Pils Stainless Steel Razors vs Merkur Barber poll Slant
- Thread starter Arkwell
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Having owned and shaved with both, I find the Pils gives the better shave. I could get a good shave with the Slant but it took a lot of work and attention; with the Pils, once you learn the proper angle it is like shaving with any other razor. Get the angle wrong on the Pils and at most you nick yourself, with the Slant get the angle wrong and there goes several layers of skin.
I ended up selling the Slant and buying another 38C, I just got better results. That might be the more valid comparison BTW, the Pils and 38C.One thing I will say for the 38/39: the faint knurling does make the razor a bit easier to grip.
Anyway, just my .02.
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The Slant is more effective at the price of greater care required in its use. As for the PILS, only its great weight keeps it from being a gourmet weenie razor - mine now resides in its original packaging, part of a SHAVE-folio
Ferrari vs Jeep?
I wouldn't put these in the same category at all.
I wouldn't put these in the same category at all.
In terms of shaving closeness, there isn't a lot of feedback for PILS as there are only a few people out there who own this razor. The PILS is a high-end product and there no comparison from an item quality standpoint. It's obvious that the PILS is in a league of its own, with few other razors that can rival it. In that respect, the PILS soundly stomps on the Merkur 39C or any other current production slant razor.
However, from a design standpoint, I know the 39C shaves quite well, in fact, probably better than most other razor designs due to the blade angle. I've had excellent shaves from the 39C slant and the only other razor that can approximate it in my stable of razors is the Futur. I am considering the purchase of a PILS not because I expect a better shave but because I want to shave with a quality item.
As for a PILS shave quality expections, someone has already sold off their PILS razor because they couldn't justify the cost relative to the shave quality. It shaved very fine but it wasn't a magical experience. Remember, the PILS is a simply a high-quality and high priced razor. Nothing more.
However, from a design standpoint, I know the 39C shaves quite well, in fact, probably better than most other razor designs due to the blade angle. I've had excellent shaves from the 39C slant and the only other razor that can approximate it in my stable of razors is the Futur. I am considering the purchase of a PILS not because I expect a better shave but because I want to shave with a quality item.
As for a PILS shave quality expections, someone has already sold off their PILS razor because they couldn't justify the cost relative to the shave quality. It shaved very fine but it wasn't a magical experience. Remember, the PILS is a simply a high-quality and high priced razor. Nothing more.
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This assumes that the manufacturing tolerances, finish quality, and industrial design amount to "nothing more". It's certainly possible that those aren't things that are important to you, but there's a reason I choose products like Apple computers and phones over cheaper - and more cheaply made - items.
As a counterpoint, I found the shave quality to be superior to any other razor, and ended up selling off all my other razors, including a #58 and #16. In my case the experience was better. But of course, my and Bay Rum's experience are only two data points, so it is hard to say whether it does provide a same or better shave on average. My fanboy posts notwithstanding,
we don't have enough data yet.Since the Pils is still relatively new, I can only surmise that averages apply: Some will find the Pils gives them a better shave, some will find it gives a shave equal to their other razors, and some will likely find it doesn't work for them at all.
Take care.
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Game. Set. Match.
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- #9
But I'm wondering if in reality after a certain point even with the best in craftsmanship the shave is in the hands of the beholder? In other words there is a certain technological point where it's up to you the shaver to make or break a great shave and those that say the Pils is the best have to after paying $200 plus dollars. I love my Slant and if I was going to pay an arm and a leg I think I would go in the direction of Straights rather than a great piece of art and technology although I do admit that shaving with the Slant is like riding a fast motorcycle(2 wheels compared to 4 for the Pils) the mistakes you make will cause you more pain with the Slant. So what would you guys say? Pils or Straights for a radically different and close shave?
Peace.
Peace.
As I've said earlier in my post, the PILS simply is a very high quality item and there's no one disputing that, especially me. I'm not sure if you are interpreting my "nothing more" as a dig against the razor. It's certainly was not intended on my part. If fact, the PILS quality factor is the main charm of this razor.
