I just used mine for the second time (the first time was when i grabbed it out of the mail box yesterday and did a touch up) and quickly realized I am going to have to change my shave routine just a bit. Not going to be ATG on my mustache any more but XTG works rather well. One pass and a clean up seems to get the same results as two or three passes and a clean up with EJ 89. My face is irritated right now but it was not irritated at all after my two passes, i just wanted to keep at it to try to work out that angle and wound up shaving all over again....... twice. Rather a fun razor to use but i wouldn't use the r41 if my wife was talking to me or i was bothered by something or had to go to a wedding that day. The blade angle does allude me though, it can be steep or shallow and it cuts I am not sure where it cuts best. Tried starting with it perpendicular to my face and it started cutting around 45 deg. It didn't quit cutting until like 15-20 deg. kind of a big window to work on.
I order a r41 head and weber wave handle today. I hope it shaves me close. ATT s2 is the closes shave ive had yet put I heard the r41 is aggressive.
Aggressive is a word that i don't think feels right, it is a more versatile tool that asks more from its operator. It won't cut you, you have to cut your self with it. But if you use it correctly I believe it will allow you to do the job with fewer passes.
The R41 does take a little practice in determining the ideal angle, particularly if one is accustomed to a milder vintage or modern razor. Once one finds the sweet spot (correct angle and right amount of pressure)—where you get extremely close yet comfortable shaves, the aggressiveness (= efficiency) of the R41 becomes apparent. Rarely have I ever felt the need to do a third (or ATG) pass using that razor.
Im going to figgure it out, the 89 is a very nice razor but it lacks a little hourse power that the r41 has
GOOD LUCK!! After repeated tries, I simply could find NO love with the R41. While it certainly shaved me close, it also irritated the hell out of my face. Just not worth the pain to me when my Stahly, Weber and "NEW" LCOC will give me just as close a shave with ZERO irritation, even if it takes an extra pass.
Here's a thread from a couple of years ago when I picked up my first Mühle R41. That model was the 2011 model, a particularly ferocious razor that makes today's R41 seem a bit tame. My First R41 Heres another thread I started in Jan of 2014 comparing the two R41 models: Dueling Mühles- 2011 vs 2013
I have the 2013 R41,and TBH,couldn't see what all the fuss is about,its very efficient,but not that aggressive,I find it a fairly smooth shave,as long as you take your time,and do the right amount of prep.If you want really aggressive,just load up a Feather into a Merkur Vision 2000,turn it up to max,and give that a go!,as I did,for an experiment, 2 days ago...Close?,I only now have what could be classed as 'proper' 5 o'clock shadow 50 hours later...It shaved so close,my barbed wire bristles are actually quite painful growing back through the skin...And no,it's down to irritation from the shave!,apart from a cut (my fault,I slipped) ,it was an irritation free shave!,but not an experiment I shall be repeating...
today I used a new Astra SP and shaved down for the first pass and shaved slowly up in short strokes for the second. i am still working on that perfect angle but wooh, I never have had a closer shave at the corners of my mouth or mustache area.... ever. I don't think I will have anything to shave tomorrow but next time I think I will use a Pol Silver or Feather but my hope is that i really like this razor best with a Persona Red or the Astra or anything that costs less then .35 a pop. I really love the Derby, Red, Astra prices never feel bad about changing one out. My face feels like a strangers
Recently bought an R41 and I'm 3 shaves in with GSB blade , as Dr Terror said I can't see what all the fuss is about .The razor is efficient and at the same time smooth , I am being careful as any new razor has a learning curve. Two passes and very little touch up, nice smooth shaves so far , I shave every second day and the razor seems a little tuggy on two days growth but gives me the closes shaves with the least passes so far . Glenn
Pol Silver today, not much to shave after yesterday. one pass down and one pass up, slow around the nose and a few touch up spots that need strange angles and i am back to smooth and irritation free. tomorrow i will try persona red. it is a great razor, really lets you get after the hair.
The 2013 version is refined aggression compared to the 2011 version. Slow and steady wins the race on mastering this razor.
TBH,I found Polsilver SI's,Perma-Sharp Super's,Astra SP's,Rapira Platinum Lux's,Feather's,all really rough for me in a R41.I found Voskhod's worked a treat though.
I am still looking for my blade, the Pol Silver was ok, perhaps my favorite so far the Persona Red didn't thrill me so i put it in my 89 for the second pass and i thought i forgot to put the blade in. where is the blade! felt like i couldn't cut my self if i tried. very obvious that i was taking less hair with every pass. I still have to try feather and i still have to try Derby, i left the extremes for last. funny feeling going back to that 89 though. huge diffrence.
I dont have the EJ89,but I have the Merkur (34CHD) equivalent, am sure it will be OK for a 'daily shaver' (Not my choice,as I know it is quite mild,way to mild for my liking,but I only shave every 3-4 days).TBH,I don't think the R41 was designed to be a daily driver!,I think it was designed for lazy guys like me,that only shave,when their bristles get so long,it annoys them!.Careful putting a Feather in the R41,I found it really hated different angles (steep),and it pulled and tugged like a good'un!.
I didn't shave yesterday, didn't need to but had not time either so this morning I went back at it with a lot more confidence since i had some growth and a day rest and this was my forth or fifth time with the r41. Loaded a Derby, they always instill confidence in me and proceed to whip up the best lather i ever made with the Proraso and started shaving! WTG under the nose in 4 strokes, cross over to the left side burn and made two quick long strokes on that side and moved to the right side and made my first stroke downward and I heard it...... the r41 spoke to me and i froze up imiediatly and in a ever so soft voice she said "I like it slow.... if you take your time i promise it will be better for both of us" I smiled as the white remining lather turned red and I realized she was right, the lady will have her way. i went on to have a very delightful close shave, the razor preformed flawlessly and once again i walked away totally amazed and with a new respect for my relationship with this razor. I think i may be in love.
There is a fair bit of blade exposure with the R41,so if you can hear it cut,you are doing it right!...
