Lambda Athena

[Wgg2017]

After some time away from the Athena I’m back to using it for every shave for the last several weeks. Getting great, comfortable, close shaves every time.

I’ve decided to let it patina. Anyone else letting their bronze go?

 

[spacemonkey42]

I haven't ever polished mine. It patinas very slowly, much slower than brass. As Theo says in his brochure, patina is bronze's natural protection, why not leave it?

 

[walpan]

I would be interested to hear your thoughts later down the line regarding the soap. I've been interested in purchasing a bin for awhile now.

I have used the soap a few times now. It is OK, nothing special. It has a very mild scent and requires a good amount of water. The lather builds well and provides a decent protection. It is an artisan soap available on Etsy.

 

[Cal]

After some time away from the Athena I’m back to using it for every shave for the last several weeks. Getting great, comfortable, close shaves every time.

I’ve decided to let it patina. Anyone else letting their bronze go?

View attachment 2008924

Mine has a little patina too:

I see you have rounded the baseplate corners on yours. It looks good. Mine is the original (and I like it that way ).

IMO, the new cropped baseplate corners look plain UGLY. They've turned what was a beautiful razor into something I wouldn't want to look at.

Originally I was hoping for a Stainless Steel Athena. But now they're out, they all have the ugly cropped baseplate corners; so no way am I going to purchase one of those.

 

[Phoenixkh]

Mine has a little patina too:
View attachment 2009270

I see you have rounded the baseplate corners on yours. It looks good. Mine is the original (and I like it that way ).

IMO, the new cropped baseplate corners look plain UGLY. They've turned what was a beautiful razor into something I wouldn't want to look at.

Originally I was hoping for a Stainless Steel Athena. But now they're out, they all have the ugly cropped baseplate corners; so no way am I going to purchase one of those.

I gently rounded the two base plates on my original Athenas.... Theo sent me two V2 Athena base plates when he sent me my Ares..... He just did that as a kindness, as there was a small problem with a custom serial number on the Ares... I told him it wasn't a big deal. I didn't want him to pay the shipping costs for an Ares base plate... So he just added the V2 base plates.. one of them with a custom serial number: my birthday... for 24-519.

In any event, I don't find the V2 base plates ugly... And they get the blade a little closer to the edge and it's easier to reach places around my nose... I recently got a titanium Athena... the TiThena... and I have one of the V2 marine bronze base plates installed on it... Lovely balance for me... and the razor sings like the original bronze Athena...

 

[Wgg2017]

Mine has a little patina too:
View attachment 2009270

I see you have rounded the baseplate corners on yours. It looks good. Mine is the original (and I like it that way ).

IMO, the new cropped baseplate corners look plain UGLY. They've turned what was a beautiful razor into something I wouldn't want to look at.

Originally I was hoping for a Stainless Steel Athena. But now they're out, they all have the ugly cropped baseplate corners; so no way am I going to purchase one of those.

I haven’t modified the corners on mine. I suspect it’s the less-than-ideal lighting combined with iPhone photo processing effects that make it look that way. It was late when I took that photo and I’m not a good photographer under even the best conditions

I’m torn on the new rounded corners. I agree with you that something about them doesn’t look quite right. However, I don’t like the safety bar extending way past the blade corner either, so I appreciate that it’s a little more narrow now. Only way I’d consider upgrading is if Lambda shortens the entire head to include exposed blade tabs. I dislike covered tabs.

 

[Wgg2017]

I recently got a titanium Athena... the TiThena... and I have one of the V2 marine bronze base plates installed on it... Lovely balance for me... and the razor sings like the original bronze Athena...

I bet that looks great too! I use a titanium Timeless handle with mine. The bronze handle makes it a bit heavier than I prefer.

 

[walpan]

Mine has a little patina too:
View attachment 2009270

I see you have rounded the baseplate corners on yours. It looks good. Mine is the original (and I like it that way ).

IMO, the new cropped baseplate corners look plain UGLY. They've turned what was a beautiful razor into something I wouldn't want to look at.

Originally I was hoping for a Stainless Steel Athena. But now they're out, they all have the ugly cropped baseplate corners; so no way am I going to purchase one of those.

I find the rounded baseplate to be perfect. It is easier on the face. But whether or not the Athena has rounded corners or the original sharp corners, the Athena is a work of art and an excellent razor.

 

[walpan]

I haven’t modified the corners on mine. I suspect it’s the less-than-ideal lighting combined with iPhone photo processing effects that make it look that way. It was late when I took that photo and I’m not a good photographer under even the best conditions

View attachment 2009436

I’m torn on the new rounded corners. I agree with you that something about them doesn’t look quite right. However, I don’t like the safety bar extending way past the blade corner either, so I appreciate that it’s a little more narrow now. Only way I’d consider upgrading is if Lambda shortens the entire head to include exposed blade tabs. I dislike covered tabs.

