Results are mixed, as expected. It will take some time and practice to understand the angles this razor likes against my skin and what exposure setting works best for me. My face is appropriately scraped and a bit sore in places. I should mention, before I go into my process with the Slim that I spend the first 2 years of my DE shaving life using one razor (Merkur 25c), basically one blade (after exploring my sample pack), one brush (cheap boar bought at the market), Proraso Red shave cream and Weleda Aftershave balm. I really didn't do the whole experimentation thing. At the time I didn't have the money to experiment a lot and we were just finding out about some of the things that had made my wife so sick, and were consumed with dealing with doctors and such, plus a new job for me. So, unwittingly, I really did what you should do to learn; 1 razor, 1 blade, 1 brush, 1 cream and learn how to get great shaves with the tools you have.
I didn't start experimenting with different things until recently, when I joined the forum and developed various AS's.
Back to the shave with the Slim. I loaded it with my new favorite blade, the Israeli Personna. I've only had these about a week, but in my R89' it's fantastic. So, I started with the Slim on 2 and started my WTG pass. Couldn't even tell the blade was there, so I dialed it up notch by notch until I could feel the blade. 5 felt ok on my cheeks, but the minute I pulled down over my jawline and went to my neck, it felt like I was scraping with a tin can. So I dialed it back to 4 and it felt much better. The difference in feel between 4 and 5 is extraordinary. So, I finished off with it on 4. With my R89, I've condensed my routing into 1 WTG pass, one ATG pass and then cleanup wherever I need it. For the Slim I figured to take my time and go slow, WTG, XTG, XTG the opposite way and then a few ATG cleanups where needed.
Long story short, I got a close shave, but plenty of irritation and weepers on my sensitive area's; the sides of my chin and my neck about 2 inches either side of my Adam's apple. Several cool water rinses and and 2 applications of my Weleda tamed most of the irritation, but I can still feel a bit of the burn along my jawline, chin and places on my neck. I couldn't have the same shave tomorrow morning and put on my usual dress shirt and be comfortable all day. The collar of my dress shirt would rub my neck raw if it was this irritated.
I'll likely wait until next Saturday to shave with the Slim again. Give my face time to heal using my R89 and time to think about my technique and settings. I will also switch back to my Gillette Silver Blue in the Slim. I think that blade is smoother and slightly less sharp than the Israeli Personna. If that yields less than stellar results I'll throw an Astra SP in it and try again. I am determined to find a vintage razor that I like, and the Slim feels great in my hand. The SS I have just feels too small and light in my hand. Maybe the Fat Boy I have coming will be the ticket. Whichever vintage razor I finally find that works well will be sent off for a Rhodium replate, along with my birth year SS, just for posterity if nothing else. If I end up liking the Slim or the FB, maybe I'll try to find a birth year to have it plated, if it shaves the same as what I have.
Next time I'm going to use the Slim on 2 or 3, even if it means I can't feel the blade. I'll use that setting for all 3 passes and then determine how it shaves. I have to find a setting that causes less irritation if a vintage razor is going to become my every day razor.
Does anyone have any technique tips on using a vintage razor vs. a modern razor, like the R89? The R89 is almost dummy proof and even my Merkur 25c OC model is much smoother than any of the vintage razors I've used so far.
I didn't start experimenting with different things until recently, when I joined the forum and developed various AS's.
Back to the shave with the Slim. I loaded it with my new favorite blade, the Israeli Personna. I've only had these about a week, but in my R89' it's fantastic. So, I started with the Slim on 2 and started my WTG pass. Couldn't even tell the blade was there, so I dialed it up notch by notch until I could feel the blade. 5 felt ok on my cheeks, but the minute I pulled down over my jawline and went to my neck, it felt like I was scraping with a tin can. So I dialed it back to 4 and it felt much better. The difference in feel between 4 and 5 is extraordinary. So, I finished off with it on 4. With my R89, I've condensed my routing into 1 WTG pass, one ATG pass and then cleanup wherever I need it. For the Slim I figured to take my time and go slow, WTG, XTG, XTG the opposite way and then a few ATG cleanups where needed.
Long story short, I got a close shave, but plenty of irritation and weepers on my sensitive area's; the sides of my chin and my neck about 2 inches either side of my Adam's apple. Several cool water rinses and and 2 applications of my Weleda tamed most of the irritation, but I can still feel a bit of the burn along my jawline, chin and places on my neck. I couldn't have the same shave tomorrow morning and put on my usual dress shirt and be comfortable all day. The collar of my dress shirt would rub my neck raw if it was this irritated.
I'll likely wait until next Saturday to shave with the Slim again. Give my face time to heal using my R89 and time to think about my technique and settings. I will also switch back to my Gillette Silver Blue in the Slim. I think that blade is smoother and slightly less sharp than the Israeli Personna. If that yields less than stellar results I'll throw an Astra SP in it and try again. I am determined to find a vintage razor that I like, and the Slim feels great in my hand. The SS I have just feels too small and light in my hand. Maybe the Fat Boy I have coming will be the ticket. Whichever vintage razor I finally find that works well will be sent off for a Rhodium replate, along with my birth year SS, just for posterity if nothing else. If I end up liking the Slim or the FB, maybe I'll try to find a birth year to have it plated, if it shaves the same as what I have.
Next time I'm going to use the Slim on 2 or 3, even if it means I can't feel the blade. I'll use that setting for all 3 passes and then determine how it shaves. I have to find a setting that causes less irritation if a vintage razor is going to become my every day razor.
Does anyone have any technique tips on using a vintage razor vs. a modern razor, like the R89? The R89 is almost dummy proof and even my Merkur 25c OC model is much smoother than any of the vintage razors I've used so far.
