walden
@walden@wetshav.ing
- Comment on Tuesday SOTD Thread, December 23rd, 2025 (#924) 2 hours ago:
It didn’t get too chilly inside, luckily. It was only in the 30’s (F) today.
The heat is back on, by the way! The burner is less than 2 months old, and they replaced the (pardon me for probably getting some of these parts wrong) igniters, nozzle, primary coil, and CAD cell (flame detector). Just threw a bunch of parts at it until it worked (a valid method of repair, sometimes!).
I’m glad we have a service contract which is about $400 a year – we got our money’s worth with the old system, and again it’s proving to be worth it with a brand new system.
- Comment on Tuesday SOTD Thread, December 23rd, 2025 (#924) 5 hours ago:
December 23rd, 2025
- Brush: Summer Break Soaps - w/Maggard Silvertip 28mm Badger
- Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Raw Titanium - (#69)
- Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (2)
- Lather: Catie’s Bubbles - 322 - Soap
- Post Shave: Summer Break Soaps - Woodshop - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Declaration Grooming, House of Mammoth - Cerberus - Liniment
Very nice shave, though a bit rushed. We’ve had people here working on the heat since this morning, but luckily enough hot water for showers in between it being broken.
- Comment on Mailcall for Barber's Use 8 hours ago:
Have you considered a career in hand modeling?
- Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, December 22nd, 2025 (#923) 1 day ago:
December 22nd, 2025
- Brush: Stirling Soap Co. 24mm Synthetic
- Razor: Gillette Tech
- Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (3)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Brut - Brut - Splash On
- Post Shave: Goodfellow & Co. - Kelp & Sea Mineral - Lotion
Tub kill. I’ve had this tub for quite some time. I think I bought it used from someone on Reddit. I always sort of thought the scent was relatively basic but enjoyable, but using it day after day recently made my nose pick up on some details that were really enjoyable. I’m not going to replace it, but I see why this one is popular with the “use the same thing every day” crowd.
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, December 21st, 2025 (#922) 2 days ago:
December 21st, 2025
- Brush: Stirling Soap Co. 24mm Synthetic
- Razor: Gillette Tech
- Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (2)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Brut - Brut - Splash On
- Post Shave: Goodfellow & Co. - Kelp & Sea Mineral - Lotion
Not too bad, but not my favorite razor/blade combo. I think tomorrow is tub kill day unless I stretch it, which is totally doable with this base.
- Comment on Friday SOTD Thread, December 19th, 2025 (#920) 3 days ago:
Lower neck is difficult for tons of people. I stopped going against the grain there a couple years ago and it has been smooth sailing.
- Comment on Saturday SOTD Thread, December 20th, 2025 (#921) 3 days ago:
December 20th, 2025
- Brush: Stirling Soap Co. 24mm Synthetic
- Razor: Gillette Tech
- Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (1)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Brut - Brut - Splash On
- Post Shave: Goodfellow & Co. - Kelp & Sea Mineral - Lotion
This blade is an older “Israeli Red”. Edgewell moved their Platinum Chrome operation to Germany 3 or 4 years ago. I used a German one yesterday and enjoyed that shave more, but I also used a different razor so I can’t say for certain if one is better than the other.
I’m car travelling and packed my Tech inside the plastic case that one of my Baili BR171 razors came in. It’s a really great travel option despite being just a cheap plastic shell.
- Comment on Friday SOTD Thread, December 19th, 2025 (#920) 3 days ago:
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
- Comment on State of December BVWSC 4 days ago:
Works for me.
- Comment on Friday SOTD Thread, December 19th, 2025 (#920) 4 days ago:
I’m glad to see someone else who appreciates the CFG base.
- Comment on Friday SOTD Thread, December 19th, 2025 (#920) 4 days ago:
December 19th, 2025
- Brush: Summer Break Soaps - w/Maggard Silvertip 28mm Badger
- Razor: Chiseled Face Legacy Raw Titanium - (#69)
- Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (1)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: M�urer & Wirtz - Tabac - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Zingari Man - The Stargazer - Aftershave Serum
- Fragrance: Noble Otter - Hamami - EdP
This razor/blade combination is one of @snooting@wetshav.ing’s favorites so it was high time I gave it a try. It had a great, mild feel and I got a super close shave. What more could you ask for?
