Chan Eil Whiskers
Fumbling about.
| Nice critters |
| Nice critters |
As #4 appears to be "your" number on the Slim, Doug, it makes sense that you prefer it to the Red Tip which has a little blade exposure vs. the Slim's ±0 blade exposure. The Red Tip has a much bigger blade gap too.The Slim on #4 wins again.
As #4 appears to be "your" number on the Slim, Doug, it makes sense that you prefer it to the Red Tip which has a little blade exposure vs. the Slim's ±0 blade exposure. The Red Tip has a much bigger blade gap too.
I'm assuming you took the pics and drew the green lines "after" your shave.
According to the Wiki page on blade gaps:Which is which when it comes to the Red Tip and its siblings?
According to the Wiki page on blade gaps:
Gillette Super Speed Blue Tip: 0.58mm gap
Gillette Super Speed: 0.64mm gap
Gillette Super Speed Red Tip: 0.73mm gap
I'm glad to see "this chart should not be used as a general ranking of aggressiveness" on that page.
Yep.Are these the razors Gillette advertised as Light, Heavy, and Regular?
Yep.
To add to the confusion, this is from the GilletteAdjustable gap chart:According to the Wiki page on blade gaps:
Gillette Super Speed Blue Tip: 0.58mm gap
Gillette Super Speed: 0.64mm gap
Gillette Super Speed Red Tip: 0.73mm gap
I'm glad to see "this chart should not be used as a general ranking of aggressiveness" on that page.
As #4 appears to be "your" number on the Slim, Doug, it makes sense that you prefer it to the Red Tip which has a little blade exposure vs. the Slim's ±0 blade exposure.
Tuesday, December 1
Razor: Gillette 54 Flare Tip
Blade: Gillette Platinum(11)
Brush: Simpson PJ2
Soap: AdP Colonia
ASL: the "Veg"
Tonight's shave was wonderful.
The aroma of the AdP Colonia is intoxicating as the lather builds into a velvety layer, the plushness of the PJ2 enhanced by the cushion.
As I started my downstroke on my first WTG pass I could feel the blade ever so slightly, a slight adjustment to a steeper angle provided the feel I was looking for.
The second layer of AdP was even more velvety than the first, a nose to ear face pass, and ATG neck.
With the PJ2 still full I brushed another velvety cushion of lather on and finished my face ATG, and neck WTG.
Of all three of my Super Speed razors, this one has provided the closest shave compared to my Slim on #4. While the 54 Flare Tip is a definite steep angle razor, the Slim prefers an angle closer to neutral. While the 54 Flare Tip feels more efficient than the Slim, 12 hours later the Slim on #4 shave is still BBS, the 54 Flare Tip is not.
I found a "shave binky" wiped my face off, cleaned my gear the splashed on Witch hazel, the "Veg", and Nivea balm, my face feels great.
The Slim on #4 is still the winner, by a slim margin. With a Gillette Platinum.
View attachment 1189383
Yes Jim, I checked the gaps with a Derby Extra and a Feather Hi Stainless to see if there was any variance because of blades, and detected none.Just wondering if you've measured the gaps of the two razors? I wonder if the difference is in the gap or more than one factor? There is only a slim chance I will ever know all the razor engineering and design answers.
Happy shaves,
Jim
Yes Jim, I checked the gaps with a Derby Extra and a Feather Hi Stainless to see if there was any variance because of blades, and detected none.
View attachment 1189603View attachment 1189604
Slim on left, 54 Flare Tip on right.
The gaps on my Slim on #4 and my 54 Flare Tip are the same .026". My Slim appears to have +/- 0.0 blade exposure.
My 54 Flare Tip appears to have very slightly +.001" blade exposure, a larger cap span, and the curvature of the cap also appears different. The Flare Tip being a bit lighter with a shorter handle feels more maneuverable than my Slim, but my Slim is more comfortable and delivers a longer lasting shave.
Have you tried the Fatboy or Executive adjustable? I ask because of the shorter handle, and because it seems comfortable and close shaving to me. The Slim did, too, but I didn't like its ergonomics as much; too skinny in the handle for me for one thing.
Pardon me for taking so long to respond Jim, it seems all of my internet connection devices decided to malfunction in succession, necessitating trips to exchange said devices, then proceed with the at home installation conflagration. Then making sure all 18 devices are all connected and working properly.Which factor do you think, or factors, important in making your two razors distinguishable in shave and comfort and preference, other than the handles? I'd guess not gap. Probably not blade exposure?
I know I have zero knowledge or understanding of razors. I couldn't order a custom made safety razor (Wolfman or Timeless) with any assurance that I'd like what I ordered even as compared with a razor of similar gap and such. There are too many variables (you mention curvature) which are mostly not part of a razor's specs, and not much discussed.
Pardon me for taking so long to respond Jim, it seems all of my internet connection devices decided to malfunction in succession, necessitating trips to exchange said devices, then proceed with the at home installation conflagration. Then making sure all 18 devices are all connected and working properly.
Yes, 18 devices. With two kids and a LOTH, 5 laptops, 1 pc, 2 ipads, 3 smart TV's, a coupe of gaming systems and 4 phones to get all reconfigured, I was busier than than a cat covering politicians.
With the gap being the same between my Slim and 54 Flare Tip, we need to look further, as the 54 Flare Tip has positive +.001" exposure and the Slim on #4 is +/-.0.0". How can one razor have positive exposure and the other is zero with the same gap?
The Slim clamps the blade at a different angle than the 54 Flare Tip, is one factor.
The Slim has a greater cap span than the 54 Flare Tip is another factor. My Mk1 Fatip razors also have a greater cap span than my Mk2 Fatip razors, and I prefer the Mk1, so I think that is a significant factor, for me.
I also notice that the curvature on the caps does appear less on the Slim than the 54 Flare Tip, I am sure that plays a part, which part I have no idea.
I think what surprised me the most Jim, was that while I was shaving, the 54 Flare Tip felt more maneuverable than my Slim, but the Slim was not only more comfortable, it shaved closer.
When you mention the size of the heads on the adjustables, I think the SS Flare Tips heads look bulky compared to a Slim or a Fatboy. I have not tried a Fatboy yet, but I managed to get a bid through on one, literally seconds before my internet connection failed for the third time in one hour. Sometime next week I should get my hands on it, and if I like it enough the inspector has given me permission to procure an Executive.
All it cost me to get permission was a new dinette set, couch, and bookcase. The bookcase BTW, cost more than an Executive.
I have also been looking at the 1940's Aristocrat's lately, as they appear to be closer to the first DE razor my Dad gave me, than a Super Speed. The only thing I remember was it was either gold or brass, and it was a TTO.
Being as my Dad was an officer in the Air Force until he retired in 1974, and always stopped off at Los Alamitos Joint Forces on the way home from work to shop at the commissary, It would have been whatever they had on the shelf there. It wasn't a new one either that he gave me, just one that he didn't use anymore. And a tuck with two blades in it. I think they were Wilkinson.
I used to really want an Aristocrat. I hope you didn't crank that back up.
View attachment 1190760
If you look at the gap chart, it appears that Executive's are more consistent in the middle of the adjustment range than a regular Fatboy or Slim. It could be that only the best parts were chosen to be gold plated, and those ended up as Executives.
Right now I am trying to weigh the options of ordering a refurbished Fatboy, in my choice of plating, versus trying to find an Executive in the wild, as I have been given clearance from the inspector general.