Raithskar's shave Journal

**Raithskar** · 04-19-2012, 07:56 AM

Well I have been debating this for a while and figured it was time to get it started.

I have been shaving with the straight for about 9 months, but at the first of this year I met with a fellow wet shaver who helped me tremendously with my honing. He also helped me realize the errors in my shaving technique. Since then it has been like starting over, but I have consistently improved.

I did not shave this morning due to a few small spots of mild irritation. I am still battling pressure but it is coming along nicely.

My last shave was with a 13/16 Swedish blade (thanks Scott aka life2short). It came from a CVH Warehouse and was NOS for Scott. The blade has no tang stamps. It is most likely a CVH or a SSA blade. I simply refer to it as "The Swede". Truly a magnificent blade.

Shave was a 3 pass with cleanup. Results were the closest shave I have had to date, near BBS.

I have found that I am a soap/face lathering guy and i prefer any of the soaps containing the magical Tallow. So Cella, DRH, ARKO etc. I just love them!

The shaves are getting better, and I can tell I am almost there. I wish I could have started straight shaving from the beginning. So far it has been a wonderfull journey!

Jon

**EvilZeg** · 04-19-2012, 08:55 AM

Awesome.

I have found that I am leaning towards face lathering/tallow. When I started using my DE back in December I kept trying to bowl lather and was getting mixed results. Once I moved to face lathering my results improved tremendously.

Jim

**Raithskar** · 04-23-2012, 08:10 AM

Monday Morning April 23rd:

Honed 3 razors over the weekend and had to shave test them. Most of this is detailed in my SOTD post here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...pril-29th-2012

This journey has been one of both triumph and heartache. Honing was the largest problem I faced, and now that I have it down, my shaves just keep getting better and better. This mornign was just sublime, a real treat. My face feels great, and the satisfaction of knowing I can get a Razor to effortlessly handle 3 days of growth with my heavy beard is no small feat.

One of my Triumphs was this mornings shave. Easily my best to date, and from what I hear they just keep getting better!

Jon

**Raithskar** · 04-24-2012, 06:51 AM

Tuesday April 24th:

Went to the hone with my 6/8 Carl Schlieper. Note to self: Never ever try bevel correction on a La Grise again. Don't know if it was stone speed, or the razor but it too for freaking ever.

I lathered my new puck of DRH Lavender. 3 pass with cleanup=dfs. I still think the razor needs some work, but I did get a good close shave from it. The DRH Lavender has a great scent, glad I bought it.

Until Next time.

Jon

**Raithskar** · 04-24-2012, 09:59 AM

I never had consistent results with bowl lathering either Jim. Face lathering works almost every time for me. Tallow is hard to beat. Nothing else IMO creates a slickness like a quality tallow base soap.
Have you tried the Mystic Water Soap yet? Stuff is Awesome. Just remember if you try it that it does not like hot water, try lukewarm. Nothing I have tried except maybe MWF feels as good on the face and is super slick.

Jon

Originally Posted by EvilZeg

Awesome.

I have found that I am leaning towards face lathering/tallow. When I started using my DE back in December I kept trying to bowl lather and was getting mixed results. Once I moved to face lathering my results improved tremendously.

Jim

**Raithskar** · 04-30-2012, 01:07 PM

I had put of shaving all weekend so i had a good 2+ days of growth. I rehoned the Puma just to test the theory I had been tossing around. I am pretty confident with my edges now so I know what to expect. Did not bother with HHT at all. It has been less that a good indicator as of late. I know when I am getting a nice undercut with x strokes that I am there. So I stropped and put the razor back in my roll. That was Friday night.

Well I lathered up with the fat this morning, selected the 5/8 Puma, stropped 40/40 on my new Scrupleworks and off we went.

Beard prep was the same as usual. The shave was less than stellar. I got close and whisker removal was evident when I wiped the lather on the heel of my hand. I don't know if it was too much pressure or lack of keeness but I was not pleased with performance.

Checked tracking and my La Veinette bout should be delivered by the time I get home. Will have a new report tomorrow and hopefully it will be a better one.

Jon

**EvilZeg** · 04-30-2012, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Raithskar

I never had consistent results with bowl lathering either Jim. Face lathering works almost every time for me. Tallow is hard to beat. Nothing else IMO creates a slickness like a quality tallow base soap.
Have you tried the Mystic Water Soap yet? Stuff is Awesome. Just remember if you try it that it does not like hot water, try lukewarm. Nothing I have tried except maybe MWF feels as good on the face and is super slick.

Jon

I really enjoy Mystic Water. I have used up my Marrakech sample, working on my Lime, and have my Coconut waiting in line. I have used Bigelow menthol shave cream and love the cooling sensation. I also have an Irisch Moos shave stick in my travel kit. I have heard about Vostok shave soap, people say its the most intense menthol shave soap, so I'm interested in giving that a shot at some point. I also want to try some of Mike's Shave soaps.

Jim

**global_dev** · 04-30-2012, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Raithskar

I have been shaving with the straight for about 9 months, but at the first of this year I met with a fellow wet shaver who helped me tremendously with my honing. He also helped me realize the errors in my shaving technique. Since then it has been like starting over, but I have consistently improved.

any insight into what you were doing differently for those 9 months (or 5 months?)

