Closed Pass Around: Hone Type 15 - Completed
- Thread starter riverrun
- Start Date
-
- Tags
- hone pass around
- Thread Starter
- #34
The Hone Type 15 razor has arrived.
Here are my first impressions;
Wow! That thing is heavy. And it looks good.
It weighs in at 164 grams. That is heavy. The Pils 101NE was a beast, but it weighed a mere 120 grams. Mind you, the Stahly with its bulky mechanical wind up handle is even heavier at 177 grams. I like numbers by the way
It looks a bit like a brassy/golden Standard razor on steroids. That's not a bad thing. I like the elegant simplicity of the Standard razor. And I like the looks of this razor. The word HONE is engraved/embossed on the top plate. I normally don't like logos, but it's quite subtle and I forgave the Feather AS-D2 its logo, so I'll forgive this one as well.
Andrew claimed that other handles probably wouldn't fit the Type 15 head, but all handles I tried actually do fit. All of them look really stupid though, especially the 12 gram aluminium handle from a 1972 Gillette Tech. Talk about top heavy. The Hone head weighs 75 grams on its own. I'm not intending to use a different handle, I was just curious.
Talking about being curious - I soaked the razor for 10 minutes in Barbicide, followed by a rinse, followed by 2 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner, followed by another rinse and a wipe-dry. There is no negative effect on the razor. That's sorted then. Use Barbicide to disinfect.
Time for a quick shave with it. Back later….
Here are my first impressions;
Wow! That thing is heavy. And it looks good.
It weighs in at 164 grams. That is heavy. The Pils 101NE was a beast, but it weighed a mere 120 grams. Mind you, the Stahly with its bulky mechanical wind up handle is even heavier at 177 grams. I like numbers by the way
It looks a bit like a brassy/golden Standard razor on steroids. That's not a bad thing. I like the elegant simplicity of the Standard razor. And I like the looks of this razor. The word HONE is engraved/embossed on the top plate. I normally don't like logos, but it's quite subtle and I forgave the Feather AS-D2 its logo, so I'll forgive this one as well.
Andrew claimed that other handles probably wouldn't fit the Type 15 head, but all handles I tried actually do fit. All of them look really stupid though, especially the 12 gram aluminium handle from a 1972 Gillette Tech. Talk about top heavy. The Hone head weighs 75 grams on its own. I'm not intending to use a different handle, I was just curious.
Talking about being curious - I soaked the razor for 10 minutes in Barbicide, followed by a rinse, followed by 2 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner, followed by another rinse and a wipe-dry. There is no negative effect on the razor. That's sorted then. Use Barbicide to disinfect.
Time for a quick shave with it. Back later….
- Messages
- 6,401
- Location
- California
AND take photos.
- Thread Starter
- #37
Hone Type 15 - Shave 1
I'll do a shave with products I know well, so the razor is the only unknown.
I unscrew the type 15 and put a PolSilver blade (2nd outing) in it, then put it back together. I didn't like the way the Wolfman razor held the blade in place, but here everything is just the way I like it. The blunt edges of the blade don't extend past the sides of the head. Noted. Some people have a preference on this - I couldn't care less. The razor is beautifully finished and with its weight and brassy looks it immediately feels like a luxury item. With its 75 gram head and 90 gram handle the centre of gravity is pretty close to the head. It feels comfortable held near the head, the handle being just the right length to be supported at the end by my pinkie.
As recommended in the user manual (yes, it comes with one) I put the razor into the hot water in the sink while I do my other prep. I do that with my razors anyway.
I had a shower earlier, so I do a face wash with Speick soap instead, followed by a hot towel. I then apply Somersets shaving oil as a pre-shave. I've done that recently with good results. I pick Castle Forbes Lavender shaving cream. It's always a good choice: great lather and great scent.
I'll do my usual four pass shave. I do that with every new razor I try. I'm a bit apprehensive about the weight of the razor, so I make sure the styptics are close by. I shouldn't have worried.
Right from the start I can tell that this razor is on the mild side of things. With the normal 30 degree angle I immediately get good audio feedback. It's removing stubble alright. It's heavy though. Very heavy. I don't mind, but I'm sure some people would mind.
All four passes go without the slightest incident. Not the tiniest droplet of blood is drawn. As I've said - the razor is mild - in the sense that it is not trying to hurt you. After the last couple of days with the MÜHLE R41 that makes a nice change. At the end of it all I need a liitle cleanup here and there, but I get the BBS I expect after four passes. However, I also know that the shave won't be as long lasting as those I've recently had with the R41 or the Wolfman razor. But those are hard to beat. I guess the result will be similar to the shaves I've had with the Feather AS-D2 - a razor I fell in love with.
The alum block has nothing much to say and I go for Yardley Citrus Wood for an aftershave. Now, this is really an EdT and has more alcohol in it than your normal aftershave, so the burn from it is usually a bit stronger. But nothing. I splash in on generously and there is no pain at all. Not bad. Time will tell how long the shave lasts, but right now I'm impressed. I had a very pleasant, good shave. It's not the razor for people who love aggressive (as in dangerous) or light razor. I like all sorts, so I think Andrew has a winner here.
