Blackbird Ti OC - Satin or Polished?

[bentin]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Thanks for all the great info and ongoing banter.

With Black Friday coming up, I think it's finally time to jump on the Blackbird bandwagon. I've been shaving with a Blackland Era and the Level 5 OC for a few years and have no complaints, it's been truly great for me. It replaced a Merkur Futur that honestly still scares me, but I used it for probably five years, it replaced a Parker 99r and a Merkur 34c. I'd say I've been using a DE of some sort for coming up on twenty years now.

I love the open comb of the Era, I flop between a beard and clean shaven and shave Mon-Thu and I typically use Feathers. My question is whether the polished version is going to be beneficial with the OC, or if it's more of a benefit with the SB? I don't really find the Era to be draggy, and it's far from polished. Any one tried both base plates and have any advice? I'm inclined to just go with satin, but I also see the benefit of just starting at the top rung.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[helicopter]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Thanks for all the great info and ongoing banter.

With Black Friday coming up, I think it's finally time to jump on the Blackbird bandwagon. I've been shaving with a Blackland Era and the Level 5 OC for a few years and have no complaints, it's been truly great for me. It replaced a Merkur Futur that honestly still scares me, but I used it for probably five years, it replaced a Parker 99r and a Merkur 34c. I'd say I've been using a DE of some sort for coming up on twenty years now.

I love the open comb of the Era, I flop between a beard and clean shaven and shave Mon-Thu and I typically use Feathers. My question is whether the polished version is going to be beneficial with the OC, or if it's more of a benefit with the SB? I don't really find the Era to be draggy, and it's far from polished. Any one tried both base plates and have any advice? I'm inclined to just go with satin, but I also see the benefit of just starting at the top rung.

Thanks,
Ben

I have a bead blasted Blackbird Ti, one in polished gold plated brass, and the batch 001 polished bronze one.

If I were getting another in stainless or Ti, I would probably go for the matte finish. Once I find the angle, none of them drag for me, and on a corrosion resistant metal, I would rather have better grip.

 

[No1Up]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Thanks for all the great info and ongoing banter.

With Black Friday coming up, I think it's finally time to jump on the Blackbird bandwagon. I've been shaving with a Blackland Era and the Level 5 OC for a few years and have no complaints, it's been truly great for me. It replaced a Merkur Futur that honestly still scares me, but I used it for probably five years, it replaced a Parker 99r and a Merkur 34c. I'd say I've been using a DE of some sort for coming up on twenty years now.

I love the open comb of the Era, I flop between a beard and clean shaven and shave Mon-Thu and I typically use Feathers. My question is whether the polished version is going to be beneficial with the OC, or if it's more of a benefit with the SB? I don't really find the Era to be draggy, and it's far from polished. Any one tried both base plates and have any advice? I'm inclined to just go with satin, but I also see the benefit of just starting at the top rung.

Thanks,
Ben

I would think it’s strictly for the aesthetics..

 

[willk93]

If you're going to spend that much money on a razor, might as well spend a little extra and get the polished finish. That's what I did with my titanium Timeless razor. Absolutely no regrets

 

[No1Up]

If you're going to spend that much money on a razor, might as well spend a little extra and get the polished finish. That's what I did with my titanium Timeless razor. Absolutely no regrets

IF you like the polished look that is.

 

[bentin]

I would think it’s strictly for the aesthetics..

My eyes prefer the satin finish, I'm not really a polished kinda guy, unless it has some sort of functional benefit.

 

[No1Up]

My eyes prefer the satin finish, I'm not really a polished kinda guy, unless it has some sort of functional benefit.

I have the satin finish. I got a great deal here from a forum member. I love the way it looks. I’d probably love it polished as well.

I will say this. If I lost my Ti Blackbird today, I’d purchase another one without hesitation the same day. I absolutely love this beautiful razor, not just for the looks. It’s solved so many neck issues for me, it’s flat out amazing. I love it. I thought I liked “mild” razors… until I shaved with BB. I understand why he does a 30 day try out. I’d be hard pressed to imagine anyone sending it back.

