Have had and sporadically used a Merkur 11C OC over the years but never really found its sweet spot. After a discussion with my barber a few months ago I got back into focusing on using a DE more regularly.
I knew I wanted something that was made in the US, was preferably SS (or perhaps Ti). Not having tried a lot of different blade gaps, having some choices would be a plus. While price was a consideration it was the lowest factor in making a decision as I prefer to buy one or two really nice things rather than ten mediocre ones (I am an avid watch collector).
After quite a bit of research here, and more broadly online, I pulled the trigger on a Rockwell 6S based on the flexibility of the plates, SS construction, etc. Having used it for the last 2 weeks I've been generally satisfied. Significantly better than my 11C. I started on plate 1 (way to mild and too much work), moved to plate 3 (much better, able to get BBS with 3 passess and clean up in trouble spots) and finally moved to 4 (a little better but not noticeably than 3). I really like the construction, packaging, stand, size, etc. I'm not crazy about the finish and feel a polished cap/plate might give a slightly smoother glide. Also the plate design, while flexible, is a bit of a inconvenience for me personally. Not sure once I have it dialed in that I'll switch especially mid-shave making all of the other parts somewhat unnecessary. I've used a Feather, Kai, Gillette Platinum blade so far (with Feather and Kai giving me the best results).
Reading too much on this form, is as everyone knows, dangerous to say the least. Over the last week I've been reading more and feel that I want to try a few other high(er) end razors prior to settling on my go-to (I typically shave 3-4 days a week when working from home, more often when at clients). Both Timeless and Rex bubbled up to the top of my research list.
Timeless - seems to be very strong praise and following and I really love their story, design, options, etc. The polished SS .95, scalloped base and cap along with the dimple handle is crying out to me. The .95 seems to be the more popular option and as I am a 3 day a week shaver it seems to be more appropriate than the .68. I suppose there's always the option to buy the milder plate if I move to shaving daily on a more regular basis.
Rex Ambassador - Another seemingly crowd favorite. The build and feature set seem great and much more convenient than the Rockwell, especially if you want to adjust mid-shave (I'm a shower shaver). I understand that the build quality is top notch however compared to the Timeless there are more moving parts which could impact how well it holds up and how easy it is to maintain. I've also seen some QC issues but understand that any issues have been quickly rectified. The adjustability factor is obviously the big draw here negating the need for multiple plates.
While I know there are many comparisons of these razors already in other threads (I have read many of them) I would be interested in any additional thoughts experienced users may have on this topic. I have 2 weeks left on my return window for the Rockwell and would like not to have a drawer full of pricey razors I rarely use. I'm ok with having more than one razor if people feel that "this" plus "that" would be the best setup but ideally having several three figure razors (at this time) is something I'd like to avoid. Finally I know the term YMMV and that no one has "my face" and therefore cannot make a definitive statement on the topic.
Thanks in advance and also to everyone who has taken the time to share their experience, wisdom and opinion on this very warm community.
-Andrew
I knew I wanted something that was made in the US, was preferably SS (or perhaps Ti). Not having tried a lot of different blade gaps, having some choices would be a plus. While price was a consideration it was the lowest factor in making a decision as I prefer to buy one or two really nice things rather than ten mediocre ones (I am an avid watch collector).
After quite a bit of research here, and more broadly online, I pulled the trigger on a Rockwell 6S based on the flexibility of the plates, SS construction, etc. Having used it for the last 2 weeks I've been generally satisfied. Significantly better than my 11C. I started on plate 1 (way to mild and too much work), moved to plate 3 (much better, able to get BBS with 3 passess and clean up in trouble spots) and finally moved to 4 (a little better but not noticeably than 3). I really like the construction, packaging, stand, size, etc. I'm not crazy about the finish and feel a polished cap/plate might give a slightly smoother glide. Also the plate design, while flexible, is a bit of a inconvenience for me personally. Not sure once I have it dialed in that I'll switch especially mid-shave making all of the other parts somewhat unnecessary. I've used a Feather, Kai, Gillette Platinum blade so far (with Feather and Kai giving me the best results).
Reading too much on this form, is as everyone knows, dangerous to say the least. Over the last week I've been reading more and feel that I want to try a few other high(er) end razors prior to settling on my go-to (I typically shave 3-4 days a week when working from home, more often when at clients). Both Timeless and Rex bubbled up to the top of my research list.
Timeless - seems to be very strong praise and following and I really love their story, design, options, etc. The polished SS .95, scalloped base and cap along with the dimple handle is crying out to me. The .95 seems to be the more popular option and as I am a 3 day a week shaver it seems to be more appropriate than the .68. I suppose there's always the option to buy the milder plate if I move to shaving daily on a more regular basis.
Rex Ambassador - Another seemingly crowd favorite. The build and feature set seem great and much more convenient than the Rockwell, especially if you want to adjust mid-shave (I'm a shower shaver). I understand that the build quality is top notch however compared to the Timeless there are more moving parts which could impact how well it holds up and how easy it is to maintain. I've also seen some QC issues but understand that any issues have been quickly rectified. The adjustability factor is obviously the big draw here negating the need for multiple plates.
While I know there are many comparisons of these razors already in other threads (I have read many of them) I would be interested in any additional thoughts experienced users may have on this topic. I have 2 weeks left on my return window for the Rockwell and would like not to have a drawer full of pricey razors I rarely use. I'm ok with having more than one razor if people feel that "this" plus "that" would be the best setup but ideally having several three figure razors (at this time) is something I'd like to avoid. Finally I know the term YMMV and that no one has "my face" and therefore cannot make a definitive statement on the topic.
Thanks in advance and also to everyone who has taken the time to share their experience, wisdom and opinion on this very warm community.
-Andrew
