Wolfman WR1 gap advice please

I might have to reconsider the 0.86, used it again this morning and although it has a touch more blade feel than I typically prefer, efficiency is off the charts. Got an amazing shave with no irritation or weepers. I would love to try the 0.80, that might just be my high efficiency WR1 ticket.

The .80 was the first wolfman I ever bought. It’s great. I would love to get one in titanium if that ever becomes possible again.

+1

I’m curious to know why you wouldn’t order an .86 or .94 dualie and call it a day? Why not get 2 razors for the price of one? Let’s pretend 1 side is horrible and doesn’t work for you after you take delivery?  How do you know if it’s the OC or SB side that you really love if you only have 1 or the other? Think desert island, 1 razor, lol.

That would still mean getting 2 razors. The DC to test both sides and then the OC or SB that works best. I've already tried that with my .54 DC.

Correct, and you hate the OC correct? So what you’re saying is: you’re going to order a SB in a higher gap, let’s say the .67 for the sake of discussion.  Your bias is what will financially get you in the long run because you’ll NEVER get the opportunity to try the OC side.  You’ve already doomed it because you don’t like your .54 OC side. @“JimmyH” said it best, he mows growth down with the OC side, and then the fun detail work begins with the SB.  

What exactly is your .54 OC side not doing in performance? Have you tried a different angle, blade? Have you given it a little more growth to mow? Maybe, just maybe you selected too mild of a plate to begin with and it’s not the plate at all.  Maybe you needed a different plate from the start? Think of a shaving base plate as getting a breast enhancement, select the boobs you want and go up 2 sizes, now it’s perfect.

If you make a mistake and order something you really hate, A Wolfman Razor will always sell on the BST, that’s also a sure bet. The Gents here that have been using safety razors since the late 1800’s will tell you they’re still learning cool things with these razors. I’m very happy they share their experiences because I have done much learning from these guys! 

End of the day, it’s your hard earned money, choose value.

The .54 is just a smooth operator, I’m a PolSilver and Feather fan with it. I wish I could tell you efficiency moves forward as the gap size increases, but for me it doesn’t.  It only drags, pulls and tugs. I’ve changed my angles, I’ve gone 5 days growth, 2 days growth and 3 days. The .54 is less efficient than a CG L2, much more efficient than a L1. The smoothness though at multiple angles is what baffles me.  The .61 and .67 for ME is a mess. I’ve tried over and over, it’s not worth the effort or blood I’ve put in. An R41 is smoother, bold statement right?  Change blades? Of course, that’s the first thing I do. The WR1 smoothness begins at .54 and then returns at .80 and remarkably so. I have pretty smooth skin, so moving across it from many angles is relatively easy.  When I use a Wolfie, I shave pretty slow as I’m accident prone and clumsy (don’t want to drop the thing), right there alone I should be gliding a .61 and .67 like a Barber.  But that’s not happening, it’s like I’m at a Plastic Surgeon in Tijuana without anesthesia. I went up the ladder with WR1; .54 .61 .67 .74 .80, cancel the middle 3 (zero value in those 3 for ME).

Thanks this is really helpful. Sounds like I lucked out on my gap choices already with the .54 and .80.

I'm kind of curious about the standard gap given some of the reviews in this thread but like you say it is a purely personal experience. I have tried but not bought the Carbon .68 plate so the comparison is valuable.

Originally I joined the list with an order of the .48 gap but stumbled across a .54 DC on reddit and figured I'd try it out. I was perfectly happy with my Tatara Masamune but have always wanted to have a Wolfman in my collection. I love mild razors and so far the .54 gap has been excellent.

Correct, and you hate the OC correct?

Actually, it's quite the opposite. I love the OC side and enjoy the SB side. I'm tempted to get both baseplates in the future. It's not too mild for me at all.

I do agree the rational and logical decision is to get the DC first in any new gap.

I’m currently using a 1.25 SB Wr2 and am also trying to figure out the right blade gap for my first WR1 OC.

I find the 1.25 SB WR2 to be mild but efficient. I’m leaning towards the .86 blade gap in the WR1 OC with a Darwin handle but am wondering if it makes sense to go to a higher blade gap since the 1.25 SB WR2 is pretty mild and I’d like something a little more aggressive.

I have used an r41 with feather blades exclusively for many years up until this point and have been on the search for the most efficient razor that is also smooth. The WR2 works well but the head doesn’t work well for some parts of my face. I’m thinking the WR1 will.

I’m currently using a 1.25 SB Wr2 and am also trying to figure out the right blade gap for my first WR1 OC.

I find the 1.25 SB WR2 to be mild but efficient. I’m leaning towards the .86 blade gap in the WR1 OC with a Darwin handle but am wondering if it makes sense to go to a higher blade gap since the 1.25 SB WR2 is pretty mild and I’d like something a little more aggressive.

I have used an r41 with feather blades exclusively for many years up until this point and have been on the search for the most efficient razor that is also smooth. The WR2 works well but the head doesn’t work well for some parts of my face. I’m thinking the WR1 will.

Based on this I would recommend going with the .94 WR1. For me it is still smooth but with great efficiency

Thank you for the suggestion for .94! Would you advise going with OC? I’ve always heard the WR1 is best as an OC razor and the WR2 as SB.

Thank you for the suggestion for .94! Would you advise going with OC? I’ve always heard the WR1 is best as an OC razor and the WR2 as SB.

I have the .94 in a DC and I’d suggest that. Although there isn’t a big difference between the OC & SB side in efficiency the SB is noticeably smoother in my experience but again not by a lot.  I find a bigger difference on the WR2  with the SB side being  noticeably smoother. 

On two or more days growth I use the OC side for the first pass and turn it over to the SB side for the 2nd pass and if I were to do a 3 pass which is rare.

Thank you for the suggestion for .94! Would you advise going with OC? I’ve always heard the WR1 is best as an OC razor and the WR2 as SB.

I also have the DC .94 WR1 and use the OC for my first pass and SB for the 2nd. I find the OC on the WR1 to be very smooth.

I agree. Go 94OC fersure.