The WOLF(man) razor

Leisureguy said:
Zamak definitely has a role in modern razor production: most consumers strongly prefer lower prices to higher prices, and Zamak razors can be made at a lower cost than brass or stainless steel razors. So the challenge is to focus on finding solutions to Zamak's weaknesses.

I think making caps of plated brass offers a good solution: the baseplate does not seem to suffer the failures that afflict the caps, since that are unthreaded and subject to little stress. And, though Zamak is brittle, it's not so brittle as bakelite; bakelite's advantages are easily molded, low cost, light weight, and resistance to corrosion. But a bakelite razor is apt to break if dropped on a hard surface. (I am very careful with my vintage Merkur white bakelite slant---the one on which the Stealth design is based.)

My own collection includes a fair number of Zamak razors, but then I have lots of breakable things that I like: china plates and bowls, vases, wineglasses, and so on. I don't go to great lengths to try to use only unbreakable objects. A smartphone or iPad is probably more apt than a Zamak razor to break if dropped and is also much more expensive than a Zamak razor, but people still buy them and carry them about. Taking care with a Zamak razor seems relatively easy. But, of course, YMMV.
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True - but when you can avoid it, why risk it? Also a lot of people put their phones in covers to protect them and take out their expensive China only for special occasions...I can't think of any ZAMAC razors that I would only use on special occasions - I would like to use them as often as I like...

BTW: besides many other reasons, I refuse to get an iphone because of the glass screen - breaks way to easy.

My first DE was a progress, really loved it, but once I had stainless, brass and alu razors that worked well for me, I just had to let it go...
 
So no interest in straight razors, I assume.

My point is that, in the array of modern razors, Zamak razors definitely have a place. I don't intend to imply that they are for everyone: nothing in shaving works for everyone. But they work for many because they put a razor in the price range that those who buy them are comfortable with. And I've had some Zamak razors for years---like 10 years Still going strong. I'm certainly not trying to convince you to use Zamak razors if you don't want to, of course. Merely making the point that they are quite popular, and that's for a reason: inexpensive, easy to cast, and reasonably durable if well-plated.
 
Leisureguy said:
So no interest in straight razors, I assume.

My point is that, in the array of modern razors, Zamak razors definitely have a place. I don't intend to imply that they are for everyone: nothing in shaving works for everyone. But they work for many because they put a razor in the price range that those who buy them are comfortable with. And I've had some Zamak razors for years---like 10 years Still going strong. I'm certainly not trying to convince you to use Zamak razors if you don't want to, of course. Merely making the point that they are quite popular, and that's for a reason: inexpensive, easy to cast, and reasonably durable if well-plated.
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I have a shavette and tried it ~5 times - all I can say: there was a lot of blood....

I totally agree: ZAMAC razors have their place, just not in my den [emoji1]
 
@Leisureguy I think I understand where you're coming from.
ZAMAC is a great material to use in new reasonable quality razors, to introduce the cartidge/elacctric hoards of sheeple to a traditional style.
If they bond with it, they then can progress onto stainless.
Progression is something we all desire in life, so the ability to progress to finer quality instruments in our masculine/feminine *for the lady shavers* (G word is akin to swearing) pursuits, is something to look forward to akin to a level up in a game, to draw a crude comparison.

BTW, have you even collected your collection into a single shot/thread ?
How often do you move on from items and sell/pif/trade them ?
 
Quite a few seem quite happy with their Zamak razor, though, and see little reason to move up. And if they get (say) five years' use from it, they may well decide simply to replace it rather than get a razor that costs (say) $100 more. And of course they may well like their Zamak razor---I am fond of the Progress, for example. And if it never breaks---and I've never had one break---then that may not appear to be much of an issue for them.

Yeah, I did a photograph of a lot of my collection in this post.

I should add that we use our china daily. I did, however, buy much thicker drinking glasses and stemless wineglasses (due to breaking incidents). We figure out how to deal with breakable objects and finding unbreakable equivalents is one approach.
 
