The Shaving Cadre

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Ramblings of a MilkCrate

9662548E-EE06-47FF-B9DA-CD138587AB56.jpegShave Count (DE: 424 SE: 9 SR: 513)

Pre Shave-
Strop: Tony Miller
Splash and go

Shave-
Razor: Dovo SR
Blade: none
Brush: Stirling Boar
Soap: MWF

Post Shave-
Post shave lather
AS: Florida Water
Frag: none

The Process-
I was in the mood for Florida Water, so naturally the MWF gets the nod. Had a great, slick lather going on with the Stirling Boar. I used a damp brush and a 35 second load time, just playing around with the lather.

Was a bit behind schedule, so 50 laps on leather. And a two pass WTG and ATG shave with no drama to report. But that seems to have confirmed that I am a three pass guy, I am only DFS today. But once again I had lather left over for a post shave lather while I cleaned my shave gear. Wrapped everything up with a splash of water and a pat dry. Followed that with a glug of the AS and everything was right as rain! Not the greatest shave, but it will do. Life is good!

Home Front-
Well, all three cats came in the garage this morning so no casualties. But I guess I should start watching around the house for other Copper Head babies and/or the parents. We have never seen them around the house before. We have rat snakes, a skunk and an opossum in the garage but that's the only poisonous snake so far.
 
5BDAC113-7580-44E5-A08F-E0063A3D1D1F.jpegShave Count (DE: 424 SE: 9 SR: 514)

Pre Shave-
Strop: Tony Miller
Splash and go

Shave-
Razor: H Diamond SR
Blade: none
Brush: SV TSC LE Badger
Soap: Ethos Succes

Post Shave-
Post shave lather
AS: Ethos Succes
Frag: none

The Process-
TGITHMF! yes, it is a short week for me. Wrapped up the work week with a very nice shave and there was much rejoicing.

Home Front-
Sent a couple of razors out to @uacowboy to try his edges. They are headed back my way. There is another razor I will be sending out shortly to try an SB Ark edge. Can’t wait to try that one too. My Ralf Aust and the PIF from @Dave in KY also came in as well. It’s a good day.
 
A28869C8-A822-4DCF-BD6C-3827EB249768.jpegShave Count (DE: 424 SE: 9 SR: 515)

Pre Shave-
Strop: Tony Miller
Splash and go

Shave-
Razor: Ralf Aust SR
Blade: none
Brush: Graydog Boar
Soap: Stirling Triumph

Post Shave-
Post shave lather
AS: Stirling Triumph
Frag: none

The Process-
Woohoo early afternoon shave and it was glorious! That’s right afternoon, I slept late and goofed around some when I got up. Anyway, whipped up a nice lather that smelled outstanding!

Trying the Ralf Aust today and went with my standard three passes. Man this razor can sing and the PO had a nice edge on it. Knocked out three smooth passes and I am BBS for the win! Wrapped everything up with a quick rinse and pat dry. A healthy splash of the AS and everything was right as rain! That’s some goodness right there! Life is good!

Home Front-
So I like the Ralf Aust and I got a screaming deal on this one. But it looks like something was spilled on the scales and took off part of the finish. Still a screaming deal, but I’m pissed. And the seller denies there is anything wrong with the finish. I can fix it, but thats not the point. So I guess tomorrow I will pick up some steel wool and Linseed or Tung oil and see what I can do.
 
I’m sure you’ll get a handle on the scale repairs, doesn’t sound like a big deal but one that’s going to need some special measures. Makes think we should start a thread/forum dedicated to maintenance & minor restoring and repair techniques. I’ve found soaking in an appropriate oil for the material before I do much else can help to clean and “hydrate” the material, making further work a matter of simple buffing or minor emery board buffing. I used to use neatsfoot oil on horn and other naturals but recently I started Blending it with a silicone/lanolin saddle oil for horn and have had great results. It even helps clean some of the older plastics and seems to help treat the pivot area so isn’t rusting. I have fallen in love with Flitz for metal and plastic cleaning and polishing but for finishing horn and coated wood I still like ScratchX (puts a little extra shine on the TSC brush too...like YOU need yours to look any better.) then I finish with a coat or two of pipe wax and DONE. Minor stuff done easy. But a 0000 Steel whool and tung oil finish is easy and beautiful too.

