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CBLindsay's brain droppings
- Thread starter CBLindsay
- Start date
Monday 4/30/2018
Straight Shave #829
WD 30mm HMW Badger in Firehouse handle (a.k.a the Fireman)
Klaas Tornblum
First Canadian "Loretto Lime & Rosemary"
Pinaud Lime Sec
Old Spice
Before I get into today's shave I will provide a recap of some of this weekend's highlights. I got a late mail call from @Spider on Friday, he sent me a couple of samples of Jeeves of Hudson Street...one of his top 3 favorite artisan soaps. On Saturday I tried the "Bowling Green", a scent that is quite pleasing and somehow familiar...ok, the scent is kind of intoxicating and one you might find yourself craving a sniff of throughout the day. The performance was very good but i suspect it might have been better had I not dropped my lathered brush into the sink. I have to thank KJ for introducing this soap to me, i suspect i will pick up a tub sooner than later. I guess the other highlight for the weekend was the DePews razor. This is a unique razor for sure and one that was on my "must have one day" list. I rehoned the edge before using it because it was under performing, the coti/ark work made a big difference but i still feel this razor is destined to always underwhelm. Can't complain though because I got a great shave.
Today's shave was quite enjoyable, fresh and bright with a wonderfully keen edge. I don't have any other lime scented soaps so when i got a chance to pick up the Loretto Lime i jumped on it. The First Canadian Soap is a very nice soap that falls into the same/similar category as Chiseled Face...always good but never outstanding. If you don't have any First Canadian and the opportunity to pick up a scent that intrigues you presents it self, i recommend you snag the soap. My favorite (out of the 2 i have) is the Grand Valley Vetiver.
The Klaas Tornblum felt great and shaved beautifully. I considered doing an Ark refresh to see if i can improve the edge but I think i may leave it as it is and keep to the pasted balsa for its maintenance. Speaking of Maintenance, I cleaned and conditioned all my stones AND regular use brushes. The brushes enjoy an occasional cleaning but the stones really don't seem to care.
Meanwhile back on the farm...
I decided to take Friday off and go antiquing with the wife. I needed some time to decompress so the day off was welcomed. We have a good number of antique shops around us and some of them see enough turn over to ensure some fun stuff is always available ...meanwhile others are so stagnant I can count on everything being the same as it was 6 months ago. I didn't find any razors that weren't already passed on 6 months ago so that side of things was a bust. I don't have a problem with an $80 fat boy or a bunch of $45-$60 keen kutter straight razors, they are worth it if you don't have one and want one ...but I don't pay those kind of prices (and it looks like few others do too). My biggest win was a NIB bottle of LB hair tonic. The box is a little beat but the bottle is full and the contents are very clear. I don't know what I am going to do with the stuff but i was happy to get it. I also picked up a little something unique for one our fellow Cadre members, he won't be named nor will the item be described but I am certain he will like it when he gets it.
Straight Shave #829
WD 30mm HMW Badger in Firehouse handle (a.k.a the Fireman)
Klaas Tornblum
First Canadian "Loretto Lime & Rosemary"
Pinaud Lime Sec
Old Spice
Before I get into today's shave I will provide a recap of some of this weekend's highlights. I got a late mail call from @Spider on Friday, he sent me a couple of samples of Jeeves of Hudson Street...one of his top 3 favorite artisan soaps. On Saturday I tried the "Bowling Green", a scent that is quite pleasing and somehow familiar...ok, the scent is kind of intoxicating and one you might find yourself craving a sniff of throughout the day. The performance was very good but i suspect it might have been better had I not dropped my lathered brush into the sink. I have to thank KJ for introducing this soap to me, i suspect i will pick up a tub sooner than later. I guess the other highlight for the weekend was the DePews razor. This is a unique razor for sure and one that was on my "must have one day" list. I rehoned the edge before using it because it was under performing, the coti/ark work made a big difference but i still feel this razor is destined to always underwhelm. Can't complain though because I got a great shave.
Today's shave was quite enjoyable, fresh and bright with a wonderfully keen edge. I don't have any other lime scented soaps so when i got a chance to pick up the Loretto Lime i jumped on it. The First Canadian Soap is a very nice soap that falls into the same/similar category as Chiseled Face...always good but never outstanding. If you don't have any First Canadian and the opportunity to pick up a scent that intrigues you presents it self, i recommend you snag the soap. My favorite (out of the 2 i have) is the Grand Valley Vetiver.
The Klaas Tornblum felt great and shaved beautifully. I considered doing an Ark refresh to see if i can improve the edge but I think i may leave it as it is and keep to the pasted balsa for its maintenance. Speaking of Maintenance, I cleaned and conditioned all my stones AND regular use brushes. The brushes enjoy an occasional cleaning but the stones really don't seem to care.
Meanwhile back on the farm...
I decided to take Friday off and go antiquing with the wife. I needed some time to decompress so the day off was welcomed. We have a good number of antique shops around us and some of them see enough turn over to ensure some fun stuff is always available ...meanwhile others are so stagnant I can count on everything being the same as it was 6 months ago. I didn't find any razors that weren't already passed on 6 months ago so that side of things was a bust. I don't have a problem with an $80 fat boy or a bunch of $45-$60 keen kutter straight razors, they are worth it if you don't have one and want one ...but I don't pay those kind of prices (and it looks like few others do too). My biggest win was a NIB bottle of LB hair tonic. The box is a little beat but the bottle is full and the contents are very clear. I don't know what I am going to do with the stuff but i was happy to get it. I also picked up a little something unique for one our fellow Cadre members, he won't be named nor will the item be described but I am certain he will like it when he gets it.