 

[No1Up]

I have a bead blasted Blackbird Ti, one in polished gold plated brass, and the batch 001 polished bronze one.

If I were getting another in stainless or Ti, I would probably go for the matte finish. Once I find the angle, none of them drag for me, and on a corrosion resistant metal, I would rather have better grip.

I’m thinking of buying the bronze bird.. how are you enjoying yours?

 

[helicopter]

I’m thinking of buying the bronze bird.. how are you enjoying yours?

It is great. It is more lively and chattery than the brass one, it feels between them, bit closer to titanium than brass, in terms of feedback. It is also a great color. The Ti is better, but I like having the trio.

 

[bentin]

That's my fear, that I'll end up with other iterations, looks like a valid concern. I'm curious to see what comes about with them owning the machining equipment now.

I used to have an acid etched titanium road bike, which I apparently have no photos of. I gave it to a friend, I can fix that.

 

[Blackland Razors]

My eyes prefer the satin finish, I'm not really a polished kinda guy, unless it has some sort of functional benefit.

I think you have your answer! If it helps, all my personal razors are machined or satin. Polished is beautiful, but it's not my style and I can't detect a performance difference at all. That said, many Blackbird owners swear there is a difference in performance with the finishes and I can't say they're wrong - I just can't personally tell.

 

[No1Up]

It is great. It is more lively and chattery than the brass one, it feels between them, bit closer to titanium than brass, in terms of feedback. It is also a great color. The Ti is better, but I like having the trio.

What do you mean by “chattery”? is that a good or bad thing. lol

 

[TOVT]

I've got a couple of titanium Blackbirds, both satin. I'm planning to send one with SB and Lite plate for polishing at Blackland. Probably will do the same with a satin SS Blackbird as well.

 

[helicopter]

What do you mean by “chattery”? is that a good or bad thing. lol

I mean in a good way. I can feel and hear it mowing down hair. The bronze has enough of this, and Ti has more. Too much can be unpleasant, like with Rex razors, but I find the bronze and ti blackbirds to have a good amount. Razors like the brass blackbird, and the bronze timeless, have less of this feedback, and I would like them better if they had more than they do.

 

[ButterfaceX]

Back in the day, before I was even thought of...my dad received the Bronze Star Metal (Korean War vet).
Once I saw it, Bronze matters...
BFX

If money fell out of the sky...
I would try a B. BB...

 

[bentin]

Satin, short handle, open comb tiBird ordered. In the interim, polishing my Era just for fun.

 

[idjekyll]

Satin, short handle, open comb tiBird ordered. In the interim, polishing my Era just for fun.

I've always only owned a long handle on my TiBird. Now I'm curious how it would feel like or a shorty.

 

[bentin]

I've always only owned a long handle on my TiBird. Now I'm curious how it would feel like or a shorty.

I’ll let you know how it compares to the Era.

 

[bentin]

Just revisiting this after a few weeks with the tiBird. This thing has been eye opening for me. I've always read comments about XTG or ATG with a smirk and figured it was people with super fine hair just bragging about how they could achieve what seemed like an impossible goal for me. I've never been able to shave ATG without major irritation and a mess of weepers, even XTG caused minor irritation in a few spots and I've just historically done a few WTG passes and called it a day.

Well, here I am, doing a first pass WTG, but then a second pass ATG, full face, no issues. The blade feel of the Bird is just crazy, you feel every hair it's slicing and cleaning up any of the stubborn spots on my face is an easy task now. I'd previously just resigned myself to knowing that I had really good shave on 90% of my face, but that 10% just didn't want to be truly smooth. No more, now I find myself skipping a day just because I can. There's so little risk with this razor, even with the open comb. I really wouldn't change a thing, 100% happy with the tiBird.

 

[BigJ]

If you're going to spend that much money on a razor, might as well spend a little extra and get the polished finish. That's what I did with my titanium Timeless razor. Absolutely no regrets

+1! This ^ That’s precisely why I went for polished with my ‘destination’ razor!!