Wolfman WR2 Head Discussion

I have no issues with a CG Level 2, it’s currently my favourite and only razor. When my number comes up, I’m looking forward to seeing if the 95 WR2 can dethrone it.

Nooooo.....but a 1.15 will.

I have no issues with a CG Level 2, it’s currently my favourite and only razor. When my number comes up, I’m looking forward to seeing if the 95 WR2 can dethrone it.

Nooooo.....but a 1.15 will.

something about a 1.15 blade gap scares me, my skin is a bit sensitive to shaving.

There are a lot of opinions and experiences floating through this thread--which is a great thing!

My two cents. I've got a Wolfman WR1 .74 OC and WR2 1.35 OC. (I bought the WR1 four or five years ago directly from James, when it was described as the "aggressive" version; I bought the WR2 from his new email ordering system directly on 9/6 in the afternoon, and immediately posted about the new system on this thread--I'm "the guy who first posted on this thread and elsewhere about the new system.") I also use a Karve F OC, Blackbird OC, Blackland Dart, Charcoal Goods L3 OC, ATT H2, PAA DOC Evolution, Ikon Shavecraft Tech, R41 2011, Rex Ambassador set at the highest setting, Le Coq caged comb, Asylum RX, among others in the "efficient" or "aggressive" category. The more I use all of them, the more I find very little difference between the shaves. Perhaps it's because I have a thick old hide, damaged by sitting in the sun as a lifeguard in Boulder in the early '70s, with baby oil as my "sunscreen." I use all of these razors in two passes, ATG and XTG, with tremendous amounts of buffing.

I'm really enjoying my Wolfman razors. The WR2 1.35 is a bit more my style than the WR1 .74, but both can deliver a tremendously close shave. I'm on the waitlist for a 1.55 WR2 OC, but I am happy to wait patiently along with the rest of you. Happy Thanksgiving!

He may have been comparing the 2 based on feel rather than efficiency. I mentioned that I thought I would probably like the 74 better than I like the 61, so he suggested the 125 based on that. I actually like the 61 OC. It’s smooth and comfortable. I just have to keep the angle pretty steady to get enough efficiency.
How would you compare blade feel and efficiency of the 125 OC & SB to the Karve F? I’ve used to own both F plates, so the comparison would be helpful.

Perhaps I didn't give the Karve E plate enough of a chance, but I don't 'like' razors that will do the job 'alright' but are inefficient compared with the higher gaps. Saying that to say ... I like the Karve F OC, and G SB for efficiency, but I did not find them 'smooth.' That is to say, they are smooth enough for me to continue to use them, but they don't compare in smoothness to the WR2 1.25 for me. That being with the SB or the OC. 

But, this is such a YMMV pursuit. For instance, I read through the Charcoal Goods thread and was shocked - shocked ! to see LOOT say that he found the Lv 2 SB to be an efficient shaver. To me it is good in OC, but ain't worth a hoot in SB.

So yesterday evening at about 8PM, having read that the Lv 2 is efficient from LOOT, and countless others, I shaved 2 days of growth with a Lv 2 SB. My usual 2 pass WTG/ATG. I really savored the shave, trying to see what it was that gave me my prior impressions on this head. Well, it got the job done, but, like the Timeless .68, I have to work too hard to get it done. Hard to explain.

I ended up with a DFS, but not on the scale of a CG Lv3, or even the Lv2 OC. This was confirmed for me this morning at 10AM when I could already feel stubble on the neck and jaw line. Had it been with the WR2 1.25 it would have been a breeze, and I might not feel that amount of stubble until late afternoon or evening.

So I'm saying if LOOT, experienced wet shaver, with a shave arsenal second to none, finds a Lv 2 good, it goes to show that the differing whiskers/skin types we have enter into the equation. One man's meat being another man's poison as the old saying goes. If you've got a face/beard like mine what works for me should work for you, otherwise YMMV.

Ha! I did like the L2, Jimmy. Perfectly capable of an 8 hour, typical 2.5 pass BBS. It was right there with my 17-4 (a tad smoother). The 115 replaced both as I found it a better shaver. I liked the L3SB too but it could get a little bit of harshness to it.