I don’t see many snakes around my properties but they are here, mostly rattle snake and gopher. Our mountains are filled with rattle snakes too. I have a box of rattle snake vaccines on hand so I can keep my doggies on a 6 month schedule I’m case they get bit, it would probably help with a copperhead (if we happened to be in a place the one happened to be) but they aren’t technically designed to protect against them or Mojave green which are BIG problems here. Still, better a little protection than none when curious dog meets pit viper.

keep us posted on the minor repair
 
I’m sure you’ll get a handle on the scale repairs, doesn’t sound like a big deal but one that’s going to need some special measures. Makes think we should start a thread/forum dedicated to maintenance & minor restoring and repair techniques. I’ve found soaking in an appropriate oil for the material before I do much else can help to clean and “hydrate” the material, making further work a matter of simple buffing or minor emery board buffing. I used to use neatsfoot oil on horn and other naturals but recently I started Blending it with a silicone/lanolin saddle oil for horn and have had great results. It even helps clean some of the older plastics and seems to help treat the pivot area so isn’t rusting. I have fallen in love with Flitz for metal and plastic cleaning and polishing but for finishing horn and coated wood I still like ScratchX (puts a little extra shine on the TSC brush too...like YOU need yours to look any better.) then I finish with a coat or two of pipe wax and DONE. Minor stuff done easy. But a 0000 Steel whool and tung oil finish is easy and beautiful too.

I don’t see many snakes around my properties but they are here, mostly rattle snake and gopher. Our mountains are filled with rattle snakes too. I have a box of rattle snake vaccines on hand so I can keep my doggies on a 6 month schedule I’m case they get bit, it would probably help with a copperhead (if we happened to be in a place the one happened to be) but they aren’t technically designed to protect against them or Mojave green which are BIG problems here. Still, better a little protection than none when curious dog meets pit viper.

keep us posted on the minor repair

Sounds like a great idea for a thread, I will do that. Thanks for the additional tips as well.
 
Shave Count (DE: 425 SE: 9 SR: 515)

Pre Shave-
Strop: none
Splash and go

Shave-
Razor: Gillette Slim
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: SV TSC LE Badger
Soap: Stirling Piacenza

Post Shave-
Post shave lather
AS: Stirling Piacenza
Frag: none

The Process-
Very nice late morning shave. On deck today was Piacenza while I gave my brother a lesson in traditional shaving. I walked through a great three pass shave, explaining everything as I went. It was strange talking while I was shaving. I am smelling great and BBS for the win! Life is good!

So I hooked my brother up with everything he needed to get started. The Tech and Yaqi brush thanks to @Dave in KY. I originally planned on doing something else with the Stirling Deton-8, but kept it out for him to sniff. He sniffed a lot of my soaps and decided that he wanted Mike’s Natural Barbershop and my homemade Patchouli AS. I also gave him Astra SP blades, WH, a styptic and my old Dopp bag. Also told him to hit me up when he needed more blades. We’ll see how far he goes.
 
Shave Count (DE: 425 SE: 9 SR: 516)

Pre Shave-
Strop: Tony Miller
Splash and go

Shave-
Razor: H Diamond SR
Blade: none
Brush: Zenith Boar
Soap: Stirling Hipster

Post Shave-
Post shave lather
AS: Stirling Hipster
Frag: none

The Process-
Very nice morning shave. Three comfortable passes and I am BBS for the win! This Zenith brush and I are having a love / hate relationship. And it’s mostly hate. Not sure yet if I’ll get rid of it or re-knot it. But it has lost its place on my shelf and been replaced with an Omega 48. I’m sure the Vulfix and Zenith brands probably make a good brush, people seem to like them. But I’m not impressed. Other than that gripe ... Life is good!

Home Front-
I was thinking about my brother and others like him this morning. The people that we get started down the traditional shaving path are fortunate. They get to avoid the pitfalls of trial and error, trying various subpar products. They are starting out with good equipment and someone that can guide them along the way if needed. Just a thought. Off to fo pick up the new horse today.
 
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