Shave journal - Chris

[global_dev]

It felt like Christmas until it failed HHT.
This was sold as a "shave ready & tested" so I decided to give it a try, after all it may just he me with this HHT.
much disapointment but not suprised. @#$% shave ready my @#$%. back to my trusty Dovo after just 2 strokes
Gave it a light honing to see were it was at............would not sit flat on the hone....spine wear was thick then thin then thick again..........
reset bevel on 1K Norton then 4k / 8k Norton. finished on 12k Niniwa. TI paste then crox.
result after HHT passed and again I can not wait for morning shave. one happy camper.

In a way I am happy this was not shave ready, as now I fell I have earned tomorrows good shave results.

that sucks it wasn't "shave ready" for you... good to hear you got it right though.

[cleanshaved]

Shave week #12
prep:
cream: GFT
Razor: 7/8 Joseph Ellot
Honed last night by the one and only.... Me.
HHT: passed full length of blade - just
AF: Tabac splash.

1st pass. WTG. I stepped up to the mirror with high hopes.
nice smooth fell to each stroke and could just notice that I had gone up from a 5/8 to 7/8 and full hollow. sort of expect more difference but was happy.
wiped blade clean on sponge and there was a good amount of whiskers the full length of the blade.
finished 1st pass and compaired the results to my now good friend Dovo 5/8. the Dovo 1st pass was better.
2nd pass: XTG ear to nose. not much to report but face was cleaned up to same standard the Dovo was delivering me.
3rd and final pass: ATG blade glided with ease but left a few spots that were not BBS.

Did like the fell for the bigger blade, it did not fell intimidating or hard to handle at all.
I will try a few laps on the paste to see if the edge can be fine tunned just a bit more.

[cleanshaved]

Shave week #12 day2 & 3
cream: Arlinton
Razor: 7/8 Joseph Ellot
Honed- second attemp by me for this razor. 4k - 8k Norton then 12K naniwa. TI paste, crox. 30 linen 60 leather.
HHT: passed full length of blade
AF: Proraso Splash.

week 12 - Day 2
1st pass WTG: clean and smooth, strokes felt on with shaves with the Dovo.
2nd xtg - could fell the larger blade gliding with ease over the chin
3rd atg BBS most of the face just a few touch ups required on the neck.

week 12 - Day 3
1st pass WTG: noticed the blade felt sharp but smooth. seam tho get this on second day after honing. not sure if that means I should strop a few more laps after honing.
may increase the laps on leather post hone next time to see if this helps.
2nd pass: not sure if it was due to adjustment of presure (less) and angle or getting the blade sharp/smooth but just felt soooo gooood.
3rd ATG - BBS after a few touch ups.

I am finding the 7/8 fits my shave just right.
may take my Dovo 5/8 to the hone in the weekend and see if I can make improve the edge a bit more.
Don't get me wrong here it shaves ok but I now want it to play a song for me in the key of F-Sharp...
Have some TOBS Jermyn Street and Sir Irish Moos cream in the post. Need to slip something new into the Den every month.

[cleanshaved]

Hi Gents
I have now been SR shaving for 3 Months. This was the minimum length of time I set myself for keeping this journal.
My shaves have been concistant for along time now so have decided to wind up the journal
SR shaving to me are not just about the shave but the satifaction of shaving from a edge I have honed and maintained myself.
My focus has now shifted on to honing. getting good result just looking for the 100% staification from hone to shave my face.

I can not thank you gents enough for all the encouragment and advice I have received here at B&B.

Chris

[global_dev]

chris, i think we all make that same shift as well. good stuff.

[noahpictures]

Thanks for the great journal :)

[Grips]

Another journal closing down. What the hell am I going to read for fun and information ?

Great stuff. All the best on your straight razor journey.

[cleanshaved]

Thanks Grips.
One journal closes and one opens.
It's good to see the steady flow of new guys taking up straight razor shaving.

[cleanshaved]

I have decided to keep this journal for a bit longer.
Not sure how often I will update but will try a weekly entry.
This video is my 3 Month's of SR shaving and was on a seperate post. I have placed it here for flow of my log.