LOOT, I found the Lv 3 OC could be a bit harsh if I wasn't careful. The Lv 3 SB feels smooth to me every time I've used it ... IIRC. The amazing thing about the WR2 is that no matter what the gap, of the ones I've used, it is smooth. I've used my 1.15OC/1.25SB DC, my 1.25 OC, and your Ti 1.55 SB, the last being the best (Thanks again for the loan !) 

I love the post CCity made above. I don't feel so much like the 'Lone Ranger' now in my preference for aggressive razors. I too spent years in the sun. 20 years structural steel erection and grew up in Miami FL. Maybe that is why my 'tough 71 year old hide' gravitates to the higher gaps and sharper blades. 

Perhaps I didn't give the Karve E plate enough of a chance, but I don't 'like' razors that will do the job 'alright' but are inefficient compared with the higher gaps. Saying that to say ... I like the Karve F OC, and G SB for efficiency, but I did not find them 'smooth.' That is to say, they are smooth enough for me to continue to use them, but they don't compare in smoothness to the WR2 1.25 for me. That being with the SB or the OC. 

But, this is such a YMMV pursuit. For instance, I read through the Charcoal Goods thread and was shocked - shocked ! to see LOOT say that he found the Lv 2 SB to be an efficient shaver. To me it is good in OC, but ain't worth a hoot in SB.

So yesterday evening at about 8PM, having read that the Lv 2 is efficient from LOOT, and countless others, I shaved 2 days of growth with a Lv 2 SB. My usual 2 pass WTG/ATG. I really savored the shave, trying to see what it was that gave me my prior impressions on this head. Well, it got the job done, but, like the Timeless .68, I have to work too hard to get it done. Hard to explain.

I ended up with a DFS, but not on the scale of a CG Lv3, or even the Lv2 OC. This was confirmed for me this morning at 10AM when I could already feel stubble on the neck and jaw line. Had it been with the WR2 1.25 it would have been a breeze, and I might not feel that amount of stubble until late afternoon or evening.

So I'm saying if LOOT, experienced wet shaver, with a shave arsenal second to none, finds a Lv 2 good, it goes to show that the differing whiskers/skin types we have enter into the equation. One man's meat being another man's poison as the old saying goes. If you've got a face/beard like mine what works for me should work for you, otherwise YMMV.

Ha! I did like the L2, Jimmy. Perfectly capable of an 8 hour, typical 2.5 pass BBS. It was right there with my 17-4 (a tad smoother). The 115 replaced both as I found it a better shaver. I liked the L3SB too but it could get a little bit of harshness to it.

LOOT, I found the Lv 3 OC could be a bit harsh if I wasn't careful. The Lv 3 SB feels smooth to me every time I've used it ... IIRC. The amazing thing about the WR2 is that no matter what the gap, of the ones I've used, it is smooth. I've used my 1.15OC/1.25SB DC, my 1.25 OC, and your Ti 1.55 SB, the last being the best (Thanks again for the loan !) 

I love the post CCity made above. I don't feel so much like the 'Lone Ranger' now in my preference for aggressive razors. I too spent years in the sun. 20 years structural steel erection and grew up in Miami FL. Maybe that is why my 'tough 71 year old hide' gravitates to the higher gaps and sharper blades. 

Jimmy, as long as we don't develop skin cancer, perhaps we should be grateful for having developed thick, non-sensitive skins!

I've got the Charcoal Goods Level 3 in both open comb and straight bar. My face doesn't notice much difference between the two. The straight bar is a bit less resistant to longer strokes ATG, but otherwise they're very similar on my face.

I have no issues with a CG Level 2, it’s currently my favourite and only razor. When my number comes up, I’m looking forward to seeing if the 95 WR2 can dethrone it.

Nooooo.....but a 1.15 will.

something about a 1.15 blade gap scares me, my skin is a bit sensitive to shaving.

Then look lower....1.05.....when you use the WR2 a bit, you begin to see that
gap number alone does not tell the entire story...the geometry of the head is designed to
be very comfortable.

There are a couple of guys who swear by the 1.05 as their nirvana razor.

Kurt Cobain was Nirvana for me........ 

Kurt Cobain was Nirvana for me........ 

