Rich's Journal: Adventures with Life and Sharp things

[Majorrich]

29 Oct 2019

Razor: CVH MK*32
Soap: PAA Blue Samhain
Scuttle: Captains Choice
Strop:
Brush: Red Synthetic
AS/EdT: PAA Blue Samhain


Comments: Todays Season themed shave features Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements Blue Samhain. (PAA saves a lot of typing) Autumn is definitely setting in with its cold nights and all the leaves changing. This is a good year for yellows and oranges. Nurse Dave’s power woes are on my mind. Im trying to wrap my mind around arbitrary blackouts.

The Hardware: Today we are bringing one of the heavy hitters from the razor rack with the mk*32. It’s a hefty beautiful Swedish blade that should see more use but doesn’t.

The Software: This is most definitely an autumn or winter fragrance. The notes say sandlewood, Burnt sugar, Bourbon and Pumpkin. To my nose it sm vaguely pumpkiny and sweet, but like smelling the baking from another room. It’s very comfortable, and makes a ton of lather!

The Shave: Without a SafetyCat on post, I proceeded pretty cautiously over my trouble spots. The soap has plenty of glide and made for a pretty darned good shave at two passes. I had lots of extra lather and did a third pass. Still kind of shaky on how to approach my neck. I haven’t looked at the films yet. Ended up DFS after the third pass. I nicked myself a bit on a fools pass, and left my neck more ragged than I like. A few more practice shaves with a more forgiving razor are in order.

 

[bentheduck]

I'll learn from today's shave and keep a SafetyCat by my side from now on!

 

[HMan]

Where does one find a certified Safety Cat these days?

 

[Majorrich]

Mine came by happy accident. SafetyCat Prime, rests his soul, just started jumping into the right hand sink when I shaved. He would hear me stropping or lathering and would take up his post. Soon he had taught the other cats. I assume durin* their nightly in service training. Noel got her feelings hurt when I laughed at her when she got a face full of lather and won’t get in the sink. Buster doesn’t fit any more But hangs out. I think they are attracted to the frags I chose when they were all kittens.

 

[GearNoir]

I think they are attracted to the frags I chose when they were all kittens.

The Veg!

 

[NurseDave]

Just a thought....

 

[Majorrich]

2 Nov 2019

Razor: Gillette Aristocrat / GSB (?j
Soap: Stirling Spice
Scuttle: Captains Choice
Strop:
Brush: Sorrentino Badger ‘R2D2’
AS/EdT: Stirling Spice


Comments: A quick shave today after a long day working a griddle to help out the KOC. I think I will take it easy on the pancakes, bacon, and eggs for a while. My feet hurt on the tops! Sorry guys no pics or vlog tonight. This would have been a good one for a vlog.

The Hardware: What can I say? It’s an Aristocrat! An apex predator and my best wild find razor. Mild and efficient, it’s one of the best razors in the fleet. The Sorrentino is one of his earlier works. I named it R2D2 because... well... I don’t actually remember. He made the handle for a knot I already had. They work great together.

The Software: I love this soap! Typical of @Joe Hackett ’s work this is an amazing slick and easy loading soap. A couple splashes of water and it’s ready to go.

The Shave: While I’m taking a beating on my football picks, I step away for a great two and a half pass BBS shave. Mama almost likes the frag.

 

[bentheduck]

Kick your feet up and get some rest, Rich!

 

[Majorrich]

7 Nov 2019

Razor: Kai Folder Clone / Feather Pro Guard
Soap: WSP Gaelic Tweed
Scuttle: Captains Choice
Strop:
Brush: Frank Shaving “Macy” 19mm synthetic
AS/EdT: WSP Gaelic Tweed


Comments: looking out the window, that cursed crystalline rain has begun to fall. Do not like! I examined the razor and blade from my last shave and am gratified to see and measure it against my Aristocrat. I find them to me nearly identical!
In other news there is a guy coming tomorrow to look at my Mercedes with an eye to buy. He says it will take him four and a half hours to get here, so he must be serious. I’ll nit sign the title though, until I have cash in my hand.

The Hardware: My previous experience with this razor was quite positive. It is kind of chunky and certainly not of stainless steel, but it is quite adequate for its purpose. This specimen lines up quite well and holds the blade firmly with equal blade exposure on both sides. The plastic scales exude a bit of cheapness, but are also quite adequate for their purpose.

