I want to share my experience with my new Windsor from Above The Tie / ATT with you. I got it on 1. February and have used it exclusively since then.
Actually I have shared my findings since then on a German board, but was too short on time to post them in simultaneous in English here. So these are my reports so far, once I'll be sharing my record with the R-plate, we will be up-to-date.
Before I start, I want to mention that @nav had posted a great and detailed review of the Windsor as well as the new Windsor Pro here, which is a good read I recommend for those interested:
REVIEW: Above-The-Tie (ATT)...The all new Windsor Pro SS & AL (and Windsor original)
Okay, here we go:
For quite some time I was lusting for a first class razor. One that is of a different tool-class than my Zamak-buddies and it had to be of a classic, traditional design. Nothing eccentric or 'loud', nothing quirky like the beautiful Progress, no dedicated designer-piece which you could possibly find in the Museum of Modern Arts like the Futur, nothing that screams retro and also no striking object of luxury like so many razors these days.
I was looking for a razor with a charming and noble yet discreet beauty and a timeless, classic look and so I went with the Windsor.
As I am shaving for many years with a Futur and the R41, I could have just ordered the Windsor SSH1 with the 0.91 mm blade gap and would have been fine, I guess.
But the R-plate with the 0.58 gap was praised for it's effiency and so I thought, why not try a milder route after all these years. And as I'm a sucker for complete things, I ordered the 5-piece Windsor set, which also includes the M-base serving a 0.25 mm blade gap. Ah, and of course I had to have the sexy stand.
As I love short handles I decided for the Atlas.
Btw, the communication with Matt and Manda from Above The Tie was simply stellar! The great reputation of ATT in general as well as Stan Hickam's pioneering work on fixed-adjustables also attracted me to seek my good shaving fortune with one of their products. I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you kind and great folks at @Above The Tie !
And here it is:
And what a stunning piece of jewelry the Windsor is in the flesh! Of course I had viewed each and every picture on the web before and had quite a concrete idea what to expect, but I was surprised how glorious it's visual impact is. Awesome!
Ah, and something I especially love is that on close inspection of the finish you can see, that the Windso is polished by real humans. It's not 'machine-perfect', yet superfine great work. In the best meaning: Handmade.
Knowing it would arrive that day I had waited of course with my shave. To get a hunch how it will could feel one day, when my hands will probably get a bit shaky and in some kind of very relaxed, contemplative mood I decided to start out with the mildest of the base-plates, the M. And I used a Wilkinson Sword bladem which had it's first use the day before in my R41.
That didn't work for me. Initially. The Sword is already a mild blade and with the - for my habits - very mild gap I was missing it's presence and couldn't feel the right angle as easy as I'm used to.
So after one pass WTG and one CTG, I inserted a brand-new Feather blade and started all over again with three passes, including one ATG at the end.
And yeah! Now the thing rocked. It's been an eternity that I had such a thorough shave with a mild construction like the Windsor SSM1 is. However, my initial feeling is, that the M-version is not for me. Probably I will check this out one day, but my next and second shave will happen with the H-base as I probably should have done it directly.
Okay, the start of our relationship wasn't perfect, but very, very promising. Tbc.
Actually I have shared my findings since then on a German board, but was too short on time to post them in simultaneous in English here. So these are my reports so far, once I'll be sharing my record with the R-plate, we will be up-to-date.
Before I start, I want to mention that @nav had posted a great and detailed review of the Windsor as well as the new Windsor Pro here, which is a good read I recommend for those interested:
REVIEW: Above-The-Tie (ATT)...The all new Windsor Pro SS & AL (and Windsor original)
Okay, here we go:
For quite some time I was lusting for a first class razor. One that is of a different tool-class than my Zamak-buddies and it had to be of a classic, traditional design. Nothing eccentric or 'loud', nothing quirky like the beautiful Progress, no dedicated designer-piece which you could possibly find in the Museum of Modern Arts like the Futur, nothing that screams retro and also no striking object of luxury like so many razors these days.
I was looking for a razor with a charming and noble yet discreet beauty and a timeless, classic look and so I went with the Windsor.
As I am shaving for many years with a Futur and the R41, I could have just ordered the Windsor SSH1 with the 0.91 mm blade gap and would have been fine, I guess.
But the R-plate with the 0.58 gap was praised for it's effiency and so I thought, why not try a milder route after all these years. And as I'm a sucker for complete things, I ordered the 5-piece Windsor set, which also includes the M-base serving a 0.25 mm blade gap. Ah, and of course I had to have the sexy stand.
As I love short handles I decided for the Atlas.
Btw, the communication with Matt and Manda from Above The Tie was simply stellar! The great reputation of ATT in general as well as Stan Hickam's pioneering work on fixed-adjustables also attracted me to seek my good shaving fortune with one of their products. I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you kind and great folks at @Above The Tie !
And here it is:
And what a stunning piece of jewelry the Windsor is in the flesh! Of course I had viewed each and every picture on the web before and had quite a concrete idea what to expect, but I was surprised how glorious it's visual impact is. Awesome!
Ah, and something I especially love is that on close inspection of the finish you can see, that the Windso is polished by real humans. It's not 'machine-perfect', yet superfine great work. In the best meaning: Handmade.
Knowing it would arrive that day I had waited of course with my shave. To get a hunch how it will could feel one day, when my hands will probably get a bit shaky and in some kind of very relaxed, contemplative mood I decided to start out with the mildest of the base-plates, the M. And I used a Wilkinson Sword bladem which had it's first use the day before in my R41.
That didn't work for me. Initially. The Sword is already a mild blade and with the - for my habits - very mild gap I was missing it's presence and couldn't feel the right angle as easy as I'm used to.
So after one pass WTG and one CTG, I inserted a brand-new Feather blade and started all over again with three passes, including one ATG at the end.
And yeah! Now the thing rocked. It's been an eternity that I had such a thorough shave with a mild construction like the Windsor SSM1 is. However, my initial feeling is, that the M-version is not for me. Probably I will check this out one day, but my next and second shave will happen with the H-base as I probably should have done it directly.
Okay, the start of our relationship wasn't perfect, but very, very promising. Tbc.