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Post by mjclark on Oct 14, 2014 8:58:00 GMT -6
And out of interest, how does the Mongoose compare with the Cobra? Ha ha - now I realise why it's called the Mongoose having just written the previous sentence.
Just like the Cobra, what deters me is initial expense plus expense and availability of blades. Could either of these outperform the ER 1924 or the Schick E? But it looks like a fantastic experience that one day I will try for myself!
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Post by SharpSpine on Oct 14, 2014 9:17:01 GMT -6
For me the problem with the Cobra is the moveable blade bed. It doesn't secure very tightly and thus allows the blade to chatter when it comes up against my coarse stubble. This always led to more weepers for me than any other SE would give me, other than a lather catcher where the entire head chattered. The Mongoose has a 3-piece design which clamps down securely along the full length of the blade. Now I can get super close and smooth, no irritation shaves from some of the sharpest blades on the market.
I completely understand the cost when you compare the Mongoose or Cobra to vintage SEs which most you can find for $20 or less. Compared to the Streamline which regularly goes for over $100, the Mongoose is a steal with its full stainless construction.
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Post by PJGH on Oct 14, 2014 13:11:05 GMT -6
In response to the Feather blade question ...
Harsh and unforgiving ... I caught a few touches.
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Post by SharpSpine on Oct 14, 2014 14:03:30 GMT -6
They are wicked sharp blades. My hand is not stead enough to wield them in a non-safety razor. Even my barber thought they were too sharp to use on his customers. In the safety razor format though I find the blades to be near magical.
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Post by SharpSpine on Oct 24, 2014 22:29:34 GMT -6
Mongoose Jouney: Summary of Shaves 28-40 I apologize for not keeping up with this as of late. With a little free time tonight I'd like to catch up especially amongst the news from Team Mongoose today that the Batch 2 emails are imminent. Lots of great information in their update today; 2 finish options, multiple handle choices, ability to purchase multiple handles, and of course the head only option. Now to tie some of my experiences together and hopefully help you Batch 2 folks decide on what you want out of your Mongoose and which blades to try first. Blades Report: Shaves 28-34 were 7 shaves in a row with the Feather Super blade. Most of these were daily shaves with one of them being on a 2-days growth. I'm finding that for me the Super is best for whenever I take a day or two off from shaving. It will effortlessly remove lots of growth in a minimum # of passes. As a daily shaver I was starting to develop some irritation. Over the last couple days, however, I think I may have determined this is coming from a skin reaction to a certain product and not the razor. Once I square that away I will revisit the Super blades as a daily shaver. As of now though they will remain my deforestation blade. I then moved back to the Kai Mild for shaves 35 & 36. These shaves were nowhere near the quality of either Feather blade and I decided to bin the Kai Mild blade after 5 shaves and not look back. I've already traded away my Kai Milds for a pack of Feather Supers. Starting with shave #37 I went back to the trusty old Feather Professional blade. Over the next few shaves this blade is convincing me of how great it is for everyday use. I was still getting some irritation on my skin but it was much less than what I noticed from the Supers and it was limited to when applying my aftershave. With today's shave, however, I stumbled upon the idea that the aftershave is what is causing the irritation and I will investigate that further starting tomorrow. Handel Harem: Anyone that has paid attention to my SOTDs over the last couple years will know that I have a fairly small amount of kit that I like to use regularly. I have only used SE razors for 2 years now & I can go long periods of time with using the same SE before switching to a different one. I also typically only use a single after the shave product in my beloved Krampert's. Apparently after almost 3 years of dedicated use I decided to branch out and now I'm starting to think that I shouldn't have even done that. For soaps I am about the same with having only about 4 different brands and I'll use the same one for quite some time before moving around to another one. My brushes are limited to the Plisson synthetic, Grooming Company synthetic, and every once in a while my Mühle Black Fibre synthetic. But for some reason I can't stop looking at all the different handle options that are out there to use on the Mongoose. I started with the Dub Legend, then