Completed Focus R48

slapo

slapo

It's... alive!
I'm wondering whether the one in the passaround has a stronger spring than the one I have. I only need to apply minimal pressure, and not quite perpendicular to skin, to engage the pivot in the small amount I use it with (if I choose to use the pivot at all).
 
sɐǝɹpu∀

sɐǝɹpu∀

riverrun
slapo said:
I'm wondering whether the one in the passaround has a stronger spring than the one I have. I only need to apply minimal pressure, and not quite perpendicular to skin, to engage the pivot in the small amount I use it with (if I choose to use the pivot at all).
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Join the pass around and let us know :D
 
Nick_S

Nick_S

Forum GOD!
slapo said:
Which bit is it that seems complicated, though?
I'm apparently a bit of a special cookie here, but:
- applying pressure at a certain point - easy, unless habits from other tools are applied.
- loading a blade - drop in on there and slide on.

It's hardly perfect - using a blade with wax dots could make loading fussy. The lather needs to be thinner. Requires learning a technique that differs from other shaving tools.
Then again, I don't think there are many people who pick up a safety razor and start producing great shaves right off the bat, without being extra careful the initially when handling blades and who can whip up a lather at just the right consistency that matches their razor.
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When just about every other razor is the utmost in simplicity to use, making a razor that is both awkward and counter-intuitive to use seems a little...out there. The point of being in business is to make money, and to make something that doesn't go down well in user acceptance testing seems...well...a bad move business wise :)
 
slapo

slapo

It's... alive!
Nick_S said:
When just about every other razor is the utmost in simplicity to use, making a razor that is both awkward and counter-intuitive to use seems a little...out there. The point of being in business is to make money, and to make something that doesn't go down well in user acceptance testing seems...well...a bad move business wise :)
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One of my earlier concerns was how little time people spent with the razor exactly because I've heard of only a few cases when people used something that works differently to what they used and had instant success with it. Think electric shaver users to a DE/AC SE, March 3 style carts to DE/AC SE, DE to injectors (Schick style), or people new to shavettes and straights. Even carts require some getting used to, because there is such a thing as too much pressure. Every now and then, there are posts by people who decided to go back to carts or electric shavers because they can't get used to simpler shaving tools. I doubt everyone who gives up makes a post about it, too.
IMO, the R48 is neither difficult not complicated to use. Not any more than getting used to a DE/SE, at least for me. Why others are having difficulties with it, I can really only guess at and I appear to be among the minority of those who have no issues with it here on ATG, though practically all feedback I read on it here was from members of this passaround.
Perhaps there is variance in production of the razor and sub-par pieces slip though quality control. Maybe people keep reverting to habits acquired through used of other shaving tools without realising it.
Or perhaps, just like you said, they didn't do sufficient user testing and the design needs to be more like Gillette and other carts with a hinge closer to the front of the head to be acceptably easy to use and intuitive for a broader range of consumers.

If you don't mind putting me on the list, I can try the passaround razor and compare it to mine to see if they're different. I'm not sure whether I could help otherwise, though, as I think I shared all tips I had on its use already.
 
Nick_S

Nick_S

Forum GOD!
slapo said:
One of my earlier concerns was how little time people spent with the razor exactly because I've heard of only a few cases when people used something that works differently to what they used and had instant success with it. Think electric shaver users to a DE/AC SE, March 3 style carts to DE/AC SE, DE to injectors (Schick style), or people new to shavettes and straights. Even carts require some getting used to, because there is such a thing as too much pressure. Every now and then, there are posts by people who decided to go back to carts or electric shavers because they can't get used to simpler shaving tools. I doubt everyone who gives up makes a post about it, too.
IMO, the R48 is neither difficult not complicated to use. Not any more than getting used to a DE/SE, at least for me. Why others are having difficulties with it, I can really only guess at and I appear to be among the minority of those who have no issues with it here on ATG, though practically all feedback I read on it here was from members of this passaround.
Perhaps there is variance in production of the razor and sub-par pieces slip though quality control. Maybe people keep reverting to habits acquired through used of other shaving tools without realising it.
Or perhaps, just like you said, they didn't do sufficient user testing and the design needs to be more like Gillette and other carts with a hinge closer to the front of the head to be acceptably easy to use and intuitive for a broader range of consumers.

If you don't mind putting me on the list, I can try the passaround razor and compare it to mine to see if they're different. I'm not sure whether I could help otherwise, though, as I think I shared all tips I had on its use already.
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I'm prepared to eat my words if I can be added to the list @Rowlers ?

I agree there is an adjustment period, but there shouldn't be issues with blade loading (safety). I also fail to see the point in a pivoting head on a razor such as this, but again, if the opportunity arises, I will happily give it a whirl and review accordingly, with findings from Day 1 to the end of the trial.
 
p.b

p.b

Forum GOD!
I need to re-calibrate my marks out of 10. Please delete 1 from all previous statements. This morning I shaved with an Alumigoose V2 and a Feather Pro - that is a 9/10 shave. Closer, faster and far less after-shave sting. More info to follow.
 
p.b

p.b

Forum GOD!
Eventually I achieved good shaves with this razor. The best I had were using a Gillette Silver Blue. Feathers were as close but with more blood spots.

once I'd twigged how to get the best from this razor I had comfortable but not that close shaves. The problem for this razor is that I can get just as comfortable shaves from many of my razors and all are much closer. It is fairly hard to un-learn the DE/SE techniques that have served me so well for 6+ years but I think I got there and found that this doesn't offer me anything better than my (smallish) collection of AC/DE/SE razors I already have.

Thanks to ATG for this pass-around. It's been very interesting.
 
Roscotanna

Roscotanna

Forum GOD!
Sorry for the delay chaps,

I had my first shave with this on Sunday evening and here are my thoughts:

Loading-
Snapped my blade in half and excitedly got to placing it against the pins and already I could see this was going to give me trouble. It doesn’t seat securely and with the bent up tabs of the broken blade it gets smushed about when you offer up the rest of the razor. It was also probably the most terrifying loading of a blade I’ve had to do yet... adds to the excitement though, the risk of losing a finger!

First pass-
With the first pass all I could think was “this pivot is totally pointless” I didn’t feel the need to engage it even once during my first pass and it seems to make the handle ride at a really odd angle.
Still, no nicks or issues. It did the job.

Second/final pass-
I recently converted from a three pass shaver to a two pass shaver with a sort of, hybrid second pass where I go XTG and J-hook then a little ATG on trouble spots.
This is when the pivot started to make sense. As I got comfortable with the razor it started to shine and this ‘hybrid pass’ went great. I started to place the back and of the top cap onto my skin then engage the pivot until the blade touched and it seemed cut incredibly smoothly, and left me comfortable and I swear I got closer in my trouble spots with this than anything else I’ve used.

Maybe it was a fluke. I hope not, I’m looking forward to using it again tonight to check :)
The loading of the blade is disappointing and fiddly but I got a nice shave. I’m hoping that the first pass makes more sense tonight.
B9956A04-0AC2-4557-9FF9-DED6AEAB862C.jpeg

Cheers,
Ross
 
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