The Scandal Sheet: Straights and other stuff

[Darth Scandalous]

How did you make it look dirty?

I steeped (separately) yarrow leaves, lavender, and lemon peels in 75% grain alcohol. When I decanted it I only strained it through cloth, didn't see the point of filtering it further. Didn't want to strip out any "good stuff." So it's a bit hazy. I also had just shaken it up prior to that photo so it's even more hazy.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I had done some "for fun" honing yesterday on my Rugby on some natural stones I don't use often any more so it was up for a test shave today. The final finisher, a Water of Ayr from Scotland, is one I am not sure about. The shave was good, though. This edge seemed to glide very nicely. I don't think the ATG pass was quite as close as some but it wasn't uncomfortable. Didn't need to reach for a backup razor. I did my usual cleanup with the R41, of course.

Finished off a tube of Proraso Red. Fortunately I have a tub of it waiting. The Golden Nib badger felt a little scrubby today but not prickly at least. Finished with the Bog Water again. Really liking it. I may add some more lavender essential oil to see how that does.

It occurs to me that while I've used that Rugby as a test razor on a lot of different stones, I've never really tried to max out out. I may do a synth progression today and finish on my translucent ark, just to see.

Been listening to the Brecker Brothers with the boy child. Good stuff.

Be well.

 

[eSteve]

Great shave today. I went back to the MK 32, maybe I'll use it for a few days... it's so pretty and it shaves as nice as it looks. I loaded an Astra SP into my favorite Short Comb for the cleanup and that was really nice too. That razor lacks nothing in the efficiency department.

. . .

Be well.

Always interesting. I got a good Long Comb a week or two ago. After four months of safety razors I still haven't tried any open combs. It's comin' tho.

Also, I got a couple decent straights in a vintage lot. I sent them to my brother, he has stones. Maybe one of them will find it's way back. I don't know if I'll ever shave with a straight razor, but I'm watching you. Thanks.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

After last week's ATG only shaves I thought maybe today I would just skip the WTG pass to save some time, and since I shaved late in the morning yesterday. I don't think I ended up saving any time though. The first pass was a bit of a struggle, the Eiko felt pretty "meh." I stropped it again thoroughly before moving on and I guess that was the difference, my initial stropping must have not been the greatest, because it felt like a different razor after that. Soap was Muhle, that was nice enough, and I used the new Vielong again. I think I will see if I can cut a groove near the base. The brush wants to slide into the bowl and I don't really like that. DE was the R41 again, 3rd shave on a Nacet and it seemed like I had to work a little more but it felt smooth still. I put it back in the wrapper, I think I'll use it tomorrow at least. Finished up with the Bog Water again and that felt great.

Listened to some more Brecker brothers today. Be well.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Not much to say today, I did a little honing/edge comparison last night and it wasn't particularly informative beyond confirming my already-held biases. Ended up doing most of the shave with the H. Diamond, which I had honed up on my Escher last night. Killer edge, very keen and smooth. I probably like an ark edge better most of the time but this one is pretty unbeatable. Been missing my MdC Rose so that's what I used today. I don't know that I was in the mood to use the Oumo brush but it seems like the best choice to pair with this razor from an aesthetic standpoint. Anyway, shave was great, cleaned up with the R41, I had already loaded a fresh Nacet into it when I remembered that I was going to use yesterday's again, but I don't need two loosely wrapped blades floating around my drawer so I binned the used one. Finished up with the Veg, I had been missing that too.

Listened to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Harrow and the Harvest. Man, what a great album. So bare, and yet so much going on.

Be well.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I got a burr under my blanket last night and took that H. Diamond to my translucent ark. All signs pointed to a great edge and the shave bore that out today. Really not much to say, it was really nice. Dug out the MdC Agrumes today for a change, paired it with Myrsol Limon. I love that combo too. I took yesterday's Nacet and put it in my shiny New long comb, and that was really nice too. I remember when I first got that razor I thought it maybe suffered slightly in the closeness and efficiency department, but maybe my angles are dialed in better or something because it's as good as anything in my den, and a little smoother/safer feeling than the R41.

Listened to some more Gillian Welch/David Rawlings today: Time (The Revelator). This album is a tour-de-force. The poetry stands up to any of the greatest American songwriters, in my opinion. It's really expansive. and David Rawlings is one of the most interesting guitar players in my library. He really leans into the "bad" notes, hard. And that little parlor guitar he plays most of the time just sounds incredible. I see they have another album coming out in a few days. I'm excited to hear it.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Mrs. Scandalous has been playing around with resin pouring over the past few months and the kids have gotten involved too. This is a little trinket tray that the stepkid did, the idea is soot sprites dancing in a tree (if you're familiar with the film My Neighbor Totoro, you'll understand the inspiration).

 

[thombrogan]

That’s awesome!, We love the soot sprites in “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away” and now on your stepkid’s artwork.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

That’s awesome!, We love the soot sprites in “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Spirited Away” and now on your stepkid’s artwork.

