Pass Around Timeless Razors Pass Around

Nishy

Nishy

Forum GOD!
Staff member
sɐǝɹpu∀ said:
Day 1 - Shave 1
  • Arko soap
  • Mühle 25mm synthetic
  • Timeless razor
    • 85mm handle
    • Scalloped base plate 0.68mm
    • Scalloped cap
  • PolSilver blade (1)
  • Alum block
  • Tüff Herb ASL
I was debating if I should have a shave at all. Yesterday's shave with the Bunny V3 and a NOS Twin injector blade was phenomenal. I have only two razors that rival the Bunny in closeness of shave.. the Merkur 45 and the Gillette Fusion (I know...I haven't used either of them this year btw..). And the only razor that can rival the Bunny when it comes to shaving in style is the Ever-Ready 1912 (I have used that one most this year... and last year...)
I'll have a shave anyway and I'm choosing Arko soap for the simple reason that I have been shaving with it exclusively for almost two weeks. I'm on a mission to finish the stick I grated into a bowl a long time ago. I'm down to 3 grams of the stuff, but my mission is futile - I have realised that I only grated half the stick, but I have other plans for the bowl. It's a good soap and I even like the scent (or stench as SWMBO called it, but it doesn't linger after the shave, so I'm good).
On to the shave. As there is not much to shave I go for the 0.68mm scalloped base plate, with the scalloped top cap (because it is pretty) and the short handle (because it doesn't scare me). A fresh PolSilver blade works in most razor, so that's my choice.
The razor feels good in my hand, no problem with balance or grip.
Four passes WTG/XTG/GTX/ATG are my standard routine for pass around razors. I know that's more passes than most, but it works for me because (and I might sound like a broken record - remember those?) I use NO PRESSURE. Take it easy... reduce.. reduce.. reduce.. reduce.. clean!
The first thing I notice is the audible feedback - the razor sounds good. This is so hard to describe. Mostly high frequencies. Not like buttering toast (Ever-Ready 1912 without a shim) - that has more low frequency sounds.
Even with the 0.68 blade gap I get plenty of blade feel. This combination is not mild. It's middle of the road at best. I think I got a little bit sloppy with the angle a few times and end up with a few weepers. Nothing bad, but I'm not used to this.
At the end of the shave I have the impression that this combination is about as aggressive as I would want to go on a daily basis. The other base plates should be interesting.
The alum block tells me to take it easy next time and the aftershave has a good sting as well. The shave didn't feel as smooth and effortless as I'd like it to be and initially I have the impression that this was not the best shave ever, but after several hours my face still feels quite smooth. Not bad at all, but I'm not bowled over by the overall feel of the shave.
My most used DE razor is (currently) the Seygus Brass Open Comb, so tomorrow I might use the Timeless with the smooth cap, the open comb base plate, but I'll probably stick with the lighter handle. Maybe I'll give the Timeless a proper soap.. Tabac? Faena?
For now it's an OK razor, but I don't feel the love. Yet?
To be continued…
Click to expand...
Ditch the Polsilver Andreas and try it with an Astra SP
 
sɐǝɹpu∀

sɐǝɹpu∀

riverrun
Day 2 - Shave 2
  • Tabac Original soap
  • Muehle 25mm sythetic brush
  • Timeless Razor
    • 85mm handle
    • plain top cap
    • Open comb base plate
  • Astra Superior Platinum blade (1)
  • Alum block
  • Speick Men ASL
Today's shave and the following will be difficult. I received a Schick Type H1 injector razor today. My first razor purchase in a looong time. Obviously it cost less than 20 quid delivered from France. Just saying. It cleaned up nicely and it's begging me to use it. I'll resist.
So today I'll use the 0.95mm open comb plate, the plain top cap and the same short handle as yesterday. This should be a similar configuration to the Seygus brass OC razor - the DE razor I have used most often this year (still nowhere near as often as my SE/Injector razors).
On Nishy's advice I'll use an ASP blade today hoping for better results and I'll be using Tabac Original soap. It's one of two soaps I will replace when they run out (the other being Faena Mastic). It's not that the other soaps are bad, but those two I don't want to be without. I plan not to add any more other soaps until I run out of what I already have (mid 2020s by my reckoning :rolleyes:).
The shave:
As usual I…

skip… skip… skip… skip…

So how was it?
I was expecting the 0.95mm open comb plate to be markedly more aggressive than the 0.68mm scalloped one. It wasn't. Still a bit more direct than I'd like it for a daily shaver, but not more so than the 0.68mm one I used yesterday. Odd.
I was expecting the Astra blade to give me a better shave. It didn't.
I was expecting a few weepers after yesterday's experience. Yup. That was as expected.
Another very close shave, but again the alum block and after shave gave more feedback than I'm used to.
I'm still not feeling the love. I'll switch to closed bar, plain cap, long handle tomorrow. Maybe. If that doesn't do it, I might call it a day for the Timeless.
 
