Out of curiosity, what do you use?
Pils 101ne
- Thread starter rlorian
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Out of curiosity, what do you use?
* Have you tried the R41 2011, the Joris, the FaTip, or the Tradere OC? i have tried all of these and nothing comes close to a straight razor as the R41, in my opinion. It has the most blade exposure of any DE that i have tried. The Pils the most beautifully crafted DE and a very nice, mild shaver, but for gents with coarse and dark beards, it is a tad too mild, in my opinion. i have had it for the last ten months and i have other DEs that are much more aggressive and give you a closer shave. i have tried all the angles and have resorted to using one shim in the Pils to get a closer shave. That, definitely, seems to help with the closeness. However, if you are enjoying it, then the better to you, sir, and i hope you continue to. Enjoy your shaves.
rlorian,
In reference to "a) it is the closest de to a straight razor": is this because the blade sits in the razor without the top plate (head) and the base plate bending the blade at an angle like most razors. As I've mentioned before I don't own a Pils (yet) and this has peaked my curiousity about the razor. My second question: for the 9 months you have had the razor, have you used it exclusively or is it a razor you have in rotation? Either way it is impressive that you have perfected your technique with the Pils. I think it's a great lesson for us all, especially for the new guys who think a new razor acquisition every other week is going to help with there shave. I can't stress this enough to new guys who who let ADs affect there learning curve.
Shave quality is a subjective thing. I have a Pils and, while the build quality is wonderful, my Tradere OC and SB, Joris Palladium, and Cobra Classic all rank ahead of the Pils in terms of frequency of use. For some, like myself, the Pils just doesn't feel good compared to the Tradere's or the Cobra which all have very secure handle design's. For the user who likes a heavy head on a light handle, the Pils will be a favorite, and it definitely has a loyal following. But what works for one, may not necessarily for another. I don't get the comparison to a straight razor. The Pils is, to my mind, rather mild. The Joris and Cobra will both give a closer shave faster than the Pils for me, and the Cobra fastest of all. It sounds to me like, for whatever reason, you must benefit from the head-heavy weight bias, as compared to the other razors mentioned. Everyone's different. There's no question the Pils and Cobra are two of the most beautiful razors available.
My father had a saying: "If you have the money for it - it's not too expensive". This applies to Pils a lot. It's something no DE lover will regret of purchasing (far from it), but there are better shavers, at least in my experience. I'm currently enjoying Fatip with a heavy UFO handle and wouldn't change it for nothing. Than again, Pils will not disappoint no one. It performs according to its price.
My favorite DE razors currently in my den are these:
Edwin Jagger Bulbous Lined Chrome R89
Edwin Jagger Chatsworth Barley Chrome 89
Mühle Stylo Thujawood R89
Mühle Sophist R41
Ikon Bulldog R41
Favorite Straight:
Feather Artist Club Japanese Style Straight
- Thread starter
- #27
So I used a fresh Feather blade this morning, and got a great shave. But, I do not think it was any better than I get from the Personna Medical Prep blade. I even tried a little too hard and ended up with a bit of irritation on the right side of my neck. It went away pretty quick after blasting it with the Speick AS.
Now, in my first post, I was not trying to say the Pils was not a great razor, and I do use it in my weekly rotation, it's just that if I want a true all around BBS, it takes a little extra to get it for me. I know this will not be the same for everyone.
Enjoy your shaves!
Hey Dave,
This is quite interesting. I gave the medical prep personna a shot and while it was much better than the red personna, I found it to be in a less sharp category than the feather. I do see how one with slightly sensitive skin may like the med prep better, but as far as sharpness goes, I still have not been able to find a de blade as sharp as the feather. Have you tried the gillette 7'oclock green label? IMO it gives a closer shave than the med prep and yet feels just as mild. I haven't tried Spieck AS...what are your thoughts on it? I am using musgo real cream as at the moment and i'm kind of on the fence with it, although it is kind of growing on me. Also, I would like to hear more of your thoughts on the cobra se. All the best to you Dave and enjoy your shaves.
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- Thread starter
- #28
Hi. Yeah I have tried the R41 and found it to be more mild than the pils. The Tradere was also too mild for my liking. I have a very coarse beard and have tried most de's and have found the pils to give me the closest shave ...though it wasn't that way at first. It took me a good deal of time to get the perfect angle with the pils. I do believe it to be the most difficult DE to master particularly bc the perfect angle is so different than a perfect angle on any other de. Glad the muhle is working for you! Take care.
- Thread starter
- #29
Hello,
It is a marvel that I have pondered and tried to figure out. I do believe it is due in part to the blade being flat but perhaps even more so to the engineering behind the space gap between the safety bar and the blade, the angles with which it is built, the shape of the top plate which allows you flexibility in finding a perfect angle, the overall weight of the razor, and ultimately the perfect harmony of these elements. I have been told that the gentlemen who make this razor at pils are engineering artisans with a passion for perfection. In answer to your second question...when testing a razor I am of the opinion that using it exclusively will garner the most accurate high level results. If you are an athlete and you throw a baseball on monday's, a softball on tuesdays, a football on wednesdays, etc. you will not be the best you can be at throwing any one ball. Mastery is just that and anyone who tells you different has never mastered anything. In other words, yes during this period of time I have devoted myself mostly to the pils. Hope that helps. Shave on!
- Thread starter
- #30
The Pils is all about the angle...perfect angle, perfect shave, and practice makes perfect...the cobra is much like wielding a mach 3 (though the cobra outclasses it in every way), just place it and glide down. I do like the cobra very much though, perhaps number 2 behind the pils. They really are different razors though...the cobra uses the professional grade razor blades which are closer to a straight edge blade so its not really a fair fight. But the pils with a perfect angle still wins in my book. as for the joris and the tradere... In the land of the mild they'd all be kings....
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