The Scandal Sheet: Straights and other stuff

[Darth Scandalous]

Very late shave today. Wasn't even sure I was going to shave at all. Woke up with a lot of weird pain and muscle tension, better now, but it really took over my morning. I also *really* wanted to hone a razor on my new stone. I have a church gig tomorrow and we're supposed to get some ice, so today would be the only time for experimentation.

Well, I did manage to hone the razor. A very interesting little stone. Much different feedback compared to my other Jnat. And by noon I was pretty heartily sick of the 80 grit stubble on my face. So I took a shower and went to town.

Well. What a nice edge. Really takes smooth and keen to a new level. I knew even after the first pass that it was going to be a very close shave. I decided not to bother with a DE cleanup pass. The combo of a brilliant edge and the subtle smile of the blade meant I could experiment with some awkward angles that I probably wouldn't even attempt with many of my other straights. Bottom line: it took a little longer, it's marginally less close in a few trouble spots (although on par with what I'd achieve with my vintage Gillettes, actually) and was a lot of fun. Very low impact from the splash.

Straight was Söderén, soap was Dolomiti, Vielong handle with Golden Nib Master Badger for the brush, and the Veg for the finish.

Be well, everyone.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Down in straight razor land, we're doing Japanese Steel Week again this year. Was supposed to start tomorrow but a few of us just couldn't wait. Of course with my current rotation, it's Japanese steel week three weeks out of four. So I decided to try to narrow it down to the most quintessentially Japanese razors I have.

First up is my Iwasaki kamisori. It needs no introduction. A beautifully close, comfortable shave. Dolomiti was the soap du jour again. I had loaded a Bic into the R41GS. In retrospect I guess I should have used a Feather. Finished off with the Veg.

Our rain/ snow mix was mostly rain and there was no ice accumulation so my trip to play for church was uneventful.

Be well.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Well, as the poet says, "the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley," but in this case it worked out just fine.

First thing, I think I've mentioned that the boy child is not the best at planning ahead. When I saw him the other day he still hadn't bought a return ticket to get back to Chicago. Somewhere mid-week I read a news story that the Borealis (the new dedicated Twin Cities to Chicago run) was going to be limited for the near future as they discovered some "corrosion problems" with a number of the train cars. I thought, huh. I hope the boy bought a ticket. But I decided to let natural consequences play out there. Well, very late Friday night, long after I'd turned in, he texted me wondering if I could drive him to Chicago because he couldn't get a ticket. But, he managed to use that big brain of his and get a ticket on the Empire Builder instead, for departure this morning. Which is good, because I don't mind driving but it would have been a little tight with the obligations I had yesterday and today. But the bonus of all of it was that I got to drive him over to the depot in St Paul this morning and see him off properly.

Second thing, I more or less had a lineup planned for Japanese Steel Week. But I was playing around with some new tomo naguras yesterday on my Falcon which is one of a few "test" razors I still have. After some back and forth I was pretty happy with the one, very happy in fact so I figured I'd at least do half a pass or something with the Falcon this morning to see how it came out. Well, wouldn't you know, it came out very nice indeed, wicked keen but just on this side of being tediously sharp. I didn't want to put it down so I didn't. Retrospectively, it is quintessentially Japanese in its own way: bears the the telltale scars of the crude ministrations of a Japanese barber. Still, it's a brilliant shaver and the first Japanese razor I ever bought.

Soap was MdC Rose and the brush was the Vestavia. The R41GS/Bic was smooth on cleanup duty, but if anything it was the weak link in the chain today. The Bic struggled in a couple spots along the jawbone. I think I'll bin it and go with a Feather tomorrow after all. Finished off with a couple fistfuls of the Veg, just like I like it.

Be well everyone.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Back on track today with the original lineup for Japanese Steel Week. Of course I had to use my new-to-me Kikuboshi 165/SK-1. I honed it the other day on my new little Japanese stone and it came out quite nice. One challenge I think I noted the last time, is that you have to attend to the shave angle carefully. What I mean is, if you're using a nice flat angle at the center of the blade, and go to use the toe without rolling the razor a bit, it will be tug or potentially bitey because the angle is significantly steeper. Now, with the edge I put on it, it doesn't seem to want to bite at all which is nice. So the slight tug was a nice reminder to adjust the angle. With a nice, shallow angle this thing cuts effortlessly.

Soap was MdC Rose again and the Mondial is "breaking in" nicely-- quotes there because a silvertip like this doesn't really break in so much as shed it's residual oils. Speaking of shedding, one fully black bristle fell out, which didn't seem like it really belonged so no loss. Neither of these brushes seems to be a shedder. The other maybe lost four hairs over the course of the time I had it. This is the first for this one.

