Final match up tonight. CX vs English Flat Bottom Tech. This match up truly caught me by surprise. I had expected that a modern precision CNC machined stainless steel
razor would totally run circles around an old stamped metal
razor, but this was not the case.
The Tech had the left side of my face and during the WTG pass, I had to remember the correct angle as it started out just moving lather. Once dialed in, it gave a very efficient and comfortable pass not quite a phantom pass like the Mamba, but definitely with minimal blade feel. The part under my chin easily got cleared away. The CX was completely dialed in by now and I am now getting used to doing the micro adjustments in the angle to get either a Mamba type feel or a slightly more aggressive angle.
ATG pass was totally effortless and efficient for both
razors , and like the previous shaves, I was able to get a BBS with two passes and dry touch up. The Tech side did require slightly more effort during the dry touch up only because I could not get it to perform more efficiently than it could give.
Strictly shaving - Slight advantage goes to the CX. The Tech was a very smooth and efficient shave, but the CX was more efficient because there was some adjustments in the angle.
Shaving related stuff - Advantage CX because it did allow for a more aggressive angle when needed, while the Tech had only one efficient angle.
nit picky stuff The CX with the Tech fat handle performed significantly better than with the original handle. It was top heavy, but I adjusted to that a lot quicker than the uneven areas of the original handle.
Advantage - CX by a slim margin.
So overall impressions of the shave and the match ups:
The CX is an excellent shaver and will allow for a no blade feel to significant blade feel depending on what you want. You really need to be careful because the angle between one or the other is very small.
The handle is a problem for me. It isn't a major problem, but for $250, I expect a handle I can feel comfortable using.
Matched up against two of my best shaving modern
razors, it edged both out, but by a slim margin. Matched up against a a 70 year old stamped metal
razor that it took design elements from, it also edged that one out, but by a slim margin. I was kind of expecting a US Women's Soccer vs Thailand, and instead I got a Rocky vs Apollo match up.
I don't own many expensive
razors. The ones I do own (OB Genesis, ATT S1/S2, CG Lvl2), I got through BST. I'm just real cheap and on retirement income and so a $50
razor is not a problem, a $100 I pick and choose, and a $200 and above
razor, I have to seriously think about and if it is worth it, I will look on BST first before spring for one.
The CX is one that I will have to think about.
I want to thank
Carbon Shaving for making this pass around happen. If I didn't spend some time with the CX, I would have just written it off. It is now packed up and will head to
Captainjonny tomorrow.