I dunno, Yogi...

If I could find a way to train a gorilla, I would totally have one as my butler...

So far, I have tried the St. James on Saturday. It has, to me, a more classic aftershave scent with a hint of floral in the background. It's been awhile since I have used a cream and my old AoS tub was hardened up to a middle ground between cream and hard soap. Once lathered up a little more of the floral scent came through, think more spring prairie than deep forest I suppose. I shaved with my W&B wedge, but had not an inch of glide. This is probably due to my technique with that razor and maybe not enough stropping. I finished up with a neck/jaw line pass with my dovo shavette w/ merkur blades. Had to look nice for my best friend's birthday party, he couldn't make it but I've known him since I was 4, so I felt I was representing the both of us a little bit.

Speaking of the party, I was chatting with his younger sister and straights came up. She was pretty surprised, having not known anyone to shave that way before. For those from the SE WI area, it was at Victor's downtown. It was my only sober venture and second overall. It was definitely an "You're out of your element Donny!" venture, but still good times with good friends.

Edit:
I had trouble sleeping and was thinking about my brush (yes, one and only) and realized it's been a long time and I haven't cleaned it. Fanned it across my hand and soap dust shot out. Guess I know what I am going to do before I shave tonight... I hope I have some white vinegar. I wonder if that goes bad?

A gallon of 5% white is usually less than $2.50.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RezDog

All I can say is wow. I live in an area that literally has the slowest mail service in Canada. I cannot get parcels from within my own province in under 10 days. I envy your mail service even when it is below your standards.

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Might be tough to get there some days by sled dog.:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by THORandODIN

Might be tough to get there some days by sled dog.:D

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I know that the sled dogs are great on the snow and ice but wonder how well they can swim.

Definitely not the cost, was just too lazy yesterday to go out and get some. I prefer to go to woodman's for groceries and it can be a pain on sun/mon nights. Going to pick some up tonight, but in the smallest bottle possible. I have a particular kind of hate for vinegar. My grandmother used to clean her coffee pot with it every month. The smell of hot vinegar makes me gag and want to punch things.

Last night I honed up my Shumate and shave tested with Mr. Taylor's. I really like this smell. It feels like I'm in a library in 1930 with big leather chairs, puffing on a pipe and discussing the finer points ....of something more interesting than what I can come up with now. Once the lather was built, it seems like it just permeates everything. I also may have used enough to lather 3 guys for 4 pass shaves...

My edge was a little harsh, was accepting possibly too much imperfection in my blade or I was just having trouble with lather. I tried a little extra water as compared to Saturday's shave. Definitely had some extra drag in my second pass. And bubbles. Never had some random bubbles in my lather before. This almost makes me feel like my AoS cream is idiot proof. It's either that or my abilities with a razor are deteriorating. We shall see Wednesday, I think it's time to try a different brand. I might be getting the sandalwood shakes, so maybe I'll try EJ or Proraso's sandalwood then. Contemplating pushing off using menthol until it is warmer and less rainy, although my mind changes like the wind on some days.

I wanted to be sure that my Shumate's edge was good and gave it another shave last night. I gave it a few strokes on the CrOx and stropped on my SRD linen and leather, 25/50. The blade itself was great, still trying to perfect my technique around my facial hair around the jawline. Opened up a couple wounds from Monday's shave.

I forgot to pick up vinegar, so I just soaked the brush in a little dial and water for about a half an hour and rinsed it out really well. I could tell right away that this was a good idea, the brush held more water and the color was a lot better. I didn't realize how much my brush deteriorated over the last few years.

This time I used the EJ Cooling Menthol, I changed my mind again. This is pretty far out of my wheelhouse for scents and that is the direction I was going for. Upon opening the container, the menthol scent was fairly subdued and the cream itself is a little drier than a fresh AoS or the TOBS. I tried to go a little bit more water, to compensate for the drier cream and my previous slickiness issues, and over shot to a meringue like foam. Probably should have realized the amount of water that my cleaned brush would hold. Worked out the water until I got it a little closer to the density I prefer. First pass left my face feeling pretty cold, not exactly the best sensation at the moment, being it's still on the cold side here. However, I knew what I was getting into. Second pass had little to no cooling effect, probably desensitized to it. The glide was really nice in this soap. I definitely enjoy this soap. Leaning towards bringing this cream with me overseas.

