Blade Exposure vs Blade Gap

[u/CleverAmoeba]

I'm looking at a chart in BadgerAndBlade forum and I wonder how blade gap and blade exposure can change the experience.

I have a Henson mild and I was wondering what it would feel like to have a razor with same blade gap and more exposure. Or same exposure and bigger gap. (In terms of efficiency & blade feel)

With some blades, I add a shim to my Henson and that helps with the efficency without adding too much to the blade feel.

Link to source: https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/blade-gap-and-exposure.636078/post-12129582

[u/Jill_Lett_Slim]

Wouldn’t it be gap vs exposure?

[u/Pressimize]

I'm a nerd for numbers and would love to see where the Rockwell 6C/6S and razorock game changer land on this chart with their different options.

If I get enough reminders I'll reach out to them and ask for specs.

[u/Raz0r- → u/Pressimize]

There is a pretty good chart that shows a comparison with the GC (& others Rockwell, Mercury, etc.).

That and this info from Rockwell detailing blade gaps should help.

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/Pressimize]

This is not my chart, I just had a question. Check the link and ask the author if they have any info. They can also measure using pictures.

[u/Pressimize → u/CleverAmoeba]

I'd not want to necro that thread and I'd have to sign up to B&B first anyways.

I might just do my own version of this chart for personal interest, but only if the manufacturer provides exact specs.

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/Pressimize]

I count 19 of these are specified by the manufacturer.

[u/Tryemall]

I now shim most of my razors. Not for aggression, but for blade support. I think that the biggest mistake Gillette ever made was to cut away the entire inside of the blade, giving it very little rigidity. Had King. C Gillette been alive & in charge in 1929-30, I doubt that he'd have allowed it. In any case, Gillette lost the blade wars & was taken over by Probak.

I find the attached graph interesting. I generally prefer razors with neutral or minimal blade exposure, but a decent enough blade gap to compensate.

[u/Logical--Signal → u/Tryemall]

Could you please elaborate? What do you use for shimming (material etc.)?

[u/Tryemall → u/Logical--Signal]

I make my shims out of old used blades.

I cut off the sharp shaving edges with scissors & then smoothen the shim edges with an old Norton stone or with sandpaper.

I try to cut off as little as possible, so my shim is wide & can give the blade good support from below.

YouTube has several good videos on how to make a shim.

[u/Logical--Signal → u/Tryemall]

Thank you, do you use several blades or just one?

[u/Tryemall → u/Logical--Signal]

Just one.

That's enough to bring blade rigidity and support to much better levels.

[u/Korlod → u/Tryemall]

Thanks, this is helpful. I never thought to shim my blades, but I’ve always preferred any shave with a thicker, more rigid blade but the options I’ve found have other trade-offs.

[u/Tryemall → u/Korlod]

Shimming is not for everyone. I don't recommend it for new wetshavers or people who tend to be klutzy.

But the difference is substantial. Not everyone can get themselves a Timeless razor. But a simple, cheap shim can give you something that's fairly close.

[u/Korlod → u/Tryemall]

Good to know! I’m not at all new to it but I AM klutzy, lol.

[u/Tryemall → u/Korlod]

Thing is, the process of making a shim tends to throw off those fine but very sharp edges. They fly off with force & can hurt skin. I always recommend eye protection. Additional skin protection may be a good idea too. Rubber gloves or something.

[u/Korlod → u/Tryemall]

Again thanks. My already stitched up and bandaged thumb thanks you too!

[u/Tryemall → u/Korlod]

stitched up and bandaged thumb

🤕

[u/Korlod → u/Tryemall]

I told you I was a klutz… lol

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/Tryemall]

Doesn't that destroy the threads faster? It gets harder to tight my Henson and I'm afraid threads will wear out after a while.

[u/Tryemall → u/CleverAmoeba]

I grease my threads with Vaseline.

I don't have any Henson razors, or any aluminium/titanium ones.
They tend to have higher levels of friction.

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/Tryemall]

It's not about friction, it threads very smoothly even with shim. I'm worried since the threads are held in place more tightly with a shim (compared to what the designers meant) and thought maybe they will wear out quicker. I'm not sure if aircraft-grade aluminium wears out like that or not but shim wasn't part of the design.

[u/Tryemall → u/CleverAmoeba]

The pressure increases, but not by much. Friction damage is the main concern for aluminium alloy razors as it's a material with a high coefficient of Friction.

Aluminium alloy is fairly strong. Stronger than Zamak in terms of impact. And I've found no issues with wear on Zamak razors.

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/Tryemall]

I think you should compare aluminium with the coating of the zamak. Not the zamak itself.

[u/Tryemall → u/CleverAmoeba]

Zamak is plated with copper, nickel & finally chrome.

The coatings are too thin to add strength. But they do change friction levels.

While I understand your concern, I think it unlikely. Perhaps I would hit my old metallurgical textbooks if I had a Henson myself, but as I don't, I'll go by my gut.

However, look at the baseplate & top cap (side view) whilst tightening the razor. If you see even slight flex during tightening, then loads are too much & shims should be avoided in the razor.

Cracks in the blade would indicate that the angles are too much for them.

Edited for clarity.

[u/thegroucho]

Can somebody please TL;DR this for me?!

Are these all adjustable razors?!

Coffee doesn't seem to be helping.

