada Shaving Soap
I'm looking to see if I can replicate the OBiF single-pass success I've had with the Athena using my favorite FBT. These single pass shaves are really forcing me to do my best and I've enjoyed the challenge and feeling my shaves improve over a short 30 day period. FFFMM is upping the challenge even more - Another month of shaving technique workouts!
I'm riding @Beto Salatini's blade choice with the GSB I realize. First, I secretly want to be as cool as he is (if only!). But I also want to explore the idea of joining The Cult. I've used a GSB once and that was early in my shaving adventure - I only remember thinking that I preferred the Gillette Platinum somewhat. But I didn't know anything back then and am looking forward to re-evaluating the fabled blade.
An unscented soap seems like the right choice for someone emotionally stunted like me, for whom love inevitably turns to hate. Maybe I should try an unscented girlfriend next time!
I've had a dozen shaves with this jar of CCS and it still looks brand new. My goal for FFFMM is to put even the most minor of visual dents into this bucket of hard soap.
Hit me up if you need a sponsor!!
Congratulations on your wonderful post, my dear friend. And thank you very much for your extremely kind words. I hope you and GSB match and I wish you a FFFMM full of emotions, discoveries and new learning.Last year was my first Fixed Four and I learned a TON from the experience. My ability to hold an angle finally came together and I figured out the pattern that works for my neck. I've been cashing in on what I learned in the 2023 event ever since.
On the downside, I also learned if I use the same soap scent for more than three weeks it somehow morphs into poison evil vomit smell to me. No matter what. I've "ruined" two soaps that way now, sadly one was my favorite up to that point. I still sort of doubt that would happen with MdC agrumes - but now I'm scared to find out
View attachment 1803521
I'm sticking with the brush from last year's event, an old friend now, but am changing up the rest.
Razor: Gillette English Tech, from a Set No. 27, with a RR Vintage Thin handle
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue
Brush: Omega 011842, the Jade from Connaught Shaving
Soap: Canada Shaving Soap
I'm looking to see if I can replicate the OBiF single-pass success I've had with the Athena using my favorite FBT. These single pass shaves are really forcing me to do my best and I've enjoyed the challenge and feeling my shaves improve over a short 30 day period. FFFMM is upping the challenge even more - Another month of shaving technique workouts!
I'm riding @Beto Salatini's blade choice with the GSB I realize. First, I secretly want to be as cool as he is (if only!). But I also want to explore the idea of joining The Cult. I've used a GSB once and that was early in my shaving adventure - I only remember thinking that I preferred the Gillette Platinum somewhat. But I didn't know anything back then and am looking forward to re-evaluating the fabled blade.
An unscented soap seems like the right choice for someone emotionally stunted like me, for whom love inevitably turns to hate. Maybe I should try an unscented girlfriend next time!
I've had a dozen shaves with this jar of CCS and it still looks brand new. My goal for FFFMM is to put even the most minor of visual dents into this bucket of hard soap.
Cheers!
The plaster comes off on March 1st and I think I'll be able to load from the tub so here's my fixed four:
Cheers
Made up my mind regarding the brush.
Razor: Rockwell Stainless in Red, base plate 6.
Blade: Voskhod.
Shaving Cream: Laser Shaving Cream Lemon.
Brush: Bombay Shaving Company Synthetic.
Aftershave: As I please.
Semogue 620 is yet to break in. So chose this one instead. Chose Gilette Nacet last time with base plate 3 on the razor. That was too mild. I usually go for the WTG and XTG passes with the base plate 6 and then the ATG pass and cleanup with base plate 4. As I can only use one base plate in FFFMM, I am choosing Voshkod which I can use all passes with the base plate 6.
Razor: Rockwell Stainless in Red, base plate 6.
Blade: Voskhod.
Shaving Cream: Laser Shaving Cream Lemon.
Brush: Bombay Shaving Company Synthetic.
Aftershave: As I please.
Semogue 620 is yet to break in. So chose this one instead. Chose Gilette Nacet last time with base plate 3 on the razor. That was too mild. I usually go for the WTG and XTG passes with the base plate 6 and then the ATG pass and cleanup with base plate 4. As I can only use one base plate in FFFMM, I am choosing Voshkod which I can use all passes with the base plate 6.
