The Tech Test

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Location
Devon
I'm going to put my Frankentech head to head with my '46 Fat Handle over 6 shaves:

I will alternate the razor each shave but will keep everything else the same. I won't swap the blade and all the other hard/software will remain the same for shaves 1 & 2, 3 & 4 and 5 & 6 respectively. The blade of choice will be the Sputnik. Noting I shave every other day, this is going to take roughly a fortnight to complete.

Why do this? It's probably safe to say the original will be the better razor but if the £10 Frankentech performs well, it may prove a nice cheap RAD addition for some. I also have nothing better to do for the next fortnight whilst my wife watches Love Island!

For those of you that don't know, my Frankentech is the short Yaqi Nickel handle:
and the Chinese Gillette Blue Tech head:

I will post the shaves in this thread and a brief link in SOTD.

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03/06/19

Razor: Tech Fat Handle '46
Blade: Sputnik (1)
Brush: Semogue 1800
Soap: TOBS Sandalwood
Pre: Proraso Sandalwood
ASB: Proraso Blue

I stuck to 3 passes tonight following the razorburn on Sunday. I'll do the same on Wednesday. The Tech gave a really comfortable shave with no nicks. It's testament to the design of this 80 year old razor that it outperforms some of my new razors in comfort.

Whilst this is a mild razor, it has still delivered a DFS. It's a tough act to follow!

Off topic but I'm loving the Semogue and the TOBS Sandalwood smells great.

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Cool test.

I shaved with the Baili BD191 Tech head clone today and it's too mild for me. I overshaved and didn't get any closer, SAS at best. Hopefully yours will fare better.

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It's funny you say that. I tried the Baili BT131 as a travel razor but couldn't get on with it. Ended up giving it to a guy at work. Similar issue!

Fingers crossed the Gillette Blue head is better! There's a noticeable difference in build quality between the two ('46 and Chinese).

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It's funny you say that. I tried the Baili BT131 as a travel razor but couldn't get on with it. Ended up giving it to a guy at work. Similar issue!

Fingers crossed the Gillette Blue head is better! There's a noticeable difference in build quality between the two ('46 and Chinese).

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Nothing wrong with the build quality of this one. Just too merciful towards my whiskers. But it's my go to razor after a rough shave.

Pop a Feather, BIC or 7 O'clock Yellows and use it on min. 48h growth. I think it will do a fine job.
 
05/06/19

Razor: Frankentech '19
Blade: Sputnik (1)
Brush: Semogue 1800
Soap: TOBS Sandalwood
Pre: Proraso Sandalwood
ASB: Proraso Blue

The first outing for the Frankentech.

I initially thought this was going to be a rough shave as the first pass was a little scratchy. It got a lot more comfortable on the second pass (I'm assuming due to the blade coating).

The short handle and mild head made this a very nice razor to move around the face. It's smaller in length than the real Tech. This would be an easy razor to use in a rush in the morning.

No alum feedback and a comfortable finish. The shave is more than socially acceptable but I can feel some light areas of stubble in the usual trouble spots (even of I can't see them).
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I get some light areas of stubble with my Aluminium English Tech. Maybe worth trying a heavier handle? Dont really get any nicks with it. I hear the earlier Techs are slightly more aggressive and get milder the newer they get. If only that Yaqi handle was a little longer.
 
So just stop at an aluminium ball end Tech then. I purchased one razor to many.... :(
First DE razor I purchased got returned ( bad gaps ) and second was an aluminium ball end Tech. I just added a fat handle tech, think its a post war.
 
07/06/19

Razor: Frankentech '19
Blade: Sputnik (2)
Brush: dscosmetics Silvertip
Soap: Tabac
Pre: Wilko Oil
ASB: Tabac
Cologne: Tabac

Round 2 and the Frankentech goes first this time.

The Frankentech performed the same as the last shave. Nimble and comfortable but not the closest of finishes. The Tabac soap performed brilliantly and the ASB is really good.

I've put the Tabac cologne on before bed. I'm not sure that was a good idea. It's quite strong. I'm either in for a bollocking when my wife gets in to bed or something awesome. I think it will be the former!

I reckon I smell like Don Draper.
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I have now constructed my version of the Frankentech. As previously posted I shamelessly copied the design.

Paired with a BIC and SPV 70th it was a really good shave. Perhaps the smoothest use of a BIC blade I have come across.

I usually use the BIC in a EJ DE89 as a cheaper replacement to the feather that I'm too tight to buy.

In comparison, the frankentech is much nicer, the handle perhaps a few mm too short.

Not as good as my daily drive 6C with Astra but an excellent alternative and travel razor for buttons.

Thanks again for the idea.


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09/06/19

Razor: Tech Fat Handle '46
Blade: Sputnik (2)
Brush: dscosmetics Silvertip
Soap: Tabac
Pre: Wilko Oil
ASB: Tabac
Cologne: Tabac

It will come as no surprise to hear the original Tech has outperformed the Frankentech once again.

A nice and easy Sunday morning shave. The Tabac is a great soap. WTG and ATG passes with a light buff at the end is enough to leave me smooth for the day. The original tech is both more comfortable and more efficient than the Frankentech. Minimal alum feedback.

I'm still undecided on the Sputnik blades though. They're certainly not the best of the blades out of PPI. They've underwhelmed me in this test and in the GC. I won't abandon them yet though as I'm sure I have a razor they'll excel in. That and I still have 115 of them!!

The Tabac cologne was much better received by the Mrs today. If you take anything from my experiment, it's that Tabac is not a bed time cologne!

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I have now constructed my version of the Frankentech. As previously posted I shamelessly copied the design.

Paired with a BIC and SPV 70th it was a really good shave. Perhaps the smoothest use of a BIC blade I have come across.

I usually use the BIC in a EJ DE89 as a cheaper replacement to the feather that I'm too tight to buy.

In comparison, the frankentech is much nicer, the handle perhaps a few mm too short.

Not as good as my daily drive 6C with Astra but an excellent alternative and travel razor for buttons.

Thanks again for the idea.


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No problem. I need to give the BIC blade a try sometime. I'm sure I've got two in my blade box somewhere from a sample set.

If I could go back to the beginning of this experiment, I'd choose a different blade. Maybe a GSB that seems to always perform well for me. You'll see from my last post that I'm on the fence about the Sputnik and that may detract from this test a little.

The test is achieving its other requirement perfectly though - I'm yet to see Love Island!

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09/06/19

Razor: Tech Fat Handle '46
Blade: Sputnik (2)
Brush: dscosmetics Silvertip
Soap: Tabac
Pre: Wilko Oil
ASB: Tabac
Cologne: Tabac

It will come as no surprise to hear the original Tech has outperformed the Frankentech once again.

A nice and easy Sunday morning shave. The Tabac is a great soap. WTG and ATG passes with a light buff at the end is enough to leave me smooth for the day. The original tech is both more comfortable and more efficient than the Frankentech. Minimal alum feedback.

I'm still undecided on the Sputnik blades though. They're certainly not the best of the blades out of PPI. They've underwhelmed me in this test and in the GC. I won't abandon them yet though as I'm sure I have a razor they'll excel in. That and I still have 115 of them!!

The Tabac cologne was much better received by the Mrs today. If you take anything from my experiment, it's that Tabac is not a bed time cologne!

6ff3a8d9a575cb09c30b5ebca43d3394.jpg


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I attached the photo of the Frankentech for some reason. Here's the correct one.
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