LAMBDA ARES BRONZE PASS AROUND

[Grundi]

Lambda Ares Bronze Razor - Second Report

TL;DR - still learning, still getting all-day BBS- shaves, working on my consistency

Equipment: Lambda Area razor, Spoiler blade (4), PdP 63 soap, DSC T4 synth brush

The Shaves: The shaves are still amazing (BBS- range, not chasing a full BBS) and lasting all-day. I changed over to PdP 63 soap (another top-shelf soap, IMHO) just to try. With the Ares being much more aggressive than my daily shaver, I've been working on finding the optimal angle and have hit it several times. I'm working on my consistency at keeping the angle as I move around my face. (Yes, I have several red drama dots with each shave, not deep ones, just enough to keep me from any complacency)

Now That I've Baselined The Ares: with 2 great soaps and a legendary blade, I need to see how other blades and soaps fare with this great razor.

 

[sidpost]

As my time draws near, I am letting my whiskers grow out a bit to see how it will do tackling a small forest.

 

[Grundi]

Lambda Ares Bronze Razor - Third Report

TL;DR - just about there, still getting all-day BBS- shaves, but something unexpected...

Equipment: Lambda Area razor, Gillette 7 O'clock Black SP blade (2), PdP 63 soap, DSC T4 synth brush

Unexpected Happened: When I changed out the Spoiler for a Gillette 7 O'clock Black SP blade (from @JCinPA PIF, thank you!!), the blade did not fit well into the razor. It appeared to bind on the posts. I tried the Spoiler again and it just dropped right down like I expected. The Gillette Black SP did tightened down ok (maybe this one blade was slightly out of mill).

The Shaves: Changed blades, but results stayed the same, right in the BBS- range. I'm convinced that this razor will cause a decently sharp blade to give excellent shaves!! My early morning, Sunday shave is still lasting deep into the early evening!! (Unfortunately, due to my skin type, I'm still getting several red drama dots with each shave - apparently, I'm just a tender, sensitive guy. Who knew?!?)

Just A Few Shaves Left: then the razor gets packed up and shipped to @sidpost!!

 

[Grundi]

Lambda Ares Bronze Razor - Final Report

TL;DR - just as I was achieving a level of consistency...all-day BBS- shaves...the calendar says, Next!!

Equipment: Lambda Area razor, Gillette 7 O'clock Black SP blade (5), PdP Bergamot & Thyme soap, DSC T4 synth brush

The Shaves: Results have stayed the same, right in the BBS- range. Once past the initial introduction, each of my shaves have been so close and have lasted all day. The only down side was the regular appearance of the red drama dots indicating that maybe I'm getting too close in a couple of spots.

Next Up: I'll get the razor cleaned, packed up, and shipped off to @sidpost in the next day or two.

Big Thank You: to @walpan for the opportunity to try this world class razor. This razor is high quality, excellent craftmanship, and provides really great shaves. Very grateful for the chance to participate and experience the Lambda Ares in Bronze!!

 

[walpan]

1. Big_T King, NC. - COMPLETED

2. ewk, SC - COMPLETED

3. Viko, Monroe, NC - COMPLETED

4. AnimalCatcher, Warwick, RI - COMPLETED

5. Grundi, Lewiston, ME - COMPLETED

6. sidpost, East Texas, Texas - WAITING

7. SinCityAG, Henderson, NV

8. Leverspro, Ojai, CA (November timing. If he is not in CA when his time comes, SinCityAg will move up)

 

[sidpost]

First shave this morning with a bit of beard! Yep, a bit of a stress test since I stopped shaving for nearly a week!

Simply awesome!

Loaded a new Nacet and used my Equate Gel shave goo for more of a torture test with my whiskers patted down first with some warm water. Only one minor weeper at the edge of my bottom lip and a minor weeper on my Adam's Apple with an overzealous stroke on my neck.

First stroke With The Grain on my cheek was in near BBS territory until the razor loaded up with swarf! This thing mows down long whiskers with excellence! With a clean-up pass Against The Grain I was done. I did a little buffing around the chin and under the nose as I always do with my other razor. My neck is super good too but, my shave angle on the lower portion was a little off.

This razor is MORE EFFECTIVE THAN MY MUHLE R41 AND IS SMOOTHER!

In all my excitement while cleaning the razor after my shave, I washed the white washer down the drain since I didn't have my glasses on and didn't see it. Oops! Good thing these are cheap and easy to source and I can rob one from another razor or get a replacement at the local hardware store pretty cheap.

The only other thing to note is that the handle of the ARES is slicker than snot on a doorknob when lightly soaped for cleaning. I nearly dropped it in the sink as it slid between my fingers until my other hand caught it.

So all in all, a wonderful experience. Still a little bummed by the rookie mistake of flushing the washer down the sink drain but, hey, during all the excitement of fishing up with this awesome razor, it certainly could have been worse than something so easily fixed for a few pennies!

 

[walpan]

1. Big_T King, NC. - COMPLETED

2. ewk, SC - COMPLETED

3. Viko, Monroe, NC - COMPLETED

4. AnimalCatcher, Warwick, RI - COMPLETED

5. Grundi, Lewiston, ME - COMPLETED

6. sidpost, East Texas, Texas - TESTING

7. SinCityAG, Henderson, NV - ON DECK

8. Leverspro, Ojai, CA

 

[Mr. Shavington]

First shave this morning with a bit of beard! Yep, a bit of a stress test since I stopped shaving for nearly a week!

