I've been shaving with a DE for almost 2 years now. My favorite razor is a Henson medium, but I've gotten pretty good results with any Henson, a Karve Overlander, and Le Maurice 1.0-1.4 plates. I've also tried a Lupo .58 which was ok, and am using a Fatip Piccolo right now which is going pretty well so far, if not quite as well as my favorites. "Good results" to me is a close shave (DFS+/BBS-) with few weepers (ideally none) without spending too much time in front of the sink. I'm currently the only member of B&B who doesn't have a coarse beard and sensitive skin; as far as I know, both are pretty average.
So I got a steel SB Blackbird back in March/April. First couple of shaves went ok. Took my time, didn't push things past DFS, got 4-5 little pinprick weepers that didn't last past the rinse. When I tried to start pushing for a closer shave though, that's when the trouble really started. I was able to get to DFS+ level shaves, but drew a lot of blood in the process. And it was taking way too long to get there, being very careful and meticulous with my strokes and shaving angle so as to not cut myself even more. After 3 weeks or so shaving about every other day with little improvement, I put the Blackbird away.
I want to give the Blackbird 1 more try, see if a few more months of improving technique with other razors helps me out here. But first I wanted to ask the Blackbird connoisseurs, am I a good candidate for the Lite plate? It seems targeted at folks who don't like the blade feel of the standard. I don't mind the blade feel, I just don't like getting a metric crap-ton of weepers. Will the Lite plate will solve all my problems, let me more easily achieve the closeness I'm looking for without all the cuts? Or will I get somewhat fewer weepers, but take even longer to shave and/or get an even less close shave?
So... Is it worth my while trying out a Lite plate, or am I best off just trying again with the standard and see how it goes? Is there any reason to think that someone like me would benefit from the Lite? Seems a good time to ask with the 15% off sale, but it's still a lot of money to shell out if it's unlikely to be much better for me. Anyone here try out the standard plate, hate it, then go on to love the Lite? If so, why? What's so different about it that made it a much better fit for you?
So I got a steel SB Blackbird back in March/April. First couple of shaves went ok. Took my time, didn't push things past DFS, got 4-5 little pinprick weepers that didn't last past the rinse. When I tried to start pushing for a closer shave though, that's when the trouble really started. I was able to get to DFS+ level shaves, but drew a lot of blood in the process. And it was taking way too long to get there, being very careful and meticulous with my strokes and shaving angle so as to not cut myself even more. After 3 weeks or so shaving about every other day with little improvement, I put the Blackbird away.
I want to give the Blackbird 1 more try, see if a few more months of improving technique with other razors helps me out here. But first I wanted to ask the Blackbird connoisseurs, am I a good candidate for the Lite plate? It seems targeted at folks who don't like the blade feel of the standard. I don't mind the blade feel, I just don't like getting a metric crap-ton of weepers. Will the Lite plate will solve all my problems, let me more easily achieve the closeness I'm looking for without all the cuts? Or will I get somewhat fewer weepers, but take even longer to shave and/or get an even less close shave?
So... Is it worth my while trying out a Lite plate, or am I best off just trying again with the standard and see how it goes? Is there any reason to think that someone like me would benefit from the Lite? Seems a good time to ask with the 15% off sale, but it's still a lot of money to shell out if it's unlikely to be much better for me. Anyone here try out the standard plate, hate it, then go on to love the Lite? If so, why? What's so different about it that made it a much better fit for you?