Oliworks OliBlade - adjustable razor made in the USA

I had my first shave using the #3.5 setting with a Wizamet blade and Ethos shave cream set. The #3.5 setting has a medium aggressiveness with some blade feel. I achieved an effortless BBS shave with just two passes. The #3.5 setting is both efficient and comfortable for me. Although I plan to try higher settings, the efficiency of #3.5 is more than enough. Additionally, there is no blade chatter.

Regarding the finish, I believe it is tumbled rather than satin. I ordered a stand with a tumbled finish, and the razor's finish matches with my stand. I find the tumbled finish quite acceptable. There are some machining marks under the top cap, but my Rocnel Sailor, which I paid around $400−$500, has even more machining marks.

FIRST SHAVE WITH OLIBLADE
In order to just focus on the razor, all my other products were those I was very familiar with.  After inserting the blade I adjusted the setting knob from .5 to 6 and saw no misalignments.  There was no issue with the thread being too rough or loose.  I decided to star with the RazorEmporium test for an adjustable.  I started with setting 1 to see if it would take off any stubble.  I was surprised that the Oliblade did remover stubble at that level.  There was no blade feel at adjustment and the pass was smooth.  I increased the setting to 3 and the pass was very smooth and efficient.  Again, I had no blade feel.  Then I kicked it up to 5 and the blade feel was quite evident.  I used a few strokes but the aggressiveness was more than I was use to and so I kicked it down to 4.  That being said, the blade feel and the aggressiveness reminded me of the Ambassador.  I would say the two razors are in sync at that level.  I finished the first pass (WTG) at level 4 and it was quite smooth and efficient.  Pass 2 (XTG) was at level 3 and it was a very smooth, efficient and comfortable pass.  The final pass was (ATG) and I set the razor at 2.  This pass was no different than the other 2.  It was comfortable and efficient.  It was in the touchups that I overdid it.  I should have stopped at the end of pass 3.  I didn't and it resulted in some neck irritation.  This was my fault for chasing a BBS shave.
CONCLUSIONS.
The knurling on the handle is very good.  I had no issues with slippage.  It is a bit smaller than the handle on the Konsul which is the same as the Ambassador.  The balance on the razor was fine and I was able to control the angle without issue.
The weight of the razor and the appearance of the razor were fine.  Is this razor as good looking as the Ambassador, NO.  But it is also 1/2 the price of the Ambassador. 
Does it shave well, ABSOLUTELY.
The polish on the underside of the head and plate are no where near as good as some other razors, but it in no way affected the shave.
That said, there are still issues with this product.  I am concerned with the numbers on the setting wheel.  I fear that in time they will vanish.  The wheel finish is very rough looking and should be polished a bit more.  However, other than the wheel, the polish on the razor was quite good.
MAIN PROBLEM
The main issue for this razor is at the manufacturer's level.  There are just too many comments on this thread and other threads about alignment, thread and other matters.  This is a result of a poor quality control department.  Whether this product is $150, $25 or $500, there should be no alignment issues or any other visual or mechanical issues for the razor before it is sent out for use.  If they can fix this issue, then this is going to be a quality razor that will challenge other razors at much higher prices.
These are just my initial thoughts on the razor after 1 shave.  I will continue to use it for the next few weeks to see if there comes an issue.

Would I recommend this razor, YES, if they fix the quality control.  The fact that they have a 30 day return, at no cost to the consumer, makes me say go ahead and get it.  With their customer support and return policy, you have nothing to lose.

Your photo illustrations show tool mark, and poor finishing IMHO.  50 years ago I started Tool N Die Apprenticeship, we were required to not only learn everything about a machine shop, how things worked, and last how to turn block of metal into finished part.  Machine to specifications.

Most of the things I worked on went into Fighter Aircraft, Transport Aircraft, and Bomber.s  Finish was a big deal, shiny or almost shiny, had to have part shiney, so they could work well with other parts.