AimlessWanderer
Remember to forget me!
Finally got around to taking the obligatory ensemble pic.
Brush: The Edwin Jagger 19mm best badger (which feels more like "pure" to me) is a fairly recent addition here, and has barely started to break in. I am hoping March will coax it along a little further in that respect. I tend to use two brushes per month, and this will be the first time in quite a while that I have attempted to run solo with one brush.
Soap: Phoenix and Beau soaps are a safe bet for me. With a new-ish razor and brush in the line up, I wanted the soap and blade to be "known quantities". I may play around with a variety of different lather methods, to keep a feeling of variety, knowing this soap will still give me the performance I need. I won't be loading from the tub though. I have taken a teaspoonful from the tub, and moulded it into my soap dish.
Razor: Game Changer 84-P head (a very generous gift from @Cal ) on an Edwin Jagger DE3D14 handle. Cal also gifted me a 68-P last year, which became my primary razor for the bulk of the last 12 months. I have tried the 84-P on a couple of ... less sharp blades ... or blades I had initially started off in the 68-P, but this will be the first time one of my top blades will be starting out in the 84-P.
Blade: Old faithful. I used the English ones exclusively through the 1990's, till the big millennium blade drought. Then when the German ones eventually found their way to the UK shops, I used them exclusively for the next decade. They are still my favourite blade. As I already know the blades so well, it will help me familiarise myself with the razor's characteristics.
Objectives: Advance the break in of the brush, while seeing if it's something I will get tired of over an extended run, and get to know the 84-P better. Hopefully without losing my calibration on the 68-P (I will do a shave in the 68-P once March is over, to see if it feels like a "step down" from the 84-P).
Brush: The Edwin Jagger 19mm best badger (which feels more like "pure" to me) is a fairly recent addition here, and has barely started to break in. I am hoping March will coax it along a little further in that respect. I tend to use two brushes per month, and this will be the first time in quite a while that I have attempted to run solo with one brush.
Soap: Phoenix and Beau soaps are a safe bet for me. With a new-ish razor and brush in the line up, I wanted the soap and blade to be "known quantities". I may play around with a variety of different lather methods, to keep a feeling of variety, knowing this soap will still give me the performance I need. I won't be loading from the tub though. I have taken a teaspoonful from the tub, and moulded it into my soap dish.
Razor: Game Changer 84-P head (a very generous gift from @Cal ) on an Edwin Jagger DE3D14 handle. Cal also gifted me a 68-P last year, which became my primary razor for the bulk of the last 12 months. I have tried the 84-P on a couple of ... less sharp blades ... or blades I had initially started off in the 68-P, but this will be the first time one of my top blades will be starting out in the 84-P.
Blade: Old faithful. I used the English ones exclusively through the 1990's, till the big millennium blade drought. Then when the German ones eventually found their way to the UK shops, I used them exclusively for the next decade. They are still my favourite blade. As I already know the blades so well, it will help me familiarise myself with the razor's characteristics.
Objectives: Advance the break in of the brush, while seeing if it's something I will get tired of over an extended run, and get to know the 84-P better. Hopefully without losing my calibration on the 68-P (I will do a shave in the 68-P once March is over, to see if it feels like a "step down" from the 84-P).
I'm in and enjoying my current setup so here is my FFFMM:
Razor: Ever-Ready 1914
Blade: GEM SS PTFE
Soap: Stirling Scots Pine Sheep
Brush: Omega 10290 Boar
Razor: Ever-Ready 1914
Blade: GEM SS PTFE
Soap: Stirling Scots Pine Sheep
Brush: Omega 10290 Boar
Changing the blade to a Chinese London Bridge... Excited to start March.
Jay21
Collecting wife bonus parts
Yesterday was quite warm and humid, but my brush dried completely overnight, so it looks like I needn't worry at all about violating any FFFMM rules. I'm reaffirming my commitment to:
Second, I'm really going to use the month to push the limits of my lathering. I usually paint it on after bowl loading and lathering. I will try splaying and scrubbing, face lathering, and whatever other technique fancies my interest. It's about getting out of my comfort zone. Since the Baili is so mild, and it's virtually impossible for it to cause irritation, any irritation I experience during FFFMM will be the result of lathering mishaps. I hope to be a lather master once April rolls around. I'm willing to sacrifice the closeness of my shaves by using the Baili to develop my lathering techniques.
