My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
I recently got one from Phoenix, and another one is on the way from them. I just ordered the Razorock "37 German" head, and I'm eyeing the Maggard slant head.
Does anyone know anything about this one - the GBS slant razor? I don't even know where it's made. It's pretty low risk at $15, but I hate spending even that little on something that's not worth it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DDPP1MK/
About the only mention at Shavemyface of GBS is of the "other" GBS - George Bernard Shaw.
Does anyone know anything about this one - the GBS slant razor? I don't even know where it's made. It's pretty low risk at $15, but I hate spending even that little on something that's not worth it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DDPP1MK/
About the only mention at Shavemyface of GBS is of the "other" GBS - George Bernard Shaw.
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
Paul, there's something about this slant razor that makes me want to try it. Looks great, and the description (including money back guarantee) tells me this one has character.
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
The money-back guarantee is a big plus, and the price is right at only $15. But where is it made? How can they make a good razor that cheap? I couldn't find anything about it except for the one review on Amazon, which didn't give much detail.
And I just got my second bakelite Phoenix slant. (If you saw the backlog of razors and blades I have here to try out...)
And I just got my second bakelite Phoenix slant. (If you saw the backlog of razors and blades I have here to try out...)
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
I couldn't resist the $15 price, and I got it in the mail today. It comes with a leather (or fake leather) protective sheath that contains the entire razor. This is nice, but it has a chemical/industrial smell to it. As you can see from the photo, the base plate is massive, way too heavy for slant razors, which are supposed to work with low pressure.
The finish on the side of the head is actually smooth; what looks like pits and other flaws is all glare from the flash. If you look closely, though, there is a moderate sized flaw in the lower right corner.
Here is how the razor is represented elsewhere:
The handle is also massive, heavier than the Jagger Chatsworth's. The handle seems pretty well made, with smooth, uniform plating, though the threads are arousing a bit of suspicion that may make me get out a magnifying glass to take a close look. The head is somewhat crudely made (yes, it's made in China), and the pins are small enough to give you a lot of play in the blade, a lot more than with the Merkur slant. Enough play that if you simply plunk in the blade and tighten down the head without making any adjustments, you can easily end up with no blade exposure at one end and a vast amount of blade overhang at the other. When I saw that's what had happened to me, I loosened the head and moved the blade so that the edge was even with the cap.
Then I shaved with it, using a Personna hospital/med prep blade that had been used once before. The cheeks and neck were no problem, but it was very hard to use around my mouth, with too much weight to control around delicate areas. It goes beyond "heavy razor" into the "lightweight hammer" category.
Before shaving, I had switched to a lighter handle. I think I would have drawn even more blood near my mouth if I had used the handle it came with. I'm planning to try that handle with a head known for light blade exposure, such as the Razorock Mission or the Gillette Tech.
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
I just realized what it is that causes consternation about slant razors. It finally dawned on me that they are 4-dimensional objects, similar to what the artist Tony Robbin represents in his work:
Or maybe they're from M.C. Escher's world:
Or they're simply impossible:
[By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27673736]
Or maybe they're from M.C. Escher's world:
Or they're simply impossible:
[By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27673736]
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
The handle on the GBS slant no longer holds my Razorock Mission head together, so it's back to the seller it goes. The thread pitch matches, but the diameter of the handle threads seems to be at the high end of a range, and the post on the head is at the low end. Since other handles work OK on that head, I'm going to ditch the slant.
And I don't recommend that anyone else try it, no matter how much you love slants. It will break your heart - and maybe your face. Get the Razorock "German 37" head or the Maggard slant head, or one of the Phoenix slants. Or a Merkur, if you don't have it yet.
If you need to bang in small nails, go to a hardware store and get a real hammer.
And I don't recommend that anyone else try it, no matter how much you love slants. It will break your heart - and maybe your face. Get the Razorock "German 37" head or the Maggard slant head, or one of the Phoenix slants. Or a Merkur, if you don't have it yet.
If you need to bang in small nails, go to a hardware store and get a real hammer.
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
I just tried the Maggard slant head with a Feather blade, and it was smooooth... Pleasant surprise. I had tried it with a Derby blade, and that went well, too, so I feel safe trying that head with anything. I followed their instructions and aligned the blade edge with the top cap.
When you install a blade and look at the edge in the light, it looks like it's forming a slight spiral. It's my best entry point into the 4th dimension, I think.
When you install a blade and look at the edge in the light, it looks like it's forming a slight spiral. It's my best entry point into the 4th dimension, I think.
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
Thanks for a really helpful review! I was tempted to get one as well until I read your comment about "a real hammer."
Bill
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
Forget the "hammer"; I'd recommend the Maggard slant head, even though its dark gray color doesn't match many handles. I'm using it with the dark red bakelite handle from my Alpha Ecliptic slant razor. For that matter, I like my Alpha, too, which is color coordinated red bakelite. (You can get an aluminum version, but that's $75 instead of $20.)
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
Paul, I haven't used my Merkur Slant in a while, but I haven't forgotten the great shaves it provides. It's one of my all time favorite slant razors.
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
Gary, how many favorite slants do you have? [...he asked, as though he didn't have enough slant razors already... ]
(How many slants do I have now...? Phoenix Alpha Ecliptic and Open Comb, Razorock "German," Maggard, Merkur (both handles). Almost all of them were acquired since May. That's how S.A.D. works... *sigh* But I don't think the total cost was even $100.)
(How many slants do I have now...? Phoenix Alpha Ecliptic and Open Comb, Razorock "German," Maggard, Merkur (both handles). Almost all of them were acquired since May. That's how S.A.D. works... *sigh* But I don't think the total cost was even $100.)
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
Just one, and this is it!
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
I asked that wrong... How many slants have you tried?
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
Here's my other favorite slant. It's long gone now. You can read about it here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=49730&p=590846&hilit=slant#p590846
Here's a photo:
Here's a photo:
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
I have another interesting Slant razor. It's one of the old Bakelite German razors from the past. My son gave me one of these before they all sold out. This is a great performing razor. How do you like the handle. It was made by the late Bob Smith, BRW- Bob's Razor Works.
Gary
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
I'm glad someone else is here to explore the 4-dimensional space carved out (created? delimited?) by slant razors. (See earlier posts in this thread...)
According to a review at The Sharpologist, the Maggard slant head design is based on a Mulcuto, so we're probably using very similar razors there.
I found the Bob's Razor Works website, but I suppose using the AOL email address mentioned there won't get you in touch with anyone making razors and handles any more, and that's sad. One link within the website I tried no longer worked.
According to a review at The Sharpologist, the Maggard slant head design is based on a Mulcuto, so we're probably using very similar razors there.
I found the Bob's Razor Works website, but I suppose using the AOL email address mentioned there won't get you in touch with anyone making razors and handles any more, and that's sad. One link within the website I tried no longer worked.
Re: My New Kind of S.A.D. - Slant Acquisition Disorder
My attempt to resist R.A.D. Is being tested by eBay listings for these razors.