- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-01 13:43:15-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
Here we go! The SOTD picture shows the boxed brush. And here is the knot setting and boxing video, which I had to do before leaving for vacation. The unboxing video and my improvised tamper proof design of the box should convince the Djudge that the brush wasn't used in the meanwhile. Finally, here's the mandatory picture of the new brush.
It's never too early to explain your little ones the importance of Austere August, so I took Djunior to his first traditional first of Austere August Concert in the morning 😄
The shave:
This brush is unlike any Zenith brush I've ever had. I've opened the ferrule just enough for the glue bump of the knot to pass through, and as a result it doesn't splay at all (at least not yet) , giving it a bit of the original Rubberset 400 look. I was ready for a repetition of the Texas Pig Stink Massace (it should read "Massacre" but I made a typo in my side side challenge announcement and now I have decided to commit to this.) , but this one has a very tame boar funk by comparison. The narrow, unsplayed shape give it a strong backbone which reminded me a bit of u/EldrormR's great B36 brush. In typical Zenith fashion, the tips are already very soft, and the brush is not too lather greedy.
It lathered up Sea Ice Lime without complaints, and while I did get whiffs of funk, this face lather was a mostly pleasant affair. The Blade That Won't Die did an admirable job on its 70th shave, and I got a comfortable and close shave. The (MM[OC)MM] is a fantastically efficient and comfortable razor, perfect for squeezing 31 final shaves out of this grizzled veteran of a blade. It looks like I'm doing Austere Hogust in easy mode this year, and I'll end on 100 blade uses.
I got the bath soap to bridge that awkward scent gap during the shower between shave and post shave, but the scent of it is a bit different, leaning towards sour. I'm not sure I'll use it every time. The toner felt good on the skin and the frag is one of my favourites. The only problem I can see possibly manifesting itself is that my wife might tire of SSL. I got the comment that I've sprayed on too much 😬
Happy Austere August everyone!
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
Edit: guess I shouldn't forget to tag the honourable u/Semaj3000 and u/EldrormR
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 21>, <DjudgementInvitation 2480>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-02 15:18:19-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
#RawHoggin
This handle-knot combo is an instant winner. The Rubberset 400 handle is one of the most ergonomic shave brush handle shapes I know, and the slight widening of the ferrule opening (an idea by none other than chief enGEMeer u/EldrormR himself) allowed me to squeeze a 26mm knot into this originally 24mm opening, creating a dense, tight knot with great backbone. This brush is fantastic for painting strokes, and it's already very soft on this second use. I lucked into an awesome brush and I am elated. The Raw Hog scent is still quite present, but but strong enough to be an issue.
#GEMsOfWisdom
I bought a beautiful vintage straight razor a few months ago, an H. M. Redemann - Corn Cracker in supposedly shave ready state. In reality, it became immediately clear when I tested the edge on the hair on the back of my hand that this razor was a tuggy blunt mess, and I had to hone it before using it the first time. The blade, however, showed all signs of a caring owner (there are scratches from use on the blade and scales, but no rust or tea stains). I'm curious about the thought process behind this discrepancy. Who used this razor until it was completely blunt? It must have been excruciatingly painful to use.
If GEM blades are any guide, then the previous owner of my Redemanm must have shaved with it hundreds of times without honing or stropping, because today's blade at 71 uses without any strop nor hone is still infinitely sharper than that blade was.
The MMOC with the veteran blade is still an efficient and comfortable BBS delivering mechanism.
Sea Ice Lime must be the best decision I've made last month.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 80>, <DjudgementInvitation 2525>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-03 14:31:25-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
This is the last travel shave of this Austere August and it was a bit hurried and rushed, because I still have to pack and deal with some issues of u/RoboDjudge.
#RawHoggin
The brush still smells, but so much less than the Texas Pig Stink Massace brush did that it's almost disappointing 😅 I really enjoy the firm backbone and narrow (as opposed to bloomed or splayed) knot.
#GEMsOfWisdom
The MMOC is entirely tamed with this blade, and I find that I've stopped thinking of it as an aside razor.
Today I wore SSL all day, and it's the perfect summer sent in this dry heat we have right now.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 164>, <DjudgementInvitation 2577>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-04 15:45:17-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
I've reached a #RawHoggin milestone today, and my beautiful, but still stinky brush hasn't shed a single bristle (that I noticed). After shedding dozens of bristles during the first couple shaves and still a decent amount yesterday, this sudden drop-off was remarkable to me.
