Shave review of Janus Adjustable razor and Shave Off vs Gillette F4 Toggle

Excellent review Bo and I’m glad to hear that the Janus was as smooth or almost as smooth as the Raw which has been the smoothest yet efficient modern razor in my den. Just for the heck of it the next time you pull out a new Feather Blade try hand stropping it 3 times on each of the 4 sides. Let me know if you notice a difference in smoothness.
I also at first thought the Janus would be to large a razor and you’re description of how your opinion changed once you actually used mirrors mine.

I also found that the Janus didn’t like a thick coating of shave soap but a slick soap with good ghost slickness worked best as you know I do a lot of skin stretching and reverse skin stretching when using my SSSST. Only a few days and we all get to meet up at Maggard’s Shave event.

Dragonsbeard, if I had known your trick of stropping Feathers before use, I wouldn't have discovered Derbys...lol...

Thank you! I’m beginning to think the size isn’t as big a deal as I had thought. Especially if the head will be shrunk for the final production.

Would love to get in on the pass around next time... but I live in Canada.

Also, during the duration of this thread only two new backers have appeared and there are 68 left. Janus Razors can you clue us in on what might happen should the Kickstarter fall through?

AQU, the dome of the Janus Razor production design is a tad lower profile than the slim adjustable.

The machine shop I have used all along is flexible to making small batches here and there. The machine shop will have to revisit piece parts cost. And of course, my goal is not to make it more expensive. I wanna trend the opposite direction.

Janus Lev 9 vs Wolfman WR1 .94 DC
It has been about 36 hrs since my last shave and I am back into my nightly shave routine.
Pre Shave Hot Shower
Blades Polsilver
Brush Elite HMW
Soap Sebum Gold
AS Thayers Lavender follows by Sebum Purple
I only used the Solid Bar side of my Wolfman

First Pass WTG
Started with the Wolfie on my right side and it was a nice smooth pass, there is blade feel but the razor just glides so easily and it took down most of my beard.
On to the left side with the Janus on 9. The Janus is definitely heavier but is noticeably smoother it was not as nimble under my nose as the WR1 but I had no issues I just needed to tug up on my nose. Quick rinse and both sides are the same I could feel stubble if I ran my hand ATG.

2nd Pass ATG
Both razors handled this pass without tugging or skipping. The Janus felt slightly smoother but the Wolfie was great as always.
Cold Water rinse and splashed some Thayers on, cleaned my gear and did a cotton ball test BBS 2 on my face and neck but had a small catch of the cotton on both sides just under the jaw line. IMHO it was a dead heat but went to my wife for her test and she said the Wolfie side was a touch softer.
The Janus continues to amaze me how smooth it is for a heavy Adjustable razor and it’s efficiency is close or equal to the best in my den. This Shave goes to the Wolfie by a hair for efficiency but to the Janus for Smoothness.

Shavemd, I'm liking how you test for BBS. If the judge aka the Mrs. approves, it's all good! It took me a second read to catch what the cotton ball test is. I'm learning!

Janus lev 6 vs Charcoal Goods Copper Level 2
Not a lot of beard to shave after last nights shave so I dialed down the Janus to 6 and pulled out my 2nd gen CG.
Pre shave Castle & Forbes
Blade Palm stripped first use Feather
Soap C & F Lavender
Brush Dec Grooming B6 on C & R handle
AS C & F Lavender
Beard growth was pretty equal on both sides after last nights shave so I gave the Janus my left side.
First Pass WTG
Both razors easily took down most of the beard easily and were equally smooth in doing it.
2nd Pass ATG
For the first time the Janus was not quite as smooth as its competitor, the CG was slightly smoother ATG and I must say slightly more efficient. After these 2 passes I had a few pick-up spots on both sides but more on the Janus side. After the pickups both sides were BBS but I did have a small weeper on the Janus side, my fault as I think I got carried away buffing that spot.
I may have done a disservice to the Janus by dropping down to 6 but the CG is a great smooth razor and slightly beat out the Janus tonight.
What I have seen with these shaveoffs is that the Janus is beating or very closely competing with what I consider to be some of the best razors out there. It is truly a very smooth yet when dialed up, very efficient Adjustable.

I just noticed that the shallow groves on the top cap of the CG line up with the shallow grooves on the base plate. Nice!

