New Focus SE

Another Focus outing this morning, and I think I've got the measure of this.

I managed to get a perfect 2-pass shave without spending ages over it. I used the Focus/TFS "Alaska" soap sample @Paul kindly sent with the razor, which lathers up well, and took particular care to clear the razor often. The way the head on this razor goes together, and the small SB slots, mean that any shaving soaps thicker and slicker than light handwash soap-suds (i.e. most) don't self-clear easily.

The more I use this razor, the more it grows on me. It's also quite gratifying to know that this particular old dog can still learn a few new tricks.
 
Just got mine today.....this is in my SOTD

Continuing with my cheap and cheerful tube creams.....I held off shaving today as I was expecting the delivery of my Focus Dynamic SE. The RSC cream is something I am familiar and confident with when trying a new piece of hardware.
Well.....I am in a state of turmoil. In all my time shaving....I have preached....'NO Pressure'
This razor has a pivot....so to a certain extent it will perform like a cartridge razor and requires a certain amount of pressure. I had a 3 pass BBS shave. The razor is well built and designed. The blade was held firmly in place with no sharp corners to cause injury. The Durasharp blade is sharp....but I dont think I could have cut myself if I had wanted to. Angle of attack is set up for you.
Many will say it is too mild....but it is incredibly efficient. I could be cruel and say it is an upmarket metal Gillette Guard without aircraft carry-on. However it is a brilliant twist on the SE....massive blade choice and I DID enjoy using it! Its a keeper!
Brian,

I hav used this for 2 weeks and it shaves very comfortable and close. Even find blades i hated in de razor great and they seem to last longer. When I first tried it, shave awful, but think I had not made sure that blade was seated straight in the head.
 
Funny how things work out.

I bought a Focus Dynamic when they first came out, but I had to work at it to get it to what I wanted. Eventually, it more or less did as I wished, but, as with some of my other razors which weren't instant love affairs, and required a bit of effort, it somehow got to the back of the rotation queue. In fact, I haven't used it since last September or thereabouts.

I had preloaded it with a half-blade and stuck it in the rack, where it stayed until yesterday, when it caught my eye.

I had no great hopes, but it has delivered me two impeccable 2-pass shaves without effort, or me having to think about swivels, angles and the rest. This time around, it just "came naturally".

It has, for me, suddenly become a rather better razor than I had originally thought it to be. My main regret now is that I bought the black handled version, rather than the red.
 
The only thing I hate about this razor is I still find the half blade tricky to align.
It definitely needs some care. Carried away with my recent success, I put another blade in. Just fine, until I looked closely at it and saw the blade protruded rather more than it should, and there was no light visible through the slot behind. That would have been aggressive.

The blade I've just ditched was nice and secure, up against the stops. It was assisted in this by having some substantial glue spots to hold it in place. I think it was a Gillette blue Platinum.
 
Hi all,
I bought one of these second hand, with no instructions. I'm having trouble getting the blades in evenly. when I slide the two parts of the head together the blade seems to move as laterally so that one end is exposed. The first half blade I used went in fine, but the second one didn't to the point where I cut myself while shaving. The cut was vertical, as I was shaving WTG I think it was an exposed blade end that was the culprit.
Any suggestions. The shaves with the first blade were very good BTW
 
Neil, I load mine without using the base, placing the blade on the outer cap with the bent section of the blade (made you snap a DE - if using a barber's blase bend the abs a little) towards the outside, if that makes sense. Place the blade on the pins and load the blade and outer cap onto the handle, never had an issue with the blade moving.
 
Blade loading


I've never tried breaking the end tabs off personally, but I do when using a Rocnel SE-P so they don't stick out, so can see how it'd work - just make sure all the bent bits are facing outwards, that way you don't damage the head of the razor.

This video shows you the 'proper' way to use the razor

 
Hi all,
I bought one of these second hand, with no instructions. I'm having trouble getting the blades in evenly. when I slide the two parts of the head together the blade seems to move as laterally so that one end is exposed. The first half blade I used went in fine, but the second one didn't to the point where I cut myself while shaving. The cut was vertical, as I was shaving WTG I think it was an exposed blade end that was the culprit.
Any suggestions. The shaves with the first blade were very good BTW
From my personal experience, I find that getting the blade loading right is mostly a question of holding the blade and top cap "correctly" on the one hand, and the handle and baseplate on the other. The other consideration is putting blades that you've snapped yourself in the right way around, so the curled springy edges on the break act to hold the blade in the head as it's assembled.

I think that it's not possible to guarantee that every blade loads precisely right, and a bit depends on the make of blades being used. That being so, I never use this razor without first inspecting it closely to ensure that the blade is level top to bottom, even side to side (centred and within the edges of the top cap and baseplate), and firmly up against the pegs so that the aperture in the safety bar is visible i.e. you can see through it. I use a blade for two shaves only i.e. four in total from a DE blade, and I don't touch after I've put one in until I take it out and chuck it.

I'll try to take some macro photos to see if I can illustrate this
 
My super comfortable Ed Jagger broke and for the last few weeks I have been using the excellent Rocca. The mention of this thread made me try the Focus again. Main reason I stopped using it as that I found it fiddly to seat the blade properly. However, the polsilver loaded correctly first time so maybe this blade loadss perfectly first time. Lathered with Saponificio varesino Dolomiti and the shave was really very very nice. Close after two wtg passes. Afraid I've never mastered atg! Razor glides over the beard and it felt as if there was no blade in the razor. Fast and quick and I doubt you could never cut your face with this razor......unless the blade is not seated correctly .
 
Hi Guys I've been on Holiday, now that I'm back I'll try again though I thought that's how I was loading the blade. I'm determined to get it right as it gives a superb shave when it's right.
 
Got one of these from Connaught. I am not entirely sure why I ordered it because the idea of using a broken DE blade in a SE razor didn't thrill me, but every now and then I buy something for no good reason.

It is light. That is the first thing that hits you. Aluminium light. It has a good feel to it and, when you get a red one as I did, it looks pretty good as well.

I found it surprisingly simple to load it. The blade snapped cleanly and it loaded as easily as loading any blade in any razor. I had checked a couple of the video's online about how to use it and, having lathered up, I tried to follow the instructions regarding how to use it and how not to use it. Damn! After a while I gave up with their technique and just used it like a DE. Gentle, not standing too close to the razor but, in this case, holding it perhaps more firmly going round the corners, so to speak, than I would with my usual SE's. I gave it two applications, WTG and XTG. No particular reason for not trying it ATG, I just didn't. I didn't get much of a feel for how well it was cutting and I deliberately avoided checking after the first pass.

I did not have high expectations, based on the fact that I hadn't been able to follow the instructions. However, the shave was clean with no weepers and no cuts. And somewhat to my surprise, on checking it was pretty close as well. This is one, I suspect, that calls for practice and improves with use. Bearing in mind the first shave was clean and painless and also that I have a strategic reserve of DE blades measured by years rather than numbers, I think I will probably continue to play around with this one. It is getting a little difficult making room for the active razors right now but as all the others are SE I guess it is ok.

Don't be put off by this one. My experience seems to indicate that, as with most razors, if you treat it with respect it will work for you. And it is a charming little thing.
 
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