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Anyone here got a Mongoose? Mine just came in this morning. I got the satin version. Initial impressions, it towers over the regular size DE razors, it;s huge, heavy and I'm quite liking the knurling. Will try it out later today with my feather pro blades.
Wish you would have got a camera for Christmas :<0)
Gentlemen,
I have read about the Mongoose on other shave forums. Some shavers like them and some don't, which is nothing unusual for a new razor; however, I have also seen many on sale in the classified. RedGladiator, I look forward to reading your thoughts on the razor.
So had my first shave with it. 2 days growth. Until today I had not used a saftey razor since just before Christmas and was using a feather DX exclusively also using the feather pro blades. Last night I had put a new blade in the DX and went ahead and took the edge to cut some cardboard to blunt it a little, when i transfered it to the mongoose it wouldnt shave my arm hair so I chucked it and put in a fresh blade. I went ahead and completed 2 passes, WTG and XTG,I was initally planing on 3 passes but 2 was enough, I had 3 pimples and had a weeper in each of them. This Mongoose will mow throw anything. I think the weight of the razor will take adjusting to. I'm not too sure how I feel about the pro blades, they feel very harsh and very sharp with the Mongoose and DX. I bought a 200 pack of blades but now I wish I bought a sampler pack.
I don't know if it's a fresh blade, length or the blade, the weight, my technique or what but I felt more likey to cut myself with this than the DX. Once mastered this will be an awesome razor.
I think this concludeds my SafetyRazorAD, I have no desire to try the Phoenix, BBS-1, Beluga, ATT. Next razor will most likely be the jump to real straights.
Pics to come later, if I can figure out how lol............
I just ordered the Phoenix....But am curious about the Mongoose. The Beluga looks like a piece of art
@ Red what type of blade does the Mongoose take? a regular DE blade
It takes the Feather Artist club pro, super and proguard, kai mild and kai guards. No DE blades.
Attachment 190012
The pics are the Muhle R89, AS-D2 and of course the Mongoose in the middle.
I suspect those DE users who also use straights or those who use artist club type shavettes will like it more than those who use DE exclusively, primary due to the wideness of the blade.
These are just my initial impressions. I prefer not to review until at least a month using it.
I haven't used the Mongoose, but I did use the Cobra Classic a lot. The whole point of these razors is to offer a 'safety' razor that can use the Feather AC blades. For those of us here who have never used those blades: they're easily the sharpest and smoothest disposable razor blades available today (along with the similar Kai blades).
The Cobra was an excellent shaver, but I couldn't justify the cost of the razor and blades when I usually use straights, so I sold the two I had. I've been tempted to get the Mongoose, but to make the best use of the blades, I'd have to use them about 20 times in a row, and I cannot bring myself to not use straights for that length of time. :)
There are plans to release a Minigoose that takes scheick injector blades.Quote:
Originally Posted by yohannrjm
Ok had my second shave with it today. I think the handle is a little too heavy, rather than the weight doing all the work I felt like I had to resist the weight so it would apply less pressure. Audio feed back is very evident. While the head holds the blade in, it is not TIGHT, I pushed my finger nail against the topof the blade (while in the razor) and there is a little flex. It makes me want to try the slightly thicker super pro blades to reduce the flex. (I only own pro blades)
Comparing to the other razors I own, the R89 and AS-D2 it shaves more like the R89.
The wideness of the head means it takes a shorter amount of time to shave. While some find the wideness difficult to navigate, I had no such problems.
The razor itself is a thing of beauty, I find myself picking it up to look at each time I'm in the bathroom.
I'm not blown away by the shave ATM. However when I first used the AS-D2 I went from liking it, to hating it, to loving it in the space of 2 months.
I owned a Cobra Classic as well and this is very similar to my experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by yohannrjm
Fantastic razor, loved the blades, and sold mine to buy a new straight.
The Cobra and the R41 are both top notch - I wouldn't feel bad if I had to use either.
I'm not sure a SS injector would be a good thing, and I'm unlikely to spend the money on one, when I have several injectors already.Quote:
Originally Posted by RedGladiator
Your comment on the balance is something I've brought up several time re: SS razors and handles. People seem to just want heavy handles and razors, but like you I find that balance is more important. Having to resist weight when shaving is a waste of energy.
Hopefully, the shaves will improve for you. From what I've read about the Mongoose, it doesn't look like an investment I'm going to make anytime soon.
Thanks for recording your thoughts on it.
I haven't read any negative reviews myself. Everything I've read has been mostly favourable.
I had my 3rd and 4th shave with te mongoose yesterday and today. The blade I was using was 7 shaves in on the feather.
I'm going to have to play around with the shaving angle, going WTG it seems to be dragging, not sure what I'm doing wrong. XTG and ATG seem to be a lot smoother. I'm going to give this razor another 7-8 shaves with a new blade tomorrow.
Where this thing shines for me is under the chin/jawline where I've always had trouble with other razors. The mongoose shaves incredibly close. Post shave alum block burn was up there with the best of them.
From what I've read, others don't rate this as agressive, running my thumb across the blade it doesn't feel agresive, but shaving for me feels very agressive indeed.
