Shimming a PIls

[Wayne]

I am on my 2nd Pils at the moment and while I love the aesthtics of the razor, I struggle with the shave. I want to own the Pils, the same way I want to own the Ambassador, both superb feats of metalwork, they just do not shave me well, although they are polar opposites. Ambassador is too aggressive and the Pils too mild.
I have had the Pils on BST but it isn't the new kid on the block anymore so it hasn't shifted, even at give away prices. The fickleness of the Wet Shaving community constantly astounds me. So in desperation I decided to try a shim.
I have shimmed a razor before, ATT's if I remember, M1 and S1 and it did make a difference but the faffing led me to move them on, that and wanting the latest greatest, as many of us do.
I cut the sharp edge off a used blade and put it under the blade to increase the blade gap. I used it today on 1 days growth and it made a pleasent difference, more blade feel but still as safe as the Pils is. I don't use the Pils every day, probably not even once a week but shimming makes it easier for me to pick it up over another razor. Well worth the effort to do.

 

[vartik]

I shimmed my Rockwell 6S when I used to own one, but for different reasons. I was trying to add some rigidity to blade clamping by adding 1-2 shims under the blade. It worked as far as I can tell (ATG pass was more comfortable with less blade vibration). I liked the shimmed plate better than one plate higher without shim (meaning I liked R3+shim better than R4 without shim, R4+shim better than R5 without shim and to on).

 

[Snuff]

Never tried that, thanks for the tip

 

[Kevy]

I read that as slimming pills!

The fickleness of the Wet Shaving community constantly astounds me

Its a strange one indeed.

 

[celestino]

I tried that with my Pils when I used to own two, 9 years or so ago, but still found it a bit mild.
Hope it continues to work for you.

 

[Wayne]

I tried that with my Pils when I used to own two, 9 years or so ago, but still found it a bit mild.
Hope it continues to work for you.

Thanks. It is still mild but much more useable, I can always try two shims if needed. I don't think it would accept more due to the tiny pins.

 

[Ventastic]

@Wayne have you tried Kai blades? These are supposed to be a bit wider edge to edge. Theoretically, this would increase the exposure.

 

[Wayne]

@Wayne have you tried Kai blades? These are supposed to be a bit wider edge to edge. Theoretically, this would increase the exposure.

No but I have some in my box, I'll give them a go and report back. Thanks

 

[TobyC]

Ah, the difficulties owning modern, expensive, super razors, that are so much better than vintage.

 

[Wayne]

Ah, the difficulties owning modern, expensive, super razors, that are so much better than vintage.

I never knew you liked vintage razors, how interesting @TobyC

 

[TobyC]

I never knew you liked vintage razors, how interesting @TobyC

The interesting thing is, you like them too, and yet you shave with stuff that won't give you the shave you want, so, you shim, and fiddle, and remain unhappy. Or is that what makes you happy?

 

[Ventastic]

The interesting thing is, you like them too, and yet you shave with stuff that won't give you the shave you want, so, you shim, and fiddle, and remain unhappy. Or is that what makes you happy?

So regardless of which vintage razor you take, they will ALL be more efficient than the Pils? I take it also with vintage razors, a bit of trial and error will be the norm, no?

 

[TobyC]

So regardless of which vintage razor you take, they will ALL be more efficient than the Pils? I take it also with vintage razors, a bit of trial and error will be the norm, no?

I've never had a disappointing shave from a vintage razor. Companies like Gillette didn't make a lot of money on one razor, they even gave some away with the purchase of a pack of blades. They had to have a product that everyone liked, every time, so that the volume sales, and repeat sales, would make the company profitable. They didn't make bad razors until the quality crapped out in the '60's and '70's. It's the same story for the GEM, Ever~Ready, Star, and Treet SE razors (and the Star DE) great razors, all of them.

 

[RussellR5555]

I've never had a disappointing shave from a vintage razor. Companies like Gillette didn't make a lot of money on one razor, they even gave some away with the purchase of a pack of blades. They had to have a product that everyone liked, every time, so that the volume sales, and repeat sales, would make the company profitable. They didn't make bad razors until the quality crapped out in the '60's and '70's. It's the same story for the GEM, Ever~Ready, Star, and Treet SE razors (and the Star DE) great razors, all of them.

I think they used the razors more as a tool to sell blades, and to a degree they still do. That for me meant they had to make a razor with mass appeal that they could produce in high quantity at pace , I wouldn't hold any of them up as either the greatest shavers of all time or the peak of engineering excellence, they are what they are good quality mass produced and in the main fairly neutral razors. I have known people shim Techs , Olds etc. (It should be noted I have not tried every vintage they ever made and in fact i am sure you have used more than me Toby)

It is just my opinion , but if we are talking about quality of shave then I would even say they did nothing to improve that , most straight razors from before the GEMs , DEs etc were invented will give you a better shave. I would also content that some of the modern DEs such as the Blackbird , Karve , or Muhle Rocca can deliver a shave that to my tastes is better than any vintage Gillette i ever tried.

Now the 1912 thats a whole different story based on the one i have , whilst again i wouldn't say it is the peak of engineering excellence (or though how it catches the lather is clever) the shave from it rocks !

 

[Wayne]

The interesting thing is, you like them too, and yet you shave with stuff that won't give you the shave you want, so, you shim, and fiddle, and remain unhappy. Or is that what makes you happy?

Yes.