Wow, finally a blade that the Jifuli beats! 
(more durable in this case)
(more durable in this case)
Blade Sharpness Research Project
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- #642
The problem with breaking the big chart down to smaller pieces is there is a ten image per post limit, which is already a constraint on a lot of the tests. I have the four standard photos and two standard charts, but a special chart, outer package pictures, or whatever else, will often eat up the balance.
I will keep playing with the big chart, though. I agree it is far from simple in its current state.
I will keep playing with the big chart, though. I agree it is far from simple in its current state.
This is a good explanation; thank you! I'll mentally strike the non-recommended ones when I consult the chart.
- Thread starter
- #644
I have another batch of Wilkinson Sword Classic Edgewell German 2021 blades in the 5-blade plastic hanger tuck. I don't think we need another full report on this blade, so I am just going to take the sharpness measurements.
It looks good after the test.
It isn't as durable or consistent as the others tested, and has relatively high peak sharpness.
Standard deviation is quite high, indicating the edge is probably rough. Median sharpness is also very high. By P9, it is terrible, with exceptionally high median sharpness and standard deviation. It must be blades like this batch that give these a reputation for being uncomfortable. I am fortunate to have hundreds of the ones from good batches, and only four more like this.
Blade Sharpness Test Index
It looks good after the test.
It isn't as durable or consistent as the others tested, and has relatively high peak sharpness.
Standard deviation is quite high, indicating the edge is probably rough. Median sharpness is also very high. By P9, it is terrible, with exceptionally high median sharpness and standard deviation. It must be blades like this batch that give these a reputation for being uncomfortable. I am fortunate to have hundreds of the ones from good batches, and only four more like this.
| Date | 24-Sep-2024 | ||||
| Blade | Edgewell | Wilkinson Sword | Classic | Germany | 5-Oct-2021 |
| Wear on Edge | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Edges Measured | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top |
| Measurement Medium | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 |
| Dulling Substrate | New | Paper | Paper | Paper | Paper |
| Measurements | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Adj. Std. Dev. | 9 | 6 | 18 | 30 | 33 |
| Median F (g) | 50.5 | 43 | 41 | 39.5 | 44.5 |
| Mean F (g) Top | 46 | 43 | 55 | 60 | 66 |
| Mean F (g) Bottom | 56 | 42 | 40 | 47 | 47 |
| Mean F (g) | 51 | 42 | 47 | 54 | 56 |
| BESS Adj. Factor | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 |
| Avg. Adj. F (g) Top | 56 | 52 | 67 | 73 | 81 |
| Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom | 68 | 51 | 49 | 58 | 57 |
| Median Adj. F (g) | 62 | 52 | 50 | 48 | 54 |
| Mean Adj. F (g) | 62 | 52 | 58 | 65 | 69 |
Blade Sharpness Test Index
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- #645
This is the Tiger Superior Premium Stainless Blades from Czech Blades. It is very dull, which provides some insight into the previously tested Tiger Platinum, but doesn't answer the question about the Razolution, also from the same facility. When we tested the Tiger Platinum, there was some question about whether it was made to specification or defective. This test indicates these blades are intentionally made dull, perhaps to provide a feel similar to an old fashioned carbon steel blade, with the corrosion resistance of stainless.
The blades are tight in that little cardboard tuck with double wrappers and nice wax dots. I don't think it was damaged. I think it is exactly how they intended for it to be.
I think it is just a polymer coating.
The blade is exceptionally damaged from the test with a failure mode of very large denting and folding over. We should expect a blade this dull to be damaged regardless of the steel, because a dull blade absorbs a lot more energy to cut the same number of strips of paper as a normal or sharp blade.
It doesn't really answer the question about which of their four stainless designs was used for the private label Razolution blade. Tiger Platinum is one possibility, but it could also be one with their sharper Tatra grind.
I think they made it dull like this on purpose. I'll let you decide if you think it is worth trying. I know I prefer a blade that can cut hair with less force and slicing than this one is going to need. Maybe it is a good one to put in your shavette when you don't want to take the time to hone your Gold Dollar straight.
At least it is interesting. It is quite novel. Buy it if you want a new experience, but just get one tuck, and don't pay for shipping.
