Recommended Blade Pairing w/ Mamba

Do you have the Mamba SS? I think it is slightly different from the aluminum Black Mamba, but I'm not positive. I have the SS, and have been experimenting with blades.

- Bic Chrome Platinum and Gillette Nacet have been my favorites so far (in that order).
- My first impression of the KAI was enthusiastic. It definitely takes the blade feel up a notch because it is significantly wider than other blades. However, I soon changed my mind and decided the added aggressiveness did not actually lead to a better cut. YMMV. I swapped back and forth between the KAI and Bic multiple times during the same shave and definitely got a closer shave with less irritation from the Bic. Maybe I'll try the KAI again with several days of growth as an experiment.
- I did not like the Derby Extra.
- The GSB and Polsilver were nice, probably in that order. Can't go really wrong with either. Not sure how I'd rank those two, but I like Bic better.
- Others I tried were the 7oc yellow and Feather.
- I like the Persona Red in my Parker Variant and OC and will probably try it in the Mamba, but haven't yet.
- I like the Vashkod in the RR SLOC, but also liked Bic. I will probably try it first when I get a Wunderbar, but not in the Mamba.

sgarnett Thanks for the detailed blade suggestions! Yes, I am referring to a SS Mamba.

Update: Had another go with the Mamba using some of the tips provided. Tried riding the top cap more and used a feather blade. Still wasn’t perfect, but I think that it was an improvement over any of my previous shaves with it. I expect it was a combination of not having the angle quite right and using some blades that were a bit too mild for a mild razor. I’ll keep working on it - thanks to everyone for the advice!

Sounds like you are on your way! Took me longer than I would have guessed to adjust my angle to the razor. As stated, a more open angle (riding the cap) is what works for me. Rinse the razor often. I like to thin my lather down as this razor doesn't seem to need much cushion and the lather flows through the razor better. If you resist pressure you can blade buff trouble spots. I enjoy blades on the sharper side and this razor seems to enjoy them too. I'm digging this razor!

Lipripper660 Thanks for the tip! I actually noticed some lather clogging the channels while using the razor earlier tonight - I think that may also have contributed to the previous shaves being not as close as I’d like. It’s all starting to make sense now.

I like riding the cap with the Bic too. I'm taking a few days off from all the testing, but I think the Bic was cutting best if I started on the cap and rotated until I just began to feel very light feedback. Rotating to the angle where it really felt like it was doing something wasn't as effective. Taking short strokes, when you back up a little holding that same very light feedback angle, the smoothly gliding blade will tell you that it cut more than you though it did.

I also agree with the Mamba liking the lather a little on the wet side. I haven’t noticed any clogging issues regardless, I just prefer the feel.

Most

In general, I find that sharp blades are less irritating than dull blades in most razors. That may be counter to conventional wisdom, but it works for me.

My father did not teach me to shave, though I’m sure he would have if I had asked. When the time came, in the late 70s, he bought me an electric razor just like he and his father were using at the time.

What they did teach me, though, was that a sharp tool is much safer than a dull tool. A dull tool requires pressure, which is usually bad in most contexts. It can also tear , skip, or slip instead of cutting. A sharp tool is a pleasure to use, and allows a light, precise touch, and fewer passes.

I tried the Persona Red in the Mamba. It’s a very nice blade, but I still prefer the Bic. You can’t really go wrong with either though.

The Feather comes out of the wrapper very sharp, but it just becomes dull and irritating too fast.

Btw, I was face lathering with a Razorock Butterscotch 400 Noir (supposedly stiffer than Plissoft) and a free sample of Declaration Grooming “After the Rain”. I won’t claim expert brushwork (far from it), but I do try to lift up those pesky neck hairs a bit.