Open Comb SE

[I decided this didn’t belong in the Vector thread, so I moved it. - sg]
Sooo ... I picked up a used ATT SE2 (open comb) and tried it with a fresh KAI Pink. Wow! It feels very heavy, clunky, awkward, and unbalanced compared to the Vector. However, it is incredibly efficient, even with that mild blade - two passes to a fantastic shave with almost no touch up needed. Even the first pass alone would have been fine for the office.

I’d love to split the difference between them. I’m more convinced than ever that an open comb baseplate for the Vector would be the bees’ knees.

And yeah, I’ve tried Supers, along with shimming milder blades using an old SE blade dulled and reversed as the shim. Overall, I love the Vector and get a great shave, but it does take some buffing with light pressure for me. I keep having idle thoughts about filling the slots with JB Weld and cutting some teeth.

Btw, most of my beard grows dead flat against the skin, and generally east west everywhere that the contours would make North south more convenient. Some of it requires shaving with the skin loose to keep the hairs from groundhogging.

FWIW, I now use the OC plate exclusively on the Blackbird too (started with SB).

The SE2 efficiency has a lot more to do with its exposure than it being an open comb.

Exposure is certainly a very important factor, no argument there.

I don’t get the same boost in efficiency from just exposure and gap, though. I think the very slight deflection of the skin between the teeth of the comb helps raise the hairs a little (at least those that grow flat). In other words, I don’t think it’s the teeth per se lifting the hairs (except maybe when shaving off a beard), but the gaps between them. But maybe that’s just me ....

I don’t get the same boost in efficiency from just exposure and gap, though. I think the very slight deflection of the skin between the teeth of the comb helps raise the hairs a little (at least those that grow flat). In other words, I don’t think it’s the teeth per se lifting the hairs (except maybe when shaving off a beard), but the gaps between them. But maybe that’s just me ....

I'm sure the effect of the open comb varies with the length of beard being cut. I'm a daily shaver and don't perceive any real difference at all. My MMOC feels about the same as a Clog-Pruf to me .

I’m a daily shaver too. I still get a boost in efficiency with OC vs OB even on my Blackbird, with exactly the same shave geometry. It’s not a huge difference, but it’s a difference in the right direction. For those hairs growing parallel to the surface, every little bit helps.

I too find it quite efficient but not having too much difference with the SE1 (I have the first gen SE2). Which is a good thing for me, I don't like overly aggressive razors.

[I decided this didn’t belong in the Vector thread, so I moved it. - sg]
Sooo ... I picked up a used ATT SE2 (open comb) and tried it with a fresh KAI Pink. Wow! It feels very heavy, clunky, awkward, and unbalanced compared to the Vector. However, it is incredibly efficient, even with that mild blade - two passes to a fantastic shave with almost no touch up needed. Even the first pass alone would have been fine for the office.

I’d love to split the difference between them. I’m more convinced than ever that an open comb baseplate for the Vector would be the bees’ knees.

And yeah, I’ve tried Supers, along with shimming milder blades using an old SE blade dulled and reversed as the shim. Overall, I love the Vector and get a great shave, but it does take some buffing with light pressure for me. I keep having idle thoughts about filling the slots with JB Weld and cutting some teeth.

Btw, most of my beard grows dead flat against the skin, and generally east west everywhere that the contours would make North south more convenient. Some of it requires shaving with the skin loose to keep the hairs from groundhogging.

FWIW, I now use the OC plate exclusively on the Blackbird too (started with SB).

I don't own a Vector and so I don't know what blades they take, but you might want to try one of the Guard blades. The Feather ones are thicker than their normal blades and so might not fit well in the Vector, but the Kai blades are very thin and I found them to fit in anything I have. These blades have a comb built in to the blade itself and are very efficient.

[I decided this didn’t belong in the Vector thread, so I moved it. - sg]
Sooo ... I picked up a used ATT SE2 (open comb) and tried it with a fresh KAI Pink. Wow! It feels very heavy, clunky, awkward, and unbalanced compared to the Vector. However, it is incredibly efficient, even with that mild blade - two passes to a fantastic shave with almost no touch up needed. Even the first pass alone would have been fine for the office.

I’d love to split the difference between them. I’m more convinced than ever that an open comb baseplate for the Vector would be the bees’ knees.

And yeah, I’ve tried Supers, along with shimming milder blades using an old SE blade dulled and reversed as the shim. Overall, I love the Vector and get a great shave, but it does take some buffing with light pressure for me. I keep having idle thoughts about filling the slots with JB Weld and cutting some teeth.

Btw, most of my beard grows dead flat against the skin, and generally east west everywhere that the contours would make North south more convenient. Some of it requires shaving with the skin loose to keep the hairs from groundhogging.

FWIW, I now use the OC plate exclusively on the Blackbird too (started with SB).

I didn't get the chance to used either one, someone please share the details?