Blade Sharpness Test Index
The blades are tight in that little cardboard tuck with double wrappers and nice wax dots. I don't think it was damaged. I think it is exactly how they intended for it to be.
I think it is just a polymer coating.
| Coating and Grind | |
| Coating Thickness | Moderate |
| Coating Evenness | Even |
| Bevel Coating Coverage | 710 |
| Entire Bevel to Edge, mm | 0.429 |
| Primary Bevel Scratch Size | 0.004 |
| Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Typical |
| Primary Bevel Proximal Transition | Typical |
| Blade Thickness, mm | 0.091 |
| Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm | 0.163 |
| Secondary Bevel Scratch Size | 0.002 |
| Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Typical |
| Secondary Bevel Transition Line | Typical |
| Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm | 0.043 |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size | Polish |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Even |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line | Typical |
The blade is exceptionally damaged from the test with a failure mode of very large denting and folding over. We should expect a blade this dull to be damaged regardless of the steel, because a dull blade absorbs a lot more energy to cut the same number of strips of paper as a normal or sharp blade.
It doesn't really answer the question about which of their four stainless designs was used for the private label Razolution blade. Tiger Platinum is one possibility, but it could also be one with their sharper Tatra grind.
| Date | 24-Sep-2024 | ||||
| Blade | Czech Blades | Tiger Superior | Premium Stainless | Czechia | 1-Jan-2024 |
| Wear on Edge | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Edges Measured | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top |
| Measurement Medium | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 |
| Dulling Substrate | New | Paper | Paper | Paper | Paper |
| Measurements | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Adj. Std. Dev. | 31 | 20 | 21 | 11 | 0 |
| Median F (g) | 125 | 125 | 125 | 125 | 125 |
| Mean F (g) Top | 98 | 110 | 110 | 116 | 125 |
| Mean F (g) Bottom | 118 | 124 | 118 | 125 | 125 |
| Mean F (g) | 108 | 117 | 114 | 121 | 125 |
| BESS Adj. Factor | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 |
| Avg. Adj. F (g) Top | 119 | 134 | 134 | 142 | 153 |
| Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom | 143 | 151 | 144 | 153 | 153 |
| Median Adj. F (g) | 153 | 153 | 153 | 153 | 153 |
| Mean Adj. F (g) | 131 | 142 | 139 | 147 | 153 |
I think they made it dull like this on purpose. I'll let you decide if you think it is worth trying. I know I prefer a blade that can cut hair with less force and slicing than this one is going to need. Maybe it is a good one to put in your shavette when you don't want to take the time to hone your Gold Dollar straight.
At least it is interesting. It is quite novel. Buy it if you want a new experience, but just get one tuck, and don't pay for shipping.
Blade Sharpness Test Index
Remember decades ago when we were advised never to buy an American car that was assembled on a Monday; perhaps it is the same situation with these blades.
I found the Tatra PL and Tiger PL indistinguishable in terms of comfort and durability. I like them very much for their mildness and consequence free 3rd passes and ATG passes.
The Tiger Stainless I found noticeably sharper than the other two making 3rd passes and ATG passes a no go for me. It just falls in the 80% “meh, it’ll do” category of the blades I’ve tried.
For what it is worth, all the blades I used were from Fendrihan.
Since there doesn't seem to be a vertical limit to posts ... how about posting that wide chart rotated 90 degrees like this? Then you can give it as much resolution as you want without exceeding the space allowed in the post.
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- #648
I think it is just scaling by megapixels, giving us a certain amount of area to work with in good resolution. Maybe the sweet spot is some white space but not so much it is grainy.
I could crop it too, but I would rather avoid the extra step.
I could crop it too, but I would rather avoid the extra step.
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- #649
I think it was Friday that was to be avoided, but yes, there was statistical evidence showing this. I think if you want to find a lot of variations, perhaps look at Skoda.
I reached a similar conclusion to you when researching this on their website. Like you I found the specs for all of their DE blades to be identical, except for a couple that weren't listed as being coated, one of which was the Personna CC, which we all know isn't the case, so likely an error on their part. It does fall in line though with what they told me in their email response about all of the blades being the same. Looking at your data, they are all so close that you can't help but come to the same conclusion. On any given day, with even minuscule production variances, any of them can easily trade places on your bar graph. The main conclusion being that there is no need to spend the extra coin on Accuthrive/Accuforge over the regular Personna Comfort Coated blades. At least I won't be.
