Thread: Sun September 09th - Sat September 15th

Wednesday

I decided my face needed a smooth razor today, so of course it was the Wade and Butcher that I grabbed. I nicked myself a little, unfortunately, and thought nothing of it. After my normal 50 minute drive to work I decided to check out how devilishly handsome and distinguished I was becoming in the rear vision mirror and was dismayed, yes, dismayed to see a stream of dried up blood running down my face! I hastily rid myself of said blood. Moral of the story is always check out how devilishly handsome you are before entering the workplace. It could save your colleagues (when they politely mention the blood) from a half hour ‘information session’ on how you shave with a straight razor, how cool it is, and how cool the creams and soaps are, and how yes, you do have one of those stroppy things that make the ‘wish wish’ sound, and yes, you are a little bit weird but also wonderfully cool…

79.1 kilos!! 6.1 to lose to get to my target of 73 by the start of summer…80 days…
(yes, I’m very sorry, you’re going to hear about this for the next 79 days)


Razor: Wade and Butcher | Soap: Crabtree and Evelyn Nomad | After Shave: Truefitt and Hill Trafalgar

Originally Posted by SchoonerBum

Just can't resist chiming in with the Conrad fans out there. I started with a collection of his short stories- Secret Sharer, Youth, Typhoon- and loved them! I've picked up some more and am looking forward to reading them. I think Polish may have been his first language, pretty sure it wasn't English but I feel like he had a better grasp of our language than I do. He was a merchant mariner as am I, and I've worked on some ships that are replicas for his period so I especially like his sea stories.

I was only at sea for four and a half months, all the way from Perth in Western Australia to Nagasaki and back, through the South China seas, on the biggest ship (at the time) in the Australian Navy, as a soldier (Bombardier In Charge of a Surface to Air Missile System). The 'Westralia' was a hundred and seventy five meters long from bow to stern; I 'drove' the thing through typhoons at sea, I remember the little tiny steering wheel it had, and the compass in a binnacle. I did 57 Resupplies At Sea, pumping Av gas and water and diesel, I loved the night resupplies the best, the stars seemingly moving from port to starboard. Only four and a half months; but I loved it. That experience was both the most boring and most enjoyable of my life. Days spent chipping rust and painting with the same grey paint over and over. Weeks of drinking Thai whiskey and cheap Carlsberg (of course) from mid morning to two in the morning; stumbling from Asian outdoor bar to Asian outdoor bar dressed in a sarong (at times). I know Conrad didn't speak a lot about Asian outdoor bars, and I'm off on a tangent from a tangent here, but I get what what you mean about his sea stories. I also get what you mean about his command of language.

Sometimes, to read or hear a well turned phrase is like hearing music that stirs the heart to tears...

Todays stubble removal was done with...

Prep : Kiehls Facial Fuel
Razor : Gillette 1960s Superspeed flare tip
Blade : Tesco "own brand"
Gel : King of shaves 'ultimate' gel
Balm : Nivea sensitive moisturising balm

Result : Unbelievably smooth.

Surely I must fall out of favour with the gods of shaving soon..?

Today was a test shave of two razors I honed for another forum member who recently expressed some difficulty with one of the blades in question. I set bevels on both using my Chosera 1k, and then polished the edge on both the 5k and 10k Choseras. After the 5k, both were popping hairs above the skin surface. I finished each of them on my Oozuku Suita with nagura. For the test shave, I whipped up some MNS Orange/Cedar/Black Pepper with my two-band Thäter. The test shave went well. Both were butter smooth and I was BBS after two passes. I finished it up with some MPG Cuir Fetiche and now I'm ready to play, er I mean go to work...

Prep: Hot Shower/ Proraso pre-post creme
Brush: AOS Badger
Scuttle: G5
Soap: Proraso Red SC
Razor: Burrell Cutlery 'Top Flight' 11/16" square point
Post: Proraso AS/ Nivea Lotion
Result: I received the aforementioned razor from flea bay last night. Pleasantly surprised at the wonderful condition of the blade. A little metal polish and the blade looked like NOS! Honed on the 4k till the hair popped and took it to the 8k then the Naniwa 12k, stropped 30 on my star shaving strop and 30 on my old Suntorbach shell strop that was a gift from a friend that I restored. Amazing how supple that old leather is, and it imparts a buttery smooth edge which did not disappoint. Build a nice lather with the Proraso, the lather has the usual great Proraso performance, but the scent seems slightly artificial, after it dries down it smells better. This was an incredibly smooth shave for a razor fresh off the hones and with zero sting after the AS, I can't wait to see how the edge with be after a few more shaves, when it mellows on the strop. Off to work feeling refreshed!

Have a Great Wednesday Gents!

Nice Pic Bill. Wish I had a little of your photography bug, these long days at work are kicking my keister!
Was looking at an Oozuku Asagi, is the edge much different compared to a Naniwa?

Originally Posted by JoeSomebody

...Razor: Burrell Cutlery 'Top Flight' 11/16" square point...

That's the second Top Flight in a week I think. My Top Flight was my first razor, and it takes an edge that is astonishingly sharp...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

That's the second Top Flight in a week I think. My Top Flight was my first razor, and it takes an edge that is astonishingly sharp...

I got this because I have another Top Flight. It is a 13/16" monster that shaves like a dream! These razors seem to hone up nicely and have an incredible edge. The new one is certainly no disappointment!

Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable (set to 2)
Blade: Lord Platinum
Prep: Hot Water
Brush: Whipped Dog Black Badger
Soap: C.O Bigelow Shave Cream
A/S: witch hazel, Joop! Homme
Result: DFS

Prep: Lukewarm wash
Razor: Boker Red Injun 102
Brush: VDH Boar
Soap: Arko Shavestick
AS: Skin Bracer
Finish: Murray and Lanman's Florida Water
Result: DFS.