Were are not 1966, we are in 2024 Machine are better, CNC is better, but it still take a person to-do inspecting, and throw our bad part or products.  Having met Chris of Karve he is OCD about not selling seconds, almost good enough Razors, & parts.  

He is crazy about quality.  A good thing.

I agree. The finishing looks horrible judging by those close up pics. Probably because they really are rejected parts that were made for another razor company located in the same area in Arizona. I find it odd that these guys have never made any other razor before this and the first one they come out with is an adjustable, obviously the most difficult to produce and one that looks pretty much exactly like the one they've been accused of selling rejects of. I don't care how it shaves or how low the price is. This whole thing stinks to high heaven of shadiness. I hate to bring dRaMa back into the thread, but it amazes me how everyone who got a freebie is just glossing over these issues.

I might be incorrect, but wasn't the first razor made by Rex Supply an adjustable, which had it 's roots from the Gibbs?  To me, it makes no difference what the first entry into the wet shaving market is, it only matters to me is if it shaves well.  So far, the Oliblade shaves very well.  Let's not listen to anyone else's reviews, including mine, especially those from people who haven't even tried the razor.  With a full no-cost money back guarantee, try the razor and make up your own mind.

I received my free razor from OliWorksThanks to Jorge for the opportunity to test the OliBlade! I included some preliminary photos below, and I'll post again after shaving my head and face with it for the first time. 






Setting 6.5 - Scalloped side 

I was not going to make any further posts in this thread, but I have a general question relating to safety razors illustrated by the above photo's.  That seems to be an awful lot of the blade cantilevered out from the razor and thus unsupported.  Is this common in modern day DE razors?  Doesn't that lead to the blade flexing all over the place while you are shaving? 

Sorry if I am taking things off topic but I don't know how to post these photo's in a new thread and I don't want to violate any Copyrights.

These two images are sales killers, were they machined in Bedrock by Guy named Fred Flintstone.?

I received my free razor from OliWorksThanks to Jorge for the opportunity to test the OliBlade! I included some preliminary photos below, and I'll post again after shaving my head and face with it for the first time. 






Setting 6.5 - Scalloped side 

I was not going to make any further posts in this thread, but I have a general question relating to safety razors illustrated by the above photo's.  That seems to be an awful lot of the blade cantilevered out from the razor and thus unsupported.  Is this common in modern day DE razors?  Doesn't that lead to the blade flexing all over the place while you are shaving? 

Sorry if I am taking things off topic but I don't know how to post these photo's in a new thread and I don't want to violate any Copyrights.

These two images are sales killers, were they machined in Bedrock by Guy named Fred Flintstone.?

The market will decide how well the sales go and finish is only one factor in a 150 dollar adjustable razor.  I’m not in the market for an adjustable SS razor but if i was I would try it.

So the loving arms of USPS did deliver the package yesterday evening and thus got to take the razor for a spin today.

First off, this was sent gratis by the company so make what you will of any biases implicit in the review and feedback.

Second, personally I am all for giving the start-ups some leeway as they grow their wings and learn to soar, so forums members like ours are the early adopter and risk takers. 

Third, the company as pointed out in earlier reviews has a 30-day risk-free policy... so really lowers the risk dollars for anyone to try it and credit to the company for being aggressive and confident as they signal to the market that they stand behind the product.

Onwards to my 2 cents of it.

For background while I have been wet shaving for some time and have a varied collection of hardware for some reason have never picked up an adjustable. Maybe because I rather set it and forget it than adjust it every time before use... hence this was my first outing with one.

Packaging: 9/10 Good solid compact eco-friendly packaging with great artwork on the box such that the box will be kept in the display cabinet instead of getting tossed as is typical. The razor lays snug in it and does not move around. The packaging material inside the box (foam?) can updated to a planet friendly material but thats really my view of it.

