My new $7 razor is making me rethink everything

[No1Up]

Yeah, my $50 Rockwell 6C retired all my triple digit razors. Well... retired all my razors regardless of price with the exception of my META-4

That good huh… lol try the SLOC with your choice of SS handle from Italian barber.. it’s on sale now for $16.00 bucks and let me tell you… if you told me the razor cost $150 bucks… I’d believe you. If I shaved blind by the shave quality… I’d guess $300

 

[The Coffee Bandit]

That good huh… lol try the SLOC with your choice of SS handle from Italian barber.. it’s on sale now for $16.00 bucks and let me tell you… if you told me the razor cost $150 bucks… I’d believe you. If I shaved blind by the shave quality… I’d guess $300

I've owned the Self Lubricating Open Comb for a few years; it's a fine razor, as you stated, despite not aligning with my own individual preferences. I like a rigid blade clamp, while the SLOC has a fair amount of blade chatter that some refer to as "feedback". I, nonetheless, salute your appreciation for it and recognize it's price to performance ratio.

 

[borwish]

Yall made me pull out my SLOC this morning. With a fresh Nacet and a face full of Cella I got a BBS shave with no drama and in quick fashion. I think I paid $13 for my SLOC with the Super Knurl handle.

 

[idjekyll]

Yall made me pull out my SLOC this morning. With a fresh Nacet and a face full of Cella I got a BBS shave with no drama and in quick fashion. I think I paid $13 for my SLOC with the Super Knurl handle.

Y'all making me dust off my Yaqi Mellon too. Maybe for the next shave.

 

[DesertIguana]

A Razor don’t have to cost Lings Ransom to be Great.

I like pretty things, but High Price doesn’t always mean great.

Low price do mean bad, it can be wonderful.

 

[abies]

Any specs on this? It's interesting but at this point I generally lose interest if there's no blade gap or exposure measurements anywhere (even if taken unofficially by a user somewhere). I know what I like, I have what I like, and 7USD is 7USD I don't need to spend on a razor of unknown specs.

I tried looking it up, and reviews as well as impressions of how it shaves — aggressive, mild, everything — are all over the place, probably because everything is so YMMV with shaving.

I think plastic and aluminum are underused with modern razors but it seems sometimes some of what you get when you pay for a DE razor are specific characteristics, more so than the material. It's easy to sandwich a blade between two or three chunks of material; it's less easy to get a razor with specific characteristics A, B, and C.

 

[rockviper]

The Wilkie is a great razor and punches well above its weight.

 

[Asktm]

I felt the same when I first met with the YUMA.

 

[anoop]

In terms of shaving performance it is fine, a mild razor that is easy to own and clean, well designed and manufactured and I cannot see any reason why it should not be working in 100 years time.

If it's made of plastic or cheap metal, won't it wear over time?

 

[anoop]

An expensive razor is like a piece of jewelry. It's not designed to do the job better, it is supposed to make you feel good.

Which is why I won't buy a premium razor that I don't like the looks of, no matter how good it performs. The Henson comes to mind.

 

[wetshaver233]

An expensive razor is like a piece of jewelry. It's not designed to do the job better, it is supposed to make you feel good.

Which is why I won't buy a premium razor that I don't like the looks of, no matter how good it performs. The Henson comes to mind.

Looks can be very deceiving. For instance, I never thought that I would buy Yates 921, because the design of the razor seems very primitive. However, a lot of people have recommended me to try it out, since we share similar interests in razors and then I decided to buy one and now it's my favorite and best performing DE razor and if it wasn't for the fact that I like to use at least one or two more razors from time to time, I would have sold absolutely every razor I own.

 

[Vacumatic]

If it's made of plastic or cheap metal, won't it wear over time?

There are minimal moving parts and you can always add a lubricant to the twist mechanism.

I cannot think how the plastic surfaces could be subject to wear and tear. As a comparison there are Parker fountain pens that were made in the 1920s that are still in use.

The only way that I can imagine its life being shortened is to drop it on a hard surface but then even the most expensive of razors could be damaged by such treatment.

