Hi all, I wanted to hear y'alls opinions on Wolfman razors. I have posted questions on various forums, its always good to get as much advice as you can get. I understand (but still kinda confused) that blade gap isn't the only thing that makes a razor aggressive, it also has to so with blade exposure. I know a Wolfman wr1 has more exposure compared to a wr2. For example a wr1 at.85 and a wr2 at.85 the gap will be the same, but the positive blade exposure on the wr1 makes this one a more aggressive razor. From my experience with de razors is very limited, because i have straight razor shaved more. I only have used: vintage Gillette razors, Merkur 38c, Feather asd2 (i sold) Anyways right now i shave with a Gillette slim adjustable: First pass set at 7,. second and third pass at 5, cleanups ,(not really a 4th pass) just buffing etc and atg pass on 3. So i really don't know how much blade exposure is on the Gillette slim? I don't know if the exposure gets higher whenever you increase the setting?? All i know is on the Gillette slim i dont like higher settings for atg, because its not comfortable to me. There is a nice fella on another forum who is sending me a Lupa.58 on loan so i will have an idea on how a wr1 shaves. I heard this gap is mid aggressive. It may work , but if not i assume to go to the next gaps down in the wr1 which is .54, and .48.. I also read that the .48 has very little exposure but the .54 has significantly more exposure than the.48...
Wolfman razors are no better or worse than most other brands. Limited availability and a superior finish is what you are paying the premium for. The Wolfman razors are popular enough that copies are fairly cheap and numerous, if not exactly 'faithful' to blade gap and exposure, if you want a general idea of how they shave. The Lupa is a good example. As far as the Slim, yes the exposure becomes slightly greater as the blade flattens out on higher settings. Realistically, the blade exposure changes are negligible. A thousandth of an inch at most. The blade gap changes are what makes that razor become more aggressive at higher settings. Edit: Exposure is how far the blade protrudes past the angle formed by the top cap and the guard. Gap is the distance between the blade and the guard.
I see that you have already been quite involved on another forum with your Wolfman questions. You will get more responses and a livelier discussion there.
Yes i have, reached out to other forums, not many responses. I feel like the more answers you get the better when talking with others with experience.Why do you suggest i go elsewhere? Am i not welcome here? There's something fishy going on with these forums these days, because i have posted on several forums and no responses. Its either:1. I dont fit in. 2. The forums have become ghost towns and are diminishing. 3. They're mostly snobbish people I believe it maybe number one, i dont fit in, because i have lone wolf syndrome, and thats fine with me. I have been a member of B&B since 2013 and only have 500 posts, so maybe i dont get involved like i should??
Welcome Michael Shultz To TSD, about the Wolfman W2 series variant all I can say they work well with a wider gap if comparing it to my Yaqi Sentinel 1.5mm Gap. There are lots of threads on the Wolfman W2 & W1 variants on different Forum threads. All I do is type " Wolfman W2 reviews" on google search and you will get the information you need. Wolfman brand owner who has been involved with this design of centering the blade for some time with various company's he designed for. Personna came out with the 1st aluminum variant(how the blade is clamped and centered like the W2) decades ago and folks call them the BBO or BB1 . Wolfman has made a pile ofW1 & W2 razors and folks have a hard time finding the right gap is what I noticed (Very good quality razor). DSCosmetic has a good zamak razor called AX-SE that comes with 3 gap variants of base plates with a scalloped head or smooth head for around $20US with the Black friday sale going on (folks seem to like the 1.55 mm gap the most on the DScosmetic AX-SE). The AX-SE razor might help in determining what gap you like before buying your Wolfman W2 you desire? I have a Razorock Lupo.72 that is similar to the W1 Razor but has no blade tab over hang and works very good for my shave needs. Have some great shaves!
Thanks for the reply. Yeap it seems like people have a tough time finding the right gap, i agree. Its hard for me to wrap my head around the large gap wr2 being more forgiving than the smaller gapped wr1. I mean yes i understand the mechanics behind it, that the wr1 are more aggressive because of head geometry and blade exposure. My skin can't tolerate atg with wide gaps, it seems to snag the hairs and i end up with pore sized blood spots were it rips the hair out especially on the upper lip. So maybe a razor with a small gap and positive blade exposure would be more comfortable to me?? I think Wolfman wr1 .48 does have positive blade exposure, but its very low on to the wr1 .54, and .61 I come from straight razor shaving, and in the past i only had experience with vintage Gillette razors,Merkur 38c Feather asd2. I know when i use my Gillette slim. I use it by dialing down as i progress through the passes. I also like to go atg on the upper lip. So i dial my adjustable down to 3 for the upper right and buffing/clean ups.
