My search ended with the Rockwell 6 (6C then 6S). Stopped looking for better, and sold my Muhle and Merkurs. Been almost a year and no itch to scratch regarding finding a better razor
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Some Rockwell 6S Love
- Thread starter CalmAsHinduCows
- Start date
I’ve owned a 6S for about 3 years and really rate it. A few months after owning it I bought a 6C for a friend, who had never tried shaving with a DE before, and he got on with it very well and now owns a Futur clone. I liked the look of the 6C in that gunmetal chrome so bought one of those for me too. To be honest I’ve probably used the 6C a bit more than the 6S - I was working away a lot in 2022 and it came away with me a lot of the time.
I think they are great razors. I’ve had very smooth shaves with mine. I tend to go for plate 5/6 but I have regularly shaved on plate 4 too.
I think they are great razors. I’ve had very smooth shaves with mine. I tend to go for plate 5/6 but I have regularly shaved on plate 4 too.
Messygoon
Abandoned By Gypsies.
Gilligan’s Island fans will know there is a common question we ask each other: “Ginger or Mary Ann?”
Following years of using dad’s hand-me-down Gillette Super Speed, cartridges, and a Norelco, bought my first modern safety razor: a Rockwell 6S. Then caught the bug and purchased another dozen or so costly razors. Yet the 6S remains the go-to razor to this day. It’s mild, forgiving, and delivers an extraordinary shave.
Embarrassed to say I have far too many exotic “Ginger” razors. But then, there is the one “Mary Ann” razor: the 6S.
And for the record, the correct answer is “Mary Ann.”
I'm a bit late to this thread, but wanted to put in my 2¢. After the handle on my Merkur 23c broke (it was my first and only razor for 7-8 years), I ordered a 6s in the pretty blue color with a stand after seeing all the glowing reviews for it. Not sure how much I am to blame for bad technique as it was only my second razor and I'd been very used to the 23c, but I couldn't get along with it at all.
I was really excited as it was a beautiful and well crafted looking razor, but things went wrong as soon as I tried to use it. I was using Dorco Prime blades since it's what I found to work well in the Merkur, but plate 1 and 2 I couldn't get to remove any hair on my fare or arm, as if it didn't even have a blade in it at all. Plate 3 kind of tugged at arm hair a little, and even cut a few of them, but I wouldn't call what it did shaving. Plate 4 was the mildest one I could actually shave with, but it still seemed way milder than the 23c, which was disappointing since I was hoping the 6s would be a step up in efficiency. I got a lot of irritation, probably because I couldn't feel the blade to effectively adjust my technique to what the razor was doing.
At this point I was already feeling pretty let down by the purchase, the paint was rubbing off from the top cap threads and the plates, and the handle. I was so careful not to cross thread or over tighten and be very gentle in handling too. I'm wondering if the thickness of the paint has an effect on blade exposure, because the razor was ridiculously mild.
If you are wonding about plate 5/6, I never tried it because it didn't fit on the razor. One of the three holes must have been slightly misalligned, and maybe with the unpainted version it would have fit okay, but on mine it took enough force to get the plate to snap on that it scraped up the finish pretty badly. And at that point I knew I was done with the razor. I paid a premium for a tool that had adjustability, and somewhere between half and all of the settings were useless to me. I also paid a premium for a finish that wasn't holding up after one single successful shave. I notice the painted colors aren't on their website any more.
I took a chance on the blue finish because they advertised a very good return policy, but when I asked to return it they didn't seem to want to honor that policy and talked me into a T2 instead. I wasn't really happy with that razor either, but that's a different story.
No beef with anyone who likes the 6s or Rockwell razors, but buyer beware they aren't universally loved. I've been using a Gamechanger .84 for most of my shaves since, and I deffinitely wouldn't want to go any milder than that. I really dig how slim the head is. Sometimes I have to polish a touch of corrosion off the top cap, but its holding up well after two years of shower shaving. I'm also trying to master the Blackbird, but it seems like you do have to work on your technique to use it well.
I was really excited as it was a beautiful and well crafted looking razor, but things went wrong as soon as I tried to use it. I was using Dorco Prime blades since it's what I found to work well in the Merkur, but plate 1 and 2 I couldn't get to remove any hair on my fare or arm, as if it didn't even have a blade in it at all. Plate 3 kind of tugged at arm hair a little, and even cut a few of them, but I wouldn't call what it did shaving. Plate 4 was the mildest one I could actually shave with, but it still seemed way milder than the 23c, which was disappointing since I was hoping the 6s would be a step up in efficiency. I got a lot of irritation, probably because I couldn't feel the blade to effectively adjust my technique to what the razor was doing.
At this point I was already feeling pretty let down by the purchase, the paint was rubbing off from the top cap threads and the plates, and the handle. I was so careful not to cross thread or over tighten and be very gentle in handling too. I'm wondering if the thickness of the paint has an effect on blade exposure, because the razor was ridiculously mild.