Tomorrow I'll put a Feather blade in it and then pass it on quickly.
I'll do a shave with products I know well, so the razor is the only unknown.
I unscrew the type 15 and put a PolSilver blade (2nd outing) in it, then put it back together. I didn't like the way the Wolfman razor held the blade in place, but here everything is just the way I like it. The blunt edges of the blade don't extend past the sides of the head. Noted. Some people have a preference on this - I couldn't care less. The razor is beautifully finished and with its weight and brassy looks it immediately feels like a luxury item. With its 75 gram head and 90 gram handle the centre of gravity is pretty close to the head. It feels comfortable held near the head, the handle being just the right length to be supported at the end by my pinkie.
As recommended in the user manual (yes, it comes with one) I put the razor into the hot water in the sink while I do my other prep. I do that with my razors anyway.
I had a shower earlier, so I do a face wash with Speick soap instead, followed by a hot towel. I then apply Somersets shaving oil as a pre-shave. I've done that recently with good results. I pick Castle Forbes Lavender shaving cream. It's always a good choice: great lather and great scent.
I'll do my usual four pass shave. I do that with every new razor I try. I'm a bit apprehensive about the weight of the razor, so I make sure the styptics are close by. I shouldn't have worried.
Right from the start I can tell that this razor is on the mild side of things. With the normal 30 degree angle I immediately get good audio feedback. It's removing stubble alright. It's heavy though. Very heavy. I don't mind, but I'm sure some people would mind.
All four passes go without the slightest incident. Not the tiniest droplet of blood is drawn. As I've said - the razor is mild - in the sense that it is not trying to hurt you. After the last couple of days with the MÜHLE R41 that makes a nice change. At the end of it all I need a liitle cleanup here and there, but I get the BBS I expect after four passes. However, I also know that the shave won't be as long lasting as those I've recently had with the R41 or the Wolfman razor. But those are hard to beat. I guess the result will be similar to the shaves I've had with the Feather AS-D2 - a razor I fell in love with.
The alum block has nothing much to say and I go for Yardley Citrus Wood for an aftershave. Now, this is really an EdT and has more alcohol in it than your normal aftershave, so the burn from it is usually a bit stronger. But nothing. I splash in on generously and there is no pain at all. Not bad. Time will tell how long the shave lasts, but right now I'm impressed. I had a very pleasant, good shave. It's not the razor for people who love aggressive (as in dangerous) or light razor. I like all sorts, so I think Andrew has a winner here.
Tomorrow I'll put a Feather blade in it and then pass it on quickly.
- Thread Starter
- #38
Irrelevant titbit:
PostNL (Dutch Mail) are daft. They know that there is a one hour time difference to the UK, but they got it the wrong way round. The Hone Type 15 was delivered at 13:54 UK time (14:54 Dutch time) and they claim it was delivered at 12:54. That was the local time in Ittoqqortoormiit. What a name! Learned something. Thank you PostNL.
PostNL (Dutch Mail) are daft. They know that there is a one hour time difference to the UK, but they got it the wrong way round. The Hone Type 15 was delivered at 13:54 UK time (14:54 Dutch time) and they claim it was delivered at 12:54. That was the local time in Ittoqqortoormiit. What a name! Learned something. Thank you PostNL.
- Messages
- 6,401
- Location
- California
Great write-up.
As far as putting the razor in some hot water goes (I do that as well with all my razors) - did the razor retain any of the heat from the water during your shave?
- Thread Starter
- #40
Yes it did. It stayed pleasantly warm, helped by frequent rinsing in said hot water no doubt...
- Messages
- 6,401
- Location
- California
Andrew also mentioned that brass has great thermal expansion properties and when warm, the razor is less aggressive (that might be an imagined effect though). I might have to try it straight from the freezer when it is back with me
Very cool.
So the pass around goes;
1. rowlers
2. mikebrownington
3. Bechet
4. Stacy555
5. Nishy
6. george
7. Nico1970
8. MPH
9. Whosthedaddy
10. Sir_eider
11. DevonStan
12. Dipesh
13. rowlers
14. Andrew
then?
- Messages
- 6,401
- Location
- California
oops sorry, meant riverrun not rowlers
- Messages
- 868
- Location
- Rainham, Kent
Great write up Andreas, I'm feeling the love for this one, before it even gets here.
- Messages
- 1,636
- Location
- Round the bend
4 days or so....
I like a milder razor, so looking forward to trying this.
I like a milder razor, so looking forward to trying this.
- Messages
- 10,159
- Location
- Southampton
- Thread Starter
- #48
Let's do the maths: Part of the handle is incorporated into the head. Total length at the moment is about 85mm.
The actual handle is 78mm, so to get the extra 15mm the handle would have to be 93mm.
That's an increase of about19%. The new handle would weigh 19% more or 107 grams. Together with 75 grams for the head the total weight of the razor would be 182 grams. Ouch. I think that would make sense for a version in a lighter material.
YMMV.