OMG @Leisureguy - this is huge!!! Even more so, as it seems we have very similar likes in the razor department - now I will have to bother you even more :)

How would you compare the Gillette Black handle adjustable with the Progress? I have one, it is almost my birth razor (just wrong quarter), but I never had the urge of using it...maybe I should?

I went on a quest to get an Eclipse Red Ring after reading your book - I found 2 (one still with me), but I think this is the only razor I have to disagree with you - simply not the right fit for me...

I also notice, that you have a substantial amount of boars in the brush department - great to see, that someone with so many high end badgers enjoys the humble boar!
 
Interesting question. I'll do a comparative shave (Progress and Gillette Super Adjustable) this week, though tomorrow is already spoken for. I'm trying the Van Der Hagen razor, which I think is probably a Weishi but want to be sure.

I like all the brushes (boar, badger, horsehair, and synthetic). Each has its own special virtues, and they are all fun to use---plus they give greater variety than having all brushes of the same type (e.g., all badger).

Interesting about the Eclipse Red Ring. I'll have to bring mine out to try it anew.

Oh, and I see I missed a question. I do send out shaving stuff to newbies pretty often---a selection of soaps, a complete starter kit, etc. But I don't do much trading and recently have not been acquiring much.
 
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We're quite the enablers here and only all too happy to help.
Is there anything you are seeking ?
 
Leisureguy said:
Interesting question. I'll do a comparative shave (Progress and Gillette Super Adjustable) this week, though tomorrow is already spoken for. I'm trying the Van Der Hagen razor, which I think is probably a Weishi but want to be sure.

I like all the brushes (boar, badger, horsehair, and synthetic). Each has its own special virtues, and they are all fun to use---plus they give greater variety than having all brushes of the same type (e.g., all badger).

Interesting about the Eclipse Red Ring. I'll have to bring mine out to try it anew.

Oh, and I see I missed a question. I do send out shaving stuff to newbies pretty often---a selection of soaps, a complete starter kit, etc. But I don't do much trading and recently have not been acquiring much.
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Well define recently: S1/S2 from ATT, Wolfman...
 
@Draco Noir - I'll be interested in your impressions. I found it more comfortable for me than the LASSC BBS-1, also made by the Wolfman. Here's my comparison. I'm thinking I might try the WR1-DC as well. At some point.
 
@Leisureguy : I'll most certainly post my impressions in a few days. And I can certainly see the appeal in the WR1-DC - best of both worlds :)

Right atm I'm having my first seriously enjoyable shaves with the Tradere SB. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to try a BBS-1, and based on your invaluable comparison and the high similarity of the two razors I won't be putting it on my shopping list.
 
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Me too - but I'm sure you are going to love it!
 
@khun_diddy and @alfredus - I'll definitely post some impressions soon, but the Tradere has got its hooks into me at the moment, so I want to play that out a bit further. It certainly means the bar will be set very high for the Wolfman when its turn comes round. But I imagine that was the case with you too @alfredus ? Bet you didn't go from a cart to the Wolfman eh?

Anyway thanks for your interest and support guys!
 
Really looking forward to hear your thoughts on how the Wolf compares to the Tradere!
 
Just read a few of the earlier posts in this thread @alfredus - same thing happened to me with shipping. The actual cost was CAD$79.90 but James still charged his flat $50. Lousy of Canada Post - talk about making a small specialist exporter uncompetitive.

I must say right throughout the process I found James Dufour an absolute gentleman to deal with - always happy to go the extra yard in explaining options etc. So if anyone else here is thinking of treading where @alfredus and I have been, you can do so confident in the knowledge that you are dealing with a true gent.
 
Draco Noir said:
So if anyone else here is thinking of treading where @alfredus and I have been, you can do so confident in the knowledge that you are dealing with a true gent.
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Oh mate, slurring upon this poor blokes good name by calling him a gent... *shakes head* ;)
 
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