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Tuesday, August 20, 2024: Last Day of Vacation
Tomorrow, we'll be heading back home β time to say good bye (for a moment) to Amber FougΓ¨re. I should be posting more seriously from tomorrow on.
Have a good night!
The edge has hit its stride and β at peak smoothness now β is a joy to use. I like hollow grounds for their gentle touch, and I like heavy blades for their smoothness ATG. When a comparatively light blade like this one gives you a smooth fool's pass, you know the edge is on point.
I saw and photographed split tips in the brush a few days ago, but I can't find them anymore, and the brush seems in no hurry to start a mass splitting event. I'm starting to feel impatient.
The edge has hit its stride and β at peak smoothness now β is a joy to use.
Yes, an edge can be too sharp. I actually like that feeling, but I associate it with a new edge that I know will soften with a couple of uses. I'm still thinking that stropping is a highly overrated activity.
Iβm still thinking that stropping is a highly overrated activity.
According to Brad Maggard, old soft Sheffield steel "springs back to life" when stropped. I'm now thinking that a comparative Sheffield edition of the #NoStrop challenge is in order for science.
To be simplistic about it, a degree of correlation with elements that contribute to wear resistance - carbon content, alloying elements, heat treatment - might be in order π
Technique-wise, I use a very wet lather preparation, and I keep shaving angle low to optimize cutting efficiency and to favor compressive loads at the edge over shear loads.
August 20, 2024
$Discord
$ShepherdsofStirling
Progress Album
Quite excellent. Added more water to the lather than I have been. Great soap.
August 20, 2024
Brush: Zenith r/Wetshaving 31mm x 57mm Moar Boar
Razor: J.A. Henckels Friodur 14 Full Hollow Square Point
Lather: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Soap
Toner: Thayers - Lavender - Toner
Aftershave: Chicago Grooming - AG 1889 - Aftershave
Fragrance: Guerlain - Jicky - Eau de Toilette
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave. $headless $FriodomRiders #NoStrop
The closeness of these shaves backed down from exceptional during the first 3 or 4 days, and has remained pretty steady since then. Comfort increased, though, and the combination of comfort and closeness that I'm getting from this entire setup has been stunning. After the shave, I still have BBS everywhere except around my Adam's Apple, but that area dries down to BBS after about 20 minutes. It is very difficult rate this experience anything but "Excellent".
Tomorrow I'll make my third microscope photo of the edge.
AA24 - Day 20 - Tea Tuesday
Brush: Zenith Multi-Color (2006 XSE) 21mm Unbleached Boar Knot
Blade: Gillette Platinum [20]
Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - Soap (Mutton Tallow)
Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Cheshire - Splash
Fragrance: Chicago Grooming Co. - 40 - Extrait de Parfum
Tags: $ShepherdsofStirling $RawHoggin $Discord
Cheshire++