As planned I ditched the Bic and loaded a Feather in the R41GS. Now normally I consider the Bics to be fairly sharp, especially after the coating wears in, but these two blades weren't even in the same timezone. Managed a marble-smooth finish with very little effort. Though, to be fair, the SK-1 eliminates all but the most troublesome trouble spots due to its small size and curvy cutting action.

Finished off with the Veg.

Be well.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

The YSS Triumph was up for J-Steel Week. I ended my self-imposed badgerfest today with the Rudy Vey/Semogue boar and it was a nice change. Went for BSS-1 today, it has been neglected a bit as the weather has improved, and also somewhat because the mug I have it in doesn't easily accommodate larger brushes. The boar was only slightly hoggy today. Could have probably made it with my initial load but I did go back for more prior to the last pass. This soap is so nice when I keep it on the thick side, it would be a disservice not to reload as needed. All the components worked together very well. The Feather/R41GS combo was especially well-behaved today and I was rewarded with a glassy BBS with no weepers and very limited impact from the Veg.

Be well, everyone.

 

[Letsgoalready]

When I saw him the other day he still hadn't bought a return ticket to get back to Chicago.

I hate going back to school, but I think I would have a panic attack if I didn't have a ticket. It is a little easier to take a train as I have to fly.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Kind of a busy morning so just now catching up. Danshaku was up today, always a favorite. Paired the Vielong synth with Dolomiti and got a wonderful lather out of it. Cleanup was uneventful but very effective with the Feather/Mühle combo. Finished with the Veg.

I wasn't planning on collecting bowls but Mrs. Scandalous was experimenting with a new glitter powder and I commented how similar it was to my anodized titanium Oumo. So she made another bowl for me. Pretty cool. The brush almost looks drab in comparison.

Be well.

 

[Guido75]

She has done an amazing job Matt! Wow!

 

[Koop]

Love the new bowl!

 

[BigAlVista]

Kind of a busy morning so just now catching up. Danshaku was up today, always a favorite. Paired the Vielong synth with Dolomiti and got a wonderful lather out of it. Cleanup was uneventful but very effective with the Feather/Mühle combo. Finished with the Veg.View attachment 2024262


I wasn't planning on collecting bowls but Mrs. Scandalous was experimenting with a new glitter powder and I commented how similar it was to my anodized titanium Oumo. So she made another bowl for me. Pretty cool. The brush almost looks drab in comparison.

Be well.
View attachment 2024263View attachment 2024264View attachment 2024265

Really beautiful bowls!

 

[Darth Scandalous]

She has done an amazing job Matt! Wow!

Love the new bowl!

Really beautiful bowls!

Thanks gents! If the new one is fully cured by morning I'll give it a trial run.

 

[Teutonblade]

Kind of a busy morning so just now catching up. Danshaku was up today, always a favorite. Paired the Vielong synth with Dolomiti and got a wonderful lather out of it. Cleanup was uneventful but very effective with the Feather/Mühle combo. Finished with the Veg.View attachment 2024262


I wasn't planning on collecting bowls but Mrs. Scandalous was experimenting with a new glitter powder and I commented how similar it was to my anodized titanium Oumo. So she made another bowl for me. Pretty cool. The brush almost looks drab in comparison.

Be well.
View attachment 2024263View attachment 2024264View attachment 2024265

Very pretty!

 

[Eric_75]

Those are stunning, Matt.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Quick writeup today as I have to run over to another one our accounts and cover for someone today. Hoshi Tombo was up for Japanese Steel Week/Frameback Friday. New bowl works as advertised (same mold as the last one). The Oumo ended up being a little more brush than I wanted today but I made it work with MdC Rose. Cleanup was the Fatip for Fatip Friday. I decided not to push my luck with a Feather there, despite the theme. The Nacet that was in it was very comfortable and effective. Finished with the Veg, of course.

Haven't been listening to music much lately, just haven't been in the mood. But I decided to dial up my Waylon playlist and it reminded me that I need a little tele twang in my life.

Be well.

 

[Teutonblade]

Quick writeup today as I have to run over to another one our accounts and cover for someone today. Hoshi Tombo was up for Japanese Steel Week/Frameback Friday. New bowl works as advertised (same mold as the last one). The Oumo ended up being a little more brush than I wanted today but I made it work with MdC Rose. Cleanup was the Fatip for Fatip Friday. I decided not to push my luck with a Feather there, despite the theme. The Nacet that was in it was very comfortable and effective. Finished with the Veg, of course.

Haven't been listening to music much lately, just haven't been in the mood. But I decided to dial up my Waylon playlist and it reminded me that I need a little tele twang in my life.

Be well.View attachment 2024710

Beautiful photo!