I couldn't agree more, once I had my technique nailed down with the Pils I found it to be a superb razor, with little effort required to get a great shave on a regular basis.
Comparing the slant to the Pils is troublesome as I suspect the reasons behind the purchase of these two razors are likely to be quite different.
Crucially the Pils manages to combine aesthetics, faultless build quality and a superb shave experience, that's not to say the Slant is not an effective razor it just a different razor.
Re-reading your post, my takeaway is that you view the PILS as a standard DE razor with superb fit and finish - but nothing revolutionary in design. Whereas, the Slant does employ an unconventional design which yields advanced results (at some cost, to many gents).
I don't disagree with that. Stated shallow blade angle aside, it's a standard DE in form. But a really, really nice one. And by at least one opinion, exceedingly well executed.
However, I doubt we'll ever really have a ton of feedback on this razor, due to cost. Maybe enough of us whack-jobs who think a SS razor is worth $200 can give it good reviews and then a few more will buy it - but we'll never have the feedback of, say, the Slant at about 1/5th the cost.
Yes, that was the crux of my post. Upon reflection, however, I would imagine that given the exact same design, a razor at 1/5th the cost probably won't shave quite as well as a higher end razor as you won't run into design flaws, such as the blade being slightly misaligned due to tolerance issues. Now, if it wasn't for all my expenses and payments for all my insurance policies this month, I would probably joined the ranks of being a PILS owner.
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I have a Pils & a 39c. I've used the Pils for about 2 weeks, and if I had to choose between them right now I'd take the 39c over the Pils, hands down.
Yes, it's a magnificently well-designed tool. The quality of the industrial design is beautiful, elegant & minimal. Its balance, heft & weight are a joy in the hand. And I still haven't managed to find the proper angle in order to get a decent shave with the damn thing.
Having owned and shaved with both, I find the Pils gives the better shave. I could get a good shave with the Slant but it took a lot of work and attention; with the Pils, once you learn the proper angle it is like shaving with any other razor. Get the angle wrong on the Pils and at most you nick yourself, with the Slant get the angle wrong and there goes several layers of skin.
I would agree with Brother Stubblefield that there's a definite learning curve to the slant. When I first got mine I used it a few times and then put it away for about 9 months. Obviously my technique had improved over time, because when I took it out of mothballs it gave me one of the best shaves I'd ever had, and continues to do so.
Stubblefield is also absolutely correct when he says that if you don't use the proper angle with a Pils, at most you'll nick yourself.
It would be hard to do the kind of damage to yourself with a Pils that you can do with a slant. And it does shave smoothly with less irritation -- I have noticed that. The problem I'm having is that so far, I haven't managed to shave myself as closely with a Pils as I can with my 39c. And I use Feathers!To me, that seems to be a very simplistic and somewhat flippant comment. They're two very different beasts. Design & manufacturing aside, it's not an apples to apples comparison. The curve of the blade in the slant is an entirely different experience from a standard, fixed blade.
Indeed. +1 to everything, especially the slant comments.
"Radically different?" Not even close -- go for a straight!
I haven't shaved with a slant, but as an avid straight shaver and for as much as the PILS cost you could get a quality straight. Not only will it be that different, unique experience you are looking for, but once you figure out what you are doing you're pretty much guaranteed to get a phenomenally close shave. Just more justifiable for that kind of coin IMO.
You'd grant me the courtesy of not reading so much into my comment, wouldn't you? Also, I find it odd that in the same breath, you both criticize my comment as "very simplistic and somewhat flippant", yet proceed to pontificate exactly what I intended. They're very different - no direct comparison can be made. One, a feat of engineering, with luxury appointments - but still conventional in approach. The other, a utilitarian, results-focused design of modest pedigree.
So I imagine now you see there's nothing quite so simplistic or flippant in the analogy. I find it quite fitting, rather.
I will grant you whatever you like. Didn't mean to come off as pedantic, offensive or overly-analytical, so my apologies if I did. No harm intended.
I shaved today with a one hundred year old straight. That's about as old and low tech as you can get, and I can tell you this- whatever the price point, however technologically advanced the design, it's always about technique.
