Raithskar's shave Journal

**Raithskar** · 07-17-2012, 04:49 AM

Well I will eat my previous words. Good old humble pie. Kinda funny when you find out your problem is something as simple as blade angle. Made it as shallow as possible and bang! Had a helluva shave this morning, and also my fastest to date.

My tools of attack this morning were as follows:
H. Boker Red Injun 101
MW Lily of the Valley
26mm 2 band Thater
WH, Floid Blue, and some Proraso cream to finish.

Damn nice smooth shave. I have a couple of small spots of irritation, but that is from trying too hard to get a spot clean. So smooth and pleasurable. 3 passes WTG, XTG , and ATG. I had all my gear cleaned in a little over 30 minuets. That is a great bump in time for me!

**Raithskar** · 07-24-2012, 05:05 AM

Just a stellar shave this morning.

Puma No. 63 INOX
MWF
Thater SRP 2 band
Thayers, Alt. Innsbruck, and some Proraso Cream

Has some decent stubble this morning. Did my new prep of a hot shower with some Nivea for Men Moisturizing face wash. After the Shower I face lathered the MWF, and then let it sit at least 2 more minuets while I strop and get everything ready.

Letting the lather sit has made a huge differience in my shaves. they are much more smooth and enjoyable. I performed a 2 pass shave WTG, ATG and a little cleanup. It was great! Silky smooth and enjoyable. Nothing beats a shave like this knowing you have done the honing yourself.

Good shaving everyone!

**Tkocloser** · 07-24-2012, 10:25 AM

Great photo, terrific shave, congratulations Jon!

**otto76** · 07-24-2012, 05:30 PM

Is that Puma new to you? Haven't seen it yet, I'm kind of jealous! Nice looking set up.

**Raithskar** · 07-25-2012, 04:57 AM

Thanks for the kind words guys!

Yeah I have had it a few months Otto. Has not seen near enough action. After yesterday I will be changing that. INOX is a fantastic metal. Takes some finess to get it dialed in, but when you do....WOW! the feel and sound are totally different than a Carbon Puma I have with the same blade style.

Today for the first time in I don't know when I had to break out the Styptic (sp?) pen. Regardless o that the shave was still real nice. Not as good as yesterdays, but good nonetheless.

Sorry no pic today Guys.

Puma Spanish Point 5/8" Not sure on the model. If there was any etching it has been buffed away. Still looks mint anyway, and takes a great edge.
SRP Thater (I am in love with this brush)
DRH Marlborough
Finished with Thayers Lavender, Floid Blue and Proraso Cream.

Nice and smooth, gashed myself pretty good on the chin (enough to sting), but did not stop me from finishing. 2 pass and a DFS.

This razor did not cut as well as I thought it would, and now I know why. I actually over did it on the hone. to many strokes without enough dilution can make life honing a pain.

Cheers!

**Raithskar** · 07-30-2012, 04:59 AM

Wow, I am really digging this!

Something I have noticed with my straight shaves is how they advance in tiers. You hit a level, shave there a while, and then Bam, you hit a new one.

This morning was my first shave since Friday Morning. I was letting some nick heal up. Prepped with a hot shower, face wash and a massaged lather first thing out of the shower.

Tools were:

13/16 Puma 52
SRP Thater
Mystic Water Lily of the Valley
Thayers, Floid Blue and Proraso Cream

Smooth and comfortable from the first stroke to the last. Lacked noting to be desired. 3 Pass WTG, WTG and ATG. No Pull no tug just divine. I checked whisker removal to see the lather almost black from the quantity of whiskers.

It is really rewarding to get smooth passes with 3-4 days growth. This was truly a fine shave!

**otto76** · 07-30-2012, 12:25 PM

Sometimes I have the best shaves with 3-4 days growth. Doesn't happen often but it's nice when it does.

**Raithskar** · 08-06-2012, 10:18 AM

Another outstanding shave.

Puma 5/8" Spanish Point
"The Fat"
Thater SRP
Finished with Thayers, Alt Innsbruck and some Proraso cream.