- Baili TTO
- Dorco ST301 Stainless
- RR 400
- Van der Hagen Luxury
Second, I'm really going to use the month to push the limits of my lathering. I usually paint it on after bowl loading and lathering. I will try splaying and scrubbing, face lathering, and whatever other technique fancies my interest. It's about getting out of my comfort zone. Since the Baili is so mild, and it's virtually impossible for it to cause irritation, any irritation I experience during FFFMM will be the result of lathering mishaps. I hope to be a lather master once April rolls around. I'm willing to sacrifice the closeness of my shaves by using the Baili to develop my lathering techniques.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #74
Not at all!FFFMM is about getting the best out of your equipment (i.e. operator improvement, NOT equipment improvement)... no matter whether it's budget or super spendy items.
Adding my beauty shop of the gear for the shaves starting tomorrow:
Whenever I take prebby pictures of ARKO!, you’ll notice the stick in the photo is completely wrapped. This is an esthetic compensation for me pretending I can act like I don’t have hard water.
The stick I’ve been chipping away with a guitar plectrum was shoved into an empty Stirling jar. When I found loading from the jar to not be my thing – with limescale soap scum making lather quality more random my behaviors - the same anger that let me flatten a stick into a puck helped me refashion a puck back into a stick:
I may go back to using a shave stick as a shave stick when this is done, but shearing a piece off and forcing it into my soap loading bowl is the secret to my success. Only fiddle with inert soap about 15-20% of the time.
Whenever I take prebby pictures of ARKO!, you’ll notice the stick in the photo is completely wrapped. This is an esthetic compensation for me pretending I can act like I don’t have hard water.
The stick I’ve been chipping away with a guitar plectrum was shoved into an empty Stirling jar. When I found loading from the jar to not be my thing – with limescale soap scum making lather quality more random my behaviors - the same anger that let me flatten a stick into a puck helped me refashion a puck back into a stick:
I may go back to using a shave stick as a shave stick when this is done, but shearing a piece off and forcing it into my soap loading bowl is the secret to my success. Only fiddle with inert soap about 15-20% of the time.
Hi,
Well, I have successfully completed One Blade In February. All 29 days with one shave per day on a Personna Med Prep blade in my Fasan DoubleSlant razor.
Tomorrow sees a new Med Prep blade loaded into my Dad's old post-war Tech and using his Old Spice shaving soap with my RV brush. I never really liked his old Rubberset horsehair brush so I think I'll just leave that out of FFFMM.
I also expect to change the blade for a new Med Prep come March 16th. I harbor no thoughts that a single blade is going to go 31 days in a Tech.
Stan
Well, I have successfully completed One Blade In February. All 29 days with one shave per day on a Personna Med Prep blade in my Fasan DoubleSlant razor.
Tomorrow sees a new Med Prep blade loaded into my Dad's old post-war Tech and using his Old Spice shaving soap with my RV brush. I never really liked his old Rubberset horsehair brush so I think I'll just leave that out of FFFMM.
I also expect to change the blade for a new Med Prep come March 16th. I harbor no thoughts that a single blade is going to go 31 days in a Tech.
Stan
- Thread starter
- #80
And now an eleventh-hour change.After extensive deliberation... here's my 2024 FFFMM:
View attachment 1802450
Brush: Shavemac Silvertip D01 16/47
Soap: Chiseled Face Natural
Razor: Yaqi SS Duomo on Chiseled Face Ti Industrial handle
Blade: Gillette 7o'clock Black
I received a 50 vintage Polsilver Stainless PIF from the ever generous @Space_Cadet today, and shaved with one this evening... brilliant! So I've now changed my FFFMM 2024 to this:
Brush: Shavemac Silvertip D01 16/47
Soap: Chiseled Face Natural
Razor: Yaqi SS Duomo on Chiseled Face Ti Industrial handle
Blade: Vintage Polsilver Stainless
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