I’m doing a good job of using this soap and so far it hasn’t gotten old. I’m still at least a few+ shaves away from killing it, but the end is near.
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, December 18th, 2025 (#919) 4 days ago:
I think those are the direct replacements 👍. When they first came out all of the vendors were working overtime to educate the public that they were the same, but I haven’t heard anything about the GEM Platinum Diamond Glide (then again I don’t pay much attention to things these days).
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, December 18th, 2025 (#919) 5 days ago:
December 18th, 2025: Blade Comparison
- Brush: Chisel & Hound - “Rob’s Finest” w/ 25mm Synthetic
- Razor 1: Baili BR171
- Razor 2: Baili BR171
- Blade 1: Personna GEM Platinum Diamond Glide Double Edge (5)
- Blade 2: Personna Lab Blue (5)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Leather - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Nivea - Sensitive - Balm
A blind comparison of a Personna Lab Blue and a Personna GEM Platinum Diamond Glide DE blades, both on shave #5, both in one of my two Baili BR171 razors.
My wife loaded each blade without me looking, so I didn’t know which blade was on the left side of my face vs. the right.
During the shave I struggled to discern any difference. Both blades felt the same, so I would hope for one side to stand out while rinsing between passes, but shave quality was also equal.
I kept trying to make myself pick a “winner” throughout the shave, but I couldn’t.
I did this same test a couple of weeks ago, but with each blade on the 1st use. I also knew which razor had which blade, and I didn’t stick to one side of my face for each razor. My initial impression during that shave matches my results today – these are likely the same blade.
Each blade has the manufacturing date laser etched on it. The Lab Blue was made in 2020, and the GEM Platinum Diamond Glide in 2025. Assuming they were made on the same machine, I imagine it has gone through numerous adjustments, maintenance, parts replacements, etc. so the consistency is that much more impressive! Nice job, Edgewell!
- Comment on Tuesday SOTD Thread, December 16th, 2025 (#917) 5 days ago:
Oh wow, I’m surprised you’ve held back on wanting to know for this long!
- Comment on Wednesday SOTD Thread, December 17th, 2025 (#918) 6 days ago:
December 17th, 2025
- Brush: Wolf Whiskers - “Gianmaria” w/Maggard 26mm Synthetic
- Razor: Blackland Era - Level 3
- Blade: Personna Lab Blue (4)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - I, Rich Moose - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Declaration Grooming, House of Mammoth - Cerberus - Liniment
I really thought I, Rich Moose followed by Cerberus was going to be gross, but it turned out to be a very interesting combo. Combined they smelled like a Christmas market.
- Comment on Tuesday SOTD Thread, December 16th, 2025 (#917) 1 week ago:
- Comment on State of December BVWSC 1 week ago:
The 24th or 21st would both work for me. I might actually slightly prefer the 24th but if other people are traveling then yeah, probably not a good idea.
- Comment on Tuesday SOTD Thread, December 16th, 2025 (#917) 1 week ago:
Get well soon. My wife is still getting over the flu. It’s day 8, so hopefully only a little longer. Luckily nobody else in the house got symptoms.
- Comment on Tuesday SOTD Thread, December 16th, 2025 (#917) 1 week ago:
December 16th, 2025
- Brush: Wolf Whiskers - “Coffee & Cream” w/Declaration Grooming B1 Badger
- Razor: Blackland Era - Level 3
- Blade: Personna Lab Blue (3)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Nivea - Sensitive - Balm
I haven’t used the Era in a while, but my buddy mentioned getting rid of his so I had to whip it out. I love this razor so much I’m going to buy his to keep in the family. I don’t want it going to some ingrate!
Tomorrow this blade will have 4 shaves on it, matching it to the Personna GEM Platinum Diamond Glide that I have on standby. That’ll give me the opportunity to do another side by side shave, maybe a little bit more scientific this time. I’ll try to convince my wife to load a blade in each of my Baili BR171 razors so I won’t know which is which. Then I’ll keep each razor to one side of my face and see which I like best.
That reminds me, did @djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social ever reveal the scientific results of his synthetic vs Japanese natural comparison?
- Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, December 15th, 2025 (#916) 1 week ago:
December 15th, 2025: Shave #2
- Brush: Wolf Whiskers - “Coffee & Cream” w/Declaration Grooming B1 Badger
- Razor: Wolfman Guerilla - Gen 1
- Blade: Personna Lab Blue (2)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Stirling Soap Co. - Varen - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Declaration Grooming, House of Mammoth - Cerberus - Liniment
My poor face has endured quite a bit today, and it’s only 10:30am! 2 shaves totaling 5 passes, frigid winter air while I scraped ice and snow off of my car, and even a Stirling aftershave thrown in just to really go for it.
Declaration Grooming Liniment is pretty much unsuitable for most of the year, but right now it has already soaked in and dried down without a greasy feeling.
I’m still doing blade science, working this blade towards 4 shaves so it matches the Personna GEM Diamond Platinum Diamond Glide. I feel like this Lab Blue is already approaching the same sweet spot that the Diamond Glide is currently in… but we’ll see.
- Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, December 15th, 2025 (#916) 1 week ago:
December 15th, 2025
- Brush: Stirling Soap Co. 24mm Synthetic
- Blade: Personna White Handle Disposable (3)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Brut - Brut - Splash On
- Post Shave: Goodfellow & Co. - Kelp & Sea Mineral - Lotion
My work trip got extended into another day. I only did 2 passes this morning, both mostly against the grain. A 3rd pass and more buffing would have made a big difference. Still nice, overall!
- Comment on Sunday SOTD Thread, December 14th, 2025 (#915) 1 week ago:
December 14th, 2025
- Brush: Stirling Soap Co. 24mm Synthetic
- Blade: Personna White Handle Disposable (2)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Brut - Brut - Splash On
- Post Shave: Goodfellow & Co. - Kelp & Sea Mineral - Lotion
Have a good one.
- Comment on Saturday SOTD Thread, December 13th, 2025 (#914) 1 week ago:
Pretty exciting, as it gives me an excuse to try another blade combo in my Legacy. I have one record of using a Platinum Chrome in the Legacy, but I need to pump those numbers up.
- Comment on Saturday SOTD Thread, December 13th, 2025 (#914) 1 week ago:
December 13th, 2025
- Brush: Semogue - 1305 Boar
- Razor: Wolfman Guerilla - Gen 1
- Blade: Personna Lab Blue (1)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company - Seaforth! Heather - Toner
- Post Shave: Nivea - Sensitive - Balm
Nice. My plan is to use this blade until the number of uses matches the Personna GEM Diamond Edge that I’ve been using, then compare them. The GEM is in a sweet spot right now, with yesterday’s shave being impossibly close.
My tub of GTB is nearing the home stretch. I might use it until it’s gone, but something tells me I’ll get bored of it before that happens.
- Comment on Free Talk Friday - December 12th, 2025 1 week ago:
Looking forward to it. Smells great. Next Wed, I think? The 17th?
- Comment on Trying to find a messenger bag at Amazon 1 week ago:
Take a step back for a second. They’re complaining about Amazon, and you’re response is “that’s the wrong complaint”.
- Comment on Why So Serious?! — Mailcall 1 week ago:
Incredible
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, December 11th, 2025 (#912) 1 week ago:
It’s ok. I’m only familiar with the pop-culture reference because South Park did an episode about it.
- Comment on Friday SOTD Thread, December 12th, 2025 (#913) 1 week ago:
December 12th, 2025
- Brush: Semogue - 610 Boar
- Razor: Wolfman Guerilla - Gen 1
- Blade: Personna GEM Platinum Diamond Glide Double Edge (4)
- Lather: Chiseled Face - Ghost Town Barber - Soap
- Post Shave: Old Spice - Hawkridge - Aftershave
- Post Shave: Nivea - Sensitive - Balm
I’m quite enjoying this blade. Was my initial side-by-side comparison between this and a Lab Blue bunk science? Is this blade actually different? I should use a Lab Blue a few times and do another comparison.
This little brush is just about perfect for a fast shave using a soap like this.
- Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread, December 11th, 2025 (#912) 1 week ago:
So, maybe on a scale of 0 to 16 it’d be 6-7?