Another shave with 3 days growth. I rarely shave on the weekends so Monday morning I am always scruffy. I honed the razor on my La Dressante bout, and finished on my new vintage combo.

Smooth and pleasurable from first to last stroke. Not a bit of discomfort and absolutley no sting from the AS. An exceptional shave with an exceptional razor!

**Raithskar** · 08-07-2012, 10:10 AM

13/16 J.A Henckels Friodur
Mystic Water Lily of the Valley
28mm TGN 2 band in Butterscotch
Thayers Lavender, Classic Pinaud and Proraso Cream

A Lovely 2 Pass with slight cleanup. The Friodur is one of my favorite razors. I think it needs a little touching up, but shaved very good regardless.

A clean and refreshing DFS!

**Raithskar** · 08-09-2012, 11:03 AM

Skipped the shave yesterday morning, so i has a decent stubble. This morning was a magnificent shave. I awoke earlier than usual so I took my time. Slow, methodical and relaxing. This is what straight shaving is all about!

I picked out my 5/8 Puma 63 INOX again.
Used some DRH marlborough and my Thater Brush.
Made my usual postshave with some Floid Blue.

Lather got a little thin for the 3rd pass, but nothing a few swirls on the puck could not fix. The razor performed flawlessly. If there was any error it was the users fault. I did two WTG passes, one ATG and results were paramount!

Cheers!

Jon

**Tkocloser** · 08-09-2012, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Raithskar

Skipped the shave yesterday morning, so i has a decent stubble. This morning was a magnificent shave. I awoke earlier than usual so I took my time. Slow, methodical and relaxing. This is what straight shaving is all about!

I picked out my 5/8 Puma 63 INOX again.
Used some DRH marlborough and my Thater Brush.
Made my usual postshave with some Floid Blue.

Lather got a little thin for the 3rd pass, but nothing a few swirls on the puck could not fix. The razor performed flawlessly. If there was any error it was the users fault. I did two WTG passes, one ATG and results were paramount!

Cheers!

Jon

What a thing of beauty, congratulations!

**Raithskar** · 08-10-2012, 04:34 AM

Thanks Tom!

**Raithskar** · 08-14-2012, 05:08 AM

Well Yesterday I shaved off 4 days worth of whisker. It was a pretty good shave, but not one of my better ones.

This morning was another sublime shave except for one thing. The whole right side of my neck under the jawline is irritated. This is from strictly user error, because the equipment was spot on. I think this is the result of improper blade/attack angle, I have always struggled in this spot. Regardless of the bad spots I had a great shave.

SRP Thater
6/8 J.A. Henckels 401 Platinum (I think it is actually closer to 13/16)
Mystic Water Lily of the valley
Thayers, Alt Innsbruck and some Proraso.
As a precaution I treated the Irritation with some Antibiotic Ointment.

I have so missed this razor. It had been need scales for a long while, so I finally cracked and sent it off. Took a wicked edge off the La Veinette, and was so very smooth this morning. Anyone who owns a Henckels Platinum know what I am about to say. I don't know what they have done differient, but there is something special about these particular series of razors. The take a wickedly smooth and keen edge. They are a true joy to shave with.

**Raithskar** · 08-20-2012, 10:36 AM

Another great shave this morning.

6/8 JA Henckels 84 Extra Hollow re scaled in Ivory
"The Fat"
SRP Thater
Thayers and Floid blue to finish

This was my best shave yet! This was my first time to use an extra hollow razor. Oh how it speaks when it is removing the stubble. My Wife said she could hear it , and I had the baathroom door closed. It was velvety smooth, I love Henckels razors.

4 days worth of stubble. 4 passes 2 WTG 2 ATG there was no irritation, no sting from the AS, no pull or tugging.

A DFS to start a new week! I could not be happier!

**Raithskar** · 08-22-2012, 05:34 AM

6/8+ J.A. Henckels Friodur
La Toja Manantiales
Thayers Lavender
Floid Blue

Just another outstanding shave. 2 pass wtg, atg DFS!

