So I have been following this lengthy thread for quite some time reading everyone’s opinions and experiences acquiring and using their Wolfman razors. Over the last year I have also reached out to several members who were kind enough to lend my various razors to try. I have tried both Stainless and Titanium versions of solid bar and open comb heads in various gaps: 61, 86, 94 and 1.25, 1.35. I want to thank those anonymous members for their generosity and advise that went well beyond the posted threads.
I have discovered a number of features for the various configurations which may mirror many others’ experiences and offer these as my opinions:
1. The extent of
polishing is an “artistic feature” but it is one heck of a polish which only a few other vendors can come close (check out the other threads and opinions until some engineer gets out a glossimeter to actually measure this feature). The polishing doesn’t affect the shave quality for me.
2. The
larger gaps yield a more efficient shave without loss of smoothness and may be actually smoother as others have identified.
3.
Open combs may be more efficient but there is definitely a harsher face feel - Timeless open combs are very smooth if you ever get the opportunity to use one. I personally prefer the solid bar Wolfman versions.
4. I prefer a
Titanium razor because of it’s weight, balance and softer facial sensation in my typical 2 pass shave - I don’t have the luxury of time or patience for a 3 or 4 pass shave every morning.
As I prefer efficient razors which, of course, are smooth the Wolfman as well as several others are exceptional candidates for daily shavers. I recently took delivery of a
Titanium WR2 1.45/1.35 solid bar razor - this basic titanium finish was pristine as there were no scratches or machining marks evident.
It has been my
daily 2 pass workhorse using my favorite blade, the Personna Red. I have been able to sustain nearly an entire day of BBS results doing the typical 135/145 2 pass shave.
The 135 Wolfman, in my hands, is slightly
more efficient than Charcoal Goods L3 but they are comparable whereas the 145 Wolfman is even more efficient and slightly more efficient than the (original) Paradigm Ti1. The Paradigm T1 is still a smoother shave than any Wolfman with only a slight reduction in efficiency. If you can get ahold of any of those 50 Ti1 Paradigm’s it is so smooth you may not feel the blade and a 2 pass shave is quick, safe and extremely efficient. These higher gap Wolfman razors are still more efficient. The Raw RS10 (recently discontinued) is also smoother yet nowhere near as efficient as a 125 or even 86. Again these are my experiences as a daily shaver using very efficient razors.
Now no razor experience is complete without some
”experimentation” which for some of you may be considered heresy. Nevertheless I have shimmed many razors including my newest Wolfman which typically increases the gaps and enhance efficiency of my shaves. When
I shimmed the Wolfman I did not loose any significant smoothness. Others on the site claim the larger gaps are actually smoother than the milder gaps. What was interesting was the “4 point” securing system of the WR2 head makes it very easy to load a shim without risking cutting oneself when assembling this 3-piece razor. Just put the cap down, place the blade in it and then drop in the shim(s) before putting on the guard and screwing in the handle - you need a lot more attention and care when shimming a WR1 because of the posts. So far I have maxed 3 shims on the WR2 with mind blowing efficiency, no cuts and a smooth shave ! If a razor blade is 0.04” that converts to 0.1026 mm meaning 3 shims would add approximately a 0.3 mm gap turning my Wolfman WR2 into something akin to a 175/165 beast.
So if someone is
unsure how a certain gapped razor will perform for them you may want to place a shim or two and try it out.
Smoothness does not suffer with larger gap Wolfman’s but efficiency will improve.
Shimming will not ruin your finish but may
assist one in discovering what gap would be best if you are looking for a second or even first Wolfman. It
may even save you a bunch of cash as you could “convert” your milder Wolfman into a doppelgänger of a beast.
Best of luck AJ
PS Thanks SFS