Paradigm Diamondback Titanium Pass Around

Mike, thanks for the link. I picked up a couple of gained insights. I am sure i have some favorite razors per my biomechanics of finding the right angle with a few of my babies. A few others i get terrible shaves with per me not adjusting to the razor head. I never got on with the Blackland razors or Wolfman razors. They just treat me apart and feel draggy. Now I understand why. I haven't found the sweet spot. The Feather A2D2 is a great shave for me... .as an example, per my biomechanics of shaving. I know others hate this tool whilst others love the Wolfies. I need to practice with my Wolfmansand find the right angle and blade.

The subtlety of wet shaving. Still learning after 45 years of shaving. ?

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

Still learning after 45 years of shaving. ?

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk
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The learning and discovering the optimal shave experience for each razor is 75% of the joy of the hobby for me. The remaining 25% is the joy of the shave experience. The Paradigm Diamondback’s shave experience and gorgeous looks has killed RAD for me. It’s that good!

These thoughts are less about the quality of the razor.  The razor is exceptionally high quality, let that be clear.  I love the weight, the balance, and the feel.  I am trying to figure out how it wants to be used on my face.  Normally I take several weeks to do that, trying angles and blades, and carefully assessing along the way.  With this passaround, that's all crammed into a week, so I am trying to accelerate. 

Third shave -- I normally start with a razor using the method that is outlined on the sharpologist article and how I was taught - rotate down until the blade engages then play with the angle to see what the razor wants.  This time I did the opposite, I started with the bar on my face and rotated up until the blade engages, so I could try the steeper end of the Diamondback's shaving angle.  I normally don't do this, so I played it very careful and safe.  I got about the same quality of shave as when I went too shallow on my second shave.  Both of those shaves were fine, just not as good as the first shave or what I get with my favorite razors.  The Diamondback is fully capable of doing much more, I'm just working to figure that out for myself. 

So for the rest of the week's shaves I need to test the angles between those two extremes.  I'm pondering how to approach this, do I roll up from the bar or down from the cap.  Since I usually do that latter, and that seems to be the common wisdom, I likely try from that side.  The goal is to get a little bit steeper, but not to the point of causing irritation.  I'm enjoying chatting about this with y'all.

https://youtu.be/DRT7KpTcEOg?feature=shared

5:15 seconds - Shane did a great job with this.  It’s not magic to find it, but the diamondback does not have a lot of blade feel.  It’s not like a blackbird or Wolfman for blade feel and it’s definitely not like an Overlander.  Biggest mistake people make with it, too much pressure.  Second classic, riding the cap (only if you want an aggressive razor). Final one I know - using blades at the hyper end of the spectrum (feather, KAI and derby).  

I have owned the 2019, 2020, and Ti so I have had 100’s of shaves with one and I’m sure about this.  It’s a moderately aggressive razor that shaves well for my sensitive skin.

Take a day off in between shaves, let your skin heal up and go back at it.

Agree on all points, including using a familiar “middle of the road” blade while getting to know the razor, finding its best angle for your face, etc
But, after that, I have to say that even Feather and Kai blades work really well in it… in my experience anyway…

I’ve been using mine almost exclusively (for daily shaves) since getting it in the spring, and that’s one of the things I like, it performs with many different blades, including “end of the spectrum” ones (as you call them…), like Feather and Kai.

Fourth shave report -- I went by eye for neutral. That pumped the efficiency up a lot from too steep and too shallow. It is a nice, smooth shaver. Razors like this, with that smoothness and secure blade clamping give me confidence in the shave, which is relaxing and makes the shave much more enjoyable. I've had a few razors that had me worried they would bite at any minute, that's no fun at all!

I did my typical three-pass shave. I had been using a Perma-Sharp blade for the last three shaves and this time I used an Astra Stainless (blue). The Diamondback has enough exposure and efficiency that I do not need to use my sharpest blade to make it work, like I do with some milder razors. I'm still loving the weight and balance. It is a beautiful tool. Next shave I will play around the neutral angle to see if I can further tune it in for my face.

This passaround is a lot of fun, thanks again dtownvino and Paradigm Shaveware! Paradigm Shaveware, would you care to share with us any of your vision for the design of this great razor? I'd love to hear it from the person behind the razor.

I've referred folks to those examples too, dtownvino, it bugs/confuses me when people get steep/shallow mixed up. I don't need to take a day off, I shave 6 days/week. I'm not getting a bit of irritation, not sure what I said to give that impression.

Efficiency was improved using the Nacet blade. Very nearly a two-pass razor with the sharper blade.

I have some Nacets lying around and rarely pick them.
However this was a good recommendation...they were indeed excellent in the DB.
Next time I will ease up on the pressure tho

No doubt the Nacet somehow is efficient and to me special in this razor.

I am also a fan of Gillette Platinums (Russian made).  

Andy agreed with both and compared them against each other and to a Feather.  

The following were the results:

Smoothest to Harshest:

1.) Platinum
2.) Nacet
3.) Feather

Closest Shave (most efficient)

1.) Feather
2. Nacet
3.) Platinum

Anyhow to each their own, I'm also getting great shaves from the 7 O'clock Yellow and the Personna Platinum Red blades (Israel) as well. Pick your sharp and smooth blade and go for it!

I have been happy with 7 O'clock Super Platinums. Great combination of smoothness and efficiency for my beard profile. This is the only blade variant I use with the Ti Diamondback (and Gillette Aristocrat)

I have been happy with 7 O'clock Super Platinums. Great combination of smoothness and efficiency for my beard profile. This is the only blade variant I use with the Ti Diamondback (and Gillette Aristocrat)

I received some of the Super Platinums this week - I’ll try them!

Update July 27, 2024.  I got to use the Super Platinum in the Ti Dback today and it is a DFS with it!  Seriously it is smooth and sharp - I would buy these without hesitation and highly recommend them in the Ti Dback.

Another good shave with the Diamondback. It will soon be off to bbssboss so I have to enjoy it while I can! Neutral seems to bring out a lot of the efficiency of the Diamondback. I didn't try very hard today and still got 2/3 of my face BBS. Some warmth from the alcohol astringent, but not too bad. I do really like the weight and balance. I do not like chonky razors and the Ti Diamondback makes it easy to have a light touch.

My last shave with the Diamondback was also very good. It took off two days of growth with ease. I stayed about neutral and it did really good. I would need more time to continue to tune the Diamondback in for my face/whiskers. I think it would continue to improve. It really is a nice razor - quite efficient and not very aggressive, which is not easy to achieve in razor design.

I cleaned it up very well and packed it nicely. It will be dropped of at the post office tomorrow and headed across the state to bbssboss.

Huge thanks to dtownvino, Paradigm Shaveware, and DFS for this fun opportunity to try a great razor!