Maybe I'll learn something.

[tehnothing]

Preshave shower and soak with St Johns Vetiver Bar Soap
Brush Shavemac 24 mm bulb two band silvertip DO1 in Copper Canyon
Soap Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge made by Valobra
Razor Fatboy settings 9, 7, and 5 W, X, and A the grain respectively
Blade Gillette Super Stainless The Spoiler F4 Unsure of the date 1985 maybe made in the USA (12)
Post: PAA Alum, Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel Toner
splash Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge
Frag Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge
DFS 9.8 no blood or drama. Minimal alum feedback and the splash went on great.

Three shaves this week. For once I have met my goal. We will see how the weekend pans out. I would like to use my RFB Rotbart Mond Extra and my first gen OC British Aristocrat. Both excellent shavers when dealing with a couple days growth. Today is Fatboy Friday so that is what I used starting high and adjusting down for each pass. My WR2 1.25 SB would have got me closer with less work, but, I would get at least one weeper if not more. The DO1 Two Band Silvertip had a touch of scritch today which it hasn't before. That was only on the initial face lathering and disappeared on the subsequent passes. I love this brush. I should have gotten this knot years ago. I paid more for less with my Morris & Fordran Heritage II Blonde Badger. When I run out of Valobra based Czech& Speake Oxford & Cambridge I will really be sad. At least I have four travel sized when the full size puck runs out. They are a pain so when it comes time I will probably shred and press them into my apothecary bowl or blue Old Spice mug. Fantastic lather again today. Also I have some Fine Classic to extend the scent at least. I think I am about out of the splash, of Lavender Pour Homme. I may have a backup bottle in one of my hoard of shaving supplies, but, I think I only found one when they were discontinued. I arrived late to the party with Fine. I don't know about any of the current scents with the exception of the aventus clone which I don't really care for. But I know I don't care for the croap base either so it is a moot point. Also I should mention St Johns Vetiver. I use this almost all the time for my face, hands, and body. Great stuff. There is another big Vetiver Bar soap I like, but, this one is best. I use the St Johns cologne with Martin de Candre Vetyver Shaving soap usually. I have written considerablly more than I have in months on this journal even if it is only a few days. I think that means After many false starts we have finally found a coctail that works for me again. I have been a mess for the better part of a year or more. There are still some problems, some there aren't really meds for other than what I am already taking for other things. For that though I have to be refered to a specialist. I will probably try the VA for that. Then it will at least be free.

 

[thombrogan]

Your recent bout of frequent shaving and today’s bloodless coup had me wondering. Hoping your able to keep turning the corner and weather the journey.

 

[cajunrph]

I have been a mess for the better part of a year or more. There are still some problems, some there aren't really meds for other than what I am already taking for other things. For that though I have to be refered to a specialist. I will probably try the VA for that. Then it will at least be free.

I pray you find some answers to what is ailing you.

 

[tehnothing]

I pray you find some answers to what is ailing you.

Thank you.

 

[tehnothing]

So I just checked my phone and I received $31.50 to my PayPal from Sony from a class action lawsuit about crunchy roll selling privacy data. I vaguely remember hearing something about this in October, but, was not expecting to see money hit my account. I am very privacy conscious, but, some things you just can’t get around in today’s society. I haven’t dug deep, but, an initial DuckDuckGo search turns up the class action 7 months ago. Whatever the award was it is split a lot of ways. Shrug emoji. I’ll take free money. Thank you Sony.

 

[tehnothing]

Preshave: shower and soak with St Johns Vetiver Bar Soap, plus the bloom water from the Oxford & Cambridge smeared on my face before the shave.
Brush: Shavemac 24 mm / 54 mm bulb two band silvertip DO1 in Copper Canyon
Soap: Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge made by Valobra
Razor: First gen OC No 15 British Aristocrat
Blade Gillette Super Stainless The Spoiler F4 Unsure of the date 1985 maybe made in the USA (13)
Post: PAA Alum, Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel Toner
Splash: Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge
Frag: Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge
DFS 9.7 more stubble ATG on my neck than face.