The Janus production design has a tad more efficiency at each setting than the Janus prototype design. Add the two-step polishing plan, and I think the Janus Razor will be able to compete well with the most of the top notch razors in your den.

I want to start off saying thank you to Mark and Frank for letting me have the pleasure of trying this razor. In addition, I am not sponsored or getting any type of compensation for this.

Janus lvl 9 vs. Raw aggr plate

Equipment:
Soap- Eufros Dama de Noche (im a sucker for jasmine and this is night jasmine at that so Im a happy camper)
Brush- Declaration grooming Jefferson B5 28mm
Janus razor with new feather blade
Raw aggr plate with new feather blade
Thayers witch hazel
Maol grooming wilde flowers aftershave

Initial impression:
Holy cow this thing is big!...( thats what she said)...haha. Middle school humor aside the janus razor is a hefty razor and the weight is heavy compared to other razors. I thought this would be the big down fall of this razor and the reason why I would not like it but it actually surprised me during use...
The construction is top notch, if the world comes to and end tomorrow this razor will survive. It is very well built and I like how it uses 316 SS.
The notch changes setting easily and is straightforward

Shave:

1st pass WTG: I used the janus on the right and the raw on the left and from the first stroke I noticed that the weight of the janus is one of its best attributes. The weight complements the razor beautifully and makes it very balanced. When I shave I use no pressure and the weight helped to keep the razor at the perfect angle. The raw needs no introduction as it is a great razor (my favorite). I would tell even before I felt my face that the janus side was closer after the first pass. I would say for me the janus is about .5-1 step more efficient than the raw. Now comes the crazy thing... it felt almost as smooth as the raw. The raw is a very smooth shaver and I was surprised, but once again I feel that the weight of the janus helps with how smooth it felt. I would rate the raw about .5 smoother than the janus.

2nd pass XTG: With this pass my hair grows in different direction so this is usually the pass that makes or breaks my shaves and both sides did a great job. Once again the efficiency goes to the janus and the smoothness goes to raw but only by a bit. I was very impressed with how razor felt going XTG. They both gave me good audible feedback. In addition, the blade feel on the janus was minimal. I like aggressive razors and blade feel but I really appreciate a razor that has minimal blade feel while keeping the efficiency up.

3rd pass ATG: Here it was no surprise that ATG the janus did just as good of a job as the raw. Keeping in the same fashion the raw was a tad smoother while the janus has just a bit more efficiency. Going ATG with both razors was easy and smooth. At this point I was getting upset that the shave was coming to an end, but I have a feeling this will not be my last encounter with this razor.

Overall: This is a great razor and I hope that the kickstarter makes it. I am not currently a backer but I am thinking about. The price is expensive but as with anything in life the good stuff usually is. With how the razor first felt in my hand to the use I was impressed. Keeping in mind how smooth it was compared to the raw I was surprised and would love to see the Janus company take off. It was a pleasure to use and some might be put off by the size and the weight, but don't let it fool you...

bgolfo thanks for the shaveoff review. My thinking behind a heavier razor (120g) was to steady my hands and always serve as a reminder not to press hard. Obviously, a pro doesn't need this constant reminder. The length is that of a Super 109. I think taking off some grams and length while keeping the COM/COG the same at 2/3 from the bottom will improve the shaving experience. I didn't see anything about the dome making access to areas like under the nose and around the ears tricky/difficult.

By the way, your Raw is beautiful. I don't own one but from all photos I have seen of that razor, the craftsmanship is excellent.

Eric, thank you for your thoughts. It was very nice talking to you at the show and dinner. I think you have a special razor in your hands.
Best of luck with the improvements
Bo

Janus Razors-“Wet-shaving is a good incurable 'disease'; It is not like I'm suddenly gonna drop off, and not care about the wet-shaving. “

Eric, would you mind elaborating on what you meant by this, I’m not sure I understand what you are saying.

“ if I had known your trick of stropping Feathers before use, I wouldn't have discovered Derbys...lol...”- a word of caution, if you go from your preferred Derby to a Feather, it won’t just smear the lather around on your face when you take a pass. Be sure to go slowly and use no pressure!

I look forward to hearing from you, Thanks!

