CarbonShavingCo. New company & razor in the works....

Darktrader the against the grain is what really surprised me about those razors. I probably should have gave up on going against the grain on some of my neck a long time ago but there's just got to be something that works better than others, with just one measly week I did like the Carbon ATG

Keto - Amazing isn't it when something just works instead of a frustrating struggle leaving no satisfaction. Glad you found a razor that cracks the AGT conundrum. For me tactile sensation is as important, if not more important, than the gap, blade position, material, polish etc.

Keto - Amazing isn't it when something just works instead of a frustrating struggle leaving no satisfaction. Glad you found a razor that cracks the AGT conundrum. For me tactile sensation is as important, if not more important, than the gap, blade position, material, polish etc.

Right. I'm not really saying it's the one but plan on getting one and giving it a go in the long-term trial. 
   So tactical you mean usage is the most important thing is that correct? How it acts and actual usage?

Gentlemen, a good evening and happy Friday to all especially if the work week has come to an end for some. I was thinking about starting a different thread for the particular razor that I’m about to write about here which is the Carbon Cx-Ti w/R2 handle with both the + & ++ base plates. But, why create another thread for a razor that has been talked about in depth with great reports and summations from fellow wet shavers in this forum? Exactly, a moot point and not necessary as  I believe keeping it all within this thread serves a great purpose and as a referendum so to speak for others that are considering and just want to seek general opinions and experiences from other wet shavers with the Carbon series of razors. I will speak only of my particular experience with said razor and will solely be based on that alone. I am not affiliated nor sponsored by Carbon or any of its partners/groups. I paid for this bad boy, all $480 with my hard earned greenbacks. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get into the razor and its attributes.

I purchased the razor last month on June 19 and started shaving with it exclusively about roughly 10-12 days ago. Originally, I had purchased the Cx-Ti & R2 handle with just the + base plate as that was the only option available at the time. I spoke with Sean CarbonShavingCo. via emails (great guy to work with by the way and very accommodating) and just to let me know whenever the ++ plate was available just to give me a heads up once he posted them on the Carbon website as that was the plate I actually wanted. Truthfully, I’m glad I got both the plates but, we’ll get to that a bit later. A few days later he contacted me and asked that he had a ++ plate available and that if I wanted it, it was mine. I said yes, he sent me an invoice for the plate plus the R2 handle in SS as I wanted to experiment with some additional weight on the handle to see if the shave characteristics would change and just for experimenting. Packaging, shipping and the speed at which everything was done was exceptional. No complaints at all and it was a very pleasant experience. The man (Sean) just wants to give a good overall solid buying experience and for me, he met and exceeded my expectations. A+.

The world and Grandma knows the minimalist packaging with environmentally safe materials. Cardboard tube, small burlap sack with razor components wrapped nicely in tissue paper. I have no issue with that whatsoever and if Carbon decides to leave it that way, I see no problem with it. The components were nicely polished with no markings or scratches on any of the pieces and just some CNC tooling marks on the underside of the top cap which is fine by me. I don’t shave with the underside of the cap. A few pics below when I first received the razor along with a couple of pics when I received the ++ plate & SS handle about a week later. Just wanted to be clear that I did not get everything at one shot. The engraving and polish are great, not a mirror polish but, definitely a couple notches above your standard tumble or machine polish finish. Much better than average in my estimation. 