[cleanshaved]

week #15 I think?
today
prep - shower
Soap - Tabac
Blade - 5/8 Dovo
AF - Tabac slash

1st pass WTG - good beard reduction
2nd pass XTG - ear to nose.
3rd pass ATG - now that was smoother than normal
Think the smooth shave had a lot to do with using Tabac soap.
must of mixed it just right and have been facetabating all morning. shhhh don't want SWMBO to know.......
the Tabac AF finished the shave just right.

quick update from last post: I have been shaving every day with the 7/8 Joseph Ellot for just over 2 weeks and enjoyed the size/ grind and results of this straight.
have kept the edge going for a few weeks with out honing, with a once a week strop with TI paste and Crox. good results.
my edges are lasting longer.
went back to the Dovo a few days ago to compair. The difference was noticable. Hard to explain but could tell the differnce in size and grind.
Both are yielding good shave just a differnt feel to the process.
on the look out for a new TI 7/8 - 1/4 grind.

I am suffering honing withdrawals so with do a few laps with the 7/8. It can do with a tickle up.

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week #16
prep - shower
Soap - Tabac
Blade - 5/8 Dovo - honed just yesterday
AF - Tabac slash

1st WTG. Good beard reduction.
2nd XTG ear to nose
3rg ATG blade glided smooth and was left with a BBS face.

I honed both my razors yesterday. on completion I went to find SWMBO hair brush so I could grab a hair or 2 for the HHT.
Oh no. she has taken it with her to Raro. don't panic.... don't panic.....
what is a man to do. My hairs too short and so is the dogs. lucky enough there was a coulpe of strands on the dresser.
HHT passed on both razors.
My aim now is to maintain the edge for 3 weeks with weekly stroping using TI paste and Crox.
That would be a extra week from last time. light presure and correct angle will get me there I am sure.
note to myself: when SWMBO gets home put some of her hair in a bag and store with my hone kit

finding I am getting real smooth shaves when using Tabac soap. I am normal a cream sort of guy.
as the lather is one of the corner stones of SR shaving I have decided to try some other tallow soaps to see if this could be the missing link
on the way is a stick of Spieck and a couple of sticks of Arko.

[Grips]

I have been considering Arko. Please post how it works with the straight.

[cleanshaved]

I have been considering Arko. Please post how it worked the straight please.

will do Grips. It could be a week or 2 before I get my hands on it as it's not avaiable in NZ. Have purched from Turkey

[cleanshaved]

week #17
prep - shower
Soap - Speick
Blade - 5/8 Dovo - honed a week ago.
AF - Speick slash

1st WTG: nice smooth pass
2nd XTG: ear to nose
3rg ATG: I change my grip just a little. was holding the blade closer to the stabilser.
Tried holding back a bit on the tang. Thumb just in front of the scale piviot point. This felt comfortable and with good control.

Gave the Dovo a few laps on excalibur with TI and Crox this morning followed with normal stropping 30/60
overall a nice shave.
Have set myself a least 3 weeks of constant use with the Dovo before changing razors. No honing in this time but paste allowed weekly only.
low/no shave presure, correct angle and good stropping will make. Just want to see how my edge holds up. So far so good.

This was second shave with speick soap. found it easy to whip up and gave a good shave but lacked any scent. Then again I am breaking in a new boar brush so maybe the subtle Speick scent was overpowered by Mr stinky boar. not the cheapest soap but you don't need much so a little will go a long way
Still waiting for the Arko to arrive from Turkey.
with winter almost here in New Zealand I have been thinking of a scuttle but shipping such a heavy item won't be cheap, want to be sure i will love this before buying one. So went to the kitchen to find a large bowl, came back with a big cup to sit my shaving bowl in. guess a picture tells it better, so have a look for yourself.


seamed to work OK. just needed to hold down on the bowl when wipping. Better temp control will be achieved with a DB etc but this will give me a taste.
photo also shows my new boar and my silver tip badger. that boar is a big. 3 shaves in with the boar and is starting to break in. boar smell almost gone.
have grated the soap stick into a cheap bowl and cut the brand name off the box for the lid. works well and cheaper than buy the wooden bowl etc.

