Huh. Well this is one of those times where expectations and reality were two different beasts.
Based on the shaves previously with Rockwell’s own milder blades, I expected the when using the Bic for the blade to bite a little but instead it at setting 2, it was not only a smoother experience, it was also a very comfortable shave resulting in, again, a true glass BBS shave.
Probably in part, that I went down to setting 2, probably in part due to the blade just taking off growth like hot knife on butter. No cuts, nicks, irritation. Huh.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-shave : Shower, Proraso White Pre-Shave
Soap : Proraso White
Razor : Rockwell Model T Setting 2, w/Bic Blade (1)
Still on #Prorasoweek and this time the very earthy Cypress and Vetyver. Proraso’s single blade line addresses some of the complaints that their creams not being slick enough but to be honest, I never really had any issues with their main line of creams.
While true that they may not be as slick as some artisan soaps can be, they get the job down. Though, I am pretty sure no one complains about lack of slickness with the single blade line.
The Model T is no doubt a performer. Again, it easily cleared all areas leaving true glass BBS skin behind. After tonight’s shave, I’ll be going with the more sharper blades, I foresee myself only going two passes with the razor when doing so.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower, Proraso Cypress and Vetyver Pre-shave
Soap : Proraso Cypress & Vetyver
Razor : Rockwell Model T at 3 w/Rockwell Blade (2)
Post shave : Proraso Cypress and Vetyver Beard Balm (works on skin just fine)
Can’t do a Proraso Week without Proraso Green. Love that Eucalyptus Menthol blast! I have a ton of Proraso Pre-Shaves to clear out so gonna use them very liberally.
The Rockwell Model T Adjustable Safety Razor
Material
Brass, stainless steel, chromed zinc alloy
Razor Weight
125 grams
Razor Length
95mm (3.74 inches)
Handle Length
89mm (3.5 inches)
Note that the blade is fully housed so there are no tabs showing and the silo mechanism is the type that requires you to make further turns of the mechanism knob after the doors are closed to set the razor up for use.
There is also a very slight positive blade exposure, just enough that you will definitely feel blade contact on your skin even with the lightest touch. This may also affect your technique, as the leeway that you had with the more forgiving 6C/S is no longer there. Newbies who are used to the 2C, 6C/S might press a little too hard and cause the blade to bite. A little care and presence of mind and you’ll be fine.
So how does it shave? While you might be using a safety razor, because of the more aggressive blade contact against your skin, at times especially when you go against the grain, this feels more like a Shavette shave, if not that of a traditional straight edge blade Razor.
Because of this, this razor is not as smooth nor will it be as forgiving compared to the 6C/S but so far, every shave I have with it on setting “3”, with the Rockwell Blade which is not the sharpest out there, has given me nothing but true Glass BBS shaves, even clearing my difficult spots with ease. Finding the right angle is really easy, the feel of the blade more than anything else is a great guide.
I will be trying the razor with other blades in the following days. With the positive blade exposure I am a little concerned how this guy will perform when using the sharper blades like BiCs, Feathers and Dorco Primes. I guess I’ll find out.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower, Proraso Green Pre-Shave
Soap : Proraso Green
Razor : Rockwell Model T w/Rockwell Blade (1)
Post Shave : Proraso Green Aftershave Splash, Prep Balm
After yesterday’s Proraso Red run, I now have the urge to use just give all my Proraso soaps some love and well needed use. They were after all my gateway into artisanal soaps.
2nd use of the razor from my own experience with the 6S, the Model T definitely has a more pronounced blade feel so I am pretty sure that there is definitely a slightly more positive blade exposure value compared to the true neutral of the 6S. So those who are thinking that the Model T will behave like the 6C/Ss will be disappointed.
I am going to keep the Model T in rotation to get a better feel of it but should be able to do a full write up tomorrow, after tonight’s evening shave.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower, Proraso Green
Soap : Proraso Blue
Razor : Rockwell Model T w/Rockwell Blade (1)
Post Shave : Nivea Men Deep Aftershave Splash, Proraso Blue Balm
Still rotating on the old stuff and the next few days will be Proraso. Starting off with Proraso Red.
Love that sandalwood scent. Face lathered and the Masamune made it another very comfortable shave even without pres-have oil or soap.
The Lord Platinum blade performed really well showing off its sharpness and smoothness. Zero Irritation as there was zero feedback from the alum. Great shave to start the day.
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower
Soap : Proraso Red
Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Lord Platinum Blade (2)
Post Shave : Proraso Red Aftershave Splash, Prep Balm
Doing the late afternoon shift so, its more or less a flipped day. Still going with using some of the old stuff I have laying around. Rockwell’s cream is actually surprisingly good. The scent is a liquorice barbershop instead if the more common old school citrus or modern day fougere fresh so that might throw you off but you’ll get used to it. Performance is artisan level.