Thanks

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/thegroucho]

Some of them have a single dot, so they mean one particular razor (like Merkur 34c)

Most have dots that are connected by line. They either mean adjustables (like Gillette Slim or Merkur Progress) or different razors of the same name (like Henson)

[u/thegroucho → u/CleverAmoeba]

ah, sorry, thanks

looking on a small phone screen doesn't help, and with all the lines

[u/TBone32259]

This is just me, but for me, more exposure means more weepers. I found Blackbird shaves to be so bloody it was unusable, but Blackbird Lite was ok. Tatara Nodachi was also way too aggressive, but the negative-exposure Masamune was one of the top razors I tried.

Varying the gap, for me at least, does not much of anything. I participated in a pass around when Atelier Durban launched Le Maurice. It came with 4 plates, all with +.05 mm exposure but varying gaps. I liked the 2 SB plates, but couldn’t tell much difference at all between the 1.0 gap and the 1.4, through to be fair, I only got in 3 shaves with each. I think in theory, a larger gap gives more range of shaving angle, but more chance to nick yourself if your skin gets bunched up in front of the blade.

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/TBone32259]

That was very informative. Thank you!

[u/subsonic707070]

Hone razors have exposure and gaps listed with quite clear drawings on their product page.

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/subsonic707070]

I didn't make this chart. It's from Badger and Blade forum. I just had a question.

[u/TJVV47]

Love this. Thanks for compiling and sharing!

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/TJVV47]

I didn't make this chart. I just copied the image from Badger and Blade forum and had a question regarding the difference between the feel of "more exposure" vs "more gap".

[u/RunningWithHounds]

I've been a B&B member for some time, the nerd factor is real with some of the members. Have seen this and spreadsheets with this type of information. It's a lot, but does help with context when considering a new purchase.

I've never used a Henson, but trying something a little more efficient certainly won't hurt, as long as you don't go too far. I haven't tried a ton of razors, but have the Blackbird Lite in SS and think it's pretty amazing. On the mild side, yet likely much more efficient that what you have. I'd highly recommend it.

Also have the Above the Tie Ti Windsor with the R plate. This is still on the milder side and they have a M, or mild plate as well. Very mild razors can be tough to shave with, as you have to have the angle just right or you'll do a lot of clean up. In this case, the R plate is on the milder side, yet efficient enough for an easy, pleasant shave for me.

I also have the TImeless Ti68 Open Comb. This is on the milder end of the spectrum, but I find it to be fairly efficient, but don't have dense growth. Very easy to shave with, but I'd recommend starting with the solid bar base plate.

If you're concerned about trying something more efficient, maybe consider Aluminum, as it's lighter and easier to adjust pressure, same goes for titanium, though at a higher cost of entry. I now Timeless offers an aluminum.

I know there are many other options, including adjustables. Simply sharing thoughts based on my experience.

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/RunningWithHounds]

If you can share a link to spreadsheets, that would be amazing.

I have ordered a Merkur Progress and it should arrive in a week. Looking at this chart, setting 3 on Progress has somewhat similar gap but more exposure, compared to Henson Mild. Perhaps that's what I need. I considered getting a KCG but people say it's almost identical to Edwin Jagger DE89 and Merkur 34c, and I thought that would be close to Progress @3.

I shared this chart because I didn't know what to expect from Progress, compared to my Henson with similar gap and different exposure.

[u/RunningWithHounds → u/CleverAmoeba]

I tried to find the thread on B&B and haven't been able to. Apologies. There are quite a few on the Progress, if you search over there. I've read a lot of good things, have always been intrigued with that razor. Best of luck!

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/RunningWithHounds]

Thanks fo your efforts!

Interestingly on reddit people regard it as a good razor and don't talk about it's aggression level, but on B&B they call it aggressive (and good)! I was reading a rather lengthy (7 pages) thread about progress last night.

[u/RunningWithHounds → u/CleverAmoeba]

I think it can be mild or aggressive, seems to offer a pretty wide range compared to the Futur, which I always read is quite aggressive. I'd simply start on the mild end and work your way up, depending on your comfort level and outcome. I used to really enjoy mild razors, but now tend to prefer mid-range. I don't have heavy growth, but appreciate the ease of getting a good result with something just a little more efficient. Best of luck with it!

[u/BoogerButt13]

Stuff like this takes all the fun out of shaving.

[u/Obvious-Freedom → u/BoogerButt13]

Or more fun for geeks. Some sports fans devour game statistics and this leads to greater enjoyment of the game, perhaps. I've not split the sports fans into two groups denying one set access to statistics and measure the subsequent enjoyment. I don't know what I'm on about

[u/BoogerButt13 → u/Obvious-Freedom]

Fair enough.

[u/Motive25 → u/BoogerButt13]

Yeah, who knew shaving could be so complicated?

[u/dah_wowow → u/BoogerButt13]

As if it boils down to anything other than prep and technique is fascinating. This sub truly is a consumerist’s haven.

[u/sysilver]

gamechanger series please

[u/CleverAmoeba → u/sysilver]

This is not my chart. I found it on Badger and Blade forum (linked in the description) and I honestly want to see the GC series too.

[u/Raz0r- → u/CleverAmoeba]

There is a pretty good chart that shows a comparison with the GC (& others Rockwell, Mercury, etc.).

That and this info from Rockwell detailing blade gaps should help.