Still way too early to say if I like/dislike it.
6th shave in (i think). Apparently I've been holding the wrong angle all this time. Holding the handle around 40/45 degrees produces a much smoother and mild shave, zero dragging. The increased smoothness led me to use too much pressure, ended up with 5 tiny weepers, need to watch that pressure. Having said that, I managed probably my first true BBS since I started DE/shavette shaving last october, I wasn't even chasing the BBS. 3 passes WTG XTG ATG no clean up pass. Think I could maybe get there in 2, will try tomorrow.
I'm beginning to really really like this razor, I need to see if I can adjust to the weight and avoid weepers.
Last post on this, unless there is any further questions.
The mongoose is incredible, I went from nearly hating it and wanting to sell to loving this. The slope on the head, for me anyway sets the correct angle, as long at the slope is held flat or there about it will produce the optimal angle for the razor. Holding at this angle there is zero drag, it feels natural, smooth and efficient. The slope acts as a guide if you will. Under the jaw where I've always had trouble getting it really close, the mongoose handles with ease. It took around 8 shaves for me to really adjust to it, the weight is a minor issue and is well worth putting in the time to get used to. The weight of the handle balances the weight of the head, some like to try different handles, I think a lighter handle for me will upset the balance. For me the main issue I have with this is when I use a steeper (not sure if that is the correct term?) angle, it shaves horribly and I'm highy likely to have weepers. When I use the slope of the head and watch the pressure its pretty damn perfect and produces amazingly close shave. Pricing may be an issue with some. I paid $149USD +$23USD shipping to UK and additional £20BPS (not exact amount, I forget sorry) for custom charges.
This will probably be my last safety razor acquisition for the forseable future. Will move back to the feather DX. My local barber said he will give me a straight, a strop and a hone next month, can't wait, exciting times lol.
I'm glad you like the Mongoose. It sometimes does take some time to properly appreciate new shaving items (especially when they're so different from other razors). The Feather AC blades are really lovely, and it is great that there are now a couple of safety razor options for using them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RedGladiator
I didn't necessarily want to post this, especially, in a straight razor forum, but I just came upon this thread. I had both the Cobra Classic and the Mongoose head and I didn't like the Mongoos at all. For me, it was way too mild compared to the Cobra Classic. I was expecting it to be much more aggressive than it was, but I just didn't like. Furthermore, the head is way too bulky. I much prefer the slimmer design of the Cobra. The good thing about the Mongoose is how well made it is and that is securely hold the blade compared to the terrible finish on the Cobra and how much play there was in the toggle!
However, like everything, YMMV. :o
Little hard to find out where I can buy a Mongoose Razor? Help would be good
They have a facebook page. Not sure how they are doing it now but I did mine through email.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nirai
You can get slighly more agression from the super pro blades as they are slighty longer (I havent tried).Quote:
Originally Posted by celestino
I agree the head is too bulky, the handle is also too heavy but they kind of work well together. I suspect the weight of the head would be imbalanced on a lighter handle. I find the head a bit fiddly, putting the blade in can be a bit awkward and you have to check carefully to make sure the 2 pieces are alined properly before screwing in the handle. IMO in a rush you can easly screw them in wonky without noticing initially.
I can completly see how some people would not like the mongoose.
My first few shaves with it were truely awful. If I borrowed it from a friend I think I would have gave it back to him after the first 2 shaves. I'm glad I stuck with it and I suspect my shaves with this razor will continue to improve.
It does take me a while to truely appreciate new razors. I spent the longest time, maybe 6-8 weeks hating the ASD2 before doing a complete U turn and loving it. I think feather are just an awesome company, blades and razors. If they ever made real straights I'd be first in the queue.Quote:
Originally Posted by yohannrjm
They used to make real straights (or some other Japanese company branded their straights as Feather). I had one a while ago. It was pretty good - normal for a Japanese straight.Quote:
Originally Posted by RedGladiator
I've been using my Mongoose of and on for the last month or so. 26 shaves on my first Feather Pro, so far. It really is a nice razor. I hated the weight at first, but after about a week, got used to it and I find that the weight of it really helps the shave. I dislike the spiral knurling on the Dr. Bomber handle, but that's kinda minor.
As much as I love my Cobra, I think I might like the Mongoose a tad more (and it pains me to admit that).
We are not just a straight razor forum, but a wetshaving forum. Believe it or not all the other forums more directed at DE's grew out of this forum back when it was a Yahoo Group. In any case, Definitely YMMV. I like my Mongoose a lot better than the Cobra I have. I found the Cobra clunky and as you, do did not like the mechanism or finish at all. At first I was a little tentative because of the weight of the Mongoose and proceeded accordingly. By the end of the first shave, I had the balance and angle as well as getting a very very nice shave. I have been pleasantly surprised by this razor and my Cobra remains some where.........not sure where it is, but don't remember getting rid of it. I do want to try the Kai blades too as I used the Feather Pro also.
Have fun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by celestino
Thanks LynnQuote:
Originally Posted by Lynn
As always great advise.
I like my Mongoose. The difference between it and the Cobra seems to be the Mongoose is much milder shaving.
