Balin's Blade Bonanza

[Balin]

Shave 2 with the Rubie today.

I had a comfortable BBS shave today after skipping yesterday. I had some alum and aftershave feedback but it was acceptable. I am going to switch to my WR1 .74 tomorrow because this blade might be just a touch too sharp for this razor. The WR1 .74 has a 0.17 blade exposure but it seems more gentle than this razor with sharp blades. I don't have much to say about this blade, it is still in my top 5 along with GSBs, Nacets, Wizamets and possibly the Lord Silver Star. Its a good thing I am in GRUME because I only have 3 tucks left of the Silver Stars

 

[Guido75]

Date	10.05.2024
366 daily shaves	131/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Fatip Fathena	Gillette Rubie (4)	Semogue SOC Cherry Finest
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	TGS Savage (15)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Process Quality	Blade Sharpness
9/10 (One red spot)	6/10 (Razor sharp)
Effectiveness	Shave Comfort
6.5/10 (CCS+++)	8/10 (Smooth)

Notes:

Summary. Fun to mix up the Athena and Fatip razors, but on their own they are both much more effective.

For extended shave notes click here.

Razor and blade. Yesterday’s performance was slightly less than expected, but still very worthy of a fourth run today. No signs of fatigue at all. Also not in the butterysmooth division either yet.

Enjoy your shave!

 

[Balin]

Shave 3 with the Rubie.

Another comfy BBS shave today with minimal alum and aftershave feedback. This razor is a better fit for the Rubie.

@Guido75 I don't really get the buttery smoothness with this blade, but today was closer with this razor. I am going to try my WR1.67 OC tomorrow, because that what I used my week of Rubie Plus shaves.

 

[Guido75]

Date	11.05.2024
366 daily shaves	132/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Razorock Game Changer .84OC	Gillette Rubie (5)	Abe’s Brush Works Saturn Synbad
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	TGS Savage (16)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Process Quality	Blade Sharpness
9/10 (One red spot)	6/10 (Razor sharp)
Effectiveness	Shave Comfort
8.75/10 (BBS-)	8/10 (Smooth)

Notes:

Summary. Yesterday’s shave was too mild for my liking. The Game Changer is much more effective and I am definitely a fan of that.

For extended shave notes click here.

Performance wise this is an easy blade and one that performs well. Sufficiently smooth and comfortable. Great sharpness. For me at this moment in time there is a difference with the Rubie Plus blade. The Rubie without the Plus is a little harsher in comparison and draws more blood.

Enjoy your shave.

 

[Balin]

Shave 4 with the Rubie

I went with my milder WR1 .67 today with a .1 blade exposure and found the Rubie smoother than yesterday. I do think the Rubie Plus is still a tad smoother than this blade. I will have no problem using this blade again tomorrow but I might bin it after 5 uses if I get resistance under the chin ATG.

Cheers!

 

[Guido75]

Date	12.05.2024
366 daily shaves	133/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Lambda Athena	Gillette Rubie (6)	Abe’s Brush Works Blutt STF
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	TGS Savage (18)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Process Quality	Blade Sharpness
9.75/10 (Almost clean)	6/10 (Razor sharp)
Effectiveness	Shave Comfort
8.75/10 (BBS-)	8/10 (Smooth)

Notes:

Summary. Supreme Sunday Shave with the Athena today. Off to my parents to celebrate Mother’s Day.

For extended shave notes click here.

Perhaps a final run with the Rubie seeing that I have been drawing blood all shaves with this blade. I still think it performs above average. I will grant it one final shave to get to 7.

Enjoy your shave!

 

[Balin]

Shave 5 with the Rubie

I had a DFS shave today. The blade is starting to show its wear today. This blade is different from the older Rubie Plus. I prefer the Rubie Plus to this blade. Its still a fine blade, but its only good for about 3 shaves for me.

What are the plans for next week???

 

[cranewarrior]

What are the plans for next week???

I'm ok with anything, but how about the modern Minora, Nacet, or Super-Max?

 

[Guido75]

I'm ok with anything, but how about the modern Minora, Nacet, or Super-Max?

Minora sounds like a plan to me too! I’ll use the Rubie one last shave and switch for tomorrow.

 

[cranewarrior]

Shave #1 - Gillette Minora
Maggard V3a head

With a full 3 days of growth to remove, I elected for one of my aggressive razor heads, the V3a. I was anticipating a stern cut from the Gillette Minora but I found it on the moderate range. It is not the sharpest, but relatively smoothness is one of its selling points. It feels like a lesser little brother version of the Gillette Silver Blue to me.

In any case, the Minora worked well enough. I had a leisurely morning shave and probably went 1.5 passes and came out of it with a great close shave.

Nonetheless, I'm disappointed. The FlyDear Super Platinums I have been using the last two weeks perform just as well as this and can be found at 25% the price of the Minora. Of course I will need to have a longer trial with the Minora to give it a fair shot, but the first impression is a mundane one. The blades I have came from a 100 pack in a folded rectangular card. They are singled wrapped in plain white waxed paper and have 2 wax dots on each side; however the wax isn't too copious thankfully.

 

[Pinto90]

I'm ok with anything, but how about the modern Minora, Nacet, or Super-Max?

I didn't realize, there are only three or four blades left to try?
If I checked well the three you mentioned and the Kai blades.

