I feel like the alum block followed by the aftershave should be enough

I agree with you. Except I do you one better. I submit that if you use an alcohol aftershave, the alum is redundant and doesn't offer any extra benefit, other than stinging skin and some extra dryness.

But the four you mentioned... that is definitely not standard. Likely folks who just like to buy stuff, or who watch too many videos of shave "influencers" who just want to sell stuff.

I ditched the Alum a long time ago. Witch Hazel or splash or balm ... can all stand on their own, if you want them to.

Tusk is really up there for me, too. I like how flexible it is, and the kind of creaminess and slickness it provides is just what I like.

This is a question that often comes up.

The deal is that blades were different back then. They were thicker, so a sharpener could potentially restore an edge.

Blades these days are thinner, more precise, and often ground at multiple bevels.

Single-edge GEM style blades might be helped by a good sharpener, though. They're thicker.

But in terms of DEs, it seems that this question gets asked every 4 months or so, and to my knowledge, no one has ever come back from trying it (often out of pure curiosity) and said that they are now able to use their blades a lot more, because of the sharpening.

Besides, with proper technique on the razor and with a super slick, wet lather, most guys can get up to 30 uses relatively easily. And some go further. Buy your blades in the 100 pack and that's a pretty money-friendly set up right there.

But... with all that said, if you can't resist the curiosity to try a sharpener, then do it... and report back! :-)

(great username btw!)

I bought one at first years ago. But even then, I was underwhelmed with the performance. Kinda like TOBS.

Sure. What perks do you get from your Alum use?

Maybe one of those edge protectors like a chef might use?

That's good stuff there!

I think I can see that razor is Geneva, which is good steel. And looks in great shape too.

And that first DE, that's no normal 40s style superspeed, that's a much more rare Ranger Tech!

LOL!!

Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 Open Comb
Blade: Gillette - Nacet (Marathon) (540)
Lather: Wholly Kaw Vegan - 1776
Brush: Semogue - Owner's Club Boar (Shedder) (21 uses)
Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Full Measure of Man

Gear Pic :: Video

䷀ General Notes

A quick shave with the Slurry lather using the Wholly Kaw Vegan base today.

Using the phone's camera, instead of my fogged up mirror to shave.

䷀ Razor and Blade Notes

(Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 - Open Comb ::: Gillette - Nacet - M ‹540 uses›)

A little tuggy on first pass, since I skipped a day of shaving. But fine after that.

Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 2 out of 5 (Okay)

䷀ Soap Notes

(Wholly Kaw Vegan - 1776)

Them: "a summer blend perfect for saluting the Fourth of July. It is a refreshing green aroma with notes of osmanthus, benzoin, labdanum, grapefruit, artemisia, tarragon, patchouli, musk, tonka bean, cedarwood."

Me: I did a blind shave with it first, not knowing the notes. I just know that i really enjoyed it.

Scent Strength: 4/10, present during shaving.

Lather... Likely my final verification that the WK Vegan base is very compatible with the slurry lather method.

Nice, sloppy slick slurry for passes 1 & 2. 3rd is still highly wet, but was still super slick.

Hydration: Perfect (for me)

• = 3 passes of lather

Bowl: No Bowl

䷀ Brush Notes

(Semogue - Owner's Club Boar - Shedder ‹21 uses›)

The SOC is a great brush, espeically for the slurry lather method. This one has had a year of uses by someone else, but is not nearly as split as mine that has many less uses, but has been treated with the hair dryer.

During the Shave Feel:
  Cheeks: Just a little tugging
  Neck: Just a little tugging
After the Shave Closeness:
  Cheeks: Close Shave
  Neck: Several hairs are showing some tip length (still a pretty good shave)

Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet

Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 Open Comb
Blade: Gillette - Nacet (Marathon) (543)
Lather: 345 Soap Co - General Patton
Brush: Declaration Grooming - B7 Viking Ivory (4 uses)
Post Shave: Barrister and Mann - Diamond

Gear Pic :: Video

䷀ General Notes

Trying out 345 soap with the Slurry method and it was inconclusive. Need to get more soap involved.

䷀ Razor and Blade Notes

(Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 - Open Comb ::: Gillette - Nacet - M ‹543 uses›)

As usual, with this blade now: a little tuggy at first, but fine after, and giving a close shave.

Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 2 out of 5 (Okay)

䷀ Soap Notes

(345 Soap Co - General Patton)

Them: "In what seems like a lifetime ago, I was in the 82nd Airborne. So we wanted to do something special for the August soap, General Patton. Our namesake. A long time ago my late grandfather said that somewhere down the line uncle George and I were related. One day I'll make that lineage. We will be donating 10% of all General Patton sales in August to them."

