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Right on both counts.There's only one way to find out, and it's expensive!
Right on both counts.There's only one way to find out, and it's expensive!
There's only one way to find out, and it's expensive!
Expensive is a relative term. The Athena is certainly not expensive compared to the Sailor.Compared to what?
The Lambda Athena is a bargain in my opinion. One vendor (in France) offers a somewhat similar box for their razor. The price for just the box is $150 or thereabouts.
The few Athenas I've seen offered on the previously used marketplace have been snapped up making rental fees very low.
Merry Christmas this 4th day of Christmas & Happy Shaves,
Jim
How is the R41 working for you? Based on what I see I think the design is very similar.Expensive is a relative term. The Athena is certainly not expensive compared to the Sailor.
Big caveat is that I don't usually like low blade exposure razors. Is the Athena the exception? That's what I'm pondering.
I don't consider the R41 to be a low blade exposure design. Am I missing something?How is the R41 working for you? Based on what I see I think the design is very similar.
Guido
Ah! Wait… the exposure vs gap thing again, but anyways - aren’t these razors similar in nature and thus if you can shave with the R41, the Athena should be in the same ballpark? Blade gap is .34mm. Exposure 0. R41 is .023mm in blade gap.I don't consider the R41 to be a low blade exposure design. Am I missing something?
From what I can see in @Chan Eil Whiskers pics of the Athena (and from the Athena's specified Zero blade exposure), the R41 shows considerably more blade.Ah! Wait… the exposure vs gap thing again, but anyways - aren’t these razors similar in nature and thus if you can shave with the R41, the Athena should be in the same ballpark? Blade gap is .34mm. Exposure 0. R41 is .023mm in blade gap.
Not enabling you into buying one. Unless you want to of course, I am just curious on your thoughts.
Guido
From what I can see in @Chan Eil Whiskers pics of the Athena (and from the Athena's specified Zero blade exposure), the R41 shows considerably more blade.
This leads me to believe that the Athena will behave more like the Henson and Winning razors (which do not work on my face/skin/beard) as opposed to the Ti Blackbird (which is my Alpha Big Dog DE razor).
In any event, serious consideration of the Athena won't happen until I've thoroughly familiarized myself with the Rocnel Sailor and decided where it sits in my overall rankings. I kind of took a flier on the Sailor, as big heavy razors are not my usual preference. If the Sailor does not surpass the shaves I get with my Top Tier razors (all of which cost considerably less than the Sailor), then I have other decisions to make before I can justify cruising down another rabbit hole.
Excellent David! And I remember a conversation I had earlier this year with a certain moderator who told me at least that you should enjoy what you have and be good with it. All sound advice!
I very much like the design of the Athena, but I am not sure it will be better than my Ti95.
Guido
Thank you Jim. Your comments and experiences are very much appreciated.I've not used the Henson at all. I did use the Winning Razor a time or two before giving it away to a grandson.
To me, the Athena is very much unlike the Winning Razor.
Yes, I can see some similarities, but mostly I'd say the Athena is its own thing. Unique amongst razors I've used.
I hope someone who knows the Henson and knows the Winning Razor much better than me, and also knows the Athena can chime in.
It's a lot better for me than the 95. That means nothing in terms of your skin and whiskers, so I'm just reporting.
Happy shaves,
Jim
Perhaps you just need to choose a higher setting when shaving the corners of the mouth /soul patch area. Perhaps the zero dot is just too narrow for your critical area...Razor: Rocnel Sailor
For touch-ups, stayed with the 1.5 setting on my neck and the Zero Dot for the "goatee" areas (upper lip, mouth, chin and soul patch). Really backed off on the amount of buffing around my mouth. No matter how much I stretch and contort my face, the Sailor is not nimble & maneuverable enough to get the areas around my mouth (especially the corners).
Thank you for offering this advice. I will open things up on the touchups.Perhaps you just need to choose a higher setting when shaving the corners of the mouth /soul patch area. Perhaps the zero dot is just too narrow for your critical area...
Just a thought.
Thank you Jim. Appreciate your advice.David, let me explain the reasoning behind how I use the Sailor in a beard reduction manner.
My first setting which is unlikely to be your first setting tends to be maybe 1.5 or 2.5. It's designed to basically go N-S, more or less WTG, and get most of the whiskers. The setting is just one which does the job and is comfortable. Otherwise it's just a number. One the first setting, I might also go R-L, or E-W on my neck; on my upper lip I might go E-W, and W-E on this setting.
My second setting is very aggressive, or highly efficient, and is used S-N, more or less ATG. Mostly I use this setting on my neck, chin, soul patch. In these areas it's comfortable. Comfort coupled with high efficiency. I also use the second setting N-S on my upper lip where it is comfortable.
On my soul patch I'm employing the puffed out skin, trumpeting technique. N-S and S-N. That area is very hard to smooth for me.
The second setting can be very high. I might use 4 or 5 or 6 or even 8 or 10.
The most sensitive area for me by far is my upper lip. Without a lot of beard reduction having already happened I can't go near it ATG with any razor.
For the third setting I always use the Zero Dot. With it I can and do go ATG, S-N on my upper lip and in comfort. It's comfortable and it gets the rest of the whiskers. I use the Zero Dot too for buffing and such on my soul patch and chin and anywhere I want or need to use buffing.
This may or may not work for you or anyone but me, but I wanted to more thoroughly explain what I do and the reasoning behind it in case it might help you figure out how to best use your Sailor.
Merry Christmas this 5th day of Christmas & Happy Shaves,
Jim
Thank you Jim.David, my beard map is all over the place especially on my neck. It reminds me of the shifting sands of the Sahara.
I simplified things to discuss how I use the Sailor.
Happy shaves,
Jim
A very true statement. The weight and balance of the Ti Vector with one of Doug’s GTx handles allows me to effortlessly remove the whiskers from my face.The Rocnel Sailor is exquisite eye-candy from afar, but you Blackland Ti Vector SB with @Rosseforp handle must be feeling secure from its lofty perch high above all the other Big Dog razors.