Thread: SOTD Oct 29 - Nov 4

Used the Hand Forged TI again today. It really is a spectacular shaver -- it's extremely nimble and stiff, and it takes an incredibly sharp edge so easily I swear you could freshen the blade by just waving a hone in the general direction.



Honed on translucent arkansas, of course. It's got a thin coat of oil, which looks wierd under flash.

Hot Shower

proraso pre shave
5/8 Dorko
Colleens Oak & Moss shaving cream
silvertip badger brush

Taylor of OBS St James After shave

-Washed the face (liquid soap+water)
-C&E BB and C&E Sweet Almond Oil (cream) for both pre-shave and for the first two passes.
-The Winner 9/16 medium full hollow round
-DBR

The cream was an excellent performer. Too bad I don't really like the scent and that the Nomad soap doesn't perform nearly as well (as it has a nice scent, but their soap formulas do not seem to match their creams). The Winner justified its name with its performance. The shave was so good it gave me goose-bumps. The strange part of this experience was feeling the bumps but no hair . DBR is almost done (maybe 2 more weeks of shaves) so I can switch exclusively to Old Spice as I don't really like the DBR scent (don't hate it but I prefer OS).

Best shave ever. Also fastest - under 10 min actual shaving, ZERO cuts / nicks / abrasions

1 week (or more) growth
Hot shower
BB Wrks Bio conditioner (almost irritated my skin so washed right away)
Rooney Super Med
Lucky Tiger Shave Lotion
Tony Miller strop
8/8 Filarmonica Novodur Barber's Use round point
Trumper's alum block
ice cube
Lucky Tiger AS Toner
L'Occitane AS Balm

The Fili is emerging as my absolutely best shaver after its only second appearance. NOS honed (more like touched up) by me, and the overall experience beat W&B 7/8 wedge, 7/8 Satinedge, 6/8 Goldedge, three different models 6/8 Pumas... Basically, just wiped the beard. I was elated and disappionted it was so short.

For those aware of my struggles to select and keep only a few razors, this Fili coould well be my only razor and I would be perfectly happy. Suddenly the decision to sell other razors becomes easier. Now, don't get me wrong, I intend to keep more razors, and am expecting a good 5 or so to arrive next week, hehehe...

Cheers
Ivo

Lol Ivo, I'm glad you enjoyed it. In case you're getting rid of some, you know which one I have my eye on

Ilija,

maybe I missed something in our PM exchange (where I offered to just give it to you, if you want it)

So, then, the cat's out of the bag, read closely: I had just asked Tony H for your address this Friday (and got it), because I wanted to send you a small gift. The razor would probably have been a Swedish steel German-made razor called Macy, in pristine condition (at least compared to the gunks I usually buy) - 5/8. I thought it's nice. Since you don't have a Swedish steel blade (to my knowledge) I thought you might like to try it... as an early Christmas present from me. Attached pictures below

Anyway - this is OFF! I'll just send you the one you really want. Even though this means I'll have to be on the lookout for another one like it... As we all know, this might be enjoyable, after all...

Cheers
Ivo

Ivo, thanks a lot for the gift. I have this problem accepting them unless it's very minor (in the order of a drink in a club, but then I buy one right back). I really don't know what to say as I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and indecision in equal doses. So here's the deal. Try it out and send it to me ONLY if you don't like the shaves you're getting from it better than the ones you have in your rotation. However I'd like this to be an exchange of gifts, so drop me an e-mail with a list of what you have and don't have and your shipping addy. That way we both get to try something new. In any case I REALLY appreciate what you're doing and I'm kind of overwhelmed. It's taking me about 15min to write these few lines and they're still not coming out right.

Monday

Hot Shower
Conditioner to soften Beard
Tony M. #1 strop
Colleen's unscented soap
F. Fenney wedge
AOS Sandalwood Gel
C&E Sandalwood edt


This is the best shave I've achieved yet. I just got this razor from Bill E. and it rules. I've never been able to tolerate against the grain passes, but I'm trying again on my neck and under jaw area. It went very well today - BBS with no irritation. Just had to share this one!

Plan was to test my honing on an EW and see how I like it. However, the SRP TI arrived (honed by Joe). How could I resist?

12 hour stubble
Hot shower
Rooney Super Med
Lucky Tiger Shave lotion
Tony Miller 3'' strop
SRP TI
Trumper's alum block
ice cube
Nivea AS balm

SRP TI - WOW!
I am not big on its looks but all the talk of lead tempering and what not just convinced me I need to try a TI, and the SRP popped up as an opportunity. What can I say, scales don't match (pinning is bad,) finish on scales not that impressive... But the blade - a true beauty, great balance, very comfortable grip... seemed a bit bigger for 6/8 and I measured the toe as 13/16... Anyway, the blade felt stiff, sturdy, and overall great! This one is catapulted at the very top of my rotation. Testing still in progress, but I have the feeling it would out-perform a couple of my current favorites. (For the record, currently, with the TI, I have 7 favorites. At least 7 potential others I haven't used yet...)

Wish I had more growth Nicked myself once This is still a good number for me, I am just mad it detracted a bit from the first TI experience. By the way, shave was not that smooth, which was expected (because of the short time between shaves) and I prefer imperfect comfort over irritated smoothness. Alum block was OK and showed a couple of spots on the neck where I almost got aggressive. I am glad I stopped myself on time.

Nivea not up to par, after some other (better and more expensive) toners / lotions I have tried... I used to think Nivea is great

Hot Shower
Conditioner

6/8 Dorko
Colleen's Moss & Oak Shaving cream
Silvertip badger
Pinaud Bay Rum


Good shave.......Ummmmm!!