Scent notes: Tonka bean, amber, powder, guaiac wood, cedar, sandalwood, dash of vanilla. "This is a warm, complex scent. A scent of Victory!"

345 also says, "We wanted to give back to those that have served our great nation, and the charity ‘Mission 22’ would be a great place to start. Their mission is to help all veterans with suicide prevention, and any mental health help that they need."

Scent: My first use of this one was a blind one, and I picked up the amber and tonka type scent, and woodiness. I also thought I got some leather, but I guess it was something else. I can see how there was a touch of vanilla in there, but it wasn't much, and didn't feel food-like at all. Just right.

An at-home kind of warmth, and manliness, is the vibe I got from this soap. I enjoyed it a lot.

Lather... soap hadn't been used in a while and didn't give itself to the brush too easily. So lather was watery and thin. Will try again later, probably with another brush.

Got the job done, though. But no residual slickness like this slurry lather method usually gives.

Hydration: Dry End of Perfect (for me)

• = 4 passes of lather

Bowl: No Bowl

䷀ Brush Notes

(Declaration Grooming - B7 Viking Ivory ‹4 uses›)

Not as much soap was picked up, so the lather was very wet, but not much substance. That needs to be adjusted. So the backbone of the brush was in full display.

During the Shave Feel:
  Cheeks: Just a little tugging
  Neck: Just a little tugging
After the Shave Closeness:
  Cheeks: Close Shave
  Neck: Several hairs are showing some tip length (still a pretty good shave)

Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet

Well, if you're going to try to find a razor to match the blade, the Personna 74 is the one, for sure.

And the cool thing is that you end up learning different things by doing that.

Good work, @[email protected]

Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Weck - Sextoblade
Blade: Kismet - Hair Shaper (2)
Lather: Noble Otter - Oudyood
Brush: Zenith - Horse Extra Soft (507N XS) (16 uses)
Post Shave: Stirling - Agar

Gear Pic :: Video

䷀ General Notes

We work with the Weck, w'again. Keeping with the horse brush, and trying Noble Otter with the Slurry Lather method. Though requiring a little more loading, it went very well.

䷀ Razor and Blade Notes

(Weck - Sextoblade ::: Kismet - Hair Shaper ‹2 uses›)

I discovered that my daughter was naughty and used my weck and the Kismet blade to cut on one of our towels (and probably more that she's not fessing up to). I think I really felt that lack of sharpness today.

A lot of stubble was removed, but I attacked several spots from multiple angles, with little success. I'll bet she would have dulled the center of the blade, because I think the toe and heel were still pretty sharp, because they trimmed up near my ears and goatee edge quite well.

But, all in all I'm happy with my Weck shave and burgeoning technique. No weepers or cuts. No nicking near the ears or on high spots. And good comfort. A nice, conservative shave, with this risky tool.

Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 2 out of 5 (Okay)

䷀ Soap Notes

(Noble Otter - Oudyood)

Scent: To me, a light oud and woody scent. I guess that's the intention. I did enjoy it.

Scent Strength: 4/10, lightly present during shaving.

Lather... If I would have started with more loading, I think this would have been fine from the start as a Slurry Lather. The horse is also affecting things, but the lather worked out just fine.

I'll do more with Noble Otter and other brushes for sure, just to confirm that it works well with the Slurry style.

Hydration: Perfect (for me)

• 40 sec load with a Very Wet brush
• = 4 passes of lather

Bowl: No Bowl

䷀ Brush Notes

(Zenith - Horse Extra Soft - 507N XS ‹16 uses›)

So the horse brush again started out a little weak. This time, it was due to not enough soap in it. Easy enough to fix, right? I loaded for a total of 120 swirls, or roughly 40 seconds.

I think the easy splay of this brush was part of the problem, but I did switch soaps to one that hasn't been used for a while. That's what you get when you change too many variables at once! :-)

But it was easy to save the lather by revisiting the tub for that third 40 swirls.

Obviously, will need more testing with Noble Otter, just to confirm, but I'm sure it'll be fine with the Slurry Lather method.

During the Shave Feel:
  Cheeks: Felt blade but comfortable
  Neck: Felt blade but comfortable
After the Shave Closeness:
  Cheeks: Bad Shave
  Neck: Many hairs show whisker tips with a little length to them

Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet

Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 Open Comb
Blade: Gillette - Nacet (Marathon) (542)
Lather: Black Ship Grooming - X Tenth Anniversary
Brush: Declaration Grooming - B7 Viking Ivory (3 uses)
Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - History 101

Gear Pic :: Video

䷀ General Notes

Will the base from Blackship Grooming work with the Slurry Lather method? Yep, sure enough. Works great.

