So I bought two Chinese razors, for a few reasons. One is, I started on a Chinese razor, a "Vincent" TTO, it was a bad razor to start with, but I shaved with it for like 3-4 months. Then I switched to a Dorco PL-602 plastic razor, and then briefly used a vintage Star 3 piece razor. I had a Tech, I believe pre-war, with a plastic handle, but I real life PIFed that to a friend, as for whatever reason I liked the way the Star shaved better. Then someone here PIFed me a Weishi 9306, and that's been my daily razor razor for a while. I've been shaving with a DE since October of last year, but only recently has it been a "hobby" for me. I'm 21 and broke, too. I generally use Barbasol (though I was PIFed a brush and soap and do use it occasionally,) and do two pass. That's my background, so I might not be super qualified to review these or give much feedback to other people on here, but I'll do the best I can.
So this ebay seller here: http://stores.ebay.com/Fashion-Sell...7981018&_sid=1032631698&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322 Had a bunch for sale cheap, with free shipping. I ended up getting two razors. One was $2, one was $4. The $2 one was http://www.ebay.com/itm/Traditional...869?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc98280f5 And the $4 one was http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Trandit...559?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7255471f . The brand name for the $2 one is Hangchao, and the $4 one is Junjie.
I'll have pictures later this afternoon, but I guess here's my reviews.
The first one, the Hangchao, was unusable. I wasn't expecting much from a $2 razor, but I was expecting it to be usable. But, no. The design is, it's a metal handle, but plastic top head. So I pretty much stripped the threads out my first go. The bottom plate is a piece of sheet metal just bent to be a bottom plate. The handle is honestly well made, especially for $2, which is weird. I don't know if all razors have universal threads, but the handle fit my Star 3 piece, and the Junjie razor below. So if you want or like the handle, it'd be worth the $2, but otherwise, not worth the $2. Maybe if you're really poor and want a prop razor for a photoshoot? Then again, if you're that poor, I don't know why you'd be doing photoshoots. Maybe it'd be a fun kid's toy?
So, I tried the Hangchao first and was pretty disappointed, since I couldn't even attempt to shave with it. I figured the Junjie would be similarly bad. The Junjie was a pleasant surprise, though. Pick it up out of the little case it came with, and it has a nice weight. Easily the same weight as my Weishi 9306. All the weight is in the handle, though. The only other 3 pieces I've used have been plastic handled, so it's a different feel. I do feel the head is lighter than the Gillette and Star I have. It is actually all metal construction, aside from the rubber grip. The rubber grip, when putting a razor in and tightening tends to slip a little bit, no slippage from the rubber when actually shaving. It seems you could pull it off if you wanted to, it's basically like the same sort of grip you'd get on a pen or something. The head and and razor alignment is so-so on this razor. Unlike on all the other razors I've used before (besides the crappy Vincent,) when you put a blade in, you do have to seat it. The Weishi requires this a LITTLE bit, but my Star not at all. So that doesn't exactly equal super quality manufacturing, though I've heard of this problem on some expensive razors, so who knows. Not cool to me in my book. That said, once it's seated, the blade will be relatively equally aligned on both sides of the razor. But still, not as good as my old razors. Also, the head does seem to have a slight warp/mold flashing on one side, it might be able to be solved with an emery board or something. Still shaves OK, but yeah.
As far as shaving with it goes, actually not bad. It's not as aggressive as my Star, but more than my Weishi. I think it's a good happy medium for me. The Weishi because it's so mild, I think I use a lot of pressure, but my Star because it's so aggressive I tend to cut myself or get bumps. To be fair, I don't prep much besides hopping out of the shower on most days. I did about two strokes with the included Flying Eagle blade. Flying Eagle is apparently a Chinese subsidy of Gillette. Inside my blade, like the Indian Wilkinson Sword I had, had an advertisement telling you to try a Gillette Vector. Anyway, I did about two strokes with that blade and determined that blade wasn't for me. So I switched to an Astra, and it felt better. Pretty nice shave, really. No complaints. As I said, it seems a nice happy medium for me between aggressive and mild. Maybe the added weight might help it compared to the plastic handled Star I was using.
So, conclusion, cheap Hangchao, not happy with at all. But it was $2. I've wasted more in a day on lotto tickets, so eh. There are more expensive Hangchao razors around, apparently including an all metal TTO, and it's a popular brand in China, but the Hangchao since it had zero semblance of working, I can't really say much good about it. The Junjie on the other hand, not a bad razor for all of $3.69. I even like the case it comes with actually. If you want a beater travel razor that you wouldn't have to feel too bad if you lost it or whatever, this could be good for you. I'd also be fairly confident recommending it as a first razor to someone even, if the person was smart enough to align the blade (which maybe they wouldn't be.) And it's $3.69. Shipping took about two weeks from China, and I didn't get charged any duties or tax. Overall, quality is worse by a good margin than the old razors I've used, but the price is good, and I did get a decent shave regardless.
I'm looking to try a few more Chinese razors, as it kinda interests me a bit. The Chinese are probably the biggest market of traditional shavers around, so I'm kinda interested to see what they'd actually use. Afterall, the only reason double edge blades are still made is because of third world countries not being able to afford cartridges. That, and it's easier to convince someone to try something at $3.69 than $30-40. So if there's something cheap and new I could recommend or give out to people interested, I feel it'd be cool. Also, some people are just idiotic and won't touch old razors because they're afraid they'll get tetanus/AIDS/ebola virus or something. But, I feel these people, despite being idiots, still shouldn't have to spend lots of money on blades. Maybe that's too compassionate of me. Also, sometimes logistically, finding an old razor is hard, on ebay they do tend to go for a bit of cash, and your only other option would really be to post on here or some place similar, and most people don't want to think of it as a hobby (I certainly didn't when I started.)
