Closed Pass Around: Asylum RX - Finished.

The Asylum RX has finally landed at its last stop with @Mr Bigmem

  1. sɐǝɹpu∀ / riverrun (ATG/TSR)
  2. Nishy (ATG)
  3. rowlers (ATG)
  4. globalm (TSR)
  5. Looney12345 (ATG/TSR)
  6. Acer89 (ATG)
  7. MikeyJ (TSR)
  8. Fuzzyian (TSR)
  9. Dogsmro (ATG/TSR)
  10. p.b (ATG)
  11. Blademonkey (TSR)
  12. MPH (TSR)
  13. Burgundy (ATG)
  14. AlexNoodles (ATG)
  15. barber bear (TSR)
  16. Betriebsarzt13 (TSR)
  17. Mr Bigmem (ATG/TSR)
  18. ben139 (ATG)
  19. newbie (TSR)
The list is closed.

Legend: Completed, Currently with, Waiting dropped out
 
Ok so here it goes.....

Picked up box from post office depot on Sat. Opened up the shipping box to have a look and very pleased to not only see the razor. but also plenty of the various blades that will work with the RX and some soaps of creams i've not tried before that i'll also be giving a go. Really want to say a big thank you to Paul for passing this razor round as i've been very eager to try this razor for a while. I'll make no bones about the fact I do like the look and design in its entirety. Spesh the handle and the narrow head, which has appealed to me for when shaping my thin tash, as some DE and SE razors are just to chunky to let me see what i'm doing. As for the looks its really coming across as modern yet old futuristic if that maker sense. Elements of th design come across to me as industrial and then they are somewhat military....... ok thats looks and design aside.

Last night was my first time I picked up the razor for my first shave.

Blades, blades so many to choose from lol. I went with a blade i've not tried before but knew i'd safe in the shape of Titan proTouch. I wanted to air on the side of caution not knowing how aggressive the RX will turn out to be on on skin and know titan milds have been safe bets in the past so the proTouch would add that extra protection.
On picking up the razor to load the blade I was very surprised on the pronounced rattle out of the box, don't get me wrong i'd still not loaded a blade but the razor was already put together securely. I'd looked at the razor on Sat when I first opened the box and noticed the chatter everyone has mentioned but I guess in my excitement i'd not really fully registered. Its a fair old rattle i'll say that. The handle is screwed in at the correct amount and the parts appear to be flush. Knowing that a new RX would not have this rattle means a flaw is continuing to develop as the razor is used. How far will it go I can't say but IMO its not a good look. When the blade was loaded the rattle was not there, however any razor with that much rattle due to warping or micro wearing will change the pitch and angle of a loaded blade.
Rather than risk a new soap as well I stuck to a tried and tested and lathered up with my Magnum 1912.
I proceed with caution but I was greatly surprised to find that the rattle didn't seen to make the razor a risk. As I said with the loaded blade there didn't seem to be any movement. 4 passes and after every pass I inspected the razor and was happy there was no new rattle or movement.
The weight of the razor was very balanced in hand. The handle felt just the right length and the design gave me a good grip. I was pleased that even though it was on the heaviside it didn't leave my hand aching.

So I finished up with a clean smooth shave no nicks or weepers. I had to do my usual tidy around the neck and chin but nothing out of the ordinary. It was clear due to my choice of blade I wasn't as close as this razor could have got me so next shave i'm going all in with a super!

So far in i'm liking looks, pleased with shave, but concerned still about this rattle...
 
Ok shave 2 this evening.

I knew I was going down a slippery slope by choosing to go with the Feather super blade in a razor i'd only ever shaved with once before. To reduce risk I again went with known softwear in the shape of village barbers shave oil as a pre shave and KIF shave cream.

So blade locked and loaded face washed and prepped and whipped up some lovely lather with my cadman tuxedo knot.

First pass..... :eek: this is not looking good. Within the first stroke of the first pass WTG it felt like to much blade and it seemed to not even be shaving along the full length of the blade. I stopped mid first pass and there it was OUCH! a cut centre of my neck and 6 weepers. I'm going to be honest I took the blade right out of the RX loaded it in my general to see if it was the blade. I finished the pass with the general and as always it was a pleasure with such a smooth close pass. So I knew it was not the blade that was the issue. So I went back to the RX and gave it a good spray and clean with clippercide. So loaded the blade back in carefully made sure everything was lined correct. I lathered up again and went in for the second pass. So again had to stop as it was not comfortable or even bearable at all. I've used £5 cheapo zamak razors with really bad fit and finish that have not felt this bad to shave with. Ok this was no doubt the combo of blade and razor and not the fault of the razor alone but not anything I could willingly submit my face to anymore. Ended up finishing my shave off with my general to a much smoother, closer, and safer shave in pure swiftness.

My face is BBS but alum and AS showed how messed up I was left.
I'm going to let myself heal up and do the final shave as a comparison shave with a half and half with a pro AC in the RX and in my general.

For now I can't see this being a turn around for me with this razor.
Its just the looks and the feel in hand as the only thing I like so far
 
Ok so the last shave with the RX. This was going to be a comparison along side my General. Both loaded with AC Pro's

Long story short, I started with my usual prep. Lathered up a healthy batch of Haslinger honey and started my shave. First pass left side RX felt ok but not amazing. The strokes were mowing down a good 4 days growth and the feel of the blade all tho there was no way as bad as my last shave with the super. Finished the first pass with little or no damage just a small spec showing through the residue soap as I wiped down for the right side with the General. So the General steps up and I have one of those passes that your hand and razor become one and you are in unconscious competence mode where don't think you just shave! So smooth so gentle yet so close. And at that point I was tempted to call it a day. But I went through the complete shave and finished off both sides of my face with both razors but didn't do any finishing on purpose to get the wet hand feel test.

So left side with RX not an amazing shave but just ok and on the flats it was verging on good but i'll really say based on my last shave with the RX that it was the blade and the razor together not the razor alone. What I will say again is that I do like the balance on there razor, its how the head and handle feel correct in my hand. It works well when maneuvering and even with the weight I didn't feel finger fatigue. All strokes, be passes done and I was left with a few ruff spots in the usual places but no major cuts or weepers like the last time. Socially acceptable shave on the left.

So the right side of my face was as expected and hopelessly smooth. I don't think this was a fair fight as the guys at Colonial must have used magic on making the General! The General when shaving is not telling you with sound or feeling how good it is be then boom you touch your face and its like WTF how did it get that close so effortlessly. I've never had shaves from any other AC style SE. That includes the likes of Cobras and Mongooses and the Hawk. Ok so this isn't a review of the General and I digress lol.

Final thoughts, the RX asylum razor had so much promise with its look and balance and the innovation and engineering in its dovetail head construction were just looks and feel. The things like the rattle that I know has no doubt affected the shave. The fact that even with it on a flat it feels like the blade isn't laid flat on my face maker me worry how bad this razor will get after prolonged use and loading unloading of blades.

I'm grateful to @Paul for putting the razor up for pass around and @riverrun for organising it. I happy i've tried the razor and feel it could end up being a very good razor if iterated and perfected. As is it still feels like a beta model.

So @riverrun what now my friend?
 
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