Thread: Sun October 9th - Sat October 15th

All Things Custom 2...

Pre-Shave: Hot shower

Brush: 26mm Rudy Vey w/ TGN Grade A Silvertip Badger (Buckeye Burl handle)

Razor: 7/8" Alex Jacques Custom (monkey tail/worked back spine), Wedge, French Point (w/ Black & Tan G10 scales)

Honing Regimen: Shapton Pros 1k/2k/5k/10k, followed by Maruka Nakayama Asagi JNat w/ Tomonagura slurry with progressive dilution finished on water alone. Finished with 6 (light) laps on CrOx on sanded SRD Premium IV Bridle leather

Strop: 0/70 laps (Torolf Linen / Ambrose Horse Hide Clásico leather)

Überlather: Cyril Salter "Sandalwood" Shave Creme + QED "Sandalwood" Shave Soap + Glycerin

Toner: Thayer's Witch Hazel (Rose, no alcohol)

After Shave Balm: RazoRock AS Wax

Results: Another all (almost) American Custom Makers (QED software, Rudy Vey Brush and Alex Jacques razor)...again everything American made, except the stones and some of the softwares. I scored this beautiful Alex Jacques from a member on the classifieds. When I saw her, I had to have her . I think of this as an investment, not a purchase (same principle applies to all my vintage steels, including the Joe Chandler and my Maxtom). The AJ is a heavy blade and a true wedge. This baby is all hard steel. She took her good sweet time on the stones, but when she was ready, she let me know it (popping hairs the way she should). The Rudy Vey brush is my newest in the collection. I gave Rudy a design I had in mind with the wood I wanted. This is what I got and I love it. The bristles are much softer than the first brush he made for me, probably attributable to the season the badgers were harvested (e.g., winter vs. summer). The QED Sandalwood is one of my favorite soaps...and the scent? Let me just say that Charles didn't skimp on the quality of EO on this one (Indian Sandalwood all the way and loads of it). It perfectly complements the CS Sandalwood creme. I was in Heaven for the entire duration of the shave. The AJ gave me incredibly satisfying and irritation-free shave. But, I feel like her edge can be pushed a bit further. She is surprisingly very nimble and easy to handle and a definite keeper in my humble collection.

Have a SPECTACULAR Monday gentlemen.


______________________
Cheers,
Robert

Monday:

Expert Barber 400 6/8
Shea Moisture Black Badger
C.O. Bigelow SC
Witch Hazel
Nivea S. Balm
Old Spice Splash

My newest Brush

I decided to repost pictures and specs of my latest brush in the "brush forum". Link is HERE (MY NEW RUDY VEY BRUSH)
______________
Cheers,
Robert

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

My newest Brush

I had to share pictures of my new Rudy Vey brush with you since the SOTD shots have it mostly out of focus. I love the grey/yellow patterns of the Buckeye Burl.

That sure is a beauty Robert. Very cool design and choice of material.
And congrats on the AJ as well. Mighty fine looking Custom

Razor:J. Wostenholm Ebro "Special Hollow Ground"
Brush:Jade and brass handled boar
Soap:Ugli Soaps-True Grit
AS:Thayers Lavender and Vintage English Leather
Result:Great leathery shave today. The True grit and the English Leather work wonderfully together. Add in the J. Wostenholm, which may be the smoothest razor I own, and it was a too easy two pass BBS on four days growth.

Early shave / late post

Prep: Hot shower
Brush: Martinez' Custom: Chess King w/ 26mm silver tip badger
Soap: Trumper's Officers & Gentlemens Shaving Soap
Strop: Tony Miller Heirloom tri-strop (3x25)
Razor: Mastro Livi 8/8 Bergam Damascus in Mammoth Ivory Scales
ASB: Caswell-Massey Newport

Nice and smooth shave.

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Razor: 7/8" Alex Jacques Custom (monkey tail/worked back spine), Wedge, French Point (w/ Black & Tan G10 scales)

What a special looking blade you have there Robert, truly beautiful I love it. The shaves pretty awsome as well.

Well i was busy honing yesterday. 4 newly and one rehone. Today i picked up this For Barber Use on Ebay for a sweet price. 8/8. I think i will have to bring her back to the stones. But still fun to shave with.

Tony Miller Strop
TGN 26MM Brush
Spanish Fig and Nutmeg
W&B For Barbers Use 8/8

Juan Vollmer Palmera | Simpsons Tulip | Wilkinson Sword Aloe Vera | Myrsol

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Oouuuuch Mikael. Like Nic said: I do feel your pain brother. I guess to Neil she goes for a quick fix.

Don't give up on the honing of the hollows...You will be rewarded and there's nothing like shaving with hollows (with the proper edge). Remember these animals need the least amount of pressure (wedges can get away with more pressure, but not hollows). Allow the edge to dance like a ballerina on the stones.

Cheers Brother! However, the hollow ones aren't the problem for me, it seems . Yeah, off to Neil, for sure. Lovely little E A Berg wedge that blade!