So that's my review. Any questions, ask. I should have pictures up later this afternoon.
So this ebay seller here: http://stores.ebay.com/Fashion-Sell...7981018&_sid=1032631698&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322 Had a bunch for sale cheap, with free shipping. I ended up getting two razors. One was $2, one was $4. The $2 one was http://www.ebay.com/itm/Traditional...869?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc98280f5 And the $4 one was http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Trandit...559?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7255471f . The brand name for the $2 one is Hangchao, and the $4 one is Junjie.
I'll have pictures later this afternoon, but I guess here's my reviews.
The first one, the Hangchao, was unusable. I wasn't expecting much from a $2 razor, but I was expecting it to be usable. But, no. The design is, it's a metal handle, but plastic top head. So I pretty much stripped the threads out my first go. The bottom plate is a piece of sheet metal just bent to be a bottom plate. The handle is honestly well made, especially for $2, which is weird. I don't know if all razors have universal threads, but the handle fit my Star 3 piece, and the Junjie razor below. So if you want or like the handle, it'd be worth the $2, but otherwise, not worth the $2. Maybe if you're really poor and want a prop razor for a photoshoot? Then again, if you're that poor, I don't know why you'd be doing photoshoots. Maybe it'd be a fun kid's toy?
So, I tried the Hangchao first and was pretty disappointed, since I couldn't even attempt to shave with it. I figured the Junjie would be similarly bad. The Junjie was a pleasant surprise, though. Pick it up out of the little case it came with, and it has a nice weight. Easily the same weight as my Weishi 9306. All the weight is in the handle, though. The only other 3 pieces I've used have been plastic handled, so it's a different feel. I do feel the head is lighter than the Gillette and Star I have. It is actually all metal construction, aside from the rubber grip. The rubber grip, when putting a razor in and tightening tends to slip a little bit, no slippage from the rubber when actually shaving. It seems you could pull it off if you wanted to, it's basically like the same sort of grip you'd get on a pen or something. The head and and razor alignment is so-so on this razor. Unlike on all the other razors I've used before (besides the crappy Vincent,) when you put a blade in, you do have to seat it. The Weishi requires this a LITTLE bit, but my Star not at all. So that doesn't exactly equal super quality manufacturing, though I've heard of this problem on some expensive razors, so who knows. Not cool to me in my book. That said, once it's seated, the blade will be relatively equally aligned on both sides of the razor. But still, not as good as my old razors. Also, the head does seem to have a slight warp/mold flashing on one side, it might be able to be solved with an emery board or something. Still shaves OK, but yeah.
As far as shaving with it goes, actually not bad. It's not as aggressive as my Star, but more than my Weishi. I think it's a good happy medium for me. The Weishi because it's so mild, I think I use a lot of pressure, but my Star because it's so aggressive I tend to cut myself or get bumps. To be fair, I don't prep much besides hopping out of the shower on most days. I did about two strokes with the included Flying Eagle blade. Flying Eagle is apparently a Chinese subsidy of Gillette. Inside my blade, like the Indian Wilkinson Sword I had, had an advertisement telling you to try a Gillette Vector. Anyway, I did about two strokes with that blade and determined that blade wasn't for me. So I switched to an Astra, and it felt better. Pretty nice shave, really. No complaints. As I said, it seems a nice happy medium for me between aggressive and mild. Maybe the added weight might help it compared to the plastic handled Star I was using.
So, conclusion, cheap Hangchao, not happy with at all. But it was $2. I've wasted more in a day on lotto tickets, so eh. There are more expensive Hangchao razors around, apparently including an all metal TTO, and it's a popular brand in China, but the Hangchao since it had zero semblance of working, I can't really say much good about it. The Junjie on the other hand, not a bad razor for all of $3.69. I even like the case it comes with actually. If you want a beater travel razor that you wouldn't have to feel too bad if you lost it or whatever, this could be good for you. I'd also be fairly confident recommending it as a first razor to someone even, if the person was smart enough to align the blade (which maybe they wouldn't be.) And it's $3.69. Shipping took about two weeks from China, and I didn't get charged any duties or tax. Overall, quality is worse by a good margin than the old razors I've used, but the price is good, and I did get a decent shave regardless.
I'm looking to try a few more Chinese razors, as it kinda interests me a bit. The Chinese are probably the biggest market of traditional shavers around, so I'm kinda interested to see what they'd actually use. Afterall, the only reason double edge blades are still made is because of third world countries not being able to afford cartridges. That, and it's easier to convince someone to try something at $3.69 than $30-40. So if there's something cheap and new I could recommend or give out to people interested, I feel it'd be cool. Also, some people are just idiotic and won't touch old razors because they're afraid they'll get tetanus/AIDS/ebola virus or something. But, I feel these people, despite being idiots, still shouldn't have to spend lots of money on blades. Maybe that's too compassionate of me. Also, sometimes logistically, finding an old razor is hard, on ebay they do tend to go for a bit of cash, and your only other option would really be to post on here or some place similar, and most people don't want to think of it as a hobby (I certainly didn't when I started.)
So that's my review. Any questions, ask. I should have pictures up later this afternoon.
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