Dave in KY's Videos and Hangout

I identify with your remarks in a number of important points Dave in KY.   I, too, have had problems with my aging skin, and it is these problems which have led me away from more aggressive razors and into the direction of smoothness first.  Like you, this shift has made longer lasting shaves elusive for me.  I have also moved towards lighter razors, like the GEM Featherweight, vintage Schicks (centered around Type Ls these days, vs Type Gs formerly), and - more sparingly for cost reasons - titanium.  

In addition to these similarities, Tester28's information strongly informed my buying choices too.  This year I made one huge (for me) and one smaller titanium purchase.  This was the huge buy (which I also posted in the out for delivery thread):
  

  
and the smaller buy was an 0.68 titanium base plate for my titanium 0.95 Timeless (exposure for the 0.68 gap = 0mm vs +0.05mm for the 0.95 gap).  I repost both the Tatara buy and the following chart, which is downloadable from Tatara Razors, because the chart shows at a glance the the information you gleaned from Tester28:
  

  
  
The buy shown above allows me four of the six gap/exposure options, which is part of how I justified spending such a big chunk of budget on it.  So far, however, I have been so enamoured with the Masamune that I have not tried the other combinations, but that will change soon.

EDIT:  I forgot to mention the other important part of how I justified spending such a big chunk of budget on the big buy:  Tatara was running a 15% off sale.  I hasten to include that in this edit, because no sooner had I posted this than a 15% sale email showed up in my in box! 

HighSpeed Decided it was a catch, short enjoy and release for me. Sold and shipped this morning. Have others like the Athena that are better fits for me at a fraction of the cost. Glad you are set with yours and they are stunning workmanship !

HighSpeed Decided it was a catch, short enjoy and release for me. Sold and shipped this morning. Have others like the Athena that are better fits for me at a fraction of the cost. Glad you are set with yours and they are stunning workmanship !

I hear you Dave, and I hear nothing but big-time love for the Athena, with its combination of singular beauty and uncannily smooth and efficient performance.

Friday July 28, 2023
Razor: Shake Sharp
Blade: Wizamet
Brush: Wolf Whisker/Badger
Soap: PannaCrema Rossa
AS 1: Witch Hazel
AS 2: Sweet Comb Chicago
Fragrance:
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,726

Saturday July 29, 2023
Razor: Star Cru Steel
Blade: Gem SS
Brush: Knothead Brush Works/Timberwolf
Soap: Stirling Deton-8
AS 1: Witch Hazel
AS 2: Stirling Deton-8 Splash
Fragrance: Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,727

Sunday July 30, 2023
Razor: 1887 Star Lather Catcher
Blade: Gem SS
Brush: Graydog Quilt/Synthetic
Soap: I Coloniali
AS 1: Witch Hazel
AS 2: Terre D'Hermes Splash
Fragrance: Terre D'Hermes Edt
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,728
https://youtu.be/3iQ3IuwIIwY

Monday July 31, 2023
Razor: Rockwell 6S Plate 5
Blade: Wizamet
Brush: Trotter Kickflip/Synthetic
Soap: Ethos Greenfresh
AS 1: Witch Hazel
AS 2: Ethos Greenfresh
Fragrance:
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,729

Tuesday August 1, 2023
Razor: Blackland Vector Titanium
Blade: Feather Pro
Brush: Wolf Whisker/Black Wolf Knot
Soap: Sir Henry's Kentucky Rain
AS 1: Witch Hazel
AS 2: Sir Henry's Kentucky Rain
Fragrance: NOT NEEDED
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 1,730

So I stink at searches and don't know exactly how many shaves I've had with this soap, but I know I've used this soap a TON. A TON I tell you and it has barely decreased in amount IF it has at all. LOVE the Soap base and LOVE the scent. The one thing that was frustrating was the aftershave left me feel like I had a film instead of my skin feeling clean. Only way I can describe it. So I experimented with different aftershaves to use with the soap and found some that work well and still leave the "Kentucky Rain" scent coming thru. I would keep trying to go back to the Matching Splash but still just didn't like the feeling of it after use. This is NOT a knock on the product as you can't please everyone with all the variances in skin types. That's why I NEVER said anything about it and chalked it up to my loss. I even added a touch of scentless Witch Hazel hoping to cut it some but still no love. Today I took my SOTD pic with my favorite aftershave match with this Soap which was Small Batch Shave Tonic but as I showered after some early yardwork to beat the heat, I decided that I was going to try one last thing I read after some Googling. Someone was talking about a different aftershave and different maker that left him feeling as I described. 1 recommendation was to put some water in your palm and then add some of the aftershave to it. Rub in hands to mix and then apply to the face. THAT was the ticket for me to be able to use it HAPPILY. It still isn't perfect for me like some of my favorite aftershaves but it's good enough that I can now use and enjoy the matching splash with the soap. I REPEAT that the issue is NOT the product but MY skin makeup and that's why I never said anything as I didn't want to discourage people from buying this SET. dominicr This scent is KILLER and addictive for me !! Thanks for a product that will ALWAYS be in my den and probably the original ever self-producing soap will outlive me! Have a great day everyone !

Very interesting write-up Dave in KY. Thx.

Very interesting write-up Dave in KY.  Thx.

Thank you Mike !