Thanks for the warning 
I will look around for some electrical tape.
Thanks, Cal!
I will look around for some electrical tape.
Thanks, Cal!
Wolfman WR2 Adjustable
- Thread starter Hannah's Dad
- Start date
Great concept! Certainly more cost-effective than purchasing the entire WR line-up!!
- Thread starter
- #23
Hannah's Dad
I Can See Better Than Bigfoot.
I think it would be important to note that if you are trying to "reverse shim", this will only work if you are a shallow angle, (riding the cap), shaver!!
I qualify
OK, the reverse shim was a failure. The tape increased the comfort a tiny bit...but decreased the efficiency dramatically! 
Perhaps I did something wrong?
OTOH, the regular shim increased both blade feel and efficiency a little. I can now see why guys go for the bigger blade gaps with the Wolfman WR2. Although there is more blade feel, it's not as threatening as you might think. Somehow, the head geometry preserves the comfort level.
Perhaps I did something wrong?
OTOH, the regular shim increased both blade feel and efficiency a little. I can now see why guys go for the bigger blade gaps with the Wolfman WR2. Although there is more blade feel, it's not as threatening as you might think. Somehow, the head geometry preserves the comfort level.
- Thread starter
- #28
Hannah's Dad
I Can See Better Than Bigfoot.
Indeed, even the WR2 1.55 is remarkably smooth. For me it comes down to whether you’re a daily shaver or a 2-3x/week shaver. The lower the gap, the more likely you’ll have enough stubble to shave 24 hours later.OK, the reverse shim was a failure. The tape increased the comfort a tiny bit...but decreased the efficiency dramatically!
Perhaps I did something wrong?
OTOH, the regular shim increased both blade feel and efficiency a little. I can now see why guys go for the bigger blade gaps with the Wolfman WR2. Although there is more blade feel, it's not as threatening as you might think. Somehow, the head geometry preserves the comfort level.
That's why after reading all 30 something pages of your thread, I had settled on the Timeless .95. I knew it would be just as smooth as your .68 from others experiences, but with a tiny amount of blade feel. I finally have it and am done buying DE, Wolfman is out of my league. And you were right about the magic feel of Ti.OTOH, the regular shim increased both blade feel and efficiency a little. I can now see why guys go for the bigger blade gaps with the Wolfman WR2. Although there is more blade feel, it's not as threatening as you might think. Somehow, the head geometry preserves the comfort level.
probably better clamp it in a vice and use a cutting wheel
The Timeless Ti .95 is great...but the Wolfman WR2 .95 is better, especially ATG. It's the only razor I've ever used that has given me a BBS shave with zero irritation. Mr. Alum is silent
I cannot wait till my name comes up (probably in February) for a Wolfman Ti. As you note, the feel of titanium is "magic". It goes way beyond just being half the weight as SS. It feels "softer" on the skin, even though it's actually harder than steel!
I wonder if there are any other slight differences in the base plate/cap based on the gap. Obviously the baseplate is slightly different to change the gap level. I don’t know as I currently own just one Wolfman WR2 head so I can’t compare. But for those with multiple heads, is adding a shim or two really identical in every way from a razor built with a specified gap? In other words, if you have a 1.05 gap and add two razor shims at 0.1 mm thickness each, the result is a 1.25 gap. Is this shimmed 1.25 head identical to a razor made with a 1.25 gap?
- Thread starter
- #34
Hannah's Dad
I Can See Better Than Bigfoot.
The caps are all the same. The amount of steel on the safety bars determine the gap. Shimming is unlikely to provide a perfect match to each gap; but it’s an inexpensive way to simulate more aggression for this head.
Chan Eil Whiskers
Fumbling about.
In my experience with my 1.15 and later with my 1.35 the shims don't accurately simulate the larger gap. That's just my experience.
I'm not saying the shims are not useful to you or anyone else, but if I'd stopped with the shims and what I concluded using the shims, I wouldn't have purchased the 1.35.
I like the 1.35. I didn't like the 1.15 with two shims.