added the iKon Shavecraft SE, followed by a custom handle by Jürgen Hempel, and most recently I was able to complete my Batch 1 set with a Dub Slim handle. The sad thing is that this is more variety than I typically have for things and yet I'm already wondering when I can add in one (or both) of the Bomber Pole handles that are available with the Satin finish. Left to Right: Jürgen Hempel Spiral: 14 x 85mm, 85g iKon Shavecraft SE: not sure on calibre but somewhere in the 12-14mm range, 100mm length, 90g Dub Legend: 5/8" x 3.9" (approximately 15.875 x 99mm), 135g Dub Slim: 1/2" x 3.9" (approximately 12.7 x 99mm), 100g Some quick thoughts on the different handles are as follows. Both of the Mongoose Dub handles as expected pair perfectly with the Mongoose head; functionally and aesthetically. Despite the smooth finish I have had zero issue with the handles being slippery. I've had most of my Mongoose shaves with the Dub Legend and now that I am used to it all the others seem small rather than it seeming large and unwieldy. There is something super comfortable and ergonomic about such a thick calibre in a razor handle. This is why I think I prefer the custom Jürgen Hempel Spiral handle the most. This handle gives me the thickness to grip comfortably but also gives a minimalistic knurling pattern for a touch of grip without sacrificing the shinier polished finish that you lose with the knurled sections in handles like the iKon SE. I also slightly prefer the shorter Hempel Handle as it allows me to maintain the proper angle on the lowest parts of my neck. The other handles (all near 100mm long) start running out of room as I try to finish my strokes at times. Bottom line is that even though I was initially against the idea of picking up aftermarket handles for the Mongoose (I was afraid it would throw off the balance and performance of the razor), it is clear that this razor head is designed so well that you could probably shave well with it attached to a toothpick. Find a handle that you like both the looks of and the feel of and attach it to the Mongoose. You won't be sorry. My shave tally: Dub Legend: 29 iKon Shavecraft SE: 8 Jürgen Hempel Spiral: 3 Dub Slim: 1 That should catch us up all the way through Shave #40 and bring up today's shave #41. Here is today's Mongoose Shave: SOTD: 24/x/2014• Mongoose B1 • • Dub Slim • • Feather Professional (5) • • Plisson Acetate Pearly Gray • • Cella Crema Sapone • • Myrsol Agua Balsamica •As I mentioned earlier I have been noticing quite a bit of skin irritation that I couldn't understand as my shaves have all been going so well. However, with each passing shave for about the last week I have been noticing an ever increasing amount of irritation whenever I apply my aftershave. Today's amount of stinging and burning is what made that lightbulb in my head go off. My shave today was as smooth as butter with no reason for alarm or to expect any issue when applying my aftershave. Yet, as soon as the splash hit my skin I was reminded of why I will never put alum to my skin again. Starting tomorrow I will go back to the post shave products that have served me so well for years (Krampert's Finest and Aqua Velva) and see if the post shave irritation dissipates. If so, then I will have to move along what is otherwise a really fine aftershave. I'm super excited that the Batch 2 release is ever closer and that more people will get to experience the great shaves that I've been blessed with for almost 7 weeks now. I anticipate even more amazing pictures along the lines of Ravi and Ed, especially of the new Bomber Pole handles and satin finish head. Until next shave... Shave On & God Bless!!!
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Post by prometeo on Oct 25, 2014 3:03:56 GMT -6
Very interesting all the information you give. Thank you.
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Post by SharpSpine on Dec 9, 2015 21:08:10 GMT -6
Well a new chapter to my Mongoose journal is about to begin. The blacked out AlumiGoose arrived today and I'm excited to see how an approximately 67% reduction in weight factors in to not only how it shaves, but also how I enjoy it. Will I like its increased agility or will it feel like I'm trying to shave with a toy? Other than being completely anodized a shiny black, this Mongoose Al also has another difference compared to my original B1. The AlumiGoose is made with the B3 enhancements which, to my knowledge, is mostly the longer blade loading tabs. These longer tabs make loading the blade easier & more secured, allow for an even more sound matching of top plate & base plate before screwing on the handle, & they will allow you to loosen the head some for better rinsing of the blade without it washing out of the razor head. I'm all for these improvements and look forward to seeing how much I make use of them & if I can really notice an improvement in my handling of the razor.
