Got my Karve CB Brass/Stainless today... Which one do you prefer and why?

[Sig Solo]

Hello,
Today I got the:
-Karve CB Brass AA-plate 3'' handle
and
-Karve CD Stainless Steel B-plate 3 1/2'' handle.
I have sensitive skin and decided on two of the lowest plates (AA/B). Time will tell if the plates suit me or not.

Which Karve CB razor combination do you prefer? Metal, plate, handle length and blade??

 

[Chris]

I’m on the waiting list for an aluminium, B plate, 3.5” handle. Blade will be a Personna med prep. If that goes down well I may well get a stainless down the line, I don’t fancy the brass because of having to keep it clean.

 

[Masamune]

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the AA plate, not many reviews on that. Have only tried the SS in A and B and definitely preferred the A.

 

[Ventastic]

I have the brass and love the material as it‘s unique in my small collection of silver coloured razors. What I really like also is that brass conducts heat well and is therefore nice and warm when left in warm water for a bit.

Handle length, personal. Had the 3“ and held it with my pinky at the base. Always felt there was something missing. The 3,25“ I have now I put my fingers around the handle and I find this lends nicely to the slightly shallower shaving angle (handle further from face) I prefer.

Plate, D and E. I find with higher exposure you are very flexible with regards to the shaving angle.

Blade, due to the exceptional blade clamping, I find I can use nearly anything. Since I hate glue dots I quite like the med Preps in my Karve.

A negative about brass is the cleaning.

 

[SammieM]

Easy way to clean the brass is just pour ketchup on it and leave it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse and good to go. It you have tougher spots, toothpaste with a brush... I love my brass. I have 3.5” handle and I am not sold on that, but we will see. Might get a shorter one eventually. I prefer the C plate and at times the D... I also have couple of OC plates, but like the SB...

 

[SeanC]

3.5' inch C plate with both SB (daily driver) and OC (2+ days growth) in brass
One of those classic 'does what it says on the tin' products IMHO
I've been toying with buying the stainless steel equivalent for a while, but other more pressing cash calls always come up

 

[Zhang Doe]

C gives a great, effortless shave and can be used daily. The D is a closer shave, with more blade feel, and probably more of an every-other-day razor. Both are excellent.

 

[Masamune]

@Sub-erman how do you find the AA plate?

 

[Wayne]

I have owned both and neither lasted more than 4 weeks in my small collection. I honestly didn't like them. Brass is simple to keep like new. Brasso. No need to mess about with anything else. A clean cloth and Brasso and it'll shine forever. Nothing beats Brasso.

 

[RussellR5555]

The Brass is one of my favourite DEs , the D plate for me is perfect.

 

[Sig Solo]

@Sub-erman how do you find the AA plate?

Haven't tried it, yet

 

[Sig Solo]

I have owned both and neither lasted more than 4 weeks in my small collection. I honestly didn't like them. Brass is simple to keep like new. Brasso. No need to mess about with anything else. A clean cloth and Brasso and it'll shine forever. Nothing beats Brasso.

Well, Brasso is great, but using Heinz Ketchup is far easier. Cover the razor in Heinz Ketchup. Put in a small plastic bag for 1 hour. Rise of with hand-warm tap water; and thats it. Works with bronze, brass and copper. No polishing and rubbing with a cloth is needed. Coin-collectors and antique dealers have done so for decades as the coin or copper item is not ruined by polishing marks...

 

[Wayne]

Well, Brasso is great, but using Heinz Ketchup is far easier. Cover the razor in Heinz Ketchup. Put in a small plastic bag for 1 hour. Rise of with hand-warm tap water; and thats it. Works with bronze, brass and copper. No polishing and rubbing with a cloth is needed. Coin-collectors and antigue dealers have done so for decades as the coin or copper item is not ruined by polishing marks...

Yeah, use Ketchup.

 

[HereticHermit]

Well, Brasso is great, but using Heinz Ketchup is far easier. Cover the razor in Heinz Ketchup. Put in a small plastic bag for 1 hour. Rise of with hand-warm tap water; and thats it. Works with bronze, brass and copper. No polishing and rubbing with a cloth is needed. Coin-collectors and antigue dealers have done so for decades as the coin or copper item is not ruined by polishing marks...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Wax if you want pro grade long lasting solution.

 

[halvor]

Used my brass F plate yesterday with a Shark Platinum on 2-3 days of growth. I’m amazed at how smooth this large gap is. Also have the D plate and enjoy that nearly as much; clearly doesn’t mow the same way the F does, but may prove better for consecutive days. The best description of the shave feel of the CB razor is something like ‘soft and rounded’, to me anyway. At the other end of the spectrum you have the more ‘pointy and immediate’ feel of razors like Charcoal and perhaps WR1. Does this equate to blade feel? I’m not sure. A large gap is a large gap regardless, and with the wrong lather and/or angle off, both the CG Lvl3 and the Karve F can tug, bite and irritate.