1morepasswill

1morepasswill

Forum GOD!
It's difficult to know if the constant reconfiguration of the various parts is responsible for this. Every shave I got left a BBS finish but like a few guys here I got weepers 4 of my 6 shaves with it. I also stupidly used a blade I had never used before. I'm certain if I were to buy one outright and use the same set up consistently the shave would be far more consistent , there was too much that was good about 90% of the shave for it not to be the case. I'm glad i had the opportunity and who knows I may still get one in the future. That scalloped top cap is gorgeous.
 
sɐǝɹpu∀

sɐǝɹpu∀

riverrun
Day 3 - Shave 3 and final verdict
  • Tabac Original soap
  • Muehle 25mm sythetic brush
  • Timeless Razor
    • 100mm 85mm handle
    • plain top cap
    • Closed bar base plate
  • Astra Superior Platinum blade (2)
  • Alum block
  • Tüff Herb ASL

I'll keep it short - same software and blade as yesterday. I started with the 100mm handle, but right away I didn't like the weight and the balance. After half a pass I switched to the 85mm handle - much better. (Those little plastic O-rings are a pain in the neck with wet, soapy hands, btw)
The closed bar felt better than the other two. I still wouldn't call it mild, but at least it didn't feel uncomfortable. I ended up with less weepers, but still not without.
Alum block and after shave tell me that after three days with the Timeless I need a break. I will heed that advice.

Conclusion
The Timeless is not a razor for me. We don't get along.
It is a good looking and well crafted razor, but it just doesn't suit me.
The combination of scalloped top cap and scalloped base plate looks gorgeous.
The shorter handle is OK, the longer one is too heavy and gives the razor a weird balance.
At the end of the day I don't enjoy shaving with the Timeless. I find it too aggressive and it doesn't please me with oodles of (nice) personality. I can see that connoisseurs of well crafted, aggressive razors will love it, but I just don't get it. Maybe it just doesn't suit my style of shaving. Not even that I'm rewarded with the most amazing shaves ever. I get a close shave from it, but it's not as long lasting as those from the best. I much preferred the Wolfman. That was a good looking stainless steel razor that gave me wonderful, long lasting shaves.
I could try all 16 combinations, but I doubt that I'd find one that would suit me. I managed to tame the Mühle R41 by putting the head on an ultralight aluminium Gillette Tech handle (that was aggressive, yet nice). Maybe the Timeless is just too heavy as well? Then again, I can't see a 43g stainless steel head on a 12g, 72mm aluminium handle with anything resembling nice balance.
Maybe different blades? Derby? Feather? I can't be arsed. I normally do shave-offs with other razors, but what to compare it with? A Progress on 5, as I don't like that either? No, it's time to say goodbye.
So, today's closed bar with the plain cap and the short handle was the best of a bad bunch, but still not something I'd be happy to use on a daily basis.

Pros: Looks and finish.
Cons: Price and shave.

The razor has been cleaned, barbicided and boxed up. I've sent a PM to @ben139 who I believe is next on the list.
Thanks for the chance to try this razor, Avnish. Without it, I'd be sitting here, wondering what I had missed.
Next stop: Schick Type H1. :woot: Now that's a man's razor! Isn't it? Oops... :oops:
 
sɐǝɹpu∀

sɐǝɹpu∀

riverrun
Nishy said:
Thanks Andreas, good review, glad the Timeless provided an insight before costing an arm and leg.
Click to expand...
I'd never spend that kind of money on any razor anyway (with one exception, but I haven't seen a single Ebor razor available anywhere in two years... phew... even then I'd feel better buying it for under £20).
I'm more than happy to save other member's arms and legs though, except the only way to find out if the razor suits you is to try it. Hey guys: you, unlike me, might NEED this razor - find out! That's what's great about pass arounds.
I just had a look at my pass-around-history. I've been on about two dozen pass arounds. I have only bought one of those razors - the Merkur 45 (love at first shave... I had it for one shave, passed it on and bought one. It's that good). A NeoGam pass-around made me crave for the very elusive Ebor razor, the Mühle R41 (head only) was a definite maybe and one of these days I'll pick up a cheap enough (under £20 shipped) NOS PAL Injectomatic. Everything else was interesting. Some of them were good. Even very, very good. But they wouldn't replace my British made Ever-Ready 1912 (£8 boxed from an antiques market) or my Bunny V3 (won in a raffle), so why spend the money on razors I wouldn't use a lot when I can try them for the cost of postage and Barbicide?
I felt I needed to say that about pass arounds and why they can actually save you money :D
End of rant.
 
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