#1
Having been lusting after a Wolfman Ti for years I had to settle for what I could get from other vendors.

I had a Paradigm Ti 1 ... the one that was only 49 or 50 pieces in a limited edition, and a Timeless Ti .95 SB. 

Sold both of them. The Paradigm was very attractive to me, and it shaved well enough, but I'd get some irritation much of the time.

The Timeless was also attractive but I wasn't enthusiastic about the shave. Then, years went by and I scored a Ti Blackbird.

At first I was very enthusiastic. FWIW, the SS Blackbird is probably my favorite DE razor. There is something about the geometry (I guess) that rates it above the Wolfman, and the Charcoal Goods for my particular face/neck. The Blackbird, Wolfman, and Charcoal Goods, are my top 3 shavers.

So I waxed eloquent about the BB Ti when I first got it. The only thing that gave me pause was the light weight. The head is light, as is the handle, and when I tried the SS handle with the Ti head it was out of balance for me.

Same when trying Jurgen Hempel Ti handles. I found I unconsciously applied pressure resulting in irritation following the shave with BB Ti as well. So I sold the BB Ti too. 

I've come to the conclusion that I just don't care for very light razors, therefore I no longer have any desire for the obscure object of desire .... the Ti Wolfman.  Big Grin

I've also found that experimenting with lighter/heavier handles on my SS Wolfman herd can impact the shave for better or for worse. I have a 100mm WRH1 that I bought with a WR1 .94. 

I like to leave 'sets' together and shaved a lot with that combination with mixed results. Irritation being the problem. Various blades tried. Recently bought a 90mm WRH1 hollow from a forum member and paired to the WR1 .94 it is a winning combination. 

OTOH, I've had a WR1 .74 for years and liked it well enough. Used it pretty much exclusively with a Wolfman Darwin handle. For curiosity I decided to try the WRH1 100mm on the .74 and got the best shaves with it I've ever had.

I'm thinking that possibly a lighter handle for a higher gap, more aggressive head, is preferable, while a heavier handle on a smaller gap does the trick. YMMV.

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#2

Living on the edge
(This post was last modified: 06-21-2021, 06:50 PM by Tester28.)
First time I have seen a Ti exorcism performed 'live' ?

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#3
(06-21-2021, 06:49 PM)Tester28 Wrote: First time I have seen a Ti exorcism performed 'live' ?

LOL ... Well the experience with the Ti BB led me to look at my experience with Ti in the past. It occurred to me that chances are, if I picked up a Ti Wolfman I'd come to the same conclusion.

A lot of guys say the Ti has better 'glide', as does a highly polished SS razor. I personally cannot feel the difference between one or another.

My lather provides the glide, the comb material doesn't seem to make a discernible difference to me. I've also come to the conclusion that a light weight razor is okay as far as it goes, but balance between head/handle is important to me, and too light is too much of a good thing.  Wink

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#4

Merchant
San Diego CA
All part of finding what works best for you!

I would've been curious to see what happens if you tried a stainless base plate and Ti cap/handle.

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#5
(06-21-2021, 07:52 PM)Blackland Razors Wrote: All part of finding what works best for you!

I would've been curious to see what happens if you tried a stainless base plate and Ti cap/handle.

Y'know Shane I have big hands. I did structural steel erection outdoors for 20 years in my younger days, and I guess my weather worn mug is like old shoe leather.

I suppose that has something to do with all of it. I did try different handles, your SS, and a couple of Hempel Ti, but I was still not completely comfortable.

The shaves were very good, but there was just something that didn't click with me and these Ti razors. 

Your SS bird is the Goldilocks shave for me. Just right, so I'll just stick with the SS and save $$.

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#6
(This post was last modified: 06-21-2021, 08:44 PM by LOOT.)
*ol LOOT scratches Jimmy off the the #1 slot for the 155Ti should it ever leave list*

I am coming to realize I'm in the heavier is better camp.

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#7

Vintage Shaver
Seattle, WA
I originally decided to try some titanium razors because I have a medical condition that causes a tremor and a slowly progressive loss of muscle mass and strength in my dominant arm, and I thought that the lighter weight of titanium would be easier to manage. But I found that the greater ease of holding the light razor was more than overbalanced for me by the loss of the stroke effectiveness that the stainless steel weight provides. And I also realized that adding the support of my non-dominant arm makes the steel (and brass and copper) almost as easy to use as the titanium. So I ended up selling off the titaniums and returning to the heavier but more efficient razors.

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John
#8

Living on the edge
(This post was last modified: 06-22-2021, 05:43 AM by Tester28.)
(06-21-2021, 07:27 PM)JimmyH Wrote: LOL ... Well the experience with the Ti BB led me to look at my experience with Ti in the past. It occurred to me
that chances are, if I picked up a Ti Wolfman I'd come to the same conclusion.

Having started off with vintage Gillettes, I am used to relatively lighter razors.
I have a limited edition Taiga in Ti headed my way...at 61 gm it is a tad "heavier" than
my wolfman 1.55 Ti...so that will be fun.

However, truth be told, the one razor that is slaying all for me at the moment is the
WR1 0.94 SB mounted on a Darwin...85 gms of uncontested brilliance. I was trying to
think why it performs so well, apart from the gap, which is ideal for my beard growth.
One other thing that stands out is the fantastic blade clamping on this head.

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#9
(06-21-2021, 06:49 PM)Tester28 Wrote: First time I have seen a Ti exorcism performed 'live' ?

Hilarious, this made my night haha

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#10

Member
I like Pizza
(06-21-2021, 08:22 PM)JimmyH Wrote:
(06-21-2021, 07:52 PM)Blackland Razors Wrote: All part of finding what works best for you!

I would've been curious to see what happens if you tried a stainless base plate and Ti cap/handle.

Y'know Shane I have big hands. I did structural steel erection outdoors for 20 years in my younger days, and I guess my weather worn mug is like old shoe leather.

I suppose that has something to do with all of it. I did try different handles, your SS, and a couple of Hempel Ti, but I was still not completely comfortable.

The shaves were very good, but there was just something that didn't click with me and these Ti razors. 

Your SS bird is the Goldilocks shave for me. Just right, so I'll just stick with the SS and save $$.
Ha, Jimmy said he’s got big hands and something about structural steel erections in his younger days. “Atta boy Jimmy, Playboy!

I prefer the heft of SS myself, I just don’t care for lighter razors……..HOWEVER…..Shane threw that pitch about the ti/cap-handle. My only problem is that smaller handle just doesn’t work for me or I would chase that razor down

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