You are safe as it was unsolicited!
You are welcome man, after you were so generous in our blade trade in July I wanted to say thanks!
I haven't tried quite a few of those blades, so I will not be held responsible!
September 2023 Gentlemanly Restraint Until Month End (GRUME)
- Thread starter FoolishMortal
- Start date
You are welcome man, after you were so generous in our blade trade in July I wanted to say thanks!
I haven't tried quite a few of those blades, so I will not be held responsible!
Still in, still getting good shaves with my Feather and Tech. Thinking about joining John tomorrow and breaking out my Gillette New LC, which was once my favorite razor. I already got a jump, though, I rotated my soap today, first time in months (if choosing a different scent of Mike’s counts!)
Still in 
A mild and lovely shave on hump day.
A mild and lovely shave on hump day.
Still out 
Today I felt like doing something different: trying two items that do not warm my heart. The Chinese Ming Shi with the unimaginative name "Shaver 2000" and a Croma Diamant. The Ming Shi is one of the first DE razors I bought when I was still on the fence to get into DE shaving. I agree ownership of one of these raises ethical questions, being a cheap Merkur Futur clone, but let's hail capitalism, its downsides included.
This was not a comfortable shave, and the Ming Shi was not the reason. That razor is very good, dialed open to the max. The blade was to blame. Scratchy, bluntish, deteriorating at the speed of light. No idea why I ever bought them, must have been during one of my acquisition frenzies. When that madness grabs me, I'd buy a paint scraper if some idiot claimed he had a decent shave with it.
By the way: does any of you know if the Ming Shi can be beefed up to 12, like its German original?
Today I felt like doing something different: trying two items that do not warm my heart. The Chinese Ming Shi with the unimaginative name "Shaver 2000" and a Croma Diamant. The Ming Shi is one of the first DE razors I bought when I was still on the fence to get into DE shaving. I agree ownership of one of these raises ethical questions, being a cheap Merkur Futur clone, but let's hail capitalism, its downsides included.
This was not a comfortable shave, and the Ming Shi was not the reason. That razor is very good, dialed open to the max. The blade was to blame. Scratchy, bluntish, deteriorating at the speed of light. No idea why I ever bought them, must have been during one of my acquisition frenzies. When that madness grabs me, I'd buy a paint scraper if some idiot claimed he had a decent shave with it.
By the way: does any of you know if the Ming Shi can be beefed up to 12, like its German original?
Do you go to work looking like a homeless??
A fresh Feather is one of (if not the) keenest blades I'm aware of.
Only few other blades might rival this blade in this category. BIC Platinum Chrome, the chinese made Gillette Wilkinson Sword or the german made Wilkinson Sword (second and consecutive outings) come to mind.
Now let us all repeat the Feather mantra... "No pressure... ommm"
Cheers!
| Razor | Blade | Brush |
| Greencult 1.0 | Gillette Black (32) | Simpson T3 |
| Preshave | Soap | Postshave |
| Cold splash KCG Face Wash Proraso Green preshave | Lavanda | Cold splash Aftershave Balm |
| Passes | WTG XTG ATG and touch up |
| Efficiency (details here) | Quality / My process |
| 8/10 (~20m) | 9.5/10 (Tiny ones) |
| Effectiveness | Comfort / Blade condition |
| 9/10 (BBS) | 9/10 (Butterysmooth) |
| Notes to this shave: |
Summary - Superclose shave with a very blade forward GC1. The blade is surely on the decrease in performance, but I have set my mind on finishing the month with this blade if I can.
For extended shave notes click here.
Enjoy your shave!
Still in!
GRUME/SOTMC
GRUME/SOTMC
Still in
Yaqi Slant
Polsilver SI (6)
Proraso (Omega) Professional
Stirling Ramblin' Man
Cheers
Yaqi Slant
Polsilver SI (6)
Proraso (Omega) Professional
Stirling Ramblin' Man
Cheers
Still out - DFS
Revisited an old friend today - Gen1 US Aristocrat
Honestly sometimes I wonder why I bother with other razors at all. The Rapira was clearly tired but it was still easy cruising with this one.
Rapira Super Stainless (4&retired), SMdF, Semogue 610, SMdF AS
Revisited an old friend today - Gen1 US Aristocrat
Honestly sometimes I wonder why I bother with other razors at all. The Rapira was clearly tired but it was still easy cruising with this one.
Rapira Super Stainless (4&retired), SMdF, Semogue 610, SMdF AS
What part of vacation did not compute? No, I don't go to work looking homeless, though pretty much every stage of beard growth is fine at work as long as you are clean.
Still in!
Wednesday September 27, 2023
Bowl: Captain's Choice Copper Bowl
Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Omega
Lather: MdC Rose
Razor: Henson AL13 Aggressive
Blade: Wizamet Super Iridium
Post: Osma Alum Block
Post: Thayers Witch Hazel
Post: Tabac
Wednesday September 27, 2023
Bowl: Captain's Choice Copper Bowl
Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Omega
Lather: MdC Rose
Razor: Henson AL13 Aggressive
Blade: Wizamet Super Iridium
Post: Osma Alum Block
Post: Thayers Witch Hazel
Post: Tabac
Still in. First pass seemed ineffective. Second day in a row I went ATG on pass #2 and paid the price on my neck. Had to break out the alum stick and ice cube. Time to change the blade and see if tomorrow's WTG pass does a good job. Anyway...not a great shave but not terrible.
Razor: Gillette New Deluxe Red and Black
Blade: Astra SP 4th and final
Brush: Zenith Horse Hair
Cream: Crown Shaving Co.