Yeah but look what happened to him 

Kurt Cobain was Nirvana for me........ 

Yeah but look what happened to him 

He went ATG a little too often.

ROUND 3: SOTD.        DAVID Vs GOLIATH

BBS-1 Vs Wr2 1.45 Sb.


Lassc BBS-1 1mm gap
Wr2 1.45 DC 0.95-1.45 gap
Simpson CH2 Manchurian
Bufflehead 5th season
Silver blue's

FOUR ROUNDS: 24hr growth.
How is this a fair fight?

Well in any fight it is clearly wrong to put a medium weight against a super heavy weight right?
Not this time, to even this fight the Wr2 has one arm tied and must pull his punches to even up the match!
Following up on my previous post taking the 1.45 to max open comb efficiency (handle down) in this match I shall be doing the exact opposite taking the 1.45 to its meakest and mildest side shaving handle high and riding the cap which is equal to its original head design 0.95 gap efficiency.

BBS-1 in the left corner, Wr2 in the right corner. } 4 ROUND BOUT.

As before, The same amazing Bufflehead super slick soap and GSB blades.

First Pass WTG:
The 1.45 was super smooth and I really could not feel the blade biting, I lifted the handle very slightly more and hit nothing, the cap skimming across the lather, so I was absolutely at mildest shave mode.
The BBS-1 by contrast came out fighting with some blade feel letting me know its intentions.

RESULT: First round goes to Wr2 by a comfortable margin.
This first round surprised me, I Expected a closer result between the two contestants but the skin on my right showed way less stuble than the left.

Second Pass XTG:
Again no blade feel from the 1.45 riding the handle high and feeling super mild, the BBS-1 still showing its teeth and intention to take down that stubble.

RESULT: Second round again goes to the Wr2
The BBS-1 is gaining ground in the second round but there is still a clear difference, the right side skin feel is ready for buffing.

Third Pass ATG:
No blade feel from the Wr2 yet the BBS-1 is still showing its nature with some blade feel.

RESULT: Third round dead heat. 
My skin feels superbly smooth on both the left and right at this stage, an incredibly close shave by both razors at 3 passes.

Fourth pass:.........Game Over! Job done!

The purpose of this match is simply to show how the incredible flexibility of the Wr2 can be put to use in any circumstance using its very wide operating window, the Wr2 is the ONLY razor I know of that has this ability to shave super mild or super efficient/aggressive dependant on handle angle.
This is a real shave lovers razor just as the Porsche 911 is a real drivers car, the difference being that even when a high gap Wr2 is taken to its maximum efficiency it does not show any signs of biting, a smooth operator throughout any shave angle.
I must say that I do not have Leather skin, the opposite is true, I am blessed with the skin of youth draped over a knackered chassis, for example all the Timeless razors gave me skin irritation including the Ti as did the GC .84.- all these razors would give me weepers!
I choose to shave on a 48hr basis as I get closer shaves and my skin thanks me for this. Todays test was a 24hr shave after using the Wr2 1.45 OPEN COMB Side on maximum handle down efficiency just yesterday! this shows off the smoothness that the Wr2 offers up.

My Take:
On blade gaps I would suggest looking at the Wr2's sheer versatility rather than trying to compare gap to gap efficiency with other razors, for example if the Blackbird efficiency is required then in a 1.25 Wr2 there is an operating window providing shaves from 0.95 up to the 1.25 gap efficiency all in one razor dependant on how the razor is used-handle up or handle down.
For full on unrestricted shaves the 1.55 will cover all gaps between 0.95 up to 1.55 efficiency!
In choosing a wide gap Wr2 every gap is covered for the shaver that likes to learn the sweet spots of a razor & drive a razor through its entire range. The Wr2 Sb is ALL sweet spot! Just variable grades of efficiency are offered up to the user dependant on experience and handle angle, for daily shaving or once a week, A big gap Wr2 will handle everything asked of it.

In boxing parlance the Wr2 Big gapped beast at maximum efficiency would be likened to Frank bruno offering a long reach and a mighty knock out blow while remaining a gentleman throughout, the mild side riding the handle high would be Ali,...floating like a butterfly.....

BEWARE:
This could be a serious RAD Killer and den clearer outerer......