Blade gap and blade exposure. Which is the driver for aggression?

[Guido75]

So, I have a question mainly on blade gap. Setting aside technique (because I can have an effective shave with just about any razor in my collection).

I was wondering: blade exposure I get. More exposure more blade forward and therefore potentially more blade contact with whiskers. Making the razor more aggressive in feel (even though that’s YMMV territory of course).

But why would blade gap contribute to the effectiveness/aggressiveness? I have razors with almost no blade gap and they are beastly aggressive and/or effective.

For example Wolfman (which I don’t have) started at .95 but we are in the 1.x digits now. What does a higher gap achieve?

Just curious…thanks!

Guido

 

[spacemonkey42]

Exposure is the biggest driver of aggression BY FAR!

Gap can be a small driver of aggression, particularly with a large gap one's skin can bunch up in the gap, causing nicks, but I think it is a small factor. Larger gaps can also help reduce clogging, allow longer whiskers to pop back up after the safety bar, and increase the range of angles that the razor shaves at (exposure does this too and even more strongly).

@dawid has an incredible experiment going, testing individual parameters, here is what they found on gap and it looks like exposure is coming soon.

 

[Guido75]

Exposure is the biggest driver of aggression BY FAR!

Gap can be a small driver of aggression, particularly with a large gap one's skin can bunch up in the gap, causing nicks, but I think it is a small factor. Larger gaps can also help reduce clogging, allow longer whiskers to pop back up after the safety bar, and increase the range of angles that the razor shaves at (exposure does this too and even more strongly).

@dawid has an incredible experiment going, testing individual parameters, here is what they found on gap and it looks like exposure is coming soon.

Thanks! Super cool thread!

 

[JimL911]

Positive exposure, big gap and neutral angle feels more like a straight. Take a Stirling Hyper Aggressive for a spin.

 

[ivan_101]

It is not that simple. There is also the degree of bending. And it is very important. Many users consider Merkur Progress a very aggressive razor even @1. And it has a relatively small exposure. It has serious bending which gives more cutting force to the blade. But here enters the 4th factor. It has notches, that function as scallops and allow for a closer contact of the blade.

And I am not even talking about other factors as clamping, how much of the blade is clamped, where it is clamped.

 

[JoWolf]

So, I have a question mainly on blade gap. Setting aside technique (because I can have an effective shave with just about any razor in my collection).

I was wondering: blade exposure I get. More exposure more blade forward and therefore potentially more blade contact with whiskers. Making the razor more aggressive in feel (even though that’s YMMV territory of course).

But why would blade gap contribute to the effectiveness/aggressiveness? I have razors with almost no blade gap and they are beastly aggressive and/or effective.

For example Wolfman (which I don’t have) started at .95 but we are in the 1.x digits now. What does a higher gap achieve?

Just curious…thanks!

Guido

As you’ve said Guido. Blade exposure is the main driver for efficiency (aggression). Starting out I was strongly influenced by Mike @Esox who said gap allowed too much skin rolling under the blade and contributed to skin irritation. The Fatip Grande probably in the very low gap group of razors. Since I had used the Grande exclusively for over three years. Switching to the Lupo, gap was the only reservation I had about the razor. The gap’s a monster compared to the Grande’s. The improved efficiency and large gap felt like I was shaving with a straight compared to the Grande. As far as whisker length a nine day growth would have the Grande choking up and the Lupo would choke up on an eleven day growth. Shaving weekly neither razor had clogging issues. Both open combs. I had already learned that highest efficiency in all aspects of a wet shave equated to highest skin comfort. Adjusting and to my surprise actually acquiring a softer touch with the Lupo’s higher efficiency. My shaves were closer with elevated skin comfort so in my case a win-win. My opinion would be that a soft touch will improve with a more efficient razor, especially if you’re using a sharper blade. I believe and in my shaving experience gap has little to do with lather or whisker evacuation, although they both have limits as to how much whisker length they can handle. I have very sensitive skin and the larger gap has not given me any skin irritation and has actually improved skin comfort. Once again I don’t think gap has anything to do with it in my case. I have used many variations of strokes on both razors and gap hasn’t made any difference one way or the other. Blade exposure is what drives the efficiency of a razor. Soft touch is what provides skin comfort. Keeping in mind that I exclusively single use a very sharp blade for each and every shave. The photo clearly illustrates the gap difference between the two razors. I love the Grande I learned to shave with it. I would never us it again after using the Lupo. Of course we all have and use many different parameters in our shaves.

 

[Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker]

Take an Assured razor for a spin, and you'll learn the true meaning of aggressive, as you live on the edge of the dark side of the wet shaving force, as it performs reconstructive surgery.