The Software: WSP’s Gaelic tweed is a nice tribute to Green Irish Tweed. Performance and lather ability are very good to excellent. If the tin were a but larger to ease loading with a larger brush I would be quite pleased. strength of scent is about 3 which is what I expect for a soap that’s been on my shelf for a couple of years. Aftershave is nice, and the clean scent is good but fleeting. A blast of the edt carries it forward

The Shave: I’ve not tried a real Kai Captain, but from my experience here I think I might like it. Slightly more blade feel but I don’t see more blade exposure. Perhaps the lack if the “bump” thar the Feather SS has is where this comes from. No worries though. Three passes results in a DFS with no real irritation, and a single weeper. Still need to rehearse the neck area to re-find my groove there. I feel clumsy still.

 

[woodpusher]

Hopefully car-car finds a new home.

 

[bentheduck]

Good luck on the sale, Rich. I can be there in I don't know how many hours if you need a terrible bodyguard with no practical skills!

 

[NurseDave]

Good luck on the sale, Rich. I can be there in I don't know how many hours if you need a terrible bodyguard with no practical skills!

This made me laugh. I hope he says he does.

 

[Majorrich]

I don’t anticipate any trouble. But I will have a back up handy. He did ask if I had the title notarized.. um.. NO.. not without Cash in hand.

 

[Majorrich]

11 Nov 2019

Razor: Prior 804 5/8
Soap: Speick Stick
Scuttle: Captains Choice
Strop:
Brush: Maggard Synthetic
AS/EdT: Speick


Comments: It would appear we are on the downward slide into winter. SafetyCat wanted up in the window, but she didn’t stay long due to the breeze (icy at that). The fellows that came to look at the Benz were apparently looking for something different so passed on it. Quite a long trip for them though.

The Hardware: This razor, though antique was virtually new when it was given to me. I use it lightly as the gold leaf is still perfect and I want to keep it perty. Still, it is quite keen and effortlessly rendered a DFS in minimal passes.

The Software: Speick is the only dedicated stick soap in the collection. It is quite easy to use and lathers well. I’ll probably be adding more after the holiday freeze is lifted. Speick A/S is a light citrus scent that is quite uplifting. I like it a lot.

The Shave: I‘ve been a little lax on my neck practice, but today everything came together just fine.

 

[GearNoir]

Lol! Hopefully Speick passed Safety at inspection

 

[NurseDave]

Cutie. Not Gear, that cat up there.

 

[bentheduck]

That's a good looking cade! Stay warm up there!

 

[Smattayu]

Nice shave, Rich. Gotta love that Speick!

 

[Majorrich]

13 Nov 2019

Razor: Klas Tornblom 5/8 “Wednesday”
Soap: McVeyMac Lemongrass and Lavender
Scuttle: Captains Choice
Strop:
Brush: VDH elCheapo Del Grande Especial Boar brush
AS/EdT: Rich’s Own Lemongrass, Lavender and Pachouli


Comments: I received a ‘Fat Thor’ action figure in the post and it inspired a Swedish shave. Also a stick soap theme shave had me bring out a home-made stick of soap made by our own Walt. I had several samples that smooshed neatly into an anti-perspirant container. Record cold temperatures prevent me from opening the window for SafetyCat, but she kind of hung around in the hallway.

The Hardware: 50 laps on leather seemed to have the Tornblom ready to go. It’s my favorite profile and has been since very early in my shave journey. The brush is beginning to look and perform a little raggedy. I’m going to try it a few more times before I re-knot it.

The Software: The soap was a great performer in a bowl, but I think it has matured in the container. It’s a lot harder than it was before. I don't face lather very much so I may have miscalculated on how much soap to rub on my mug. After the first pass I added some more soap and was good to go. Not sure if it might be the brush though. I will revisit this soap before next vacation.

The Shave: The razor may have been a little short of edge, it was great in static tests, but on my face it was a little tuggy. I’m gonna have to get hold of Kyle to bring these guys up to spec. I think he would enjoy a few shaves with Swedish steel. Despite being a bit short of my expectation on keenness, I only hit one weeper at the usual spot and walked away with a neat BBS after dry down.

I really enjoyed watching @GearNoir and his unboxing of our prank box. I’m glad he received it in the spirit of brotherhood in which it was intended.

 

[Smattayu]

Man, I love those Tornbloms!