This may have been asked before, but what are the advantages/disadvantages of a TTO vs a 3 piece? Say it's the same razor, same company/quality and there's an option of heads. Thoughts?
With TTO I'd say it's easier to change a blade, but there are more to break. 3-pieces are more simple.
Yow... such a simple question, but kinda hard to answer. It is a little difficult for me to break the "shaving experience" (if you will) into 3-pc vs TTO. I see the main difference as how you load the blade. (I give TTO a marginal safety advantage, but not a big deal). Once you load the blade, the rest comes down to the razor's overall design, your technique, and the whole shebang topped by individual preference! I'm gonna guess that the guys can easily fill up a four category list by dividing TTO vs. 3-pc into "like" and "don't like." I might like to see that four-square, though!
For me, a 3-piece is more manuverable because it has less of a profile. A 3-piece razor also has a greater range of angle adjustments. That translates to a closer shave, but that's just me.
I started out using a TTO, first a Feather Popular, then a Gillette FatBoy and finally an EJ89 3 piece with a Weber BullDog handle...The 3 piece in general has a thinner head and also gives you the ability to change handles(and so change weight,length,diameter and knurling) on your favorite shave head which the TTO can't do..(this is what first attracted me to a 3 piece and I.M.O. can make a "BIG" difference in your shave quality)... But I think rather than it being a question of quality or advantages/disadvantages of one style of razor over another, it's more a matter of personal preferance as to which razor is best for you.... Just for the record my favorite TTO is the Gillette 48-55 Aristocrat/Diplomat...
I am split down the middle, I do love the ease of loading of the tto, not having to hold everything and hoping you don't drop or cut yourself with the wrong grab. And the smaller profile of the three piece.
I have several of each. All give great shaves. Comes down to personal preference. And no, I don't have a preference.
I have several of both kinds, ( RAD ) but prefer the 3 piece because of the smaller profile. It just works better for me. YMMV.
Like others have said- a 3-piece DE design will be able to cut more cleanly due to the lower head. Theoretically at least... I don't think an EJ will cut as cleanly because it's head is higher and it's cutting angle is bigger and more scrape-y than a Lord l5 or Tech... A TTO is more fragile, easier to load. A 3-piece's threads can be stripped however. When I had my Lord l5 and black handle SS I always reached for my SS. The Lord gave better shaves but it felt cheap and I didn't like the inconvenience of disassembling it.
Since both are very easy to load. You can get an aggressive razor in both TTO and 3 piece. Um. It's personal choice. I have a bunch of both. The 3 piece is easier to clean.
I have both. In prefer using my TTO Gillette D/E, over my Weber 3pc D/E . Now maybe in the next couple of weeks or so, I might change my preference. I like my Weber 3pc. W/Bulldog handle. it weighs almost double than any of my Gillette D/E Razors do.
I like them both quite a bit actually. I also get equally good shaves out of both. Aesthetically there is something more attractive to me about the simplistic design of the 3 piece. The 1920's, gold plated, open comb, ball end techs are some of the most beautiful razors ever mass produced in my opinion.
I prefer TTOs, as they are slightly kinder to my face. However, it's hard to beat the maneuverability of a 3-piece.
I think one of the more obvious benefits with a 3-piece-razor is that you can swap out the handle easily. With a TTO you're 'stuck' with the same handle.
My preference is the TTO. I had a number of 3-piece razors and disposed in favor of the vintage Gillette TTOs. The head size/thickness has not been an issue for me.