[cleanshaved]

week #18
today
prep - shower
Soap - GFT Eucris soap
Blade - 5/8 Dovo - honed 2 week ago. pasted strop once a week
AF - Proraso splash

changed a couple of things in my normal set up.
1st This morning I lathered up prior to stropping to give it more time on face. re-lathered before 1st pass.need to do this again with a soap or cream i have used often to compair results but shave felt good.
2nd have tried standing a slight angle to my strop. was directly behind it now about 30' to 45' angle. felt comfortable for me.
3rd tried and tried again to get the GFT soap to work but think I have cracked it, was trying the shake all the water out of the brush before loading. went the other side and did not shake the brush at all just let gravity remove the right amount. YES got it. This burst into lather but look differnt to what I am use to. Slippery as hell though so good to go.

1st pass: WTG good whisker reduction.
2nd pass: XTG attacked the jaw line with at a differnt angle to the rest of the neck.
3rd pass: ATG tried holding the razor with a soft grip but not to soft I would lose control. wanted to see if the feather touch had made a differnce in how it glides ATG.
result smooth strokes and BBS face left behind. i belive this helps control the presure you apply during the shave as too much presure will pivit the razor in your grip.

One more week to go on my use it 3 week with no honing. so far so good shave 14 is on par with sahve 1.

The Euric soap gave a good shave close shave. I am one happy camper. This smells great and yeilded a BBS shave with no issues.

Grips - have tried the much talked about Arko soap. now I am not a smell snob but this smell is not for me. shave was ok but felt like I was slumming it due to the smell. This has reduced in the short time i have had it but if it is going to make my SR shave less than the event I such desire, I may just pass on this one.
BUT it is cheap and if you are curious then do try for yourself as YMMV.

now in the post is this bad boy. winter is on the way in NZ so I could not help my self

[noahpictures]

"...3rd pass: ATG tried holding the razor with a soft grip but not to soft I would lose control. wanted to see if the feather touch had made a differnce in how it glides ATG.
result smooth strokes and BBS face left behind..."

Good stuff Chris! After reading the above earlier, I tried it with good results.

[Grips]

Thanks for the Arko feedback Chris, appreciated. Beautiful scuttle by the way. The scuttle I had a local artist do is now done. I'm going to pick it up this week and see how it looks.

[cleanshaved]

Grips - Can you post a photo of your new scuttle? always keen to see working art.

[Grips]

Grips - Can you post a photo of your new scuttle? always keen to see working art.

Will do. I'll post in my journal once I get it. I have been super busy at work and at home this past month, so not sure if I can pick it up this week or next.

[cleanshaved]

week #3
this is my 3rd week I set of using the Dovo 5/8 every day with no honing just weekly pasted strop.
first 2 weeks went good with the edge lasting the whole week between paste. the 3rd week I found after 4 shaves I wanted to go to the pasted strop again.
I doubled the laps with good results.
Now the only time i did a HHT test was after honing 3 weeks ago. I let the shave tell me if the edge needed more than the daily stropping.
After the pasted stropping 2.5 weeks in, I done a HHT again. result was the same as straight off the hone so was happy with that.
This razor could go more shaves but I want to play with the old girl 7/8 Joseph Elliot and take her for a 3 week spin with the same no honing as above.
bonus I now can do a few laps on the hone with the Dovo.

todays shave
prep: shower
Soap: GFT Eucris
Razor: 7/8 Joseph Ellot
Honed: 3 weeks ago by the one and only.... Me. 1st shave after honing
HHT: passed full length of blade
AF: Alt Innsbruck - AF Emulsion.

1st: WTG good beard reduction. felt so good using this larger blade again.
2nd: XTG ear to nose.
3rd: ATG - result BBS and one happy shaver.

received my new scuttle on Monday. 1 week postage from Germany and arrived intact.
Have been enjoying nice warm lather ever since. a little bit of luxury for the moring shave and a bigger bowl to mix up my lather in. Nice....