I am not quite certain what you mean by shortening the head so that the blade can be exposed. I just checked my Tithena and installed a blade. The edges of the blade are slightly exposed allowing me to grab the blade for removal. Maybe i am misreading your post. Attached are pictures i just took.

 

[Wgg2017]

I am not quite certain what you mean by shortening the head so that the blade can be exposed. I just checked my Tithena and installed a blade. The edges of the blade are slightly exposed allowing me to grab the blade for removal. Maybe i am misreading your post. Attached are pictures i just took.

View attachment 2009450View attachment 2009451

While technically exposed, I consider those tabs covered. I’d like the head to be considerably more narrow for my preferences (basically narrow enough so that the blade corners are barely inside the far edges of the safety bar with the top cap that same width also, if that makes sense).

 

[Phoenixkh]

While technically exposed, I consider those tabs covered. I’d like the head to be considerably more narrow for my preferences (basically narrow enough so that the blade corners are barely inside the far edges of the safety bar with the top cap that same width also, if that makes sense).

As I've mentioned previously, that's why I use the Claymore Evolution around my nose... the ends of the AC blade are very close to both ends of the razor.... It makes shaving around my nose a breeze.

 

[Cal]

I haven’t modified the corners on mine. I suspect it’s the less-than-ideal lighting combined with iPhone photo processing effects that make it look that way. It was late when I took that photo and I’m not a good photographer under even the best conditions

Are you the original owner of the razor? If not, I guess its first owner rounded the corners.

Here's mine for comparison:

 

[Wgg2017]

As I've mentioned previously, that's why I use the Claymore Evolution around my nose... the ends of the AC blade are very close to both ends of the razor.... It makes shaving around my nose a breeze.

I haven’t resorted to that method yet but I’ve been tempted a time or two

 

[spacemonkey42]

Yes, the first batches had sharper corners. After some feedback, Theo rounded them off a bit. Now he has a beveled edge of the whole plate, not just the corners. All of this is covered in this thread.

 

[avrora]

 

[Phoenixkh]

I had a great shave with my hybrid TiThena today... Perma-Sharp blade, Mark's / @BigAlVista 's #1 unscented soap....

The TiThena with a V2 marine bronze base plate has a lot going for it.... First of all... the sound is almost identical to the marine bronze Athena... My absolutely hands down favorite sounding razor... It might have a touch less volume in the sound, but the sweet, mellow tones are certainly there... It is lighter... so that is wonderful, though the weight of the original marine bronze Athena doesn't bother me at all.... I adjust to its extra weight with no issue, which sort of surprises me, as all my razors have titanium handles or Wolfman hollow 40 gram handles.... Other than the Wolfman Darwin handle that looks beautiful but gets very little use... I've thought about selling it as it is quite expensive along with its Wolfman razor stand... but it looks so nice, I haven't pulled the trigger. Both are in basic polish bronze... Quite a nice display on top of my tall dresser in the master bedroom...

 

[Julyan]

Are you the original owner of the razor? If not, I guess its first owner rounded the corners.

Here's mine for comparison:
View attachment 2009476

I believe at some point before the newer model update, the corners were rounded a tiny bit as there were some people complaining about it being to sharp.
I have a Bronze Athena pre cut corners and a titanium and SS with cut corners. I don't mind using either, nor do i think it is uglier.

 

[Doubino1]

I just noticed some marks on the four corners of my Athena’s top cap and base plate. Interestingly, they match the shape of the blade’s four corners.

It seems like permanent damage that can’t be wiped off. I suspect it’s from over-tightening, causing the blade to press too hard against the surface.

Out of curiosity, have someone have the same situation with me?And how tight do you usually screw yours?

 

[walpan]

I just noticed some marks on the four corners of my Athena’s top cap and base plate. Interestingly, they match the shape of the blade’s four corners.

It seems like permanent damage that can’t be wiped off. I suspect it’s from over-tightening, causing the blade to press too hard against the surface.

Out of curiosity, have someone have the same situation with me?And how tight do you usually screw yours?
View attachment 2010871View attachment 2010872

Interesting. I have had 6 Lambdas and never experienced that damage. I use a nylon washer with all razors. I am not sure that would make a difference, but it couldn't hurt. I definitely tighten the handle but only to the point where i feel resistance. I never over tighten.
Do you set the blade on the head first and hold it in place before placing the base plate?
You might also want to contact Theo at @Lambda Razors for suggestions.

 

[Doubino1]

I always align the blade before placing the base plate, and I also use 5*12*0.3 nylon washers to prevent base plate wear and the 12mm diameter perfectly covers the screw hole on the base plate.

The reason your Athena hasn’t developed these marks is probably that you’re tightening it to just the right degree, whereas I’ve been over-tightening mine.

I need to change my habit, I should stop when I feel the right amount of resistance.