Minimal alum feedback and a couple of red spots on under my chin. The splash burned slightly, but, that happens when I shave consecutively. The lather today was once again on point. It is such a shame we lost Valobra. They made a fine base. I don't know who makes the soap for Czech & Speake now, but, I have this NOS puck I was PIFed and four travel pucks to get through before i run out. I just looked at their site and sodium tallowaite is still an ingredient. I guess I can't knock it till I try it. I will probably get a back up puck before the ingredients change since so many places have been reformulating just to have it for when what I have is gone. That is how I amassed the hoard. Barrister & Mann do it to me every time they announce that something will be discontinued forever and then turn around and make it again as a seasonal in a new base. I think I have Hallows in four bases and multiples of each at that. I have multiples of Beaudelaire as well. I did impulse buying when Fine changed formulas also. I PIFed my last tallow Tabac, but, while I didn't find it smelling like old lady's purse with my body chemistry I didn't love the scent. The lather was great though. I haven't tried the new stuff, but, it still seems to have a following.

Anyway back to the shave, yesterday I said that my First gen No 15 British Aristocrat was tied for second place as my top razor with the short comb RFB Rotbart Mond Extra which I plan on using tomorrow. This Aristocrat is no display model. It has been used since 1938 well. There are places that the Rhodium is wearing thin and the brass shows. And the knurling in places is a little rough. It is definitely a user and not a shelf queen though I have the case and all. Day 13 on the Spoiler and it is still smooth and sharp. Spoilers are some of my favorite discontinued blades. I don't think you can call 1985 vintage and While Mr Razor doesn't show a spoiler with F4 they do other blades from the time. The two band silvertip DO1Bulb had the same presence with regards to scritch it had yesterday splayed. On paint strokes it was soft and worked well. I have multiple brushes that need to be broken in. The RV Shaving Contributors Brush from 2022 in non DO1 Silvertip was softer out of the box than the Shavemac Beagle I just got from the BST which also has a touch of scritch. I think Rudy sets higher lofts than Bernd at least going by what I have from Rudy and the Shavemac configurator when it was still up. Something else that puzzles me is I think this Beagle is a fan, and, while I had a custom brush from Bernd that was a Fan and set at two to one it was at the other end of the spectrum and was too floppy splayed for me. The guy that bought from me must have liked it because he never said anything to me. Basically I think the Beagle, The Two Band DO1, and the Zenith Manchurian all need a breakin period. The DO1 was perfection on it's first four outings. Odd. I don't know what I could have done differently for the last two uses of this brush to come off with a touch of scritch. Otherwise for I don't think the DO1 two band lives up to it's polarizing reputation.

I bought a Sheaffer FAT Touchdown Black with a Broad Nib from Indy Pen Dance from their monthly pen tray. This will be my first broad nib. Also my first actually restored Sheaffer from a reputable source. My Imperial IV and Snorkel Sentinel were leaky from Ebay. I bought two pens this month and don't see myself making it to the Chicago pen show coming up, but, I will probably go next year.

 

[tehnothing]

Preshave: shower and soak with St Johns Vetiver Bar Soap, plus Proraso Green Preshave
Brush: Shavemac 24 mm / 54 mm bulb two band silvertip DO1 in Copper Canyon
Bowl: Captain's Choice Copper
Soap: Proraso Green Cream bowl loaded face lathered
Razor: 1930's Short Comb Raised Flat Bottom Rotbart Mond Extra
Blade Gillette Super Stainless The Spoiler F4 Unsure of the date 1985 maybe made in the USA (14)
Post: PAA Alum, Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel Toner
Splash: Proraso Green
DFS 9.8 A couple of small spots on my jaw line, but, no real drama.

One of my favorite vintage razors. In fact it is tied for second with the first gen open comb No 15 Aristocrat from Saturday. I was tired before my standing appointment this morning so I waited till evening to shower and shave. Proraso Green is always one of my favorites as well, especially in cream form. The splash was also very enjoyable and no sting was detected despite a bit of alum feedback. The DO1 two band silvertip was again soft despite the last two shaves slight scritch. Fourteen and still smooth and sharp with the Gillette Spoiler I still have 98 of these to get through along with all my other vintage blades and more recent a lot of which are also discontinued. I have somewhere in the hoard two bottles of PAA Awesome Sauce to pair with Proraso Green. I seem to remember it did not hang around very long, but, longer than the aftershave. At the same time I have the 400 ml bottle of the splash so I can afford to splash on a little more throughout the day or evening. That is what I usually do. Besides Awesome Sauce is not a direct match.