As far as #GEMsOfWisdom go, I had my unusually early first pang of regrets today regarding my choice of Austere Hogust setup when I learned that u/Merikus is rolling with the Rolls Imperial Model N° 2 this time around. For a moment there, I wished I had chosen something more exciting than the MMOC. Then I started to shave, and it was like coming home (Actually, I did come home from vacation today, so maybe that contributed?). This gem of a GEM is so comfortable, and in combination with Sea Ice Lime, it's impossible not to have a good shave. The Rubberset with the tight ferrule that keeps the knot from blooming continues to be a pleasure to use. I realise again that I really like using firm knots in painting strokes. This has me hyped for the sub-exclusive custom monster boar group buy that is rumoured to be in the works.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 228>, <DjudgementInvitation 2621>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-05 12:58:41-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
I hear #RawHoggin-Djudge u/EldrormR is making the rounds with the DQ hammer today to weed out the contestants who fail to include their Raw Hog in the SOTD picture. To err on the safe side, my picture is almost only brush this time. I hope I didn't miss a rule stating that the software needs to be included, too 😆
It's a bit surprising, but I think I'm already in the phase where the break in process slows down. The tips are mostly split, the shedding has stopped, and the brush seems to be settling. Now if the little piggy could just stop the last of the boar funk, I'd be a very happy camper.
#GEMsOfWisdom: I've decided to let my MMOC(MM) air dry from now on to get a patina going. I also have the engraved Djudges razor, and keeping one brass MMOC(MM) polished to a shine and the other one patinaed seems sensible. Also note the Rubberset 400 in that last picture. It's the same type of handle as I use during Austere Hogust, and the same knot size (it's a bleached 26mm Zenith knot vs the un-bleached one I'm using now), but at a higher 62 mm loft. the difference in bloom in baffling. Despite being at opposite ends of the scale (floppy and huge vs firm and narrow), both brushes are very comfortable.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 306>, <DjudgementInvitation 2667>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-05 23:01:23-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
While on vacation, I found it impossible to wake up before Djunior to shave, and I spent the last two weeks as a night shaver. We're back home now, and I've managed to get back to my old (and preferred) morning shave routine, and I'm typing this up while sipping coffee near a still sleeping toddler. Success.
#GEMsOfWisdom: after three quarters of a GEMtury, it's a good time for a quick recap. I started using this blade on 1 last year, and did Austere August with it. At end, it still shaved well, so I kept using it on and off until I reached 69 shaves during Lather Games. After the initial smoothing out of the edge over the first 3 or 4 shaves, this blade has held up surprisingly well and deteriorated at a very slow rate. It's still a mostly smooth shave, but it does tug a bit ATG. Nothing bad, but noticeable.
#RawHoggin: I'm still very happy with how the narrow ferrule keeps a dense tight knot. It's a great way of setting soft tipped boar brushes.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 366>, <DjudgementInvitation 2734>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-06 23:23:29-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
I overslept, so only a quick writeup before taking Djunior to the aquarium.
#GEMsOfWisdom: SSL, MMOC still fantastic, blade still useable #RawHoggin: this brush is excellent, still clinging on to and releasing faint whiffs of a pig's arsehole. Great stuff. Enjoy your Sunday!
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 429>, <DjudgementInvitation 2776>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-08 03:19:00-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
Today is Djunior's return to daycare after summer break, and he has joined a new group (he has graduated from the little explorer group and is now a little adventurer), so there has been a significant amount of drama at handover. It struck me how as parents of a toddler, my wife and I were looking forward to this day so much, and how guilty I feel knowing that he'll now have a difficult few days getting used to new teachers, kids, routines, etc. Ugh!
#GEMsOfWisdom I've jumped back into my usual daily rhythm of morning shaves, and it's a bliss to be the first one awake, and taking some time with my routine. The MMOC with the 77-use blade by now reminds me of u/VisceralWatch baby-proof Wolfie. Not in blade feel, the MMOC still has that in spades, but in how I can swish it around my face with reckless abandon without any ill effect. That being said, I am starting to look forward to using a new blade, to feel that effortless smooth glide through stubble that a only fresh coated blade gives you. Now here's the rub; as an open-blade newbie, I was planning to use only straights and shavettes for Sample September, with the possible exception of MicroMatic Mammoth Monday Formation Flights. Now I'm wondering whether I'd rather use just my most comfortable safety razors for a while. We'll see.
