I am so pleased you got that sorted!
Professor Flanders's Journal of Nerdy Observations and silly camaraderie
- Thread starter Flanders
- Start date
Now take back theThis thing was disgusting!
It's hard to believe, but that's all it was. Now it looks great:
Of course I took it apart and cleaned everything! You wouldn't believe how much gunk came off.
(I used Barkeepers and warm water in my palm)
comment! 
- Thread starter
- #2,563
Thanks Jim!
Fine. The quality wasn'tNow take back the
, the wasn't wiped off before shipping! 
While the build may not have beenThanks Jim!
Fine. The quality wasn't
, the pre-shipping QA was...
- Thread starter
- #2,565
Theory: handle weight is only really relevant to the desired overall razor weight so long as the handle length is correct for where the user intends to grip it.
Discussion: I have actually been thinking a lot lately, the last couple months, about Kim's monogamous relationship with his Ti Crown handles and his preference for a head heavy razor balance. I have also been thinking about how my own preferences are evolving, not just changing, after being exposed to heavier handles. I believe there are three areas that are worth investigating further:
- Where does the user grip the razor? Or rather, where does the overall combination cause them to grip?
- Does their shaving style predict and/or benefit from a certain balance? Are our preferences actually correct or should they vary based on the specific razor?
- Can we actually tailor the right handle weight and length combination to achieve the desired balance and overall weight? Specifically, can we actually accommodate a heavier or lighter razor without throwing off the balance by choosing a different length?
Back to the Ti Crown handles for a minute, or ten. What I keep thinking about is that the shape of the handle causes the user to grip the razor within a relatively limited area, or so it appears. Further, the handle has quite a protuberance below the grip section that no doubt adds weight to the bottom and hence shifts the balance away from the head. The Ti Crown handle is at least 10g lighter than a comparable handle with uniform diameter throughout its length. It's likely more because the handle is longer than other titanium handles that I have or have found measurements of. All of the weight is obviously removed from the grip section around the top half of the handle.
What I find an interesting thought experiment is whether Kim is placing his hand in the same spot that the razor seems to want you to with all of his different razor heads and is to some extent choosing them based on whether they will produce his desired balance instead of moving his hand in order to achieve this balance. This goes back to his Timeless experiments which were when I started thinking about this. This is not another jab at his beloved handles nor a value judgement towards him for sticking with what he enjoys, I only make those jokes in jest because it is so predictable that he will fit another Ti Crown handle to any new razor he acquires! This is a legitimate rethinking of what the effect of his choice has on the handling of any given razor fitted with one.
For me, I need to grip the handle between 50-60mm from the bottom of the handle for it to fit in my hand based on how I hold the razor. This has always seemed like an intractable problem, that I am stuck with short handles. What I had failed to realise, until I stumbled upon it, was as a handle gets longer, it gets heavier and the balance shifts downward. As the balance shifts downward, the hand has to move downward if the user wishes to maintain the same balance as previously. Therefore, I am still gripping the longer handle approximately the same distance from the bottom, but it is closer to the middle of the handle than the upper third. On the lower end of my range, the razor wants to fall out of my hand if I don't use enough fingers to stabilise it and on the upper end, the razor is inherently more stable. Is this in itself a problem or rather when does this go too far and become a problem? Does it matter if you have a larger amount of the handle above your grip, extending the distance to your face? I am going to say no, it does not(within reason). A good example is the long, thin Henson handles, there is a long distance from my fingers to my face with where I grip the handle. These handles have always been a mystery to me because I have tried other handles and returned to the stock handle(which doesn't appear to be to my preference). What matters is where you are gripping in relationship to the centre of mass, that is what will affect the handling of the razor. That and, at both extremes, the overall weight of the razor.
In a second post, I want to talk more about point #2 and discuss stability and manoeuvrability and how I think that may work for or against the user. This will get into using the handle at the two extremes, relatively speaking(not literally).
Discussion: I have actually been thinking a lot lately, the last couple months, about Kim's monogamous relationship with his Ti Crown handles and his preference for a head heavy razor balance. I have also been thinking about how my own preferences are evolving, not just changing, after being exposed to heavier handles. I believe there are three areas that are worth investigating further:
- Where does the user grip the razor? Or rather, where does the overall combination cause them to grip?
- Does their shaving style predict and/or benefit from a certain balance? Are our preferences actually correct or should they vary based on the specific razor?