Great weekend recap.
He may already have some in the mail.
Vintage peppermints for Dave E.?
He may already have some in the mail.
Whipped Dog brushes did a collaborative (probably still doing it) where a local potter makes the handle from clay and the brush is provided, assembled and sold by Whipped Dog. The name of the potter is "Firehouse Pottery" so between the potters name and the grizzled and haggard state of the large High Mountain White badge knot...i call it the Fireman. To be clear, the knot has been a mess from the get go BUT Whipped Dog more than made me whole, providing me with a new silvertip of my choosing AND giving me a discount on an additional purchase. His intent was to ensure my pottery handle had a great knot but i chose to get two new brushes and use the Fireman until it falls apart. I expect i will someday pul the knot and put a nice badge or boar not in it but not for now.
Tuesday 5/1/18
Straight Shave 830
Exceedingly quick entry today because i have a lot of meetings...
Use The SSA razor Chris H gave me and stropped it on the Bison strop Chris H gave me. Shaved with First Canadian grand valley vetiver and finished with Royall Vetiver and Guerlain Vetiver. The shave was pretty quick but i needed a 4th pass to clean up. The edge on this razor is on great shape but might need a bit of time on the balsa strop.
Good day genltmen
Straight Shave 830
Exceedingly quick entry today because i have a lot of meetings...
Use The SSA razor Chris H gave me and stropped it on the Bison strop Chris H gave me. Shaved with First Canadian grand valley vetiver and finished with Royall Vetiver and Guerlain Vetiver. The shave was pretty quick but i needed a 4th pass to clean up. The edge on this razor is on great shape but might need a bit of time on the balsa strop.
Good day genltmen
Squatty Potty's and sugar free gummi bears. A match made in heaven(?)!
Got a pic of that Hair Tonic? Love vintage finds like that. I've got a few vintage hair tonics, but most of them are too greasy for me to use. I pretty much stick with Vitalis or Jeris depending on the situation. Although, when I want to treat myself I break out the vintage Aqua Velva Hair Tonic!
Here you go KJ.
I suspect the lanolin will make it feel a little heavy but I’m willing to try it. It definitely doesn’t appear as oily as the Tres Flowers you PIFd me a couple years back.
WildWest74
Could be John Wayne
Terrific stuff to catch up on, Chris! Nice score on the tonic, love the vintage stuff.
Wednesday 5/2/18
Straight Shave 831
SV Artisan 2.0
Tallow&Steel "Dark" (old formula)
SSA razor (same as yesterday)
Avon Tai Winds
I really wish the Tai Winds had more longevity, it is a great frag for sure.
I took a couple hours last night to further burnish my ark then do some finishing work on a couple of razors, including the SSA from yesterday. The stone is getting some hints of reflection across the surface and is feeling pretty smooth but i think more can be done. I noticed while stropping post hone my newer CBL strop was leaving a scratch pattern rather than burnishing. This strop is known to add keenness that other strops don't but i don't recall it leaving what looks like a scratch pattern. The Bison strop did a great job of burnishing the edge. Armed with this new knowledge i cleaned and oiled the newer CBL leather and used a nifty vinatage strop conditioner (a lead or steel rod on a handle that is rubbed on the leather like you might "glass" the leather). The surface feels nice but i'll let it rest while the oils penetrate and come back.
The newly refined edge on the SSA did feel a bit more capable but i wonder if it could feel smoother if I stuck to the coti (of course it will). The Tallow and Steel soap is always a good performer but today i loaded a little less than should have and felt a bit cheated when i had none left at the end of the shave. Dark is an old scent with an eclectic combination of scents ranging from coffee to mint, nice but not worth searching the internet for.
The shave was pretty routine other than a wound incurred early on. It seems closing one's eyes while making the first stroke is ill advised. In the brief moment my eyes were closed I fell asleep and ran the blade into my ear where it meets the face. At first there was only pain, no blood, but after the first pass there was a small dribble. After a quick rinse i had no sign of injury or blood, clearly the cut was clean and seeled up nicely
Straight Shave 831
SV Artisan 2.0
Tallow&Steel "Dark" (old formula)
SSA razor (same as yesterday)
Avon Tai Winds
I really wish the Tai Winds had more longevity, it is a great frag for sure.
I took a couple hours last night to further burnish my ark then do some finishing work on a couple of razors, including the SSA from yesterday. The stone is getting some hints of reflection across the surface and is feeling pretty smooth but i think more can be done. I noticed while stropping post hone my newer CBL strop was leaving a scratch pattern rather than burnishing. This strop is known to add keenness that other strops don't but i don't recall it leaving what looks like a scratch pattern. The Bison strop did a great job of burnishing the edge. Armed with this new knowledge i cleaned and oiled the newer CBL leather and used a nifty vinatage strop conditioner (a lead or steel rod on a handle that is rubbed on the leather like you might "glass" the leather). The surface feels nice but i'll let it rest while the oils penetrate and come back.
The newly refined edge on the SSA did feel a bit more capable but i wonder if it could feel smoother if I stuck to the coti (of course it will). The Tallow and Steel soap is always a good performer but today i loaded a little less than should have and felt a bit cheated when i had none left at the end of the shave. Dark is an old scent with an eclectic combination of scents ranging from coffee to mint, nice but not worth searching the internet for.
The shave was pretty routine other than a wound incurred early on. It seems closing one's eyes while making the first stroke is ill advised. In the brief moment my eyes were closed I fell asleep and ran the blade into my ear where it meets the face. At first there was only pain, no blood, but after the first pass there was a small dribble. After a quick rinse i had no sign of injury or blood, clearly the cut was clean and seeled up nicely