Okay, I originally planned to shave again with my Nodachi again a few days back, but was tired and the SLOC 2.0 came in. Since I had decent growth from a few days of not shaving I took the SLOC 2.0 and my Gillette Tuckaway (Not flat plate) out for a spin.
Equipment used:
Simpson Vetyver & Lavendar shaving cream
Nivea face wash
A new Personna Lab Blue in both
Mazorin After Shave Balm w/ a dollop of 444
SLOC 2.0 & Gillette Tuckaway of course
Left side was devoted to the tuckaway and the right side to the SLOC 2.0
I started with the left side as I haven't used it in awhile and wanted to start with something familiar. Started with my WTG pass. I had a few areas where the blade felt like it tugged a bit, which is a common occurrence for me. I was not much concerned with this as it was minimal, and I wanted to use my blade I've been using the most for years now. I have a known blade, Derby Extra Green, that excels with the Tuckaway, and I'll revisit this shave with it sometime. Other than a few areas of minor discomfort that was resolved with a slight change in angle and reattempting it, the pass went well. No nicks to worry about. Smoothness was mostly decent, but know from prior experiences the Derby Extra just works better. It's strange as I detest that blade in everything else I tested it with, and when I've tested newer blades with it I was not happy. Derby Premium does better. Blade feel is slightly present, but for the most part feels recessed. I wouldn't call it aggressive either, but if you have a skin imperfection it can nick it if not careful, so it is more middling.
The second pass went much the same being my standard XTG/ATG pass. It favors towards across the grain by 70 percent, but I do a slight angling to get some slight against the grain as well since the hairs go in a circular pattern. Running my hand across the left section against the grain shows some that feel slightly rough, but nothing that shows visibly. It was a close comfortable shave, and one I am well happy with.
The SLOC 2.0 razor impressed me with the first stroke that I took with it with my first WTG pass on my right side of my face. The handle is definitely slippery, so you will want to use alum, but with it I felt the grip was secure, and the rings in it were beneficial in the grip. I believe what was impressive with the first stroke was the glide. I tested cutting with it on my hand to see if I could find what it was I liked, and would probably have to say that was what it was, along with one of the best cutting angles I've felt in a razor. It seems to be quite versatile with a wide range for its sweet spot. I felt above and under my lips using a slightly different angle for cutting that gave increased blade feel as the angle was steeper, but had no decreased discomfort as I've experienced with some razors when going steeper. For just right under the nose I would have to say if it isn't the best I've used for cutting there, it is in the top three. Another big nod in its favor is I experienced increased smoothness and considerably less tugging. There is a pleasurable feeling to the top cap having teeth in them. I can't explain the feeling, but it was one I noticed, and found pleasant.
The second pass was perhaps just a bit more pleasurable as I went more ATG than XTG with this pass, and found I could fiddle with the angle in many ways that all felt great. The teeth in the top cap do seem to aid in blade buffing and have to say that even going ATG on my face now after the shave find few spots that I could improve upon. I would say the shave is closer on the right side right now than the left side which I consider quite excellent as it is my right side that has the heavier growth, and is tougher to shave usually. I only have one spot where breakouts can occur if I have a blemish there before shaving and accidently nick it, but it has been few and far that has happened to me in the past few years.
It's hard to say everything that I feel with the shave, but just this first time out with the SLOC 2.0 razor has left me well impressed with it, and it feels like a razor 3 times its price. I'm not one for open combs, and have considered my Gillette Tuckaway my best open comb I have for some time. I feel that this SLOC 2.0 is a serious contender to that, and could well become my preference when using an OC razor.
This was the best scenario I could give the SLOC 2.0 for a beginning shave, and it did admirably. I'll need to test it out under conditions more favorable to my Tuckaway now. I've viewed OC razors for myself personally to be used when I haven't shaved for awhile, and not everyday. I could do my Gillette Tuckaway with a Green Derby everyday, but I just found my SB razors to do a better job with better comfort.
I'll try to test the SLOC with the Tuckaway with a Green Derby around the same time about tomorrow or possibly early morning Monday to see how that goes. Oh, and before I forget, the teeth in use do not feel sharp to me, but they might possibly be a deal breaker for some. It would depend on the angle you shave at with this, and as I noted it seems to have a good range for its sweet spot to shave with. I can say the teeth on the SLOC 2.0 are not to the level of sharp as an iKon razor I had in the past. I forgot the model, but that was terribly sharp. I might notice it become an issue with more use, and if it does I will bring that up. I want to get in more uses with this, and have a Masamune OC head I can use for comparison. I want to try and be as impartial as possible, but know that can be nigh impossible. Flavor of the month is so easy to let yourself become overcome with!