 

[anoop]

There are minimal moving parts and you can always add a lubricant to the twist mechanism.

I cannot think how the plastic surfaces could be subject to wear and tear. As a comparison there are Parker fountain pens that were made in the 1920s that are still in use.

The only way that I can imagine its life being shortened is to drop it on a hard surface but then even the most expensive of razors could be damaged by such treatment.

When it comes to plastic, it can get damaged by exposure to heat (hot water) over time. This happens to plastic parts in a washing machine. Additionally, plastic tends to become dull and brittle over time (say a decade). I owned an EJ DE89 and over a few years there were a few minor chips in the finish in the head. In contrast, aside from some soap build up in difficult to reach crevices, my AS-D2 is as it was on Day 1 about a decade ago.

 

[EdHeart]

Pondering aloud here...The Blackbird is an all metal construction and the Wilkinson is plastic. Would the material differences between the two result in different results: at least one parameter of the shave? I've only used one plastic razor a PAA Filament and quite frankly really hated the shave: mostly because of the slant/twist blade exposure. It didn't work for me.

I'm thinking the plastic head against the skin is potentially causing a touch more drag pulling the skin tighter as a result: an ephemeral difference if one at all.

There are so many factors to consider: geometry, weight, materials, shave angle developed using one, translating to the perfect angle for the other.

A thought or two on plastic durability. Over time and with pressure, albeit light as it may be, there will be a small amount of flex and torsion on the parts. You can't control the direction of the shaving pressure there are only two sides where the razor makes contact.

Over time soap, pressure and water will cause chemical changes to the plastic again very minute but changes all the same. I'm thinking drying out, cracking. Petrol based soaps, which we don't use on our faces, at least I can't think of any that have a petroleum origin, will cause some plastics to degrade. That said, some plastics can degrade being exposed to various oils.

Mechanical failure owing to a drop and the aforementioned directional pressure from shaving against your face, screwing and unscrewing the head to replace the blade.

As one commentor offered: these are cheap enough you can stock up on them while you're able and not worry a fig about the failure of one, having another in the den to take its place. Reserve one for travel in your kit ready to go, use one at home, put one in your gym bag...oh the joys of G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome)!!!

I think a good many of us have had, "Ah Ha!" moments with some part or other of our kit. Mine was acquiring a Gillette NLC at the suggestion of B&B member. I'm so glad I took him up on it. It is my favorite razor, just the right amount of exposure and mildness for my mug: particularly my neck.

Bottom line: Congrats on finding a razor that really works for you. Shave on joyously.

 

[Vacumatic]

When it comes to plastic, it can get damaged by exposure to heat (hot water) over time. This happens to plastic parts in a washing machine. Additionally, plastic tends to become dull and brittle over time (say a decade). I owned an EJ DE89 and over a few years there were a few minor chips in the finish in the head. In contrast, aside from some soap build up in difficult to reach crevices, my AS-D2 is as it was on Day 1 about a decade ago.

I have not seen any reports of damage to the Wilkinson razor due to heat or deterioration, mine is over 7 years old.

 

[anoop]

I have not seen any reports of damage to the Wilkinson razor due to heat or deterioration, mine is over 7 years old.

Do you use it daily? Just look at plastic parts in any car -- unless the car was garaged and never used, they always have cracks or other issues with the finish.

 

[Vacumatic]

Do you use it daily? Just look at plastic parts in any car -- unless the car was garaged and never used, they always have cracks or other issues with the finish.

The Wilkinson economy razor has been around long enough for wear or age related defects to have become apparent if they are going to be apparent, suggest we revisit this thread only when others have posted pics with the problems, anything else is just guesswork and of no value to anyone.

Mine is over seven years only and looks like new, it has regular use.

 

[giftofbab]

Pondering aloud here...The Blackbird is an all metal construction and the Wilkinson is plastic. Would the material differences between the two result in different results: at least one parameter of the shave? I've only used one plastic razor a PAA Filament and quite frankly really hated the shave: mostly because of the slant/twist blade exposure. It didn't work for me.

