Any of you guys shave with a Kamisori style razor every day? What do you like about it? Why is it your favorite?
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Any of you guys shave with a Kamisori style razor every day? What do you like about it? Why is it your favorite?
I think MODINE was doing that for a while.
I don't get to every day obviously for the same reason as you don't Lynn Mon (test shaving razors) but honestly, if I ever decided to go minimalist and cut way back to being a "Shaver" and not a "Hobbiest" I could easily go with just a few Kamisori...
For my shaves of course only on the beard lines, there is nothing more exact for getting the lines perfectly straight.. They also IMHO are sharper then western razors which makes my type of shaving really easy...
Honing them is harder, but maintaining the edge once you know how is easier, stropping is a bit more difficult, but I think that is because I am more used to western razors.
They also for me, make shaving the neck very easy...
Much of this is just YMMV stuff, but once mastered I find the shave very easy and comfortable with them...
I'm pretty sure I saw him say that over on razorandstone.com...Quote:
Originally Posted by deighaingeal
I am curious to try one of these at some point. I'll have to keep an eye on the Classifieds :)
If you mean the classic kamisori shape and not the brand named western stylee razors, I've used one every other day for some time. I like the short blade, it's very good for small patches above and below the beard. This kind of blade is exceptional for teaching simultaneous control of the sharp points on both toe and heel. I admit to using both sides of the blade to shave. The brain figures out the correct angle pretty quick.
I'd be surprised if there were more than a handful of folks who use them every day and I do remember a few who said they use them exclusively but that was awhile ago. There always seems to be spurts of interest in them and then it dies down and then comes back again. I use mine now and then.
after having the General for 2 weeks and shaving with it everyother day I found this....I am lazy (well as lazy as anyone can be with a straight) and I like western razors because I can fall into patterns without worring about two seperate grinds on one blade.
I found that the General was unforgiving, very precise, and a mean drunk!
Also I missed the folding handle mostly.
That being said, If I found one in my price range, I would totally snap it up! then again I have RAD so....ya
JMHO
+1. I don't get to shave everyday with my razors but started selling off my western razors after my first kamisori shave.Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
I intended to just rotate 2 kamisori & only my favourite 1 or 2 westerns but you know how it goes. RAD rears it's ugly head.
Main thing I like is the geometry is easy to get a super edge & the short blade allows angles I can't do with a regular size razor.
Also the steel is usually hard ,tough & the edge durable. The western steels I like have the same characteristics.
I don't use mine everyday. Though it is one of my favorites. If had to go down to two blades it would be one of them.
I use my Kamisoris 5-6 times a week. The other day or two (if I shave) I rotate through my western style razors. I only use the one side to shave. One reason I prefer them is that, for me, they stay sharper longer and I am a complete and utter failure when it comes to honing.
I tried it for a very short period of time. I guess if you learned on one, it would seem the only way to go, but I didn't and it took longer and wasn't any closer than an old dennert branded razor that I found (which surprisingly enough was my second razor). I still have the dennert, but a line about kamisoris rings true in my mind, when I asked someone in japan about kamisoris a while ago (someone who uses one, btw, but one with *real* tamahagane), he said that they are made more for tourists and less for locals.
To me, as an every day shaver, the western razors just seem to be a better every day design. They also have a longer life span (though I'd have reground the iwasaki kamisori without issue) without any significant maintenance and respond to the strop better (which is true both for razors and tools, steels around high 50s or 60 hardness respond better to a bare leather strop than mid 60s hardness.
What strikes me also is how many videos there are on youtube of japanese barbers shaving people with friodurs, which aren't one of my favorite things in the world compared to a good western carbon steel razor.
I don't shave with mine (1) every day, but I can tell you what I like about it. Very much like my beloved 4/8's, the Kami is nimble and very responsive to angle changes. Being able to choke up on it makes it almost too much fun.
Were my house to burn down and were I to start over, I would seriously give thought to a Kami only regime - but the fact of the matter is, I have an awesome little collection of 4/8's that just beg to be used as well. And when all is said and done, I aim to please :).
I can't speak to brand having only owned one - but were I in the market, I would really like to try a white steel blade.