I see many posts about people using a BRW (may he RIP), Bulldog, Ikon upgraded handle. I have yet to read what clearly outlines why this is of a benefit. For example, will it make my EJ89 more efficient because of the added weight? I'm sure there are many answers and I'd like to hear them. Please chime in.
Benefits of a Handle upgrade
- Thread starter BigBull
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Yes, the added weight is nice. My first DE was a long comb NEW, bar handle. The original handle is incredibly light. The lightest part of the entire razor, making it very top heavy. The BRW mastiff handle definitely makes it a nicer razor. Plus having a NEW replated and matching the nice handle is always a pleasure for the eyes, and just makes the overall experience nicer.
It also has some really nice jimping up the handle giving much better grip. The handle also has a magnet in it, which can be nice for picking up a blade off the counter.
It also has some really nice jimping up the handle giving much better grip. The handle also has a magnet in it, which can be nice for picking up a blade off the counter.
It changes the weight and balance of your razor and usually increases performance.
Changing the weight or the balance of the razor can greatly affect it's performance. It's hard to explain but I've noticed that light weight razors don't work well for me. Heavier razors seem to plow through my beard with much more ease and much less irritation.
I think what you will find is that people like the heavier handles because it increases the razor's "aggression", i.e., the user doesn't apply much pressure at all, the razor "does the work". With things like the SuperSpeed(or pretty much anything considered "mild") you either buff, or press, to get closer, and both of these take more time, and increase the chance of cuts.
Most of us treat this as a combination hobby/art form, and so we pursue tools that offer the closest and most comfortable shave. In the evolution of the DE, the main concern was men getting to work without scabs & dots of TP all over their faces, so mild razors became the norm- a passable shave, without much concentration or effort, and as little time invested as possible. A mild head, with some weight behind it, can be both a better performer, and a pleasant shave, for many.
Most of us treat this as a combination hobby/art form, and so we pursue tools that offer the closest and most comfortable shave. In the evolution of the DE, the main concern was men getting to work without scabs & dots of TP all over their faces, so mild razors became the norm- a passable shave, without much concentration or effort, and as little time invested as possible. A mild head, with some weight behind it, can be both a better performer, and a pleasant shave, for many.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks for responding! I can see why the weight of the handle would help its performance. Regarding my EJ89, if it means more aggressive, I can see that being a benefit. Less passes certainly lead to less irritation for me.
It appears its equally for appearance though, and that I guess is what baffles me. Is it safe to assume they are like razors, in that you could buy and try, sell fairly easy if not your thing?
It appears its equally for appearance though, and that I guess is what baffles me. Is it safe to assume they are like razors, in that you could buy and try, sell fairly easy if not your thing?
It depends on what you spend! If you keep it </= $40, and the handle is either from a known maker, or the quality of the work is readily apparent, yes, I would expect you to be able to trade around and/or get your money back selling it.
This is interesting because you're going to get a lot of answers...and mine might be on a different end of the spectrum than most. Here's what I find:
(a) For the weight of the razor to do any helpful work, you have to be shaving so that gravity is assisting. That means, generally, with the grain. That's less than one-third (more like 1/4) of my typical shave. For XTG, weight cannot assist; on ATG plus the touch-ups I do on chin and neck (the trickiest part) the weight is working *against* your efforts.
(b) A lot depends on how you hold the razor. Note that handle lengths historically did not vary a lot, and apart from a few, short-lived variants like "Big Boy" for guys with super big hands and compact or travel razors, they were such that you could grip it with thumb and forefinger near the head and the end would cup nicely in your palm or rest on the little finger. Some modern handles are longer. And ads that wanted to display the razor to best advantage showed shavers gripping them near the handle end. But you really can't get a lot of control that way.
(c) If you hold the handle close to the head, the main advantage conferred by weight is inertia. Or stability in other words. The penalty is losing a vague sense of "agility". So I like both for different reasons. But honestly, absolutely no difference in the results or effectiveness or how many strokes required.
(d) With a more "aggressive" razor, I cannot apply as much pressure. That means I can't flatten out the curvy parts of the skin as well, nor raise stubble up from the skin by using pressure. For me, that means *more* strokes, not fewer. But in either case, more strokes per area don't ordinarily equal more irritation for me. When they do, it's a clear indication that I'm doing something wrong. There's an interplay of design + angle + pressure at work.
I recall something said by Frank Muir, a British comedy writer and radio personality. Speaking about pipes, he remarked that there was a weight and balance that felt "just right". Too light and it seemed insubstantial; too heavy and it didn't sit comfortably in the mouth. Something like this might be true for razors as well, and a very personal equation.
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- #10
So, handles are YMMV too...sweet! Kidding, thanks for the additional point of view. This very much so makes sense. Stability may be just the word I needed to hear, especially for my EJ89. I don't think I've ever seen a HAD on this site yet...
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