Wolfman Razor: Does Different Material Affect the Smoothness Experience?

[ilegs]

I expect to receive my new Wolfman Razor order soon, and I've decided to get a new basic brushed WR2 razor. Currently, I'm hesitating about material selection.

I already own a WR2 1.15 razor in titanium with basic brushed.

A friend told me the stainless steel version feels smoother, so I borrowed his basic brushed WR2 0.95 stainless steel model for comparison.

Through simple testing, the stainless steel version does seem smoother, but I'm unsure if this difference is due to the smaller gap (0.95 vs 1.15) rather than the material itself.

If you've used both titanium and stainless steel Wolfman razors, please feel free to join the discussion!

 

[Iridian]

Might be rather the brushed finish than the difference between titanium and steel, but it indeed feels different, mostly due to steel feeling a bit cooler on the skin. I don't have a Wolfman so far, but I have many razors in steel and titanium, each material feels indeed a bit different. I prefer steel and titanium, they are very close.

A major difference is if something is polished, how much polished, machined or bead-/sand-blasted. That makes quite a lot of difference. For instance, the matte finish of my Tatara razors is grippy even without particularly grippy features on the handle. While my early DSCosmetic handles are rather slippery, likely due to excessive electropolishing. My current Ti-handles from DSCosmetic are much better in this regard.

I hope that helps!
You should try similar razors in steel or ti and different finishes before making a choice, ideally.

 

[ilegs]

steel feeling a bit cooler on the skin.

I feel the same way

You should try similar razors in steel or ti and different finishes before making a choice, ideally.

Exactly. The ideal scenario would be to test with only one variable—ensuring all other parameters remain identical except for the material.

As I posted , I currently use：

1. WR2 1.15 Titanium basic brushed
2. WR2 0.95 Stainless steel basic brushed

Gap and Material, two different parameters, so I am confused about this.

 

[JS Ong]

You should use both of the same gap to test. 0.95 will definitely be smoother than 1.15. If the titanium is a 0.95 and stainless steel 1.15 your opinion should then be that the titanium is smoother.

I find my titanium Wolfman much smoother than my Wolfman stainless steel. And my Blackbird titanium smoother than my stainless steel Blackbird. My titanium Spirit smoother than my stainless steel Spirit. My titanium Amakuni smoother than my stainless steel Amakuni.

Titanium aside from its lighter weight feels softer on the skin.

YMMV

 

[ilegs]

You should use both of the same gap to test. 0.95 will definitely be smoother than 1.15. If the titanium is a 0.95 and stainless steel 1.15 your opinion should then be that the titanium is smoother.

I find my titanium Wolfman much smoother than my Wolfman stainless steel. And my Blackbird titanium smoother than my stainless steel Blackbird. My titanium Spirit smoother than my stainless steel Spirit. My titanium Amakuni smoother than my stainless steel Amakuni.

Titanium aside from its lighter weight feels softer on the skin.

YMMV

Thank you for your reply.

I briefly consulted AI and learned that titanium has a lower coefficient of friction than stainless steel in dry conditions, meaning titanium is smoother. However, in wet conditions (which better simulate shaving scenarios), stainless steel has a lower coefficient of friction, making it smoother.

But this still depends on the material’s finish—brushed, polished, etc.—as different surface treatments might alter the friction coefficient.

I’ll try contacting other friends to see if I can borrow two razors for a perfect comparison.

If not, I may consider purchasing both titanium and stainless steel heads with the same gap for direct testing.

 

[JS Ong]

I’m not a technical but a financial person.

I don’t know how to comprehend different coefficient of frictions for razors of different weights. A stainless steel razor may weigh 90 grams but a titanium razor of a similar model is only 50 grams. Whether a lower wet coefficient 90 grams will be smoother than a 50 gram of slightly higher coefficient razor I cannot comprehend. I only know my experiences from the razors I owned and used.

Buy what you like and enjoy the shave.

YMMV

 

[Cannon Cocker]

I have polished Timeless .95 OC in both SS and Ti, and SB Tatara Nodachi non-polished SS and Ti. I find the SS in both razors to be somewhat smoother. I believe the added weight in the SS razors increase the momentum in the stroke which feels smoother. Kinda like a sports car vs a limo.

 

[JS Ong]

I have polished Blackbird .95 OC in both SS and Ti, and SB Tatara Nodachi non-polished SS and Ti. I find the SS in both razors to be somewhat smoother. I believe the added weight in the SS razors increase the momentum in the stroke which feels smoother. Kinda like a sports car vs a limo.

Timeless and not Blackbird you mean.

I prefer my Masamune titanium to my Masamune stainless steel.

YMMV

 

[Cannon Cocker]

Timeless and not Blackbird you mean

Timeless and not Blackbird you mean

You are so right. Thanks, I was able to edit to correctly show Blackbird.

 

[Cannon Cocker]

Timeless and not Blackbird you mean.

I prefer my Masamune titanium to my Masamune stainless steel.

YMMV

Like you I prefer my Ti Nodachi to my SS Nodachi. I never liked the balance of the SS, but the Ti balances perfectly for me.