I feel like I'm cheating with the #RawHoggin challenge, this brush rather inoffensive in scent already and was super comfy from day one.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 519>, <DjudgementInvitation 2814>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-09 05:09:42-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
In preparation for the #RawHoggin challenge, chief enGEMeer u/EldrormR and myself extrapolated from our unbleached Zenith 506U XSE brush break in eperience and expected a foul miasmic bitch fest in the first days of the challenge with vociferous and eloquent grievance airing about how offensive the manure concentrate on one's face smells and how demoralising the knowledge is to have to repeat this self flagellation the coming day. Turns out that the joke's on us and that only our particular brushes happened to come from an extra super stinky batch. C'est la vie, and we were together alone in our self-inflicted pain.
The really sad part of this story, however, is that we had prepared memes which have sadly mostly remained unused for aforementioned bitch fest, with the exception of a few pearls published by eld (pearl 1, pearl 2, pearl 3, and pearl 4). I've decided so post a few more of my favourites, since it seems unlikely that they can ever be used in the originally intended context given the overall pleasant way this challenge is unfolding (with the exception of the two early quitters).
First, a meme I had prepared for day two when some poor soul finds out that the stench has not yet relented, then a political one which I had hoped to place under some poor unscented rawhoggin Euroshaver's post who took the austerity angle a bit too serious, and finally, one prepared for u/Semaj3000 who ended up not joining in the challenge.
As far as the shave is concerned, I appreciate the simplicity of knowing that my shaving hard and software is already ready for me, and I don't have to think about any choices. However, I have collected all my samples and put them in a box for Sample September, and it has made me curious and wanting diversity. This is not a good sign only 9 days into Austere Hogust. At least the razor, brush and scent I chose for this AA are fantastic. That helps #GEMsOfWisdom
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 598>, <DjudgementInvitation 2850>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-10 01:34:18-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
#GEMsOfWisdom: let's face it (hhh), Austere August is pretty easy if you use a good razor, a nice brush, and a great base. While lathering up today, it struck me again how easy Spearhead's 20.1 base is to use. This firm base loads very easily and while adding water, it transitions from pasty to drippy in such a gradual and predictable manner that you almost can't mess it up. I knew this, but kinda got used to it until it suddenly struck me again today that I haven't struggled with lather even once while breaking in this boar brush. Even the first lather hogging days did non result in bad lather.
#RawHoggin: 10 days of using this brush which I modified using the u/EldrormR method of grinding the ferrule wider as to accommodate a 26 mm knot (the original opening seems to be 1 inch). I was originally a bit reluctant to take the grinder to this vintage handle, but the result is well worth it. The ferrule opening is just wide enough to let the glue bump pass, and it holds the knot nice and tight. The firm feeling knot this creates is perfect for painting strokes and reminds me of the beastly 31 mm Zenith brush that we're commissioning as a sub exclusive.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 665>, <DjudgementInvitation 2895>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-11 05:05:04-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
So, today is a bit weird. My next job starts on Sep 1, and I just finished the last things I had to do for my old job. I'm officially a free man without a emailbox accumulating new shit waiting for me when I come back from vacation. It's a clean slate, and it feels weird because I haven't had that since graduation one and a half decades ago.
Shout-out to u/gfdoto who's continuing our toy themed SOTD picture back-and-forth!
I sometimes forget about the pig smell of my #RawHoggin brush, that's how much it has diminished. I think it's just pure enjoyment from here on out.
#GEMsOfWisdom: This blade is now officially an octogenarian, but doesn't tug a day over 60 😂
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 714>, <DjudgementInvitation 2934>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-12 10:36:07-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
Oops, almost forgot to post today! My first full day of inter-job hiatus and I've immediately gotten lazy 😅
My #RawHoggin brush lost a little clump of bristles during the face lather today. Not a few individual ones, but about 5-10 attached to a bit of glue. I have no idea how I missed a loose clump of bristles in that knot, but here we are.