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Post by mjclark on Dec 9, 2015 22:44:03 GMT -6
Hey Congrats! My SS Mongoose arrived yesterday too - it was your original review that was a factor in promoting me to get one, so thanks! I'm shocked by the 139g heft of mine, so how much does the AlumiGoose actually weigh? I should imagine at <50g it will handle very differently! These razors really are exciting, and I look forward to hearing your results.
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Post by SharpSpine on Dec 20, 2015 15:40:44 GMT -6
Hey Congrats! My SS Mongoose arrived yesterday too - it was your original review that was a factor in promoting me to get one, so thanks! I'm shocked by the 139g heft of mine, so how much does the AlumiGoose actually weigh? I should imagine at <50g it will handle very differently! These razors really are exciting, and I look forward to hearing your results. Thanks for the comment & I hope you enjoy it. I just got the AlumiGoose photos added back in. The AlumiGoose head weighs 19g. The aluminum handle weighs 49g. So total weight of 49g is less than just the head of a stainless Mongoose which tips the scales at 50g all by itself. Now I need to read through your Mongoose experience.
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Post by SharpSpine on Dec 29, 2015 21:30:47 GMT -6
AlumiGoose I was fortunate to be made aware of a small batch of Aluninum Mongooses on sale prior to the full production run which could be coming in February 2016. I scored the full aluminum razor, both head and handle which they apparently didn't have many of. The full razor cost me $75. The head was 19g and the handle weighs 30g. This 49g total weight is a gram less than my 50g stainless steel Mongoose head only which weighs in at 50g. This is a very fun razor to use. To me it shaves very similar to my B1 stainless steel, just much lighter. It doesn't feel any more or less aggressive. I just feel like I can whip it all around my face. I greatly appreciate the longer pins which hold the blade in place. They now go all the way through to the baseplate. I believe this was one of the B3 upgrades. They make it much easier to rinse the blade thoroughly as you can loosen the razor without worrying that the blade will fall out. As I said, I find this to be a fun razor to use. It makes me feel super strong as the smallest effort can move it clear across my face. It is also a louder razor than its stainless steel counterpart which I attribute to the lower weight of the aluminum. The shiny black anodizing appears to be well done and can even give off a reflection as shown below. Keep your eyes on the Mongoose business page on Facebook for announcements, especially towards the end of January as the hope to have AlumiGooses for sale at several online vendors in February.
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Post by mjclark on Dec 29, 2015 23:48:00 GMT -6
Very interesting! And the fact that it shaves just the same as the heavier SS version is useful to know - I've noticed this with my bakelite DEs. Some of them are <20g yet they shave just the same as the 100g+ razors. The difference is how they feel in the hand and the assertiveness of the strokes required.
What adjustments do you make to your technique for the lighter razor?
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Post by SharpSpine on Dec 30, 2015 8:20:37 GMT -6
I don't make any intentional technique changes. I would say it is possible though that I use a bit more pressure but I'm not trying to.
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Post by Petrvs on Dec 30, 2015 9:52:14 GMT -6
First of all let me thank you, Brian, for these very detailed journals on the Mongoose, the Alumigoose and the One-Blade. I find them to be both a pleasant reading and a very useful one, especially for someone who's evaluating the possibility of investing a consistent sum of money to buy one of these instruments. The Stainless Mongoose, though admittedly fascinating, is far above the budget I am keen to spend for a razor, so the AlumiGoose could be an interesting option to evaluate, given your positive reviews.
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Post by conservator on Feb 18, 2016 11:36:25 GMT -6
I picked up a SS one a while ago. I have found it to be very efficient but not as smooth as my other razors. It has taken a while to get used to the angle, however.
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