Razor fit and finish: 8.5/10 Finish is machined finish and while it's not as clean of machine marks say as a Yates machine finish its well in line with expectations. The edges are smooth, well rounded and no roughness or excesses material is present in the base plate or the top plates. The handle is knurled well enough that one can confidently hold it without fear of slips. The handle length is just right to let one wield it with reasonable nimbleness... my personal preference would be to have the handle be slightly slimmer.

Operating the Adjustable gears: 8/10 The company is already working on enhancing the dot visibility so that's already known. There is easy but not loosey goosey movement of the wheel, the mechanism is smooth to turn and during shaving I had no reason to unintentionally venture to the gear to adjust it yet one can have a mechanism which locks the gear in place perhaps. Not sure how other adjustable are typically so I will not expand in much detail here.

The Shave: 9/10 For me a razor at least has to perform equivalent to a Tech for it to have a chance in my rotation (a Tech gives me a DFS by the 3rd pass) and my top end (where I rush out to buy another spare) is a Wolfman SE WR4 with a Feather Super blade (that gives me a BBS on the 1 pass itself). This razor got me a BBS by the 2nd pass which lasted me a good 8 hours with no irritation. The razor is weighty and makes it presence felt yet on a 3.5 setting does not bite, even on 6 it shaves smooth with some blade feel yet never threating. The hybrid baseplate didn't have a huge variation in shave feel in the lower settings while on higher setting (4 and above) I preferred the SB side. The blade used was a Gillette Blue (Russian) on its second outing and the soap was Los Joserra. 

I think its a good tool where one will be comfortable using it.

Excellent and very informative review bbssboss

Wednesday 31, 2024
Razor: Oliworks Classic Steel Adjustable
Blade: Wizamet
Brush: Paladin 28mm Ivory Chief
Soap: MacDuff's Prairie Rum Runner
AS : Witch Hazel + Thor's Hammer Bay Rum
Consecutive Daily Shaves - # 2,093
https://youtu.be/W0zqXlR4cNA

My second shave went a bit better. I used a new Feather blade and setting 5 for the WTG pass, then 2.5 for XTG and ATG. One tiny nick that was my fault, no weepers this time. Getting the most out of this razor is just a matter of getting the razor dialed in to your preferences.

For those of you who have tried the razor, what are your opinions on the following:

1. How much blade feel is present on the lower settings?
2. Does the blade feel increase as you progress through the settings?
3. Do you find that riding the bar or riding the cap is the better position?

My two favorite razors are the Rockwell 6S (baseplate 4) and the Karve Overlander. In other words, I really like mild razors with no blade feel. I know comparisons are subjective but would the OliWorks adjustable be comparable to the 6S/Overlander if it’s on the lower settings?

Just Got my oliworks razor in. I also have the Rex ambassador. First shave with the oliworks was fantastic. The gear knob and bottom knob was the only difference I could see. The knobs are different but the oliworks turns smoother, but I did get the gold treatment on the ambassador so that might be why. I was not sure if I would like the smooth bar on one side of the baseplate and the open comb on the other, but I really liked it. I started on 3 and moved to 4 and then 5 for the last pass. When I go down I always get razor burn when I go from a high setting to low. When I use the high stetting on the last pass and cleanup with a light touch I get bbs with no razor burn. Rabbit trail back on topic. The finish looked good the blade was even and the shave was very smooth. I have the pearl flexi and the flexi open comb as well as the Merkur progress and the Parker variant open comb. Other that the  Ti .95 timeless with the scalloped and open comb plane, my unicorn, I only use adjustable razors and this is a smother shave than all my adjustable except the Ambassador, which they run neck and neck, pun intended. With the open comb it was very effective for certain areas and the finish looked good on my razor. Overall I am very pleased with the razor, and I would highly recommend.  I ordered it before I knew any of the issues with Razor emporium and wanted to support a product made in the US, and  would have to say my experience with the oliworks has been excellent. I like the design of the razor base as well. I have pics but can’t figure out how to post smaller pics. Sorry.