#GEMsOfWisdom: I think I started noticing a decrease in the blade's cutting ability. On my philtrum I have a few fine white whiskers (the rest of my stubble is still mostly black), and I noticed that a few survived yesterday's shave, so I took extra care to do the funny face to flatten my upper lip this time around.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 2965>, <DjudgementInvitation 786>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-13 06:13:26-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
Excellent afternoon shave today. This is exactly what I had in mind when choosing Sea Ice Lime: I spent the morning at the beach with my wife and Djunior, brought him home for his afternoon nap and had a slow, cooling, and fragrant shave and shower. This is truly the scent of summer. The blade is still holding up, which is more and more amazing to me. #GEMsOfWisdom
No new hair loss after yesterday's unsettling chunk of hair. The #RawHoggin brush does not seem to be falling apart, phew
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 857>, <DjudgementInvitation 3017>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-14 12:31:37-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
I snoozed and missed my window in the morning to shave before the rest of the family wakes up, and we had a busy Sunday with a trip to the lake and the zoo planned. My #GEMsOfWisdom for today are that 1) I wonder how far this blade can be taken before it becomes difficult to shave with and I'm reminded of u/Old_Hiker's Personna Hair Shaper blade with over 370 shaves, 2) I lost all sense of danger when handling the MMOC, and I may be in for a nasty surprise once I use it with a fresh blade again.
#RawHoggin: drumroll please, 🥁🥁🥁, my Raw Hoggin' brush doesn't stink anymore! It didn't occur to me until I started this write-up, but I didn't notice any boar funk, just delicious Sea (Sp)ice Lime.
Apart from the SOTD, I'm blown away by the response to our sub-exclusive brush and I could not be happier that it is going to happen. I've put a decent amount of time and effort into hammering out the details with the manufacturer (all through google translate 😅), and until a few days ago I had no idea whether it would work out. A big thanks to everyone who signed up, and of course to u/J33pGuy13, who has become the main driving force behind this endeavour.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 930>, <DjudgementInvitation 3041>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-15 07:17:36-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
I've hit a weird groove where the shaves are super easy and mindless. NGL, this is a bit of a thrill dampener. #GEMsOfWisdom
The #RawHoggin brush has reached perfection. This may be my favourite brush now.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 996>, <DjudgementInvitation 3089>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-16 05:55:30-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
#GEMsOfWisdom: Very nice lunch break shave with a shower. That being said, today I felt strongly the urge to use my new and as of yet unused set of Fleur De France.
I'm getting silly with the requisite #RawHoggin SOTD pics, and it's become a source of amusement for me.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 1058>, <DjudgementInvitation 3133>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-17 14:36:17-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
Oops, almost forgot to post again. I'm catching up on a bunch of accumulated todos during my break. The blade is still holding up well and the brush is still fantastic. Have a great evening!
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 3159>, <DjudgementInvitation 1125>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-18 17:37:38-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
This Austere August is a well oiled machine, and the setup was a great choice. Still, today I was missing the variety.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 1198>, <DjudgementInvitation 3191>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-19 15:37:17-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
I've been working on the djudge portal these last weeks and today, I finally got it to a point where it can track and display everyone's Austere August Challenge posts and we djudges can grade them. Have a look at djudge.me if you're curious (Fair warning, the site is fugly.), or if you want to check whether all your posts have been hoovered up by u/RoboDjudge. I might also add leader boards and such things down the line, we'll see. It's been my first foray into the arcane world of writing and deploying web-apps, and it's been a lot of fun. I never thought that this shaving hobby would push me to learn to do this.
I'm at 88 shaves on this blade now, and it's still working OK. This made me think of all the "traditional wetshaving will save you money" lines and how true they could be. A kg of Vitos or Cella, and a handful of blades could last half a decade if need be.
The brush is fantastic and may be my favourite, but I'm not enjoying Sea Ice Lime that much anymore. I don't dislike it, but smelling it didn't spark joy today. Pity.
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 1453>, <DjudgementInvitation 3237>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-20 14:27:39-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
Today was the second day tracking the Austere August challenges with a functional Djudge Portal and I'm relieved that, so far, no bugs have appeared.
I've had a very enjoyable shave today, but I'm running out of things to say about the setup. There's really no discernable day-to-day change in the blade's condition anymore, and the brush feels broken in and sheriff's like Sea Ice Lime. This AA is on easy mode.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 1515>, <DjudgementInvitation 3273>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-21 13:38:23-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
I've been catching up on djudging #GEMsOfWisdom and #RawHoggin submissions and it's really nice to follow along. I tried to compare it to my recollections from last year, and I got the impression that the MMOC is perceived as much less of an oddity this year than last time.
With exception of two early quits, it also seems that the vast majority of RawHoggineers are enjoying their boar brushes. It's nice to see the two challenges going so well.