Your research on Personna/Accutec blades should end the debate once and for all, but there will be those who will continue to argue that they are not the same blades. I've had a friendly back and forth with David from the OhioShaves YouTube channel because he's mentioned in several videos that the Comfort Coats and Accuthrive and Accuforge are not the same blade. When I told him I had corresponded with Accutec and was informed that they are one and the same blade, he stated that's not what they told him, though he wouldn't elaborate when I asked him what they said.
I can't help but notice that this thread hasn't been made a sticky, unless I'm mistaken. It needs to be, as do all your graphs and images. I'm hoping we can get a Sticky in the Safety Razor Blade forum when this is all done. It would be a travesty for this data and research to get buried under countless other threads when the research comes to a conclusion.
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- #651
This is the Gillette Winner Special Stainless Steel Blade, which is produced in India for the Indian market. It is fairly sharp, and reasonably consistent and durable.
It has a fairly standard 3-stage grind and seems to have been made using good consistent abrasives. Visually, it appears to have fairly typical smoothness. It is a thin blade, and the failure mode included some large chipping, so it may not stay comfortable for long.
The failure mode is chipping. It is a bit more inconsistent than typical, with lots of small chips as well as some large chips in some places.
We have tested several Indian blades, most from Gillette, but this is the sharpest by a good margin and is also the only one with a J-shaped sharpness-wear curve. This doesn't appear to be closely related to the others. This blade has decent performance and might be worth trying if you like something in this sharpness range.
Standard deviation is fairly high in the second paper cut test. It may only be comfortable for a few shaves, but it should stay sharp enough to do the job for a bit longer.
Blade Sharpness Test Index
It has a fairly standard 3-stage grind and seems to have been made using good consistent abrasives. Visually, it appears to have fairly typical smoothness. It is a thin blade, and the failure mode included some large chipping, so it may not stay comfortable for long.
| Coating and Grind | |
| Coating Thickness | Moderate |
| Coating Evenness | Even |
| Bevel Coating Coverage | 885 |
| Entire Bevel to Edge, mm | 0.431 |
| Primary Bevel Scratch Size | 0.004 |
| Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Even |
| Primary Bevel Proximal Transition | Typical |
| Blade Thickness, mm | 0.090 |
| Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm | 0.173 |
| Secondary Bevel Scratch Size | 0.002 |
| Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Even |
| Secondary Bevel Transition Line | Typical |
| Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm | 0.043 |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size | Polish |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Even |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line | Typical |
The failure mode is chipping. It is a bit more inconsistent than typical, with lots of small chips as well as some large chips in some places.
We have tested several Indian blades, most from Gillette, but this is the sharpest by a good margin and is also the only one with a J-shaped sharpness-wear curve. This doesn't appear to be closely related to the others. This blade has decent performance and might be worth trying if you like something in this sharpness range.
Standard deviation is fairly high in the second paper cut test. It may only be comfortable for a few shaves, but it should stay sharp enough to do the job for a bit longer.
| Date | 24-Sep-2024 | ||||
| Blade | Procter & Gamble | Gillette Winner | Special Stainless | India | 27-Jun-2024 |
| Wear on Edge | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Edges Measured | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top |
| Measurement Medium | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 |
| Dulling Substrate | New | Paper | Paper | Paper | Paper |
| Measurements | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Adj. Std. Dev. | 7 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 8 |
| Median F (g) | 48.5 | 46 | 49.5 | 52.5 | 52 |
| Mean F (g) Top | 45 | 47 | 47 | 53 | 52 |
| Mean F (g) Bottom | 53 | 46 | 51 | 53 | 55 |
| Mean F (g) | 49 | 46 | 49 | 53 | 53 |
| BESS Adj. Factor | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 |
| Avg. Adj. F (g) Top | 55 | 57 | 57 | 65 | 63 |
| Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom | 65 | 56 | 62 | 64 | 67 |
| Median Adj. F (g) | 59 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 63 |
| Mean Adj. F (g) | 60 | 56 | 59 | 65 | 65 |
Blade Sharpness Test Index
Attachments
I've always wondered who that guy is on the tuck. Probably some famous cricket player over there in India. I always crack up when I see those tucks lol.