Saturday's shave was another TOBS day, with Mr. Taylor's. I was able to get much more glide with this cream, it is definitely a bit more finicky with the amount of water necessary to get the glide but not so much that it foams out of control. Still creating a crazy amount of lather. I was unable to get to the post office to get at my new razor, so I went with my Case razor. Might take this one back to the stones to work out some previous imperfections, depending on my available time. Had a couple weepers...

Monday's shave was all new. I received a Boker 386 from doughboy68. This has everything I want in a razor. Translucent green scales (my favorite color), barber's notch and a :cen awesome edge. I used up the last of a gift card from Christmas and received Meissner Tremonia Himalayan and Beer no. 1 cream samples, an Omega synthetic brush (green) and a few DE blades to try with my Dovo shavette whilst I'm in Germany. I am really not sure of these scents. The Beer flavor smells like Pez to me, sweet and slightly chalky. The himalayan also reminds me of something that escapes my memory bank. I think I should get an unscented post-shave balm, all these different scents are probably going to conflict with my AoS Sandalwood balm... All-in-all, this was a spectacular shave. The MT has glide for days and is pretty dummy proof cream and that Boker edge, sweet Baby Jesus, that is so so so nice. Thank you doughboy, from the bottom of my heart.

I have only used my genuine badger brush from AoS and I wanted a back-up for travelling. This omega seemed like a good idea, being cheap and it didn't really matter to me the skritchiness or back bone, etc. Mainly because I don't know how mine compares to others. This one is pretty weird. Feels like it should have less than my badger, but it is waaaay stiffer. It is really a whole different ball game, doesn't let you 'smash' the brush into my scuttle, but feels like a whisper against the cheek. Pretty good purchase, I might go for more synthetics at some point, but my two brushes will do me for a long time.

All this experimenting and cold weather has put a back burner to my fixer-uppers for shorties and my 2-day morley set (maybe 7 if I can keep finding sub $15 razors in differing grinds/toes). I may have to put them off until I return from Germany, but first I need to polish one blade. Still raw from a vapo-rust treatment and has some surface rust as a result. (iroooooneeyeeeee) hehehe punny... Feels like I'm juggling a little bit more than I wanted to, going from 2 razors and 1 each of everything else to 10 blades, 2 brushes and 16 cream samples. -sigh- This gift card got me in trouble.

Saturday shave pic and tonight's shave forthcoming...

Attachment 232376
The aforementioned pic. I kinda wished the blue would stay through the lathering process...

Stupid phone pic...

Yesterday's shave included Proraso Sandalwood. It is a little chilly up here (~35F) and I wanted a warm woody scent. Aaaaaand I didn't really get it. The first thing that came to mind when I smelled this cream is baby powder with a hint of wood dust. Not too shabby in the quality of the lather, with sufficient glide. I have an inkling that with enough skill or luck any cream is suitable. This sample had a good amount less than it's TOBS or EJ counterparts, I'm not too broken-hearted since I will probably not use this one that much. I'm pretty finnicky with scents/smells, my sniffer is pretty sensitive. Starting to lean pretty hard to the TOBS camp at the moment. I might look into some Obie's First Tier for later samples, going to limit that once I at least finish off my favorites from this batch.

One thing that is bothering me (I may have mentioned it, too lazy to check) with this is post shave treatment. I only have AoS Sandalwood balm, which is a pretty nice scent. However, I'm thinking I need something more neutral, especially for some of the more off-beat scents I have. Pomegranate and sandalwood probably won't mix. Maybe some homemade post-shave balm? I would only want about 60ml or so, but getting supplies that low will be a chore. If I can even get anything reasonable in my neck of the woods.

I feel a little better after reading this thread. I have the pleasure of being in the same state as Maggard's, and have gotten packages from them as early as next day. I decided to order my Barrister and Mann from his website this time(for reasons I'm still not entirely certain of). I ordered Sunday, it shipped Monday. It sat in an origin facility for almost 2 days, and shows as being in transit since Wed afternoon.