Feathers and the Masamune is a combo made for each other. Perfect glass BBS shave.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthethic by Frank Shaving
Off day shave, just using some stuff that I really should clear out. Now I understand why people just pile on the soaps and creams. We just have way too much to use up in a lifetime. 🤣 This blade and razor combo isn’t the best. Smooth as frack for sure but post shave, I can feel that its not true glass BBS. Definitely needs sharper blades with the default Masamune razor set up.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Oumo SHD Silvertip Badger
Pre-Shave : Shower
Soap : Bluebeard’s Revenge shaving cream
Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Rockwell Blade (3)
Post Shave : Clubman Pinaud Whiskey Woods, Bluebeard’s revenge post shave balm
Love this scent. Yeah, it’s a very close clone of Channel Bleu, at least from memory and though I didn’t choose to buy the EDT at the time, so I can’t truly compare it against the “real juice” but my impression is that it does smell great and close enough to Channel Bleu that its a good alternative for our fellow frag heads.
I am having a hard time choosing between the hard puck vs the croaps but I might go with the Hard Puck more in the future. There’s just something really satisfying about loading a brush up from a hard puck and using the residual lather to face wash as a pre-shave. Its also all about scent layering.
Performance is as good as Monica’s other soaps and it was a really enjoyable shave. True glass “I keep touching myself” BBS shave, smelling great, feeling goddamn awesome! Great start for the day.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy Dual Band Mancurian Badger by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower, face wash with residual lather off the puck
Soap : Van Yulay’s Dress Bleus
Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Astra Blue (2)
Post Shave : Van Yulay’s Dress Bleus Aftershave Splash and Balm
Ohers : Van Yulay’s Dress Bleus Deodorant and Cologne Spray
Somehow I missed the whole #VanYulayWeek to celebrate Elton’s Retirement and becoming another member of the Van Yulay Family. Going with Gaia today, it’s definitely one of the most unique scents you can use and wear. Arboreal, fresh, and an amazing plethora of notes that will assault your senses from start to finish especially if, like the above, you went The Full Monty.
Go easy on the cologne. 😁 Love the scent imagery on this one! ps: Add Menthol. It **really** changes that imagery to something epic.
And yeah, True glass “I keep touching myself” BBS shave.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower
Soap : Van Yulay’s Gaia
Razor : PAA’s Copper Ascension DOC w/Astra Blue (1)
Post Shave : Van Yulay’s Aftershave Splash and Balm
Others : Menthol Crystals in salt grinder, Van Yulay’s Gaia Deodorant and Cologne
Van Yulay’s Enter The Dragon’s notes as per site description: Top notes of spicy orient fragrances. Green notes of Bamboo, Sweetness of Orange blossoms, Peppery notes of carnation, Gardenia, Nutmeg, Clary Sage Vanilla, Oakmoss, Tonka Bean and Musk
At times though I thought it smelled a little like baby powder, maybe because of the bamboo.
Shave was a set up for Dua’s near perfect and actually (now that its actually aged a little) better performing clone of Creed’s Spice and Wood. This scent opens with : Bergamot, lemon and apples. Middle notes are Angelica root, rose, clove, peppers, patchouli and birch. Base are cedar, iris, oak moss and light musk
Creed’s original Spice and Wood was abysmal in its longevity, about 3-4 hours but Dua seems to have got this “fixed” (4-5hrs, about 6-7hrs as a skinscent) assuming you let the scent age a little (2 weeks in a drawer). Bottles are sold out almost as fast as they are made. My issue with the Creed Original was its price vs Performance. Its fracking US$545 for a 75ml bottle before discounters and about US$340 at discounters. Dua’s is still not cheap though at around US$55 per 30ml.
Its still not as long lasting as I would have wished it to be it does still smell fantastic, though if you don’t like eastern spice scents, you’ll probably hate this. YMMV.
And oh yeah. Smooth, very comfortable, perfect Glass BBS shave. Loving that Masamune. Still 2nd fiddle to the PAA’s Ascension DOC though (price vs performance vs versatility) but if price is not an issue, it is by far the most comfortable shaver I have used.
Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
Brush : Friendship Shaving’s Macy G4 Synthetic by Frank Shaving
Pre-Shave : Shower
Soap : Van Yulay’s Enter The Dragon
Razor : Tatara Masamune w/Astra Blue (2)
Post Shave : Van Yulay’s Enter The Dragon’s Aftershave Splash and Balm
Others : Dua’s Bois Précieux et Épices (Creed’s Spice and Woods Clone)
Steve's Wet Shaving in Singapore 