Thread: Shavability in TI Razors ?

Hi folks,

given the enthusiastic comments people here share about the sharpness and "shavability" of TI razors, I am currently thinking on getting one myself.

My question is: there is quite a range of razors available e.g. on Classicshaving. Would I get a significant difference in QOS (Quality-of-shave ) between the lower price "Le-Dandy", "Super-Gnome", "Evide Sonnant" or "Red-Stamina" ?

I am aware that they are different material, finish etc. - but what I am after is primarily the sharpness and smooth shave plus edge duration. Optics is second

Thanks for your comments,
-Axel-

Axel,
I do think most of the price difference is mainly the design and finish. All of a similar blade material should shave about the same once sharp. Ready to shave or not, right out of the box is not really a factor there. Once you get to a different steel type though, stainless, silver, etc.... I think shavability is influenced. But again, ready to shave or not is a matter of who did the final honing at TI and how his day started out <g>. Just like any other worker in any other plant. I know in our foundry and machine shop I wouldn't really want anything made on Monday morning or Friday afternoon <g>

So, basically until you step to a different material in the blade one model will shave about the same as another but the appearance of the razor may make you feel better about that shave..

Tony

Hi Tony,

thanks for your comments. Just to clarify, I was not looking for ready-to-shave but for the so well-regarded sharpness and edge-holding capability of the blades.

The mentioned "versions" of razors differ in carbon and silver steel as well as singing and not-singing.

The latter AFAIK is a question of how it is ground, don't know if this really affects the quality of the shave as well ?!

As you said, the steel quality could possibly have a significant influence. The question to me is: is a carbon steel blade in any way inferior to a silver steel blade - specifically speaking for TI razors ?

-Axel-

As I understand it the only noticable difference to the silver steel is that it polishes up to a higher shine, no active difference in the honing or shaving what-so-ever.

X

Make sure your careful about what you order, the terms your using include vastly different razors. You may need to learn more about the 4/8th, half hollow, singing, full hollow and silver steel models. Some variations are small; variations in the razors you mentioned though are pretty dramatic. Read the descriptions carefully.

Pay attention to the needs of your beard. Is it light, average, dense,coarse,wirey? The more work that a razor has to do will require a different grind or size of blade. I may be mistaken here but I do not believe that all TI's are lead hardened. Of one thing I am sure, they do not all shave the same. I recently honed a silver steel TI and thought it shaved very well.


Just my two cents,

Okay, thanks once again for your comments. So I'll save my pennies a few more days and will possibly go for the SRP razor (if still available) or some of the fancier models.

And you bet I'll need this additional time to pepare my Department of Finance for the upcoming expense

Thanks to you all,
-Axel-

I'm not sure which are or are not lead hardened, nor do I own the SRP razor, but I can tell you this... I have a heavy 6/8 singing TI with a barber's notch and a fileworked spine, some sort of wood handle. Stamina wood I think. It also has and an eagle on the blade flanked by the words "hollow gound" and "fully warranted". I got it from knifecenter.com nearly 10 years ago. This is hands down my best shaver. I don't know the particulars of it's HT, but it is head asd shoulders above even my Wonderedge. Truly an effortless shave, it glides through whiskers with the ease of a DE. Wish I could comment on the "Silver Steel" TI's. I might pick one up soon, I hear good things. ..............Jeff

Knife Center has their own line of TI razors with their (Knife Centers) exclusive branding, "Eagle Brand". TI as does DOVO will do contract orders. Edwin Jaeger has their own line of TI's as well.

Same quality, different names.


Tony

Originally Posted by threeputt

This is hands down my best shaver. I don't know the particulars of it's HT, but it is head asd shoulders above even my Wonderedge. Truly an effortless shave, it glides through whiskers with the ease of a DE. Wish I could comment on the "Silver Steel" TI's. I might pick one up soon, I hear good things. ..............Jeff

This is how I feel about my 7/8 TI's. They are by FAR my best shavers. The first pass is unreal! Not sure why, but it's true.