AS: Omega Alum Stick, ice cube, Barbasol 1919
Razor: Gillette New Deluxe Red and Black
Blade: Astra SP 4th and final
Brush: Zenith Horse Hair
Cream: Crown Shaving Co.
AS: Omega Alum Stick, ice cube, Barbasol 1919
Just kidding, Remy
It's been a while, can anyone fill me in on which base this is - Soft Heart ?
I really prefer this scent over the Omnibus Samples I have - though I will most likely resort to taking the sample instead.
I've confirmed this particular Hallows to be Excelsior base when comparing ingredients. To me the Omnibus Hallows carries forward more of that "graham cracker" fragrance that has been talked about. It definitely smells great in the Omnibus off the puck (I'm sure it will refine during and after use), but I prefer the ambient aroma off the previous for now - Time will tell...
Barrister and Mann
B&M shaving soap compendium entry; covers "Classic" and "Reserve" lines
www.badgerandblade.com
- Thread starter
- #1,096
Let's just say...yes.
- Thread starter
- #1,097
Unexpected = unsolicited = a nice gesture = no problem (for you).
If @Balin sent these from his stash, still no problem (for him). If he made purchases to send these to you, then that's a loophole for September, but he would be out if this were October, based on the updated Rule 2.
Still in, not going to fail this close to the end.
Shave Date 9/27/23
GRUME September: 27/30
Razor: 1948 Gillette TTO Super Speed
Blade: Tatra(5) in the bin it goes.
Pre-Shave: Razor Emporium Pre-shave soap
Soap: Rockwell Barbershop Shaving Cream
Brush: Simpson Trafalgar No. 2 Synthetic
Post-shave: Alum Block, Thayers, Razor Emporium Heritage Balm, Aqua Velva Ice Sport.
Bowl: Douglas Smith Pottery Suribachi Shaving Bowl
Rating: 9.5/10 BBS Cheeks and DFS on the neck. 0 weepers.
Notes here.
Coming to the down stretch, only a few more days left. Temptation be gone, I shalt not falter. I hope. Another fine shave today, refining my riding the cap skills ATG. It is going quite nicely. A great shave in the end.
Shave Date 9/27/23
GRUME September: 27/30
Razor: 1948 Gillette TTO Super Speed
Blade: Tatra(5) in the bin it goes.
Pre-Shave: Razor Emporium Pre-shave soap
Soap: Rockwell Barbershop Shaving Cream
Brush: Simpson Trafalgar No. 2 Synthetic
Post-shave: Alum Block, Thayers, Razor Emporium Heritage Balm, Aqua Velva Ice Sport.
Bowl: Douglas Smith Pottery Suribachi Shaving Bowl
Rating: 9.5/10 BBS Cheeks and DFS on the neck. 0 weepers.
Notes here.
Coming to the down stretch, only a few more days left. Temptation be gone, I shalt not falter. I hope. Another fine shave today, refining my riding the cap skills ATG. It is going quite nicely. A great shave in the end.
"Have what you need and use what you have.
That is our definition of "Restraint". The idea is to use, learn about and enjoy what you have..."
Hey Guys
In the GRUME-er-ly spirit of appreciating and enjoying what I have, I went through drawers and a closet to find items that "I had to have" in the past but then abandoned for the next new thing that "I just HAD to have".
Starting from the top.
The Fendrihan was my first synthetic brush. The QSHAVE scuttle was another "I can't live without it" purchase that soon ended up in a drawer. I have never used a Feather SS blade. This is my un-opened 5 pack. I am familiar with the Feather SS Platinum blade. Next up is the Palmolive cream used once or twice. Finally, the Henson AL13 Mild razor was found in a drawer.
I filled the bowl with hot tap water and it was surprisingly nice to have warm lather on my face. It took longer than I expected to make a nice lather but it was excellent. The BIG surprise was the Henson and Feather combination. I got a really close shave with two passes and a few touch-up areas. It is amazing how a "mild" razor with the right blade can be so effective.
Pros: warm lather and discovered appreciation of a Feather SS blade
Cons: none
Tomorrow I am going to use a razor built like a tank...stay tuned.
Still in GRUME & GRUYERE
Please take care of yourself and each other.
That is our definition of "Restraint". The idea is to use, learn about and enjoy what you have..."
Hey Guys
In the GRUME-er-ly spirit of appreciating and enjoying what I have, I went through drawers and a closet to find items that "I had to have" in the past but then abandoned for the next new thing that "I just HAD to have".
Starting from the top.
The Fendrihan was my first synthetic brush. The QSHAVE scuttle was another "I can't live without it" purchase that soon ended up in a drawer. I have never used a Feather SS blade. This is my un-opened 5 pack. I am familiar with the Feather SS Platinum blade. Next up is the Palmolive cream used once or twice. Finally, the Henson AL13 Mild razor was found in a drawer.
I filled the bowl with hot tap water and it was surprisingly nice to have warm lather on my face. It took longer than I expected to make a nice lather but it was excellent. The BIG surprise was the Henson and Feather combination. I got a really close shave with two passes and a few touch-up areas. It is amazing how a "mild" razor with the right blade can be so effective.
Pros: warm lather and discovered appreciation of a Feather SS blade
Cons: none
Tomorrow I am going to use a razor built like a tank...stay tuned.
Still in GRUME & GRUYERE
Please take care of yourself and each other.
Outstanding report and nice razor/blade combo BTW!
I'm days away from successfully completing my first GRUME. Looking at my inventory I'm good for razors, soaps, and brushes. The only items that will likely need replenishing in 2024 are my post shave items: Witch Hazel, Alum Blocks, and Tabac AS.
It feels good knowing that I don't have to chase the next greatest thing. I'm planning on keeping the momentum going into October. 2024 GRUYERE is a real possibility!
Paul
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