SOTD 16-22 August 2020

[b]SOTD TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 18, 2020[/b]

Today my shave featured two new shaving tools. One was a new/old Tanifuji Airi Shaving Sword (hey, that’s how it was marketed) and the other my brand new Tradere. I’d been reading about Japanese straights and Silver Steel when Ben called my attention to this straight razor available from a friend of his in NYC who’s apparently also a vintage Japanese straight razor nut. 95% of Ben’s vintage Straights are Japanese. He sold most of his Sheffield and Solingen straights. Only has a few collectibles in those categories. The razor arrived yesterday, passed the tilt ‘n wobble test with flying colors, and was touched up by Ben on his 20k jnat. Well fellers, I now understand what you mean by buttery, velvet edge! This was without doubt the best straight shave I’ve ever had, albeit with the same DFS below the jawline!

Enter the Tradere! At 118.5 grams it feels great in the hand. Shane of Blackland was 100% faithful to the original design, and I understand now why its entry eight years ago rocked the wet shaving community! It’s simply an incredible shaver. Loaded with a Feather blade, it cleaned up my neck Shearing away the stubble right down to the skin line while gliding along on its mentholated MWF lather cushion. There was little, if any, blade feel, but boy did it do the job. One and a half passes (ATG, ATG) on the noggin tucked the baby in and put him right to bed! It’s a combination of the weight coupled with the almost complete lack of auditory feedback. I was contacted by Wolfman regarding my order, but after this shave have no interest in pursuing it. This is without doubt one of, if not, the best modern artisan safety razors in my den! I feel cool, refreshed, clean and supremely velveteen!

RAZOR: Tanifuji Airi Silver Steel Shaving Sword (Mug), Blackland Tradere (Dome)
BLADE: Polsilver
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Rabid Banana Preshave Cube
BRUSH: Rooney Ebony Pure Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat w/ 6 drops of M-Bomb
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH and Osage Rub. Finished with Krampert’s Frostbite AS Splash.

Paradigm DB-Prismatic (Sabre handle)/Derby USTA.

Paired with a mild blade (with shim). Gobs of feedback but no skipping or tugging. Very aggressive and less rigid than some other pairings but still a great shave.

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Tuesday AM 2020-08-18
National Bad Poetry Day


Rooney Emillion 2 Porcelain-Jade Finest (24/55)
Floris No. 89 shaving soap (tallow)
Carbon Damascus Athena/Tibam Antique Brass
Gillette Super Stainless 'Spoiler' (2)
Floris No. 89 aftershave (vintage)

7/8 “The Celebrated” Pre-1890 Wade and Butcher

Stirling Soap is a real winner...every single time I use it!

Soap: Declaration Grooming Tribute
Razor: Wolfman WR2 1.15
Brush: M&F 3XL Blonde Badger

Soap: Noble Otter Plunder
Splash: Noble Otter Plunder
Razor: Karve Christopher Bradley Brass SB-C
Brush: Declaration Jefferson Summer's Ghost B9A

8/18/20 SOTD

RFB #77 (2 piece)
Lab Blue
Ethos Melange d'agrumes
Ethos Melange d'agrumes Aroma Enhancer
Mondial 1908 Boar
Thayers
Ethos Melange d'agrumes Skin Food Splash

Prep: Razorock pre barba
Bowl: Ceramiche di Sicilia
Brush: Simpson Emperor 3 Manchurian
Soap: Tcheon Fung Sing Sottozero
Razor: H&S 076 SB 17-4
Blade: Super Shave X
Post: Alum Rub
AS: Myrsol Blue


Best Regards

Gillette Toggle vs. Rex Ambassador & Gillette Platinum (2)

Knothead 28mm Tux African Blackwood/Blue Resin

Ethos Succes shave soap

Ethos Succes skin food a/s splash

John Varvatos Artisan eau de toilette