My shave today was uneventful and predictable. The blade is still holding up at 90 uses and the brush is pure bliss. The monotony of getting to me a bit, andI'm eyeing my sample box for Sample September wistfully.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 1604>, <DjudgementInvitation 3309>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-22 12:41:07-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
I've had this Seaforth mug for quite some time, but for some reason, today was the first time I really looked at the backside:
WASH FACE. WET BRUSH IN HOT WATER.
WORK UP LATHER IN MUG. MASSAGE LATHER
THOROUGHLY INTO BEARD. ADD MORE HOT
WATER TO BRUSH AS NEEDED. YOU'LL ENJOY
SEAFORTH'S UNSURPASSED SHAVING LUXURY
AND ECONOMY! SOAP REFILLS AVAILABLE.
I think I might try that technique tomorrow. (<= Edit: I realised that that would actually u/Semaj3000 me out of the RawHoggin' challenge. So I'm not going to do it)
The shave went great, and I'm starting to wonder how much of a recalibration awaits me when I use a fresh blade after AA. The brush can do no wrong. It is in fact perfection.
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 1700>, <DjudgementInvitation 3345>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-22 23:01:43-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
You know those dark, almost black extra-thick bristles (DABETBs?) which you can often find in Zenith knots? They appear in both bleached and unbleached Zenith knots and don't tend to get split tips? Well, this #RawHoggin knot of mine decided to remind me once again that it's one of the best knots I've ever tried and it started to split the tips of all bristles, including its DABETBs! (Lots of fiddling involved in that shot 😅). Now you have seen everything.
#GEMsOfWisdom: I started missing my morning shaves so I got up before my toddler Djunior (which isn't easy if you're lazy and don't have to get up for work for another week). It was definitely worth it. Making coffee while the brush soaks, listening to a podcast while everyone else in the house is still sleeping, and then taking it slow through three passes of Sea Ice Lime is truly a regal pampering. At the beginning of AA, I wasn't sure how well my GEMtury plan with this blade would work out, but I haven't perceived any further degradation of the blade during these 23 shaves. It seems like all the quick edge erosion that was going to happen has, and that now that the edge is a bit wider, erosion has slowed to a crawl. What's amazing is that the blade is perfectly fine for close shaves at this stage. I can't wait to use a fresh blade again to recalibrate my blade sharpness and tugginess perceptions.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 1743>, <DjudgementInvitation 3402>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-24 06:00:01-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
Episode Link
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This Podcast is distributed on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Stitcher, and everywhere worth looking.
Another month has passed and the eighth Djudicial podcast episode is in the can, this time again with the full Djudicial Corps.
Discussing blade performance with my fellow #GEMsOfWisdom contestants u/Semaj3000 and u/EldrormR has shown me how lucky I got with my marathon blade, which gave me a fine 93rd shave today. The patina on my marathon MMOC is also coming along nicely (I cleaned it a little bit for this picture, usually it looks a bit more frosty during this GEMtury attempt). u/VisceralWatch wasn't bound by any Austere August rules and agreed to use Fleur de France as lather, a soap that both Eld an I received during this Austere August and are impatient to try ourselves. Shaving with one scent while trying to vicariously live another person's lather scent was a new experience for me.
#RawHoggin: Eld and I were using practically the same brush, a Rubberset 400-3 handle with an unbleached Zenith knot at 56 mm loft. The only difference is that I widened the ferrule opening on mine to accommodate a 26 mm knot and after hearing Eld's description of his brush, I think I lucked into the right choice.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 1823>, <DjudgementInvitation 3434>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-24 23:03:00-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
Morning shave bliss again. Over 30 hours have passed since the last shave (Yesterday's podcast SOTD happened at an odd hour because of time zones and the need to set time aside for editing), so I basically felt like a hobo and the whiskers were long enough to get some visual feedback regarding the efficiency of my ageing blade. Indeed, I could see that some whiskers survived the WTG pass on my cheeks unscathed. That wasn't a problem, though, and the shave turned out quite close by the end of the third (ATG) pass.
Now I'm wondering of course whether these survivors of the first pass are a result of the degraded edge (i.e., I found an element #GEMsOfWisdom), or whether the same would have happened with a fresh blade (i.e., duh). I hope I'll remember to check up on this during sample September.