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- #653
The Dovo razor blade is available in a white tuck with their new logos as previously tested, as well as in this red hanger. I think the white tucks come in a box with no hangers. I was expecting the same blade here, but the grind and performance are different.
The blister hanger matches the German Merkur. Even the Graphic design has some similarities.
The printing on the blade is the same as the other Dovo.
It is the same tuck as the German Merkur and the other Dovo.
It is another nice grind done with good abrasives, but the secondary and tertiary transitions were much more proximal on the other Dovo and the German Merkur.
It held up well to the test, with a failure mode of very small chipping. It should remain smooth for a long time.
It is a good moderate blade, but it is quite expensive.
Blade Sharpness Test Index
The blister hanger matches the German Merkur. Even the Graphic design has some similarities.
The printing on the blade is the same as the other Dovo.
It is the same tuck as the German Merkur and the other Dovo.
It is another nice grind done with good abrasives, but the secondary and tertiary transitions were much more proximal on the other Dovo and the German Merkur.
| Coating and Grind | |
| Coating Thickness | Moderate |
| Coating Evenness | Even |
| Bevel Coating Coverage | 810 |
| Entire Bevel to Edge, mm | 0.430 |
| Primary Bevel Scratch Size | 0.004 |
| Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Even |
| Primary Bevel Proximal Transition | Typical |
| Blade Thickness, mm | 0.100 |
| Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm | 0.154 |
| Secondary Bevel Scratch Size | 0.003 |
| Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Even |
| Secondary Bevel Transition Line | Typical |
| Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm | 0.057 |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size | Polish |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Even |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line | Typical |
It held up well to the test, with a failure mode of very small chipping. It should remain smooth for a long time.
| Date | 25-Sep-2024 | ||||
| Blade | Dovo Solingen | Dovo Platinum | Super Red | Germany | 1-Jan-2024 |
| Wear on Edge | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Edges Measured | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top |
| Measurement Medium | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 |
| Dulling Substrate | New | Paper | Paper | Paper | Paper |
| Measurements | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Adj. Std. Dev. | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Median F (g) | 54.5 | 54 | 54 | 57 | 57.5 |
| Mean F (g) Top | 50 | 54 | 56 | 60 | 60 |
| Mean F (g) Bottom | 56 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 57 |
| Mean F (g) | 53 | 53 | 54 | 57 | 58 |
| BESS Adj. Factor | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 |
| Avg. Adj. F (g) Top | 61 | 66 | 68 | 74 | 73 |
| Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom | 68 | 63 | 65 | 66 | 69 |
| Median Adj. F (g) | 67 | 65 | 66 | 70 | 70 |
It is a good moderate blade, but it is quite expensive.
Blade Sharpness Test Index
- Thread starter
- #654
This is the Gillette Super Thin Platinum blade produced by Shanghai Gillette Company Limited for the Vietnamese market. It was generously provided for testing by @WVShaver
This one has the old-fashioned year letter and quarter numbers in ink printing like many Shanghai Gillette blades. There is also a date code on the end of the tuck, which I failed to capture in my photograph. It has the typical Shanghai Gillette rounded corners.
It has a fine and even grind, a thick polymer coating, and a distal platinum coating. The grind looks very similar to the related Chinese King C Gillette blade, but the coating on this one looks a bit heavier.
It is a standard thin steel of 90 microns. It must be the platinum that is 'super.'
The edge has a typical; failure mode of medium chipping. The bevel looks smooth with the coatings worn down.
Performance is similar to the Winner SP, except the coating has less impact on this blade, making it sharper initially, but also less durable and consistent.
The grind and performance are very close to the Chinese King C Gillette blade. This on has a linear-exponential sharpness-wear curve while KCG has a typical J-shaped curve, but this could easily be batch variation, with the hook of the J hiding between two of the bars. The bottom edge of this blade taken on its own does have a J-shaped curve, further supporting this hypothesis. I suspect this blade and the KCG are made to the same specification or to the same steel and grind specification with a slight difference in the coating. I would think that if you have tried one then you can skip the other. The KCG is less expensive and well packaged, so I would get that one if you are in the US. Like KCG, and several Shanghai Gillette blades, it is of good quality, but also fairly expensive.