Happy shaves,
Jim
Thank you for that information. This is helpful. Right now I have the WR2 SB1.05 and am currently putting in my order. I really like the 1.05 a lot, but I am considering going to the WR2 1.15 SB. For reference, I did not like the Timeless 95 at all as it caused too much irritation. I have read people saying though that the WR2 1.15 is pretty similar in efficiency but is smoother than the Timeless and more comfortable. But when I added a shim the other day to my 1.05, I did not like how my face felt afterwards even though I could tell that the shave was a bit closer. But maybe this isn’t really accurately replicating what an actual WR2 1.15 would feel like.
Prior to my Wolfman experiment, I'd only used shims to make blades more rigid in razors with large clamp distances (= blade chatter).
These were all 20mm wide (because I found it easy to mark that on the blade and cut it with tin snips).
For my Wolfman (WR2) experiment I cut 1.5mm off each edge to give me a 19mm shim (from a standard 22mm wide DE blade - not a Kai).
The WR2 cap and baseplate (less guards) width is 18.9mm... so when the shim is loaded, its curve reduces it to about that same width.
Here's a pic showing my (unloaded) shim:
To replicate the added gap it's important that the shim is the same width as the cap and baseplate (less guards). If the shim is wider or narrower the result will be less accurate.
SAFETY NOTE:
With a pencil and straight edge I mark my cutting lines, measured from the blade edges (then check that the distance between the lines is correct).
When that's done I apply 1" masking tape to the unmarked side, then cut along the pencil lines with my tin snips (scissors are fine too). This makes the lethal shards you've just cut off easy to dispose of safely.
These were all 20mm wide (because I found it easy to mark that on the blade and cut it with tin snips).
How wide are your shims, Jim? And are the distances from each side of the blade to the center equal?
For my Wolfman (WR2) experiment I cut 1.5mm off each edge to give me a 19mm shim (from a standard 22mm wide DE blade - not a Kai).
The WR2 cap and baseplate (less guards) width is 18.9mm... so when the shim is loaded, its curve reduces it to about that same width.
Here's a pic showing my (unloaded) shim:
To replicate the added gap it's important that the shim is the same width as the cap and baseplate (less guards). If the shim is wider or narrower the result will be less accurate.
SAFETY NOTE:
With a pencil and straight edge I mark my cutting lines, measured from the blade edges (then check that the distance between the lines is correct).
When that's done I apply 1" masking tape to the unmarked side, then cut along the pencil lines with my tin snips (scissors are fine too). This makes the lethal shards you've just cut off easy to dispose of safely.
Shimming on my WR2 matches up with all of the above. Shimming will you give you an approximation of the closeness of the shave, but it won't match the smoothness. Now, I can only talk about the 1.05 to 1.15. My first WR2 was the 1.05. I put one shim in it, and did not like the feel. I still purchased the 1.15 and it's my go to these days. Absolutely love it.
But, all our faces are different. I just think it's really useful that a razor like the WR2 Wolf allows us to experiment this way with only a subjective decrease in comfort—we can experiment without risk to our faces.
Chan Eil Whiskers
Fumbling about.
Cal @Cal. I didn't make the shims I used.
They came to me with the 1.15. Its previous owner used them to determine his next WR2 gap size. He was very satisfied with the shims. My experience with them was unlike his. He found them useful. I didn't. Maybe he and I were looking for different things. Smoothness vs closeness.
I think @merovirginian nailed it
.
But, Cal, you're probably right, too. I'd considered making shims such as you describe, and had considered the matters you mention, but it's either beyond my talents or my needs or my interest level. In any case, I'm too lazy to fool with it.
Basically, I'm not a shim guy!
I do like my 1.15 and I also like my 1.35.
Happy shaves,
Jim
They came to me with the 1.15. Its previous owner used them to determine his next WR2 gap size. He was very satisfied with the shims. My experience with them was unlike his. He found them useful. I didn't. Maybe he and I were looking for different things. Smoothness vs closeness.
I think @merovirginian nailed it
.But, Cal, you're probably right, too. I'd considered making shims such as you describe, and had considered the matters you mention, but it's either beyond my talents or my needs or my interest level. In any case, I'm too lazy to fool with it.
Basically, I'm not a shim guy!
I do like my 1.15 and I also like my 1.35.
Happy shaves,
Jim
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Great information. This convinced me to go ahead and try the WR2 1.15. I am hoping for a bit more efficiency without sacrificing comfort. I think this gap may be able to do this for me, but I will post my experience. I would never know if I didn’t try.
