Ball end vs fat handle?

[mr. s]

I have been borrowing a fat handle tech from my brother for the past few weeks and loving it. I actually just tossed in a feather for the first time, and used the palmolive lemon shave cream and had a glorious time under the blade this evening.
Naturally, I am looking for my own fat handle tech, however, I found out that the ball end and the fat handle have the same head.

So the question is, are the handles noticeably different? Does anyone strongly prefer one to the other for any reason? Greater comfort with one or the other?

 

[Loric]

I like the fat handles myself. I have big hands so its more comfortable. Plus the ball end handles have a strong tendency to crack. I also think the fat handle has more grip.

 

[Cubits]

The ball end is the heaviest tech handle, and if you use an end grip style it fits perfectly. It's my favourite tech handle.

I've never tried the balance point method, but the fat might work better (because it lets the razor be a little more head heavy, i believe).

Edit: Loric, the tech ball end cracks?! I can't see that happening at it's a solid piece of brass. Do you mean the old type ball end? I have never seen or heard of a tech ball end handle cracking...

 

[Loric]

Maybe the one I had was a Frankenrazor. I did not have it long.

 

[cbrigstocke]

I like them both personally. If you get one with the same head, the difference will be on the subtle side. Those differences are already covered above. There are different tech heads that do shave a little differently. The ones with triangular slots are in my opinion are slightly more aggressive in comparison to the straight slotted ones.

I say get one of each with the same head that your brother's has. They don't go for too much on ebay or the bst here. If you're firm on getting only one, play it safe and get one just like your brother's.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[apino]

I've never used a fat handle, just a late fifties ball end which I like, and unless I'm mistaken, fat handles seem to get generally more love here than balls (no pun).

I wonder why that is? To me, the ball end looks much prettier and at ~60g the razor is heavier than the hollow-handled ones. Nothing wrong with the grip either. Most often the preference seems to be for heavier razors, so I'm wondering why the Tech is an exception here (supposing the heads and thus the shaving results are more or less similar)?

 

[wimbouman]

I also prefer the fat handle.
It's just easier to hold, I think.

YMMV.

 

[apino]

It's just easier to hold, I think.

Does the different knurling on the handle have something to do with it?

I don't know if my shaving routine is somehow different from the "norm" but I never get soap on the handle. I haven't done it consciously but I now realize I always rinse soap from my hands before I grab a razor. I guess the ball end is more slippery when covered in soap - or is it?

 

[maxman]

I prefer a fat handle too.
Here's what you do to solve the handle issue.
Go find a Tech head you like (I think they're all the same, but YMMV)
Look at Bob's Razor Works (Cooncatbob is a vendor here, check out the vendor corner) and find a handle you like.
Talk to Bob, he'll help you out.

I have one of his handles and he's helping me right now put a Tech head on it.

 

[BBrad]

I also prefer the fat (bar) handle to the ball-end. The balance feels better to me with the head heavy and the handle light. I find that same preference for a bar handled NEW as well as the Tech.

I believe the "grip" issue has less to do with the knurling (ball handle has a coarser texture and should be less slippery) and more to do with the handle diameter. It is easier for most guys to grip the larger diameter bar handle than it is for us to close up our meat hooks to grip the smaller diameter ball handle. I feel like I have a safer grip with the bar handle.

As far as looks goes, though, the ball-end is a much more stylish piece, but of course, YMMV!

 

[Sledgehammer39]

I personally like the Fat Handled Tech myself. I seem to get a better grip when using it.

 

[talbotdale]

For me, aesthetics dictated my choice. I think the fat handle tech is one of the coolest looking Gillettes out there. Mine is one of the "flat head" triangle base razors, and I love it. It is my daily razor. Because the ball end handle is heavier, though, I have always wondered about the difference in performance. I decided to satisfy my curiosity by ordering one of Bob's Bull Mastiff Dlx handles.