 

[cranewarrior]

I didn't realize, there are only three or four blades left to try?
If I checked well the three you mentioned and the Kai blades.

And the Super-Max and the Minora (Vintage) and the Sharp 7AM (I know you reviewed it already).

If you haven't tried any of the ones we already reviewed, you can always add your own review if you get ahold of them.

 

[Pinto90]

And the Super-Max and the Minora (Vintage) and the Sharp 7AM (I know you reviewed it already).

If I checked well, there are seven or eight blades missing to be tested: besides Minora, also Minora vintage, GSB vintage, Supermax, Sharp 7 AM, Gillette 7 morning yellow (have you done it yet?) and Kai.

If you haven't tried any of the ones we already reviewed, you can always add your own review if you get ahold of them.

Unfortunately, I haven't other blades listed.
I might be able to find the Kai, I have to ask the store in my town if they have any left.

 

[Guido75]

Final shave with the Rubie this morning.

Blade	Sharpness	Comfort	Excalibur potential
Shark Chrome	5	5	Yes
Gillette Rubie Plus	5	5	Yes
GSB	4	5	Yes
Rubie	5	4	Possibly, but unlikely
ASCO	4	4	Yes
King C Gillette (MiC)	5	3	Not likely
Sharp Titanium	5	3	Maybe
Racer	3	4	Maybe
Lord Cool	3	3	Unlikely
Silver Star	4	2	Possible
Sputnik	3	2	No

So far we have done 12/19 blades unless I am miscounting. So we have 7 blades left.

1. Minora
2. Nacet
3. GSB modern (or vintage - can’t remember which is which)
4. Super Max
5. Sharp 7AM
6. 7 O’clock Yellow
7. Kai

After that we can draw our conclusions and perhaps do a rerun with certain blades to indeed check the Excalibur status of them (at least I intend to do that - you are of course free to do your thing!)

Cheers,

Guido

 

[Guido75]

Mühle Rocca Set

• Guido75
• Nov 30, 2023

Date	13.05.2024
366 daily shaves	134/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Mühle Rocca R94	Gillette Rubie (7)	Mühle Rocca R94 Silvertip
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	TGS Savage (19)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Process Quality	Blade Sharpness
9.75/10 (Almost clean)	6/10 (Razor sharp)
Effectiveness	Shave Comfort
8.75/10 (BBS-)	8/10 (Smooth)

Notes:

Summary. A majestic Monday shave with what is probably my forever razor. A superb set. Smiling from ear to ear.

For extended shave notes click here.

Razor and blade. Last run with the Rubie was wonderful. The Rocca made it behave very nicely. Good blade, but not necessarily for me. Also based on my statistics it scores in the lower part of all the blades I have tried so far (since recording my shaves that is).

Enjoy your shave!

 

[Guido75]

14.05.2024

• Guido75
• May 13, 2024

Souplex OC • Gillette Minora • Omega 10108 • Hampshire Wool Fat

Date	14.05.2024
366 daily shaves	135/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Souplex OC	Gillette Minora (1)	Omega 10108
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Hampshire Wool Fat (1)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Process Quality	Blade Sharpness
9.75/10 (Almost clean)	5/10 (Sharp)
Effectiveness	Shave Comfort
8.75/10 (BBS-)	9/10 (Butterysmooth)

Notes:

Summary. A fantastic shave with a new to me razor and soap. I had a wonderful shave today!

For extended shave notes click here.

In the razor is a vintage Minora blade for a first outing. Double wrapped and I have read good things about this blade. And it lived up to the reviews. Platinum coated it was smooth and comfortable even though the Souplex is an open comb razor like the Old Type is (but unlike the Old Type the Souplex is very smooth.

Enjoy your shave!

 

[Balin]

Shave 1 with the SS Minora.

Lol I missed the memo and used the modern version today. I had a comfortable shave and it was close enough. I did get a weeper along the left jawline, but I blame that on using my Game Changer .84 which I haven't used in a while. The shave was mild and there was minimal Alum or Aftershave feedback. So far this seems like a middle of the road blade for me. I won't push this past 3 shaves though as there was already a bit too much stubble to pick up on my second pass.

 

[cranewarrior]

Shave 1 with the SS Minora.


Lol I missed the memo and used the modern version today. I had a comfortable shave and it was close enough. I did get a weeper along the left jawline, but I blame that on using my Game Changer .84 which I haven't used in a while. The shave was mild and there was minimal Alum or Aftershave feedback. So far this seems like a middle of the road blade for me. I won't push this past 3 shaves though as there was already a bit too much stubble to pick up on my second pass.

I found the Game Changer .84P very enjoyable. It's still mild from my perspective but has just enough bite.

 

[cranewarrior]

Shave #2 - Gillette Minora (Modern)
Baili BT131
Barbasol

Not the most comfortable shave this morning. The Baili is one of my rougher razors and the Minora didn't seem as smooth in it. I had 1 small weeper and the blade needed a decent amount of clean-up after the first WTG pass.

This pairing doesn't seem like the best which is odd as I thought the Minora was a smoother ride than most.

I'll go for one of the Game Changers or the T7 next.

 

[Guido75]

Lol I missed the memo and used the modern version today.

No sweat - I think I did too in the end!