HomelikeShaving Prototype Razor, The Hummingbird...

Had to compare the two HomelikeShaving stablemates, the START & Hummingbird. Two completely different razors in design yet, they deliver very similar shaves with a couple of differences. I didn’t want to use the one time used Sputnik blade and I wanted to keep things as close as possible even though the START had the .90 plate & the Hummingbird with the same .80 from yesterday. Both had fresh Astra SP’s and I went with the Stirling Margaritas in The Arctic face cooler today as the heat was in the 90’s and I needed a face chill.

Assigned each razor a particular side of my face with the Hummingbird on the right, START on the left and just got to work. I performed a complete 3 pass shave on each side. These are both extremely smooth operators with blade feel that is minimal but, I can clearly and distinctly feel just a tad more of it on the Hummingbird over the START. It’s not much but, when shaving side by side you can tell that the Hummingbird has the blade feel ever so slightly over the START. The weight was quite apparent as well between the two razors with the START being the heavier of the two as you can see on one of my previous posts. Balance was close between the two but, the Hummingbird felt more neutral in that aspect and honestly easier to maneuver from WTG, XTG & ATG passes. I’m not saying it felt as if it was the superior razor, just the easier one to control and throw around. I also found the Hummingbird to be a more intuitive shaver with getting the angle rather quickly over the START. Not a huge discrepancy but, just enough that I felt more comfortable with the Hummingbird in getting the optimum cutting angle compared to the START. Remember, were talking very subtle differences here between these two razors. They are both sort of neutral in angle with neither being biased towards the cap or guard. Neither will cut much if they’re positioned towards the guard, same for riding towards the cap. They both work right in the middle with the START exhibiting less blade over the Hummingbird. They both delivered a very good, comfortable shave. Upon my final rinse and feel it was nearly a BBS finish with just a couple of stragglers on the START’s left side near the Adams Apple, always a tough spot for ANY razor. But, the Hummingbird left no such defiant whisker rebels on the right side of Sir Adam. I also like the Hummingbird in the ATG pass with that slight bit more of razor feel with giving real good feedback. The START is just a little quieter in that aspect and really is the mellower sounding razor during the shave. The Hummingbird is not a screamer but, it definitely gives better audible feedback of the two. Not a single incident nor any irritation to speak of. Just a great quality shave by two excellent razors.

On just shave performance though, I’d have to give my vote to the Hummingbird. I won’t know long term which of the two will win out as I’d have to do a face feel sometime in the morning. I’ll post my findings on longevity sometime tomorrow. For my next shave I’m going to swap out the .80 and go to the .130 SB plate and skip a day and see how that will go. More shaves coming.....

Excellent comparison of what appears to be a great new razor. Look forward to trying it on the pass around

I also found the Hummingbird to be a more intuitive shaver with getting the angle rather quickly over the START.

Nice review and pics.

Looks the Kolibri / Hummingbird makes more arched the blade.
Even blade reveal looks less pronounced.
These two details should give a more stiff blade, and less audible feedback.

How is your grip position on the handle?

My apologies Gents for not starting the pass around thread & list for the Hummingbird Prototype. I will have that started up later on during the day and as I stated, it will be a first come first serve basis. I don't know how long we're allowed to have the razor but, I'll get in touch with the Gentleman that has allowed us to use it and how long we can run the pass around......

Happy Shaves Gents.....

Edit: Those that showed interest in this thread I will transfer directly to the pass around thread in order received. No need to express interest again there if you signed up/requested it here. Thanks Gents.....

i appreciate the stripped down aesthetics. One minor suggestion would be a single polished band below the knurling and lop off the two lower bands.

My apologies for writing up my shave results with the 1.30 SB gap plate so late. I shaved this morning but, there was no time for a quick write up as I had to be at work. This is going to be short though.  Again, I used the Sputnik Teflon (still going strong after 3 shaves) paired with the 1.30 plate. I was expecting a bit more blade feel over the 1.10 OC that I had shaved with previously but, I was completely wrong. Smooth and still very efficient. There is some blade feel, more so  over the .80 plate but, less feel compared to the 1.10 OC plate. Nonetheless, it still took on the whiskers quickly and easily and I was done in two with a WTG & ATG pass. A really good finish with a minor mishap on the chin with a tiny nic on the ATG pass. Cold water rinse and alum knocked that out before it even started. No irritation or weepers to speak of anywhere else to be honest. Just a real good close shave as I was pressed for a little time this morning. I couldn’t chase the baby but, I was really close after the 2 pass run. Impressive indeed and enjoying the shaves so far.

Next up, 1.30 OC plate. That should be a smoker.....

Gus GlazedBoker I'd love to be added to this pass if possible. I know I'm late to seeing this and understand if not in soon enough. NICE thoughts 

Got in another early morning shave but, I had the time to just relax and enjoy it while making some key observations. This was the first one for me that was a bit different than the previous shaves beforehand. Although all the previous plates showed very good blade feel the razor still exhibited better than average to excellent smoothness from each gap sized base plate from the .80 up to the 1.30 SB. Now, this one here the 1.30 OC changed the game a bit for me. For one, the blade feel is amped up because of the open comb design and I felt as if I lost just a bit of smoothness compared to the 1.30 SB. Nothing that was unacceptable or fierce feeling, far from it. It still feels smoother than say an R41 but, now I experienced for the first time a sort of blade deflection or skipping. I only felt it during the ATG pass in 2 separate occasions on my neck & jawline which at times led me to believe that I had nicked myself, which I hadn’t. Also, the teeth on the base plate felt a bit more prominent that the previous open comb plate at 1.10. It wasn’t uncomfortable just a bit more feel on the skin. I was done in two with a very careful buff pass on the chin and Adam’s Apple area that left nothing. Superb really. Like I said though, for the first time it felt just a bit skittish so I had to pay a bit more attention to my shave. The gap & pinch point plus the bit of blade overhang might have something to do with it as perhaps the blade isn’t held as rigidly as it needs to be. But, I would need to put in more shaves with it to get to a solid conclusion or at least a reasonable hypothesis and with the pass around list growing, I won’t have the time to do so. I need this razor to get going forward so others can get a sampling. Again nic, cut, weeper and irritation free. Very close in cutting prowess to the Legendary R41 post 2013. And I like that razor too. This was slightly smoother with just a bit more attention needed to get a BBS finish, in which I did.

I’ll skip one more day and get a shave in with the 1.50 SB plate and start getting it all cleaned & sterilized for the pass around.


Happy shaves, Gents........ 



Just a couple of pics to show gap, blade reveal & exposure. Not the best pics but,  just to give you gents an idea...

Gus GlazedBoker I'd love to be added to this pass if possible. I know I'm late to seeing this and understand if not in soon enough. NICE thoughts 

it is impossible to refuse such a person, I bought a razor from him on ebay and he condoned my English indulgently and gave me pleasant communication.

Gus GlazedBoker I'd love to be added to this pass if possible. I know I'm late to seeing this and understand if not in soon enough. NICE thoughts 

Absolutely Dave. Sign up right here brother.....
https://damnfineshave.com/thread-homelik...ass-around