Rather than sampling them, I went all in after reading reviews of them and bought 100. Good blade but they are slightly oversize width-wise from other blades. I found them too big in my various vintage Gillettes. However, they are a good fit in the Feather AS-D2 and provide a bit more blade...
I like a mild razor. If I had to do some aftermarket tweak to make a razor usable, I'd get rid of the razor. This shimming thing must be a recent trend as I don't recall discussions about having to shim a razor a few years ago.
While I picked up 2-3 vintage Gillettes this year, I only bought one brush (BK8) and a few creams (mostly replacements but I wanted to try TOBS Lavender and Grapefruit). For me, that's disciplined.
Oh, and 100 Kai blades and 200 more Feathers. ;)
They're a bunch of whackjobs is what they are. Seriously. I would challenge anyone to see the posts I made there that would cause them to ban my IP without comment or reason.
TOBS doesn't have a true Sandalwood scent to my nose but it's by far my favorite of any out there that I've tried in sandalwood (GFT, T&H, AoS, and Proraso). These latter creams all smell pretty similar to me but the TOBS Sandalwood is my desert island pick of anything else out there.
I have no experience with Windsor but I don't find the comment about MWF needing to be used regularly at all true. My puck is at least two years old and it gets used maybe once every couple weeks (because I have way too many creams and soaps). It lathers superlatively but I always wet the puck...
Very good blades (I've got a couple hundred) but comparable to many other better blades (Personna Labs, GSB, Derby Extra, Super Iridium, German Wilkinsons which are all blades I own and use).
I really don't have "one". But I tend to favor 3-4 out of the 9 I own - Feather AS-D2, Fat and Ball End Tech, and a Fatboy. The two Super Speeds (old and flare), Aristocrat, and EJ DE89 get less use.
I never remove the blade to store. I might open the razor to give it a good rinse but I'm pretty much a 3-4 shaves and done kinda guy. I do give the razor a few firm shakes after rinsing and pat the outside dry.
http://www.costco.co.uk/view/p/kent-large-pure-silver-tipped-badger-shaving-brush-cream-161172
I live in the USA and they wouldn't ship one to me but a buddy of mine in England arranged to buy one and he sent it to me. I had a BK4 but wanted to try the BK8 size. These are fabulous brushes and...
I'm not a big fan of boar but the Omega 10065 and Vulfix Grosvenor 404 mixed badger/boar brushes I own have both been easy to use and quick to break in. The Vulfix is brilliant.
I got in big trouble on B&B for posting about electric razors (they banned my IP!). I've had a Norelco of some type or another for decades. They come in handy when you haven't had time for a proper shave, especially if you have to shave in the car to be someplace on time. I mostly use mine...