Haircut & Shave Ti 083 DFS passaround

Pass around list:
gwsmallwood (Arizona)
LOOT (North Carolina)
Marhos24 (Michigan)
Lesser ()
Calm_Shaver (New York)
draebeard (Washington)
ALI (Connecticut)
Dave in KY (Kentucky)
Shavemd (Ohio)
ewk (South Carolina)
Dragonsbeard (New York)
bobmsp (Minnesota)
andrewjs18 (Pennsylvania)

I'm gonna need to bow out of this one please andrewjs18

Pass around list:
gwsmallwood (Arizona)
LOOT (North Carolina)
Marhos24 (Michigan)
Lesser ()
Calm_Shaver (New York)
draebeard (Washington)
ALI (Connecticut)
Dave in KY (Kentucky) *removed at user's request*
Shavemd (Ohio)
ewk (South Carolina)
Dragonsbeard (New York)
bobmsp (Minnesota)
Bullyson (Kentucky)
TST27 (California)
andrewjs18 (Pennsylvania)

My time with the razor is up! Due to being busy, I was only able to get 2 shaves, but that was plenty to get a good feel for the razor.

I've done most of the previous H&S passarounds on the forum and unfortunately never really got along with these razors. It must have been something with the geometry. I would get irritation and ingrowns, without a super close shave to account for it. It was a bummer as these razors are always well made and polished beautifully. The first shave was always decent, with them getting worse over time.

In comes the Ti 083. Looking very similar to the other H&S razors, I was worried it would be the same story. Luckily, it seemed to work better for me. The finish on this razor is my favorite. I can't tell if its a machined finish or a light polish, but the razor shines well enough while still being what I assume is a durable finish that will not show micro scratches. This handle has the best grip out of all H&S razors and sticks to your hand like velcro. The razor is well balanced and feels good in the hand.

Both shaves I used a Gillette Platinum. Both shaves were very similar. The first pass was a little tuggy, but removed 3-4 days growth pretty easily. Second XTG pass was smooth and efficient. Far from beating out my most efficient razors, but left me with a comfortably close shave. I could see this being a fan favorite for someone who wants a little more efficiency than a PO76.

As always, thanks to Aji and Andrew for setting up and running the passaround. Always grateful. Will be packaged up and shipped out in the morning to the next participant.

First use today.  By way of background, I am a daily shaver and, perhaps because of that, I am partial to moderate to mild razors (e.g., my Wolfman is a WR1 .61). And while I have tried possibly every H&S razor, the one that I have kept is my N075.  In fact, I have two of them (for two different houses).  I had a P076 for a while and found I just wasn't using it that much.  Also, by way of background, I also like heft and I don't like titanium generally as I find it to have a lot of resonance that is to me harsh and not smooth or soft.

So, I should hate the Ti 083, right?  Aggressive.  Light.  Titanium.  

But, no. While I'm not sure I loved it I certainly liked it and had an excellent and enjoyable -- and easy! -- shave.   Sure, I felt the blade, but I never felt that it was going to bite me.  And I wasn't bitten (not at all, not even a tiny nick); nor was I irritated (not at all).  Shave was quite close and, actually, damn good. I felt dialed in from the start.  Did my three passes without feeling a need to buff and got it done.  So, I really did enjoy it using it, which surprised me. I'm still not a lover of titanium but, for whatever reason, I noticed less with this than with other titanium razors I've used, including the P076. And, as to weight, it was just fine and I had no issue with it at all.  I've always liked the fully knurled handles from Ali and this was no exception.

I'll see how I feel after another few shaves. But I was most impressed and pleased.  And, as I've said, a bit surprised.

Two more shaves under the belt.  And my initial impressions hold true:  this is an efficient shaver but doesn't present (for me) the challenges of using a razor where I think it will bite me.  The two more shaves have been just plain easy and the results are solid BBS or BBS- shaves without my having to work at it.  I'm actually surprised that I like a razor of this efficiency so much.  I can't speak as to whether it is the most efficient razor out there -- I haven't tried them all, only a few -- but this is the first one I have tried that I like.  The only gripe I have is that while the Ti raspiness, resonance I mentioned in my last post is less than I feared, it's still there.  I'm beginning to suspect that I would love this razor in steel or copper. The additional weight might change its shaving characteristics but the efficiency would remain and so long as the design is otherwise the same, it could hit all my bases. And if the shave were as good, I'd probably order in a second.  (I think I'll try it with a heavier H&S steel handle and see what happens).  Anyway, another few days and I'll be sending it on. I'll do a final wrap up when it's leaving me.  Thanks again to andrewjs18 and Aji at H&S for this pass-around. I'm impressed and really enjoying this razor!

andrewjs18 Lesser purchased h&s 083 ti, should get to me by next week. Please skip me guys. Thanks!

Ok Calm_Shaver . Enjoy it!

Well.....Today I tried my steel N075 handle instead of the knurled titanium with which the razor comes.  And not only did the remaining titanium raspiness disappear but I had a spectacular shave.  Period.  Whether it was due to the extra weight (even if not in the head) or the metal (or both), the shave went from a solid and good shave to one that was -- in a word -- wonderful.  One of the easiest BBS shaves I've ever had.  And I knew it from the first pass.  Makes me wonder even more what an all-steel or copper version might be like.  In any event I'll use this configuration once or twice more before sending the razor on to draebeard. Maybe the quality came from using the good Fitjar soap?  I doubt it.  The soap os good but I've been using other good soaps.  I think it was the razor.  But I have to make sure....

Two more shaves using the steel handle. Two more great shaves and they confirmed what I've said in my other posts. I really like this design and its efficiency and it's the first efficient, aggressive razor with which I've ever had that experience. I think I could absolutely love it in steel and I contacted Aji, who says he will be making a steel version summertime-ish. I'll be right there to get one. So, thanks again to Aji and to andrewjs18 for this passaround. It will be off to draebeard in a day or two.

Two more shaves using the steel handle. Two more great shaves and they confirmed what I've said in my other posts.  I really like this design and its efficiency and it's the first efficient, aggressive razor with which I've ever had that experience.  I think I could absolutely love it in steel and I contacted Aji, who says he will be making a steel version summertime-ish. I'll be right there to get one. So, thanks again to Aji and to andrewjs18 for this passaround.  It will be off to draebeard in a day or two.

In the last couple days I found that a blackland dart handle pairs nicely with the P076. I imagine it would be the same with the 83.