Tatara Titanium

Only slightly an improvement (for me).
But I do like the feel of titanium and the weight, no need to keep them both.
So I'll be selling my stainless Masamune and Nodachi shortly.

Have to agree, the upgrade is minor unless you particularly like super light razors.

I posted this on another forum where I'm running a pass around.

Although I didn't get time to try all the combinations I've had enough shaves to get a feel for the Masamune/Nodachi in titanium. I'm now re-visiting the options in the original stainless as I didn't do a side-by-side comparison. It's titanium and it's really light, not Vector titanium light but a significant reduction.

Machined to the usual high Tatara standard as expected.

Started with the Masamune OC - my go to combination. At first I thought it was more comfortable than the original but after a few shaves (with different plates/cap combos) I feel it is simply lighter and easier to control the pressure of the blade on the skin. Especially on the neck. And more agile. I can shave much faster and safer with the titanium. If you found the full Nodachi too much I think you will enjoy the titanium version. There is still blade feel but it's much easier to nick yourself with the SS Nodachi.

The only other titanium razors I've tried are the Vector and the BB. I prefer the Vector in titanium (it's smoother) and the BB in brass.

To me both the SS and the titanium Tatara are very smooth razors. The difference is all in the weight not the fact it's made out of titanium.

It's a shade darker in colour compared to the SS Tatara. It's a nice option to have but... not entirely convinced it is "better" or an "improvement" on the original razors. It's just another lighter option. Not a replacement. Didn't find it any more or less efficient. In truth I found the extra weight reduces any potential vibration of the blade or maybe I need to add more pressure with the titanium? The SS razors just feel more solid during the shave.

If you love light razors I'm sure you'd like it alot.

I'm still on the fence about titanium razors. They seem over engineered to me. And expensive. Won't stop me trying them though! The titanium line is double the price but is it twice as good?

YMMV

Maybe I just need more time with it or I prefer a razor with a bit more weight. The original is a really good balance, not too light or heavy.

Going back to the stainless only confirms my thoughts today. The titanium is a light-weight version for me, not a replacement. The original isn't exactly a heavy razor.

Have to agree, the upgrade is minor unless you particularly like super light razors.

I posted this on another forum where I'm running a pass around.

Although I didn't get time to try all the combinations I've had enough shaves to get a feel for the Masamune/Nodachi in titanium. I'm now re-visiting the options in the original stainless as I didn't do a side-by-side comparison. It's titanium and it's really light, not Vector titanium light but a significant reduction.

Machined to the usual high Tatara standard as expected.

Started with the Masamune OC - my go to combination. At first I thought it was more comfortable than the original but after a few shaves (with different plates/cap combos) I feel it is simply lighter and easier to control the pressure of the blade on the skin. Especially on the neck. And more agile. I can shave much faster and safer with the titanium. If you found the full Nodachi too much I think you will enjoy the titanium version. There is still blade feel but it's much easier to nick yourself with the SS Nodachi.

The only other titanium razors I've tried are the Vector and the BB. I prefer the Vector in titanium (it's smoother) and the BB in brass.

To me both the SS and the titanium Tatara are very smooth razors. The difference is all in the weight not the fact it's made out of titanium.

It's a shade darker in colour compared to the SS Tatara. It's a nice option to have but... not entirely convinced it is "better" or an "improvement" on the original razors. It's just another lighter option. Not a replacement. Didn't find it any more or less efficient. In truth I found the extra weight reduces any potential vibration of the blade or maybe I need to add more pressure with the titanium? The SS razors just feel more solid during the shave.

If you love light razors I'm sure you'd like it alot.

I'm still on the fence about titanium razors. They seem over engineered to me. And expensive. Won't stop me trying them though! The titanium line is double the price but is it twice as good?

YMMV

Maybe I just need more time with it or I prefer a razor with a bit more weight. The original is a really good balance, not too light or heavy.

Going back to the stainless only confirms my thoughts today. The titanium is a light-weight version for me, not a replacement. The original isn't exactly a heavy razor.

Great review, and makes a lot of sense. I haven’t tried these but I do find that some lightweight titanium razors can feel chattery or even rough due to the vibrations - whether that is due to the lack of weight or the fact that titanium has inferior damping properties compared to steel or copper. I have learned to avoid titanium razors that are too light, and to suspend judgement on others. On the other hand I find the weight reduction can make bulkier razors feel more nimble, less unwieldy, and I think the contrast in material between the blade and safety bar can make the razor feel more precise and accurate (whereas if the blade and bar are both steel you feel the blade less precisely).

And then with some razors I like them better with more weight, not less, so I would go from steel to copper/bronze rather than steel to titanium.

There are pros and cons. I’m really just suggesting that we shouldn’t necessarily think of titanium as an upgrade, even though it costs more and the word ‘titanium’ sounds more exotic and special than ‘steel’. It just has different properties than steel or copper, and whether it is an improvement or a detriment will depend on the razor and the user.

I wanted to get in a number of shaves before writing any kind of review.

There are definitely pros and cons of both metals.

The titanium Tatara is shockingly light and very nimble.
More precise control of the blade pressure on the skin due to the reduced weight.

However the additional weight of the stainless does have a definite advantage in terms of blade support/damping etc that for me outweighs the lightness of titanium.

Titanium may be a more suitable material for bulky, heavier razors like the Hone Type 15.