I thought you might appreciate it, sir.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I ended up using the H. Diamond again, didn't really have time for a photo and it hasn't changed appreciably since yesterday. I gave my Rudy Vey/Semogue boar a nice long soak and broke out the new tub of Proraso red. I did use it once when I got it several months ago to compare it to the tube of cream I was using at the time. It was very similar then. It's lost almost all of it's scent in the interim but that's ok. It seems to work just like I expect, though I do think it benefits from a heavy loading. I wonder too if using the preshave may sort of smooth out any differences in performance between the tube and the tub? Anyway. It works for me and it was a very nice shave.

I ordered a hundred Durasharps the other day and they arrived last night, so I loaded one into the R41. I may have to order some more. Going to get through this tuck first, in different razors, to make sure it wasn't just beginner's luck, but so far I'm very impressed. Nice and smooth, nice and sharp, and very little skin impact. Although the Veg did stingle a bit right at first, but it calmed down immediately. Thank you @Eric_75 and others who recommended these. Again, first shave impressions, but I might actually like these better than the 7 Day Platinums, and I like those quite a bit.

Like Alex in A Clockwork Orange, I found myself needing a little of the old Ludwig Van today so I listened to the first two movements of the 9th symphony on the way to work.

Be well.

 

[Eric_75]

Thank you @Eric_75 and others who recommended these.

Glad they worked for you, my friend. There's just something special about the Dura Sharp blades, imho.

I wish all Treet blades were on the same level but that has not been my experience at all.

Peace and blessings to you and the family.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Glad they worked for you, my friend. There's just something special about the Dura Sharp blades, imho.

I wish all Treet blades were on the same level but that has not been my experience at all.

Peace and blessings to you and the family.

I'm kind of shocked at how nice my neck feels, considering how close I got.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Nice shave again today. My weather-beaten Dahlgren frameback delivered a very smooth, close result today. And my Elite brush, I guess I have neglected it for a few days but I really like the way this brush behaves and it's my favorite in the looks department too. Beeswax was the soap, I feel like that's been neglected too. I swapped yesterday's Durasharp into my most aggressive New this morning and it felt great. Although I got a little aggressive myself, on the right side of my throat, decided to add a little pressure to the mix and got a few short lived weepers for my trouble. But here's the crazy part. My skin *still* feels great and not overshaved. I could get used to this. I finished up with Bog Water again and it left my feeling smooth and refreshed too.

I had a guest this morning. I was about halfway through my first pass and I caught a little movement above my head. This little fella had dropped down from the ceiling. He hovered for a while about a foot over the sink and then went back up. Then he came down again, must have been riding a different line because he was a little closer to me this time, I had to step back to let him past. Maybe he wanted a quick shave too. Eventually he dropped onto the sink and then explored the whole area. I kind of miss my little jumping spider buddy, he was well-behaved and respectful. I'm not quite as jazzed about critters dropping in unannounced an inch from my nose. But I'll let him be as best I can.

Be well, everyone.

 

[cajunrph]

I had a visitor this morning also, a mosquito. I sent him swimming with the fish, down the drain. I needed your spide buddy to catch the mosquito.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I had a visitor this morning also, a mosquito. I sent him swimming with the fish, down the drain. I needed your spide buddy to catch the mosquito.

I would have thought the Arko would have chased him off. Although I have found that it doesn't really deter them. Proraso Red aftershave may keep them away though, I discovered accidentally.

 

[cajunrph]

I would have thought the Arko would have chased him off. Although I have found that it doesn't really deter them. Proraso Red aftershave may keep them away though, I discovered accidentally.

These mosquitos down here are fortified by the largest chemical complex in the country. They snort Diazinon to get started in the morning. ARKO!! is a walk in the park for these mosquitos.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Had a killer shave today with my YSS Triumph. This one might, might be my favorite of all of the recent acquisitions. I used Proraso Red again today. Put a few drops of myrrh oil into the bowl to give it some flavor. Might have overseasoned it a bit this time but it was still nice. Put the Durasharp back in the R41 and it was great again. Felt a little less effective but so gentle. I did a lot of fluttery, light buffing and it did the job admirably. Finished up with Bog Water.

Now I'm playing fetch with the kitten. Seriously. He will bring a toy, drop it in your lap, and wait for you to toss it. Lather, rinse, repeat. Never seen a cat do that. Ironically the dog has never fully grasped the concept. He'll chase a stick, chew on it for a second, and then wander off. He's not real bright.

Be well.

 

[huck1680]

We have a cat that did chase and bring stuff back to us as well. Then she figured it out and that was the end of that amusement.

 

[eSteve]

I had a visitor this morning also, a mosquito. I sent him swimming with the fish, down the drain. I needed your spide buddy to catch the mosquito.

Yep, I mostly let them live for that reason.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I used my Kikuboshi 8300 today. A very silky-smooth shave. I may keep this one out for a couple days. I made a very sloppy, soupy, low structure lather out of MdC Rose, mostly face lathered but not worked much, and that was very nice. The lather thickened up as the passes went on, so by the end it was pretty much "normal". Certainly didn't need to add water at any point. I did use Proraso preshave prior to the ATG pass but I'm not sure it was necessary. I put a new Treet 7 Day in the R41 for the cleanup. It feels, maybe, a little more resistant than the Durasharp I used for the past couple days. But reminding myself to use a very light touch made for a very enjoyable finish and a BBS result. Slathered on the Veg after like the heathen I am.

Be well.