I'm thinking the plastic head against the skin is potentially causing a touch more drag pulling the skin tighter as a result: an ephemeral difference if one at all.

There are so many factors to consider: geometry, weight, materials, shave angle developed using one, translating to the perfect angle for the other.

A thought or two on plastic durability. Over time and with pressure, albeit light as it may be, there will be a small amount of flex and torsion on the parts. You can't control the direction of the shaving pressure there are only two sides where the razor makes contact.

Over time soap, pressure and water will cause chemical changes to the plastic again very minute but changes all the same. I'm thinking drying out, cracking. Petrol based soaps, which we don't use on our faces, at least I can't think of any that have a petroleum origin, will cause some plastics to degrade. That said, some plastics can degrade being exposed to various oils.

Mechanical failure owing to a drop and the aforementioned directional pressure from shaving against your face, screwing and unscrewing the head to replace the blade.

As one commentor offered: these are cheap enough you can stock up on them while you're able and not worry a fig about the failure of one, having another in the den to take its place. Reserve one for travel in your kit ready to go, use one at home, put one in your gym bag...oh the joys of G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome)!!!

I think a good many of us have had, "Ah Ha!" moments with some part or other of our kit. Mine was acquiring a Gillette NLC at the suggestion of B&B member. I'm so glad I took him up on it. It is my favorite razor, just the right amount of exposure and mildness for my mug: particularly my neck.

Bottom line: Congrats on finding a razor that really works for you. Shave on joyously.

Ya know, I’ve thought about the differences in material. I think I’m in on the rare side of the fence that likes lighter razors. I love the Blackbird however because even though it’s SS, it isn’t a beast of a razor weight wise. I’ve tried a Timeless SS and oh man was it heavy. I however, loved their aluminum razor. I think a titanium razor would serve me quite well, but I just cannot justify spending that kind of money on one.

The Wilkinson economy razor has been around long enough for wear or age related defects to have become apparent if they are going to be apparent, suggest we revisit this thread only when others have posted pics with the problems, anything else is just guesswork and of no value to anyone.

Mine is over seven years only and looks like new, it has regular use.

That’s great to know! Did you ever lubricate the threads or anything? While this is plastic, it seems extremely well built. I mean hell, the blade lines up perfectly.

 

[Vacumatic]

Ya know, I’ve thought about the differences in material. I think I’m in on the rare side of the fence that likes lighter razors. I love the Blackbird however because even though it’s SS, it isn’t a beast of a razor weight wise. I’ve tried a Timeless SS and oh man was it heavy. I however, loved their aluminum razor. I think a titanium razor would serve me quite well, but I just cannot justify spending that kind of money on one.



That’s great to know! Did you ever lubricate the threads or anything? While this is plastic, it seems extremely well built. I mean hell, the blade lines up perfectly.

There is no shame in shaving to a budget, the shame would be spending more money than you can afford when there are lower priced and good alternatives.

I lubricated the spline because I had read that it was a good idea, being the only moving part, but not because I felt it needed any lubrication. I sprayed a silicone spray down the inside of the handle, basically with the idea that it couldn't do any harm.

 

[EdHeart]

There is no shame in shaving to a budget, the shame would be spending more money than you can afford when there are lower priced and good alternatives.

I lubricated the spline because I had read that it was a good idea, being the only moving part, but not because I felt it needed any lubrication. I sprayed a silicone spray down the inside of the handle, basically with the idea that it couldn't do any harm.

Well said.

Regarding plastic and lubricants. You struck upon the one I think would be the best: silicone. An alternate would be KY Jelly. Don't know why I didn't think of this before...I've used food grade silicone jelly for O-rings on a shower filter housing and for my RO (reverse osmosis) system filter body seals. I'm near out of the jelly I've had on hand for almost 25 years. I can't find this particular product and food grade silicone has been really hard to track down.

In looking over some videos on RO system maintenance it was recommended to use KY Jelly to lube the rubber O-rings when replacing filters and sanitizing the system. The stuff is widely available and relatively inexpensive.