Blade Sharpness Test Index
This one has the old-fashioned year letter and quarter numbers in ink printing like many Shanghai Gillette blades. There is also a date code on the end of the tuck, which I failed to capture in my photograph. It has the typical Shanghai Gillette rounded corners.
It has a fine and even grind, a thick polymer coating, and a distal platinum coating. The grind looks very similar to the related Chinese King C Gillette blade, but the coating on this one looks a bit heavier.
It is a standard thin steel of 90 microns. It must be the platinum that is 'super.'
| Coating and Grind | |
| Coating Thickness | Thick |
| Coating Evenness | Even |
| Bevel Coating Coverage | 172 |
| Entire Bevel to Edge, mm | 0.332 |
| Primary Bevel Scratch Size | 0.004 |
| Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Even |
| Primary Bevel Proximal Transition | Typical |
| Blade Thickness, mm | 0.090 |
| Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm | 0.251 |
| Secondary Bevel Scratch Size | 0.002 |
| Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Even |
| Secondary Bevel Transition Line | Typical |
| Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm | 0.026 |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size | Polish |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency | Even |
| Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line | Typical |
The edge has a typical; failure mode of medium chipping. The bevel looks smooth with the coatings worn down.
| Date | 25-Sep-2024 | ||||
| Blade | Procter & Gamble | Gillette Super Thin | Platinum vn | China | 17-Jul-2020 |
| Wear on Edge | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Edges Measured | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top | Bottom / Top |
| Measurement Medium | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 | Stren 6 .22 |
| Dulling Substrate | New | Paper | Paper | Paper | Paper |
| Measurements | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Adj. Std. Dev. | 9 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| Median F (g) | 46 | 46 | 50.5 | 51 | 54.5 |
| Mean F (g) Top | 41 | 45 | 51 | 50 | 55 |
| Mean F (g) Bottom | 53 | 52 | 53 | 56 | 58 |
| Mean F (g) | 47 | 49 | 52 | 53 | 56 |
| BESS Adj. Factor | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.22 |
| Avg. Adj. F (g) Top | 50 | 54 | 62 | 61 | 67 |
| Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom | 64 | 64 | 65 | 68 | 71 |
| Median Adj. F (g) | 56 | 56 | 62 | 62 | 67 |
| Mean Adj. F (g) | 57 | 59 | 64 | 65 | 69 |
Performance is similar to the Winner SP, except the coating has less impact on this blade, making it sharper initially, but also less durable and consistent.
The grind and performance are very close to the Chinese King C Gillette blade. This on has a linear-exponential sharpness-wear curve while KCG has a typical J-shaped curve, but this could easily be batch variation, with the hook of the J hiding between two of the bars. The bottom edge of this blade taken on its own does have a J-shaped curve, further supporting this hypothesis. I suspect this blade and the KCG are made to the same specification or to the same steel and grind specification with a slight difference in the coating. I would think that if you have tried one then you can skip the other. The KCG is less expensive and well packaged, so I would get that one if you are in the US. Like KCG, and several Shanghai Gillette blades, it is of good quality, but also fairly expensive.
Blade Sharpness Test Index
Attachments
I do enjoy that they're still rolling with the logo of a creepy murder clown asking if you want to die by sword or hammer.
I just casually assumed that was the tailor taken directly from German children’s books that will cut their fingers off if they misbehave.
(I thought he was holding scissors for some reason, maybe because that’s something they make)
Guys, what about this chart type?
I didn't label it up, but wanted to get some thoughts on another way to look at the data. Here is a stacked bar where the bottom is a fresh blade, the orange is the 3-sheet testing, and the green is the 6-sheet testing.
I didn't label it up, but wanted to get some thoughts on another way to look at the data. Here is a stacked bar where the bottom is a fresh blade, the orange is the 3-sheet testing, and the green is the 6-sheet testing.
We might also supplement it by providing a cross-tab below:
We might also connect with the Mods about doing an interactive on-line report that folks can self-serve with...
I like the graph personally since I use the same blade for an entire week's worth of shaves. I can see at a glance which blades that are sharp and hold up well.
However, if someone is a one and done type shaver, they are mostly only interested in the blue bar and with your type of graph it might be hard to see which ones would potentially work the best for them.