The #RawHoggin brush has me reconsider how I like boar brushes to be: Most of my Zenith brushes are scrubbies (50mm loft/28 mm ⌀), or medium lofts (57 mm loft/26 or 28 mm ⌀) and there's one floppy 60-something mm loft with 26 mm ⌀, but none have a very tight ferrule, so they bloomed considerably as they broke in, and they splay easily. This one is different: I opened the ferrule just enough for the glue bump to squeeze through (like the 508 XL beast), and it keeps the knot very tight (see SOTD picture). The result is a similarly strong backbone.
It shouldn't have come as a surprise, but I just had attributed the beast's characteristics to its huge diameter of 31 mm rather than the tight ferrule construction.
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 1911>, <DjudgementInvitation 3476>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-26 05:19:41-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
I catch myself thinking more and more about September shaves during my AA shaves. I guess it's good that AA is over soon. For example, I've spent a bit of time honing this cute little stainless razor yesterday evening, and I'm looking forward to getting back to improving my open blade skills with it next month. I've been intrigued by stainless steel straights for a while because I constantly worry about moisture with carbon steel blades. This straight allows me to be a bit more relaxed about making sure it's bone dry before putting it away out of reach of all family members. Now I just hope that my nascent honing skills are good enough to make this impulsive purchase worthwhile.
I think it's time to stop calling the results of my shaves with this blade "close to BBS" anymore. It looks clean shaven, but now, 7 hours post shave, my face feels like it could use a second shave of the day. Now usually, I'd just do that, but I timed it so that I'll reach 100 shaves on this blade on the last day of AA and I want to stick to that plan. The brush remains a pleasure to use, and for some reason makes me eager to get the sub exclusive brush.
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 3552>, <DjudgementInvitation 3634>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-26 23:54:13-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
Early morning shave before packing up Djunior and my wife for a day at the miniature rail road park. Funny how an enthusiastic toddler can get me excited for the oddest weekend plans.
The blade is doing its best to have in there, and it's doing an ok job, but it's kinda obvious at this point that at 96 shaves is a bit past it's prime. Still, I look clean shaven and there's no irritation, which I count as a win at this point. I think the large blade exposure of the MMOC is saving the day here. I could imagine a less efficient razor would make this situation difficult.
The brush is hoggy perfection, it's remarkable how its tips softened, but the overall shape stayed pretty much the same ❤️
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 3669>, <DjudgementInvitation 3749>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-27 23:00:40-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
Final AA Sunday shave. This month is flying by at an shockingly high rate and I'm not ready to be in the waning days of summer just yet.
I managed to catch an early morning shave again, and I'm realising that I'm adapting my technique to the deteriorating blade. All three passes are now just a series of short buffing strokes. Not ideal, but gets me shaved. The brush remains perfection.
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 3801>, <DjudgementInvitation 3874>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-29 00:20:12-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
All I could think during this shave was "The end is nigh!" and I can't help but to reminisce.
The shave itself was excellent. I'm still enjoying Sea Ice Lime, and this veteran blade is hanging in there like a champ. This of course begs the question whether I should take it further, maybe AA 23?
The brush seems to have reached stability. I don't perceive any day-to-day changes anymore.
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 3929>, <DjudgementInvitation 4004>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-30 03:46:16-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
The countdown to the end of AA seems to accelerate, and I'm looking forward to shaving with a fresh blade and a new soap on September first. I didn't get sick of my software and my blade is hanging in there, so there's no real suffering going on, but the routine did get a bit old. We're soon done, and that's great.
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 4114>, <DjudgementInvitation 4044>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for RawHoggin' 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- u/djundjila posted on 2022-08-31 12:24:33-07:00 (Pacific Standard Time). Reddit Comment
#GEMsOfWisdom #RawHoggin
Austere Hogust 2022 is in the books and my choices have treated me well. The Blade That Won't Die® is still chugging along, my unbleached Rubberset has turned out to be one of my best brushes, and Sea (Sp)Ice Lime still smells great to me.
This year, there has been an inflation of side and side side challenges, and it's been fun to track them (and and participate in djudging some of them) on the Djudge Portal .
The djudging of the fellow GEMnasts and RawHoggineers will still take a little bit.
Pinging u/sgrdddy for one new entry in his hall of century blades!
This SOTD is part of the challenge
- GEMsOfWisdom 2022
- RawHoggin' 2022
sotd.djudgement_invitations: [<DjudgementInvitation 4276>, <DjudgementInvitation 4196>]
This SOTD was djudged by u/EldrormR for RawHoggin' 2022
This SOTD was djudged by u/Semaj3000 for GEMsOfWisdom 2022