Ok, I’ve been talking to much horse-shit here. Let’s get to the nitty-gritty and talk about how this thing feels and performs. First is weight being made of Titanium. This is a light razor compared to what I’m used to. At first I was like “this is so damn light, how am I going to get a good shave and feel for this?” The razor is approximately 50-53 grams +- a gram or two depending on your scale. Not Aluminum light but, you get the idea here. I will say that the razor is superbly balanced throughout the whole length once assembled. I felt no weight biased towards the head and just ever so slightly geared towards the handle but, it balances very well in the hands. Knurling and tactile grip is excellent and no matter where you hold this razor, up by the base plate or down towards the end, one will get a comfortable, secure feeling with the Cx-Ti. A blade slips onto the top cap with tight tolerances and no play. Once the blade is sandwiched between the top plate and base, the handle screws everything down nicely with no play whatsoever. Blade is fully supported with perfect blade exposure on both sides. A slight bit of blade tab overhang on both ends for those that care about those things. To me makes no difference blade tab overhang or not. I used 3 different blades during my initial 10 shaves with the Cx-Ti. Those were the Gillette Silver Blue, Feather Hi-SS & Kai SS. I got 5 shaves with the + base plate using the GSB once and the Feather & Kai twice each. With the ++ plate I used the Feather and Kai twice each and did not try the GSB in the ++ plate. 

The first shave was a bit underwhelming with the + plate. Why? I wasn’t used to the weight difference and my total lack of zero pressure when shaving with the Cx-Ti. Every razor I own is at least 90 grams to at least 130grams. I like heavy. The shave was good as the angle was intuitive and easy to find but, not to the standards that I give myself as there were some spots that I did not clear out effectively and for those that know me, I’m a baby buttocks chaser. So, I said to meself “self, next shave we’ll change technique with a bit more pressure and will go with a Feather.” I will add that the + plate is a bit on the milder side at least that’s how it felt with the GSB for me hence, the move to go with the Feather for the 2nd shave. Shave 2 and with the Feather installed and just a tad bit of pressure and off I went. Much better on feel and cutting prowess. Did I fail to mention that this razor is uber smooth? Yeah, this thing feels righteous on the skin. I mean it feels really good with excellent glide and ease of movement. It delivers good razor razor feedback on how the blade is cutting. It’s not an audible screamer as say like a Timeless .95 OC/SB or a Blackbird but, you hear the music though a bit more subdued. Enough to let you know that the razor & blade are slicing and dicing at the point of attack. Shave 2 was a real good shave. Again, not a BBS finish but, damn near close as it was a definite DFS. Shave 3 I went with the same set up and I was just more cognizant of applying steady, consistent light pressure without letting up anywhere including my sensitive areas around Sir Adam & both jawlines. Nailed it! Yeah, that’s what I was chasing. Baby buns in full display! A full 3 passes plus some clean ups around Sir Adam & chin that felt amazing. Another plus is no irritation, nics or cuts whatsoever during all shaves up to this point.  Not bad at all and the bonus being it is a super comfortable razor to hold and command. But, I’m always looking for more so, I decided on my next shave I would bring out the Kai SS and use it on shave #4 with the + plate. Before I forget, I’d like to say that for those that are looking for a forward blade feeling razor, this is not it. It’s smooth and works wonderfully with a Feather and the + plate. You get just enough feel to know it’s cutting but, cutting comfortably and quite effectively. No soup for you if you want blade feel. Sorry. But, there is an answer for those that swear by the almighty blade feel shave requirement. What is it? Please, tell us? Keep reading....

For me, everything changed at shave #4 and on. What happened you ask? The Kai SS is what happened. For those that know and those that don’t, the Kai is a slightly bit wider blade than nearly all if not all blades out there. May not be a big number but, it sure does make a difference and your face will notice it. Shave 4 was excellent with the Kai. 3 passes and the quickest of chin buffs and a BBS finish. Still smooth and oh so comfortable yet, you get that tiny bit of increase in blade feel and efficiency. I’m also getting more used to the weight and feel and I’m just tossing this thing around my face as if I had two hockey teams screaming around my face slapping a puck from ear to ear. Shave #5 was with the Kai as well and was identical to shave #4. Just an excellent shave with excellent results on performance and face feel. 5 straight shaves without a single issue to speak of in terms of irritation, weepers or nics. And the last 2 shaves gave me respectable longevity with about 9 hours of whisker free face feeling. Good enough for a solid work day. Then, something happened. That’s Riiiiight! The ++ plate showed up and I was just giggling, uncontrollably.