It's number two. Forums are diminishing. The hobby, if anything, is growing, although the recent trend for beards is offsetting that. New wet shavers are more likely to join a Facebook group or watch YouTube videos. The level of conversation and back and forth interaction is not great, and there's no index or way to search out info like you can on a forum, so I don't personally care for those formats. In ten years forums may be to users what the old message boards are to us, legacy remnants of the past. That will be a shame, because all that information, once gone, will be almost impossible to re-create.
Yeah i like the forums. i am not very active as far as making lots of posts, because i just don't feel like i fit in. But the information is really valuable at times.
@Michael Shults , you’re overthinking it. Everybody feels like that when they have only a few posts and then there’s limited replies to a question. Don’t take it personally and please don’t be so hard on yourself. Jump right in and join the conversation. I’ll bet you make good comments. Like George Costanza
Thanks Buddy. Yeah i said i don't fit in, because i have what i call loan wolf syndrome, and naturally awkward I have been a member of B&B since 2013 and only have 500 posts.
Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there. I recently got into the hobby aspect of pipe smoking. I've put my foot in my mouth quite a few times over the last year on other forums because I knew less than I thought, and thought I was more of an expert on some aspects of the hobby than I actually was. 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing for keeping one's ego in check, but it shouldn't ever stop you from engaging others in the hobby, or from asking questions. I didn't start off as an expert in this hobby, became an expert, then cycled back around to "I know enough to know I'm not an expert." At a certain point, I can't retain the information I have. It's too much. Edit: Once you've used a wide variety of razors, you realize you can usually get a decent shave with any of them. Blade choice is more important than whatever handle and holder you stick it in. The more aggressive the razor, the more precision you can apply to your shave, as opposed to mild razors, like the Gillette blue tip, Feather AS-D2, or Henson, where the aggression can't be turned up and you get what the razor gives you. When you ride the cap, you control the aggression. Once you master that, you are no longer a 'Noob,' and you will be free to pick razors based on looks and finish, not how well they shave.
I don't plan on being an expert. We all can learn something new from someone else. As far a ego that died years ago. One will pickup and learn something new no matter how much experience they have. I am Just along for the ride i put my pants on one leg at a time. It soothing to have comfort and to enjoy something.
Most hobbies are limited. Shaving is a hobby than can be done multiple times a week in the comfort of your home. That's what makes it fun and engaging.
B&B since 2012, and 768 posts for me, which is more than I expected, honestly. They talk about hones there, not so much here, which is the only reason my post count is above 200 there. Besides, it's about quality posts, not SOTD posts. You take those away, and most people don't have much to say.
I didn't mean to give you the impression you don't fit in. On the contrary, TSD is the friendliest shave forum on the interweb. My experience with the Wolfman is thus: I have 2. A WR1 .74 and, a WR2 1.15. I get a lot more blade feel with the WR1 than I do with the WR2. Love them both. If you want BEAUTIFUL razor, I say go for it. Do they shave exponentially better than a lowly Weishi? The answer is "no". IMO, Wolfman razors are the "Mercedes" of razors. Go for it...you only live once.
Thats okay I took it wrong, that's on me, so cherrs I have a Lupo.58 coming to me on loan. The Lupo is supposed to be a dupe of the Wr1 i assume the wr1 .61 It all depends on who you talk to though we all know YMMV, but another guy told me that a Lupo .58 is much tamer than the wr1 .61??? I read all the time that the wr2 is much tamer and kinder to the skin. I know my skin doesn't like 'large gaps' especially atg. Based on my information i gather is a wr2 1.05 - 1.15 is around the same blade gap as Gillette slim adjustable on setting 9. I can't do a setting 9 with a slim. But maybe the wr2 has less exposure than the Gillette slim?? This video helped me understand the concept a little better. https://youtube.com/shorts/-cXF6cHY3lM?si=7ghiqfdVf9LXqeu8 I will get the undated blade gaps there actually two different charts so one has to be wrong.
To be honest i am not smart enough to interpret these charts. Its like me be American and trying to read Chinese writing, and i don't know Chinese writing
Yeap i actually have probably more experience with a straight razor. I just got to the point to were i needed a break, it got to the point to were became a chore. Plus i made a purchase from a reputable German straight razor maker that was out of wack bad!!!! I opened a dispute but i did not win. Its shaped like a banana, i wont bash them publicly though, that is not how i do things.I look back at all the hones and strops i bought and i don't know why i made a big fuss about it, its a very comfortable shave, but i am not a fast shaver with a straight. To be honest shaving with a de is a skill too, i just need to learn how to use one. I am getting pretty good results. I am working my way through a sample pack of blades to find what i like