**Raithskar** · 05-01-2012, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by EvilZeg

I really enjoy Mystic Water. I have used up my Marrakech sample, working on my Lime, and have my Coconut waiting in line. I have used Bigelow menthol shave cream and love the cooling sensation. I also have an Irisch Moos shave stick in my travel kit. I have heard about Vostok shave soap, people say its the most intense menthol shave soap, so I'm interested in giving that a shot at some point. I also want to try some of Mike's Shave soaps.

Jim

I love MW myself. I have used the Sandalwood which smells divine, and the Orange Vanilla smells good enough to eat! I have been wanting to try the Marakesh, it sounds delightful!

I love menthol too. Most of my go to aftershaves have it. Alt-Innsbruck (buy some if you don't have it), and Floid Blue. Proraso splash,,,,they are all great. I use the proraso Soap too love it.

**Raithskar** · 05-01-2012, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by global_dev

any insight into what you were doing differently for those 9 months (or 5 months?)

Improper Lather, too much pressure and dull razors as far as shaving. I have remedied all of those but Pressure, but I am figuring it out.

For honing....chasing my tail, not doing dilucot at all. I had finally started trying it right before I met whith the guy who helped me. Now I have a universal progression which has worked with every coti I have used so far. La Verte, La Dressante, La Grise, LPB and La Vienette.

Jon

**Raithskar** · 05-01-2012, 08:51 AM

Yesterday eveinig I sat down with the Puma from yesterdays shave. I figured out the problem. The bevel was no where near set even though i thought it was.

Rehoned it with a proper bevel, shaved with it this morning, and it performed like a champ! Very close near BBS shave. Now i have irritation rearing it's ugly head from yesterday. I should have changed razors, but sometimes I am just stubborn.

Looks like improper bevels are my main culprit here. I will be sure that problem is fixed from now on.

Jon

**Raithskar** · 05-09-2012, 05:50 AM

Just reporting in.

Had a stellar shave this past Saturday. Was Best Man at my Dad's wedding. Felt great to be clean shaven that day.

The following two shaves were not as rewarding. It all seemed lack luster for some reason or another. too much pressure, or this or that.....just seemed like a struggle, and I have a nice patch of irritation below my right jaw line.....whole neck down there actually. I will keep fighting this battle, but I am suddenly at a stalemate, seeing no progress in sight.

These are the Ramblings of a Mad Man!

Jon

**Doc226** · 05-09-2012, 05:58 AM

Jon, what are you setting the bevels with?

**Raithskar** · 05-09-2012, 07:07 AM

Naniwa 1K for majority of the bevel work, then I refine it on the coticule Al.

**global_dev** · 05-09-2012, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by Raithskar

Just reporting in.

Had a stellar shave this past Saturday. Was Best Man at my Dad's wedding. Felt great to be clean shaven that day.

The following two shaves were not as rewarding. It all seemed lack luster for some reason or another. too much pressure, or this or that.....just seemed like a struggle, and I have a nice patch of irritation below my right jaw line.....whole neck down there actually. I will keep fighting this battle, but I am suddenly at a stalemate, seeing no progress in sight.

These are the Ramblings of a Mad Man!

Jon

was this the same Puma? i find the first shave or two off an edge is just seems much better than subsequent shaves... i'd really like to know if people are just stropping between shaves, or always hitting a paste or spray...

**dknox** · 05-09-2012, 09:39 AM

What kind of things did the more experienced guy show you to do differently? I've wondered if I could improve a lot by changing things I don't even know about and can't pick up over the interwebs.

**Raithskar** · 05-09-2012, 01:03 PM

I strop before and after every shave. No pastes. This morning I used a W&B Special, that was freshly honed. Feels like it did a beter job than I thought. Stubble is creeping back, but still pretty smooth.

Jon

**Raithskar** · 05-10-2012, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by dknox

What kind of things did the more experienced guy show you to do differently? I've wondered if I could improve a lot by changing things I don't even know about and can't pick up over the interwebs.

First thing I found out was that my lather was way to dry. You have to have a well hydrated lather for the straight to glide properly. A Dry lather causes the razor to skip, natural reaction is to apply more pressure, and eventuall a nick or cut is going to surface. better to be thin and wet, than dry and thick with the straight blade.

Second is pressure. A feather light touch with a properly honed razor will yield the best results every time. Just barely touch the blade to your face.

Hope this helps.

Jon

**Raithskar** · 05-10-2012, 12:10 PM

This Morning was Fantastic. I tested the edge on my 13/16 Friodur....still not there yet. I had also selected my 13/16 Carl Schlieper just in case. It had been honed on my La Veinette bout...I am loving that hone!

Lathered up some DRH Marlborough with my new Seamogue 2000, and had one of the best shaves of my life. Very close and comfortable. The only thing I changed was my pressure. I followed the advice I gave to dknox above, and the razor was just a stellar performer. One of my best shavers hands down!

My confidence has been restored!

Jon

**Raithskar** · 05-14-2012, 08:31 AM

No shave all weekend. i grabbed my little 5/8 Eric Anton Berg that a Buddy of mine had touched up on his finisher for me. Lathered "The Fat" and off we went. The EAB could not handle my heavy growth, but in my Buddy's defense I have a thick coarse beard. I had to go get my 13/16 unmarked Swedish Blade. Gave it a quick strop and removed the rest of my beard with no effort. I was pressed for time so i did not get as close as I wanted, but still a nice comfortable shave. No sting from the Alt Innsbruck, so I think i am finally getting my pressure in order.

Still a great way to start a new week!

Jon