䷀ Razor and Blade Notes

(Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 - Open Comb ::: Gillette - Nacet - M ‹542 uses›)

As usual for the Nacet: tuggy on pass 1, then fine after. Close shave.

Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 2 out of 5 (Okay)

䷀ Soap Notes

(Black Ship Grooming - X Tenth Anniversary)

Them: "Pineapple, bay rum, and cedarwood"

Me: fruity, yes, and I'm glad to say I didn't pick up much of the bay. light woody to balance it out. Very pleasant, but not complex.

Scent Strength: 4/10, lightly present during shaving.

Lather... This base worked well with the Slurry Lather method.

On the third or fourth pass, I did add a bit more water. and my last pass was able to be worked into that final creamy lather to top it off with some luxury feel.

With all the hydration this method uses, I think it puts this base in a very good light.

• 16 sec load with a Very Wet brush
• = 5 passes of lather

Bowl: No Bowl

䷀ Brush Notes

(Declaration Grooming - B7 Viking Ivory ‹3 uses›)

Comfy and pretty easy to splay.

During the Shave Feel:
  Cheeks: Just a little tugging
  Neck: Just a little tugging
After the Shave Closeness:
  Cheeks: Close Shave
  Neck: Several hairs are showing some tip length (still a pretty good shave)

Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet

I may not like Trumper's and TOBS creams, much... however, I do like their sturdy tubs!

• Prep: Splash of Cool Water
• Razor: Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 - Open Comb
• Blade: Gillette - Nacet (Marathon) (519)
• Lather: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag (White Label)
• Brush: Zenith - r/wetshaving MOAR BOAR B35/508A XL (44 uses)
• Post Shave: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag (White Label)
• Fragrance: Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag

Austere August: Day: 21
MRTNG's Ultra Nightmare Mode
Midnight Stag Challenge

Gear Pic :: Video

䷀ General Notes

Slurry lather in a bowl today. 5 swirls off a dry puck. A bit thin. Fast. And let's bring in a bowl, and see what happens.

䷀ Razor and Blade Notes

(Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 - Open Comb ::: Gillette - Nacet - M ‹519 uses›)

Same: First pass has some tugginess to it. But no irritation that lasts longer than a little tuggy stroke. Latter passes feel fine and give a reasonably close shave. 3 quick passes.

䷀ Soap Notes

(Chiseled Face - Midnight Stag - White Label)

I just love all the aspects of this scent!

Scent Strength: 6/10, nicely present during shaving.

Lather... A slurry lather today. It got the job done, but I should have loaded for longer. I used the bowl to mix it up just a bit before starting, but with the lack of load, it didn't help much.

A little too wet, but still slick and effective.

Hydration: A Little Too Wet (for me)

• 1 sec load with a Very Wet brush
• = 3 passes of lather

Bowl: Roger Quintero 3D Printed Bowl
I use the XL version of this bowl.

䷀ Brush Notes

(Zenith - r/wetshaving MOAR BOAR B35/508A XL ‹44 uses›)

Same: Comfortable soft tips that do flex some, but that are supported by a base with strong backbone. As with all young boars, I look forward to the tips splitting with more uses and getting softer with use. I am generally using a hair dryer to gently treat the tips and age them just a bit faster than normal.

During the Shave Feel:
  Cheeks: Felt blade but comfortable
  Neck: Felt blade but comfortable
After the Shave Closeness:
  Cheeks: Close Shave
  Neck: Several hairs are showing some tip length (still a pretty good shave)

Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet

Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 Open Comb
Blade: Gillette - Nacet (Marathon) (537)
Lather: Barrister and Mann Omnibus - Smoking Bishop
Brush: Maggard Razors - Plisson-type Synth 22mm (4 uses)
Post Shave: Pre de Provence - No. 63

Gear Pic :: Video

䷀ General Notes

Final confirmation of the Maggards Plisson Synth doing a great Slurry Lather with Omnibus base.

䷀ Razor and Blade Notes

(Timeless - Stainless Steel .68 - Open Comb ::: Gillette - Nacet - M ‹537 uses›)

Same as usual with this old Nacet: maybe a tiny bit tuggy on first pass, but great afterwards. more passes were necessary if I wanted a better shave today, but I was fine with 3. Decent shave. Comfy. No irritation.

Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 2 out of 5 (Okay)

䷀ Soap Notes

(Barrister and Mann Omnibus - Smoking Bishop)

Them: "A Christmas Carol creates a particular image: cobbled London streets, swollen with carts and men in top hats and street urchins, all milling and shouting and running in the cold December air. You can practically feel the chill, see the clouds of steam as the crowds breathe, and hear the din of a thousand lives all playing out in the same space. It's a vivid, intensely nostalgic picture, one almost irrevocably associated with its author. ~ The story makes particular reference to a Victorian mulled wine known as 'Smoking Bishop,' so named because it's served heated to steaming, but not boiling, and drunk from warmed bowls or glasses (before you ask, we have no idea where the bishop part comes in). It's one of our favorite holiday punches here at Barrister and Mann"

"The soap version is a smooth, warm blend of wine, orange, grapefruit, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pipe tobacco that conjures images of sipping a stiff drink near a roaring hearth, the air redolent with the scents and sounds of food and drink and good company. Effortlessly charming and good-natured"

Me: I enjoyed it. I picked up on a little vanilla, and some spices, which I assume are the cinnamon and nutmeg. They were well-blended and not so spicy that I didn't like it.

I didn't pick up on any tobacco or wine notes in the fairly blind first impression, so those notes are not strong. But I did notice something like anise or oud, or in that family, that may have been the blend of those two. It grounded the whole thing and kept it interesting and from being just a flavor focused, monotone scent. I liked it.

But on my second shave with this soap, I did pick up the wine around the 3rd pass. A note has to gradually open up, it seems.

Scent Strength: 6/10, nicely present during shaving.

Lather... Great slurry lather today with the pair, the brush and this soap. Slurry in pass 1 and then it got more mature as we went through 3 passes. Super slick and fast.

I tried the new method of loading until the soap overflowed the tub a little, and that worked out great for getting enough soap for the shave.

Hydration: Perfect (for me)

• 13 sec load with a Very Wet brush
• = 5 passes of lather

Bowl: No Bowl

䷀ Brush Notes

(Maggard Razors - Plisson-type Synth 22mm ‹4 uses›)

Not too bad with this brush this time. I still like my naturals better, though. Since this knot doesn't hold as much water as some, I made sure to load without shaking any water out of it. That's the secret with this one.

During the Shave Feel:
  Cheeks: Felt blade but comfortable
  Neck: Felt blade but comfortable
After the Shave Closeness:
  Cheeks: Close Shave
  Neck: Several hairs are showing some tip length (still a pretty good shave)

Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet

Why so many abandon?

Is the angle hard to find?

Especially if you're a bowl latherer, my channel has tons of boar experience. Esp with Zeniths and Semogues.

https://youtube.com/c/sgrdddyshaves

Prep: Splash of Cool Water
Razor: Henson - Aluminum ++
Blade: Gillette - Platinum (4)
Lather: Stirling Mutton Tallow - Port-au-Prince
Brush: Zenith - r/wetshaving MOAR BOAR B35/508A XL (21 uses)
Post Shave: Stirling - Agar

Gear Pic :: Video

䷀ General Notes

Trying a different blade in the Henson, and more Stirling soap!

䷀ Razor and Blade Notes

(Henson - Aluminum ++ ::: Gillette - Platinum ‹4 uses›)

Another blade that works well in the Henson. Not as efficient as the Kai, but still got a great shave by the end, and no hint of irritation.

Razor and Blade Performance/Comfort Rating: 4 out of 5 (Very Good)

䷀ Soap Notes

(Stirling Mutton Tallow - Port-au-Prince)

Them: "Earthy, grassy, and pungently sweet Haitian Vetiver combined with a small but uplifting kick of Lemongrass"

Scent: My take seems in line with the description above. I really enjoyed this one during the shave.

Scent Strength: 6/10, nicely present during shaving.

Lather... A little bit wetter than perfect, but still worked so well. Skin feels so nourished with this soap base.

Hydration: Wet End of Perfect (for me)

• 15 sec load with a Lightly-Wet brush
• 20 ml (4.1 tsp) added to build the lather
• = 5 passes of lather

Bowl: Dollar Tree DIY Bowl w Glass Beads

䷀ Brush Notes

(Zenith - r/wetshaving MOAR BOAR B35/508A XL ‹21 uses›)

Same: soft tips but rest of bristle strong backbone. Splays pretty easily the first 33% or so.

During the Shave Feel:
  Cheeks: Felt blade but comfortable
  Neck: Felt blade but comfortable
After the Shave Closeness:
  Cheeks: Near BBS - About as close as I'll ever get
  Neck: Cut flush to where I just see the tips (above average for me)

Ending of Blades Ledger - entry form and the data spreadsheet