Simply awesome!

Loaded a new Nacet and used my Equate Gel shave goo for more of a torture test with my whiskers patted down first with some warm water. Only one minor weeper at the edge of my bottom lip and a minor weeper on my Adam's Apple with an overzealous stroke on my neck.

First stroke With The Grain on my cheek was in near BBS territory until the razor loaded up with swarf! This thing mows down long whiskers with excellence! With a clean-up pass Against The Grain I was done. I did a little buffing around the chin and under the nose as I always do with my other razor. My neck is super good too but, my shave angle on the lower portion was a little off.

This razor is MORE EFFECTIVE THAN MY MUHLE R41 AND IS SMOOTHER!

In all my excitement while cleaning the razor after my shave, I washed the white washer down the drain since I didn't have my glasses on and didn't see it. Oops! Good thing these are cheap and easy to source and I can rob one from another razor or get a replacement at the local hardware store pretty cheap.

The only other thing to note is that the handle of the ARES is slicker than snot on a doorknob when lightly soaped for cleaning. I nearly dropped it in the sink as it slid between my fingers until my other hand caught it.

So all in all, a wonderful experience. Still a little bummed by the rookie mistake of flushing the washer down the sink drain but, hey, during all the excitement of fishing up with this awesome razor, it certainly could have been worse than something so easily fixed for a few pennies!

We’ve all dropped a zillion M5 washers down the sink. If there were more DR shavers it would be a major hazard to sea life. It’s not excessive to buy a bag of 50 or 100 washers - you’ll use them.

 

[walpan]

We’ve all dropped a zillion M5 washers down the sink. If there were more DR shavers it would be a major hazard to sea life. It’s not excessive to buy a bag of 50 or 100 washers - you’ll use them.

I have started using the M6 washer 12mm. It fits perfectly in the Ares and Athena.

 

[sidpost]

More awesome shaves with this razor and the Nacet blade. Still learning the head shape and handle dimensions for trickier areas of my face like my chin where I don't always get it to BBS levels with a single pass or two. I think I may be riding the cap a bit too much at the moment leading to this effect. While the handle is certainly lovely, I think some cross-hatching would really help people like me dial it in. Whatever you do, don't soap the handle up if you don't have your hand on the handle butt as it is super slippery with some water and a touch of soap and will slide out of your hand very easily.

Overall, a really impressive razor that gives me effortless shaves with incredible efficiency. With a bit more 'practice', I think this will easily become a two-pass BBS+ razor for me.

Next up, a few morning and evening shaves to check for irritation with increased shaving frequency. I know this will be basically overkill for most people because it lets me go a full 36-hours before I notice stubble and could easily go 2 full days before anyone else would notice me needing to shave the stubble away.

 

[idjekyll]

For anyone who's tried both the Athena and the Ares, why would one choose one over the other?

 

[walpan]

For anyone who's tried both the Athena and the Ares, why would one choose one over the other?

Haha, this is the B&B Forum. You get both eliminating the need to choose. Once you get both, you have two of the best razors you can own.

 

[Big_T]

For anyone who's tried both the Athena and the Ares, why would one choose one over the other?

I find the Athena to be much more comfortable. But I am generally not an open comb razor fan. As I said a few pages back, the Ares may be preferable for those that shave every few days.

 

[walpan]

I find the Athena to be much more comfortable. But I am generally not an open comb razor fan. As I said a few pages back, the Ares may be preferable for those that shave every few days.

For an everyday shaver, I would recommend the Athena. It is smooth and comfortable. I agree that if one shaves every few days, the Ares would be great. The Ares is not like any other Open Comb razor. The geometry of it makes it just as efficient as other OC razors but far more comfortable.

 

[sidpost]

For anyone who's tried both the Athena and the Ares, why would one choose one over the other?

This is more an issue of an Open Comb versus a Closed Comb question.

The Ares will work best on really tough whiskers or when you let them grow out a bit. I am in the process of morning and evening shaves to test the Ares for irritation with frequent use. Normally, I would opt for a closed comb razor for better ease of use and less irritation. However, the Ares is definitely a daily driver candidate for me being smooth and very efficient with long tough whiskers while still being smooth.

I have a long history with the Muhle Rocca and Edwin Jagger 3one6 which are closed comb razors that I would call medium aggressive in the broad range of razors out there. The Ares is certainly in the same range for me meaning, if I don't pay attention, get distracted, etc. all will give me a weeper and all will give a close shave in 2-strokes. Of those three, the Ares is least aggressive overall and least likely to give me a weeper or irritation.

The head geometry and handle are different from anything else I have so, it is not just a simple OC vs CC issue. Blade exposure and gap can be less on razors that work even better than something like the Muhle R41 for me which is often rated highly for 'efficiency', especially with tough or long whiskers. With an Ares, I would not own/use an R41, ever.

The Ares is a real beauty of a razor so, in the non-tangible aspects, it is super nice as well. Stainless steel may be less maintenance to own regarding cleaning, polishing, etc. but, that marine bronze feels so nice in the hand and on my face! The Athena will be gentler but, the Ares is gentle enough for any experienced wet shaver to have low effort close shaves with some experience with the razor.