Blade gaps

[Alphonse]

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Double-Edged_Safety_Razors_Ranked_by_Blade_Gap

I thought the blade gap on a Merkur Progress set to 1 was greater than the gap of a EJ DE89. The 89 is so mild and the gap chart says its equivalent to a Progress set to 3. That doesn't sound right to me because I use the Progress on 3 and it's far more aggressive feeling..

Does anyone else think it's possible this is a mistake on the chart?

 

[Go West Young Man]

It's a wiki, it was compiled by different people using different equipment on different razors.
Completely possible that your razors don't agree with the chart's razors.

 

[Alphonse]

for sure.. just look at this small section of the chart:

28	.71mm	Merkur HD (34C)	78
		Merkur Progress 570 @ 3
29	.74mm	Gillette Adjustable @ 4
30	.76mm	Mühle R89 / Edwin Jagger DE89L

The 34c is supposedly less aggressive than the DE89... ok...

 

[ArNav]

I'd say EJ89 is Pogress set to 2-2.5

 

[zethreal]

most of the references also state that blade gap alone does not make a razor aggressive/mild. From this Wiki page: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Double-Edged_Safety_Razors_Ranked_by_Aggressiveness

The aggressiveness of a razor largely relies on 5 different factors.

• Blade gap
• Blade angle in the razor
• Razor weight
• Distribution of the weight. (Heavy head/light handle vs. all heavy.)
• Blade angle applied by the user

The 34C may indeed have a lower blade gap, but the angle & weight of the razor might make it a more aggressive razor.

 

[GDCarrington]

In addition to what Shane wrote here are some additional factors.

Head Curvature - This is the curve of the head. That is the pivot that allows you to create the blade angle of approach.

Open area versus Closed on the base plate. This is often referred as the Comb. If it has teeth that have open spaces that is an open comb. If it has teeth with closed spaces that is a closed comb and the straight bar is the the guard bar. This along with the blade gap helps to either accentuate or reduce the level of exposure along with the blade gap.

Handle Length - How long the handle is. That acts as a lever. The longer the handle, the more precision angle you can make since it take more motion to create angle chages at the head. A short handle will react with a greater angle change because it takes less physical difference to move the head at an angle.

Material types uses and placement can also affect the aggressiveness of a razor.

As a side note, but works in concert with the razor, the blade. (That is another large set of issues so I will stop right there.)

 

[Alphonse]

excellent answers

Lil late responding