To make a long story short as I’ve gone far too long with this write up, the next four shaves with the ++ plate were with the Feather & Kai. The ++ plate provided a nice upgrade in face feel with the blade and efficiency was slightly increased, more so with the Kai. The shaves have been downright awesome without being aggressive or overly to blade feely, if you get what I mean. I’ve never had to do any clean ups with the ++ plate using both blades just a solid 3 pass outing each time with BBS results. The Cx-Ti works extremely well with the Feather but, it really comes into its own with the Kai SS especially with the ++ plate and its added blade gap. Just as important though is that the Carbon Cx-Ti feels so good on the skin and it just moves amazingly good across ones skin. It attacks the whiskers around my areas that are prone to irritation with ease yet subtle but, brilliant efficiency. It’s totally a real smooth operator that has a real silent effectiveness on how it purposely cuts the whiskers. I’ve only experienced that with one other razor but, that razor is a completely different blade format which is the Paradigm Ti SE.  It is equally as smooth and forgiving on the skin only that it’s more blade dependent in that only the Feather Pro Super is the blade that works effectively for me. It’s incredible how an alloy such as Titanium can deliver such a smooth and pleasant feeling on ones skin while shaving. Yes, I have other razors that are smooth performers as well but, the Ti alloy just bumps that smoothness or soft feel on the skin an extra notch. 

So, is the Carbon Cx-Ti a player or a pretender? For you, I do not know but, for me this is a serious contender for the shaver that wants smoothness and above average efficiency more so with the ++ plate but, more importantly a really comfortable razor day in, day out. The razor took on daily, 2 and 3 days worth of facial growth with ease and the weight or lack there of was never an issue except for my first outing with the Cx-Ti. Once one gets a couple of shaves in with it and gets their preferred blade, it’s a formidable and more than capable razor for someone looking for a high end razor that offers options on what type of a razor and shave you’re looking for. This is NOT an aggressive razor and it will not peel off a layer of epidermis while shaving even with the ++ & Kai or Feather (but oh so wonderfully smooth and efficient. Sublime!) installed. There are plenty of other razors out there that will give you that in spades but, you’d better be up and ready to pay for the consequences if your technique isn’t up to par with those blade forward feelers. Don’t get me wrong, I love those razors too, just most of the time I want a good solid and capable performer that comfortable too.

The Carbon Cx-Ti delivers. Very nicely, thank you......

Excellent review, Gus!
I don't have the Ti but I'm putting a Kai in my Cx-316L++ for tomorrow morning's shave.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Excellent review, Gus!
I don't have the Ti but I'm putting a Kai in my Cx-316L++ for tomorrow morning's shave.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Thanks amigo. Good luck with the Kai and please post your thoughts on it when you can. Love to read your findings......

Gus  great going with that Carbon, did I read you got or are getting a SS handle to try on it? Maybe I misunderstood.

Gus  great going with that Carbon, did I read you got or are getting a SS handle to try on it? Maybe I misunderstood.

Didn't mean to confuse you. I ordered the SS R2 handle after I had ordered the Cx-Ti with R2 handle. Wanted to give myself an option with the R2 SS handle and experiment with it. I have not used it yet in any of the shaves. They have all been with the original Ti handle.
Sorry.....

Gus  great going with that Carbon, did I read you got or are getting a SS handle to try on it? Maybe I misunderstood.

Didn't mean to confuse you. I ordered the SS R2 handle after I had ordered the Cx-Ti with R2 handle. Wanted to give myself an option with the R2 SS handle and experiment with it. I have not used it yet in any of the shaves. They have all been with the original Ti handle.
Sorry.....

It doesn't take much to confuse me sometimes, so no problem.
  Oh ok, yeah you've got the SS handle just didn't try it yet, that's what I was looking for. Let us know when you use that combo. 
Plenty of time I like to do the reverse, use a TI handle on a SS razor head.

Excellent review Gus GlazedBoker I too find the ++ baseplate on the TiCx the combination I enjoy, smooth, easy shave.