If you are wonding about plate 5/6, I never tried it because it didn't fit on the razor. One of the three holes must have been slightly misalligned, and maybe with the unpainted version it would have fit okay, but on mine it took enough force to get the plate to snap on that it scraped up the finish pretty badly. And at that point I knew I was done with the razor. I paid a premium for a tool that had adjustability, and somewhere between half and all of the settings were useless to me. I also paid a premium for a finish that wasn't holding up after one single successful shave. I notice the painted colors aren't on their website any more.
I took a chance on the blue finish because they advertised a very good return policy, but when I asked to return it they didn't seem to want to honor that policy and talked me into a T2 instead. I wasn't really happy with that razor either, but that's a different story.
No beef with anyone who likes the 6s or Rockwell razors, but buyer beware they aren't universally loved. I've been using a Gamechanger .84 for most of my shaves since, and I deffinitely wouldn't want to go any milder than that. I really dig how slim the head is. Sometimes I have to polish a touch of corrosion off the top cap, but its holding up well after two years of shower shaving. I'm also trying to master the Blackbird, but it seems like you do have to work on your technique to use it well.
For same price or less, too many good CNC machined SS razors IMO. To this day it's baffling to me their 6S isn't CNC.
I think for average person, $30 for the 2C is best if they really want a Rockwell and don't need 4-6.
Regret that your experience with 6S did not worked well.
I was never a fan of coated / plated version. It will eventually either fade or peel off in the long run.
The coating however thin it could be will somehow affect the precise tolerance of its intended design.
Also the fact the your R5/R6 base plate did not fit the head indicates that something is wrong with your 6S.
It maybe the base plate issue or worse its the top cap itself.
Hence, why your other base plates could not deliver great results.
I'm inclined to think the blue finish made the razor worse as well. Rockwell sent me a second 5/6 plate before I returned it and it also did not fit on my top cap. I kind of wanted to try the unpainted one, but they said the T2 was more aggressive (which it is), and since it was the same price as the coated 6s it was a 1:1 exchange. Maybe someday I'll B/S/T the T2 for an uncoated 6S.
Hello. ¿Why do you prefer 6C?. Is it smoother than 6S?. Or they shaves the same but only it changes is the materials and the durability?. Thanks
I use the Rockwell 6C every day. Love it.
Hello. I found they shave about the same to be fair. It was materials mainly that I used the 6C more. I was away from home a lot in 2022 and the 6C became a bit of a travel razor. I did not want to take the 6S with me in case it got damaged. I have used the 6S more than the 6C this year though as I’ve been at home.
It's a shame they don't release it in more colors like the 6S. Thanks.
Just head shaved and face shaved with my Rockewll 6S on "4" plate with a first use Dovo (German) blade. Nice shave. Mitchell's Wool Fat soap and Razor Emporium pre shave bar soap with the menthol and activated charcoal. Three passes, head and face. This razor/blade/baseplate isn't aggressive enough to get it done in one pass, so we get to rinse and re-lather (not a problem for a lazy evening shave). Maybe next time I'll dig out the "5" plate. So anyways, that Razor Emporium pre shave soap bar has a faint scent that is just tantalizing enough to make you want to apply it for each pass, which is what I did. Three passes, and three applications of the pre shave soap bar (unheard of, I know) but this is just such a luxurious smell and lather feel. The Mitchell's soap was fantastic, not taking away from it, but the preshave soap was from outer space. After the third pass, we're into BBS territory. PAA Pathos jelly aftershave. Just a great shave. Maybe I'll nail it next time on the "5" plate. Great razor. Wouldn't trade it for nuttin'. Especially with this German Dovo blade. Whew!
I'm a huge fan of the Rockwell 6C and the Game Changer .68. I'll give a slight edge to the Rockwell for two reasons: the chrome finish glides more easily and (of course), it's adjustable. I usually use the R3 plate, sometimes the R4. I used the R2 once and though obviously it wasn't a super close shave, it worked okay for me. I've never felt the need to use the R5 or R6 plates because I shave almost every day, although I can certainly see a use for them.
The Game Changer 68-P is also delightful. We're lucky to live in an age when both are available, reasonably priced and such good quality.
The Game Changer 68-P is also delightful. We're lucky to live in an age when both are available, reasonably priced and such good quality.
Just jumping in here for a couple comments; I love my 6S and usually use plate R4 and it is currently my second most used razor according to The Shave Den app. following my Blackland my 1 shave. I really like the blade feel on this razor, I don't know if it's gap or what but I like the sounds of the whiskers coming off smoothly and cleanly. The one thing that brought me to this thread was the paint peeling. I have a red and a black 6S. The red is the one I have been using mostly at home and noticed the paint is chipping off a bit already and it's only about 7 months old.
I shaved with my 6S every morning for years and got a great smooth as silk shave. When I stopped shaving every day, I decided I wanted to use something more aggressive at least some of the time. I had rejected the GC with the 84-P base plate as too much blade for daily use, but that's what I usually use now when I haven't shaved for several days. I haven't bought a new razor in many years. (I did buy a Slim in an antique shop not long ago since it was in much better condition than the one I already had.) The 6S is heavy, no doubt. Some like that, others, not so much. Otherwise, the only possible drawback I can see is that it might not be ideal for guys with the thickest, toughest beards, which ain't me.
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