- Can we actually tailor the right handle weight and length combination to achieve the desired balance and overall weight? Specifically, can we actually accommodate a heavier or lighter razor without throwing off the balance by choosing a different length?
Back to the Ti Crown handles for a minute, or ten. What I keep thinking about is that the shape of the handle causes the user to grip the razor within a relatively limited area, or so it appears. Further, the handle has quite a protuberance below the grip section that no doubt adds weight to the bottom and hence shifts the balance away from the head. The Ti Crown handle is at least 10g lighter than a comparable handle with uniform diameter throughout its length. It's likely more because the handle is longer than other titanium handles that I have or have found measurements of. All of the weight is obviously removed from the grip section around the top half of the handle.
What I find an interesting thought experiment is whether Kim is placing his hand in the same spot that the razor seems to want you to with all of his different razor heads and is to some extent choosing them based on whether they will produce his desired balance instead of moving his hand in order to achieve this balance. This goes back to his Timeless experiments which were when I started thinking about this. This is not another jab at his beloved handles nor a value judgement towards him for sticking with what he enjoys, I only make those jokes in jest because it is so predictable that he will fit another Ti Crown handle to any new razor he acquires! This is a legitimate rethinking of what the effect of his choice has on the handling of any given razor fitted with one.
For me, I need to grip the handle between 50-60mm from the bottom of the handle for it to fit in my hand based on how I hold the razor. This has always seemed like an intractable problem, that I am stuck with short handles. What I had failed to realise, until I stumbled upon it, was as a handle gets longer, it gets heavier and the balance shifts downward. As the balance shifts downward, the hand has to move downward if the user wishes to maintain the same balance as previously. Therefore, I am still gripping the longer handle approximately the same distance from the bottom, but it is closer to the middle of the handle than the upper third. On the lower end of my range, the razor wants to fall out of my hand if I don't use enough fingers to stabilise it and on the upper end, the razor is inherently more stable. Is this in itself a problem or rather when does this go too far and become a problem? Does it matter if you have a larger amount of the handle above your grip, extending the distance to your face? I am going to say no, it does not(within reason). A good example is the long, thin Henson handles, there is a long distance from my fingers to my face with where I grip the handle. These handles have always been a mystery to me because I have tried other handles and returned to the stock handle(which doesn't appear to be to my preference). What matters is where you are gripping in relationship to the centre of mass, that is what will affect the handling of the razor. That and, at both extremes, the overall weight of the razor.
In a second post, I want to talk more about point #2 and discuss stability and manoeuvrability and how I think that may work for or against the user. This will get into using the handle at the two extremes, relatively speaking(not literally).
My short answer is "Yes". My long answer is...longer.
It is quite funny, as I nearly went off on a tangent about this yesterday when you mentioned my new Karve handle, but I thought nobody would be interested!
I think the factors are (perhaps obviously):
- Razor head weight
- Razor handle length
- Razor handle weight
These determine...
- Balance point
And that has to be right for...
- Hand size / Grip style
It's those last two points that really matter in terms of comfort and ergonmics. Total razor weight is easier to adapt to, albeit we all have our preferences in that regard too.
I could say more, but I will wait to see what else you have to say on the subject.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Aaron. A few thoughts of mine to add. I think these mostly align with your thinking. Any razor has a range of grip areas, depending on how one likes the balance. That range is much smaller than the length of the handle. While the Ti Crown handle has an obvious grip area, it is effectively more than the entire range most would want to use, it doesn't force you. I grip mine in different places, depending on which head I use. Unless I put a preposterously heavy head on it (like a Green Cult) I can easily get the balance where the head is weight is offset.
Another example is the Osprey. It has a heavy head and a much longer handle than I prefer. But that long length gives the leverage to counterbalance the head and I can get a good grip where the head is weightless. A counter example is the Athena. With the original handle, so much of the weight is up near the head that the balance is too picky and a Ti Crown handle works much better for me. I'm with you on the Henson as well, I don't really like how the handle looks, but it all comes together nicely as a full razor.
Another example is the Osprey. It has a heavy head and a much longer handle than I prefer. But that long length gives the leverage to counterbalance the head and I can get a good grip where the head is weightless. A counter example is the Athena. With the original handle, so much of the weight is up near the head that the balance is too picky and a Ti Crown handle works much better for me. I'm with you on the Henson as well, I don't really like how the handle looks, but it all comes together nicely as a full razor.
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