Hunter

Dragonsbeard and Shavemd, after reading all of your detailed Shave Offs, would it be safe to say that you guys feel the Janus Razor is as efficient/more efficient, and as smooth/more smooth than all of the other Razors you pitted it against? Thank You both for taking the time to leave these detailed reviews, I appreciate your thoughts on it.

Hunter

Dragonsbeard and Shavemd, after reading all of your detailed Shave Offs, would it be safe to say that you guys feel the Janus Razor is as efficient/more efficient, and as smooth/more smooth than all of the other Razors you pitted it against? Thank You both for taking the time to leave these detailed reviews, I appreciate your thoughts on it.

Hunter

I would say it’s smoothness at every level I tried which was 4-9 was what set it apart from any Adjustable I have used. The efficiency at 9 was as or near as efficient as any razor I own. The WR1 .94 was slightly more efficient than the prototype but Eric said the production razor will be at least one more level of efficiency so the old level 9 is like the 8 on The new one

Dragonsbeard and Shavemd, after reading all of your detailed Shave Offs, would it be safe to say that you guys feel the Janus Razor is as efficient/more efficient, and as smooth/more smooth than all of the other Razors you pitted it against? Thank You both for taking the time to leave these detailed reviews, I appreciate your thoughts on it.

Hunter

I would say it’s smoothness at every level I tried which was 4-9 was what set it apart from any Adjustable I have used. The efficiency at 9 was as or near as efficient as any razor I own. The WR1 .94 was slightly more efficient than the prototype but Eric said the production razor will be at least one more level of efficiency so the old level 9 is like the 8 on The new one

That’s great feedback, Thank You Sir! Sounds like a killer Shave! Hopefully with the updates that Eric is planning it will be even better.

TheHunter I would say on 9 it matched my WR2 1.35 SB with a Feather in it. I know Mark used a Polsilver in his Shave Off with the WR1 .94 which I have as well and in a Shave Off between the 2 Wolfie’s the 1.35 was a bit more efficient than the .94. Again both razors were loaded with Feathers which is my personal blade of choice in all the Wolfman razors I’ve shaved with. So again I’ll say I was a little bit in denial that the Janus on setting 9 could match the 1.35 but I monitored my beard growth for 24 hrs afterwards and both sides remained the same.
The Janus was smoother than the 1.35 Titanium but I have to say that it’s also smooth for a razor that matched and actually came out on top when compared side by side with the Ikon Tech.

I would definitely like to revisit that Shave Off to confirm that the Janus matched the 1.35 and also like to put it up against my .94 with both razors loaded with Feathers.

The Janus on setting 9 was also both more efficient and smoother than the Charcoal Goods Level 3 SB.

I only shaved on setting 4 once and it was extremely smooth and yet deceptively efficient. I can see the razor taking care of different shaving needs for a person like myself who is very Sporadic in how often I shave. Set it on Max when I let my beard go 3-4 days and if I’m only going on a day or two or just doing a night time going out buffing before going out it’s got all my shaving needs covered so in theory you’d only need one razor.

I’d like to have more time with it so I could really dissect the razor more and compare it to some other razors and I will moving forward I’m sure but at this point right now I’d say it’s in the top 2 or 3 in efficiency of any razor in my den and top 2 in Smoothness when comparing it to any very or extremely efficient razor in my den. As I told Mark I noticed a noticeable drop in efficiency when I used the Polsilver and a bit less using a Kai when comparing the way the Janus shaves with a Feather in it. If the production model can possibly exceed the prototype in efficiency and still stay as smooth as it is in my humble opinion the razor would be a RAD killer for sure! Well unless I had to have a silver and a black one lol

I’ll sum up my thoughts in saying that any wet shaver that could not get an awesome shave with the Janus razor I’d have to question their technique or as you know some will hate on it and give it bad reviews even if it gave the best shave this side of heaven! Don’t understand hating on a piece of SS that pushes a blade!

I also have to give some props to Eric as a couple of very well respected razor makers said they were very impressed with the Janus and wanted one as soon as they are available.

I have no stakes in this game but this razor is not only unique to look at compared to any other modern razor but it’s really a unique shaving experience as well and I haven’t been as excited about a razor release in a long time. Well the new Titanium High polished Timeless also l has kicked my RAD up a notch or two as well. The pre production model felt perfect in hand and I’m guessing that the smoothness and glide will be up a notch over the current one as well.

Hope I’ve helped.