 

[tehnothing]

Preshave: shower and soak with St Johns Vetiver Bar Soap, plus the bloom water from the Oxford & Cambridge smeared on my face before the shave.
Brush: Shavemac 24 mm / 54 mm bulb two band silvertip DO1 in Copper Canyon
Soap: Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge made by Valobra
Razor: Wolfman WR2 1.25 SB / @Rosseforp GTB 19.2 gram handle
Blade: Gillette Super Stainless The Spoiler F4 Unsure of the date 1985 maybe made in the USA (15)
Post: PAA Alum, Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel Toner
Splash: Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge
Frag: Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge
DFS+ 9.8 more stubble ATG on my neck than face. One weeper that did not bleed after rinsing with cold water.

Second shave of the week. A slight let down after last weeks five. That said if I shave tomorrow I will have met my goal of three. Back to my top razor and handle, The WR2 1.25 SB on Doug's GTB 19.2 gram handle. The Spoiler on shave 15 was just as good as the rest of them. I restocked on Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel Toner Last year, but, am just finishing off the old bottle today. There was just enough left for my post shave today. Oxford & Cambridge is still awesome. The DO1 was soft on painting strokes and had a touch of scritch splayed. I am still glad I got a bulb. A flat top or a fan would not have been to my liking. This was one of my better shaves despite the one weeper.

 

[Eric_75]

I restocked on Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel Toner Last year, but, am just finishing off the old bottle today.

I keep meaning to try that one, Michael.

 

[tehnothing]

I keep meaning to try that one, Michael.

It has a light pleasant lavender scent, but, doesn't interfere with other scents. I prefer it to the unscented or any of the Dickenson's.

 

[Eric_75]

It has a light pleasant lavender scent, but, doesn't interfere with other scents. I prefer it to the unscented or any of the Dickenson's.

Good to know, thanks. I'll grab a bottle very soon.

 

[tehnothing]

First pass with Panasonic Washable Beard Trimmer
Preshave: shower and soak with St Johns Vetiver Bar Soap, plus the bloom water from the Oxford & Cambridge smeared on my face before the shave.
Brush: Shavemac 24 mm / 54 mm bulb two band silvertip DO1 in Copper Canyon
Soap: Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge made by Valobra
Razor: Wolfman WR2 1.25 SB / @Rosseforp GTB 19.2 gram handle
Blade: Gillette Super Stainless The Spoiler F4 Unsure of the date 1985 maybe made in the USA (16)
Post: PAA Alum, Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel Toner
Splash: Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge
Frag: Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge
DFS+ 9.8

More stubble ATG on my neck than face. A couple red spots that didn't bleed. Today's lather not as wet as the last few shaves. It still did a wonderful job providing slickness for my razor. I originally wanted to participate in MdC Monday, but, I am enjoying C&S O&C so much. I have never 3017ed a soap before, but, could see doing it now. That said a break now and then is more my style. I did use Proraso the shave before last. The Spoiler is still knocking down whiskers like nobody's business. Such a great blade. I started the new bottle of Thayer's Witch Hazel today after so long. Alum and splash felt fine barely any feedback. All in all a great shave.

 

[Balin]

Brush: Shavemac 24 mm / 54 mm bulb two band silvertip DO1 in Copper Canyon

How is the break in coming along with this brush? Lol, has it become one of your favourites?

 

[tehnothing]

How is the break in coming along with this brush? Lol, has it become one of your favourites?

The first four shaves felt like magic. Soft and scrubby. The last five ones less so. As it is now I think it is going to need some more breaking in. I think I have only face lathered so far. I may need to do some bowl lathering to see if that helps the process along.

I stand by what I said in regards to my Morris & Forndran Blonde badger. I wish I had bought this brush first and saved myself the trouble and the higher price. In 24mm the DO1 was also cheaper than the 26mm normal two band silvertip I bought from Shavemac directly a few years ago.

 

[Guido75]

Michael! Enjoy your day!

 

[tehnothing]

The credit union I financed my car through surprised me trying to sell me life insurance before my 46th birthday. This past year I thought I was 44. Lost a whole year.

I plan to have a nice shave tomorrow and then hang out with my cat. I may or may not have company.

Michael! Enjoy your day!

Thank you.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

The credit union I financed my car through surprised me trying to sell me life insurance before my 46th birthday. This past year I thought I was 44. Lost a whole year.

I plan to have a nice shave tomorrow and then hang out with my cat. I may or may not have company.

Thank you.

I did the same thing! I spent most of 45 thinking I was 44. A week before my 46th birthday I did the math, and I was pretty sore about it. That may be an understatement.

 

[thombrogan]

Very psyched you made another trip around Sun. Happy Birthday, @tehnothing !