Stubble Daddy’s Shave Journal of Awesomeness and Honesty ...

Razor: Yates Precession w/ Hybrid M Plate
Brush: Trotter Handcrafts “Rainier Ash”
Soap: B&M Lavanille
Aftershave: B&M Lavanille
Blade: Nacet

Whoa, Lavanille... we have a lot to discuss here! The scent is ummm... “unique”. It has a very strong, pungent leather, chocolate, musk thing going. All I could think about was the scene in the movie “Anchorman” when the guys were talking about their colognes. Lavanille is something Ron Burgundy would proudly wear out on a date. It’s dark... exotic and smells like rich mahogany and old leather bound books.

With the aftershave I actually picked up on some manly lavender. It was nice... yet both soap and aftershave balm were overwhelming and over the top in the scent dept. I hate to say, I also feel like I spilled gasoline on my clothes after using this product. Ok, maybe that’s over reaction, hey... let me just say this stuff is strong! I love it and hate it at the same time.

Anyone else out there try this stuff? If not, you should all order some. Hehehe.

Can't speak to the Lavanille, but I will to the brush: Mystical! Especially with the ghostly looking knot. I am sure others see it different, but my first thought was along the lines of otherworldly, like Rivendell, or Hogwarts, or found in an old forgotten room in Minas Tirith or the Barrow Downs. Hence, ghostly and mystical to my eye. Love it!

I don't have Eric's imagination (I wish I did!), but I do very much like the lights and shadows (or maybe it is lights and darks) in that photo. The way it is lighted, combined with the flow of lines in the labels and the wood grain is outstanding IMO.

A HUGE thank you to Eric (Smattayu) for pouring this and several other blanks for me!

This one is called “Cities from Space”

There is a ton of depth that I can’t possibly capture in photos. Amazing pour Eric! Thank you my friend...

Wow, amazing work!

Beautiful work Paul, and even with the limitation of photos, "Cities from Space" seems like a great name for that handle. Kudos to Eric too, of course.

Wow..............just WOW !!!

Wow! Amazing work, aptly named.

Fantastic job on that handle! I wasn't sure about the bronze flakes when I cast it, but you definitely brought out the best in it.

What did you think of the Silmar vs the Alumilite?

That handle is celestial. Reminds me if some of the opening visuals in the very cool sci-fi serie The Expanse that’s on Prime right now

Fantastic job on that handle! I wasn't sure about the bronze flakes when I cast it, but you definitely brought out the best in it.

What did you think of the Silmar vs the Alumilite?

Thanks Eric!

Silmar is a much harder material, but still turned nicely. Alumilite turns easier/smoother but does not polish up as well as Silmar... at least for me. Maybe I just need to invest in some good buffing polishing wheels. I’ve been polishing by hand on the lathe so far.

How long did you keep the Silmar in the pressure pot? You did a great job of getting the bubbles out!

Fantastic job on that handle! I wasn't sure about the bronze flakes when I cast it, but you definitely brought out the best in it.

What did you think of the Silmar vs the Alumilite?

Thanks Eric!

Silmar is a much harder material, but still turned nicely. Alumilite turns easier/smoother but does not polish up as well as Silmar... at least for me. Maybe I just need to invest in some good buffing polishing wheels. I’ve been polishing by hand on the lathe so far.

How long did you keep the Silmar in the pressure pot? You did a great job of getting the bubbles out!

That was pretty much my experience with the two as well. I’ve heard people get down in Silmar because it is harder and more brittle, and can therefore chip or shatter more easily if dropped, but I’ve dropped a few of the blanks onto a concrete floor and they were fine. I also dropped one of my brushes accidentally and it didn’t chip either.

I kept the blanks in the pressure pot for at least 4 hours. The bottom of the pot is rounded so I made an insert that has handles and sits flat so I could put the molds in it and drop it right in. I also made sure to never use the pot at it’s rated PSI. I went at least 10 PSI lower just to be on the safe side.