I was not really sure how good I had done until about 10 minuets after the shave. Whiskers really shrink away when they dry, so i got a lot closer than I thought.
My skin is smooth and feels like velvet. It was a brisk and refreshing shave...so nice for these hot summer days!

**Tkocloser** · 08-23-2012, 03:56 AM

Originally Posted by Raithskar

6/8+ J.A. Henckels Friodur
La Toja Manantiales
Thayers Lavender
Floid Blue

Just another outstanding shave. 2 pass wtg, atg DFS!

I was not really sure how good I had done until about 10 minuets after the shave. Whiskers really shrink away when they dry, so i got a lot closer than I thought.
My skin is smooth and feels like velvet. It was a brisk and refreshing shave...so nice for these hot summer days!

Dude, you are in the sweet spot! Keep it going!

**Raithskar** · 08-23-2012, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by Tkocloser

Dude, you are in the sweet spot! Keep it going!

I sure have Tom, especially after the past week. I have hit my apex of razor keeness, pressure and technique. I still had a few very small spots of irritation, but they did not hurt or feel sore like in the past. I always have trouble under the chin when going atg. Hard to dial that area in, but it will come with more practice.

Thanks for the encouragement!

**Raithskar** · 08-29-2012, 10:39 AM

Well with work and life things have been pretty crazy I have not had a lot of time to post.

I have had two stellar shaves this week!

Monday:

13/16 Carl Schlieper
SRP Thater
"The Fat"
Thayers Lavender, Floid Blue and Proraso

the Schlieper was fresh off my wee La Veinette so I had to give it a test drive. 3 days growth and no pull or tug, just clean removal. The razor takes a very keen edge, and always seems to be brisk. I did a 3 pass WTG, XTG and ATG. Smooth and comfortable, left my skin feeling like velvet and very refreshed.

Tuesday:

13/16 C. Friedrich Ern
Arko shave stick
My brand spanking new 27.5 mm M&F Blonde Badger (thank You Ben!!)
Thayers Lavender, Alt innsbruck and Proraso

I was skeptical about the ERN, I remember thinking it need some more work, but boy was I wrong! It was very smooth and comfortable. I can't quit thinking of how the razor felt while removing my stubble, it was a true Joy that really can't be put to words. Afterwards it reaffirmed why I so love my beloved Coticules. This one was done on my La Dressante bout. The edges from that stone leave my skin feeling Silky smooth...I just love it.

The M&F brush performed in spades! It has a ton of backbone, and had no trouble making the Arko "explode" into a thick rich lather. Brush was a touch of a lather hog, but this was the first time it had been used, so I think some more breaking it will resolve that problem. It is truly a fine brush.

I did a 3 pass WTG, XTG and ATG. Wow what a delightful shave. I have zero sore spots or irritation which is rare for me. Latley I have backed off of the pressure even more, and it has made worlds of differience.

Thank for letting me share!

**Raithskar** · 09-10-2012, 02:50 PM

After fast and furious weekend, it was nice to relax and have a shave this morning.

Puma No. 52
Scrupleworks Horween oil tanned & Genuine Linen 50/50
Mystic Water Lily of the Valley
Morris & Forndran Blonde Badger
Thayers Lavender, Alt-Innsbruck and Proraso to finish

A relaxing smooth and comfortable shave. 3 passes 2 WTG and ATG. No nicks, and no sting. All in all...just incredible!

**Raithskar** · 09-17-2012, 06:02 AM

Amazing shave this morning.

9/16 Genco fluid steel
Mystic Water Lily of the Valley
Morris & Forndran 27mm blonde badger
Thayers Lavender and Aqua Velva Ice Blue for the finish

4 passes this morning. 2 WTG, XTG and ATG. I had thick growth this morning from not shaveing over the weekend. First pass was a little rough but I needed a touch more water in my lather. From 2nd pass on was the best feeling coti edge I have ever used. The Genco had a fresh hone off my big La Dressante. There was no sensation at all but smooth strokes. I could not even feel the razor cutting, just heard it. This is the smoothest irritation free shave I have ever had.