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The 333 Club

I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around what could possibly be so good about this razor to justify the cost of it. It's just a holder for a blade. There are many other holders for the same blades out there... at a fraction of the cost. And, I own several "shavettes" that already use the same blades. So why should I join the 333 club? Help me out here. I really want to know what it is about this razor that makes it so much better than all the rest and worth the price of admission.
 
Spider said:
I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around what could possibly be so good about this razor to justify the cost of it. It's just a holder for a blade. There are many other holders for the same blades out there... at a fraction of the cost. And, I own several "shavettes" that already use the same blades. So why should I join the 333 club? Help me out here. I really want to know what it is about this razor that makes it so much better than all the rest and worth the price of admission.
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I suppose one example might be that it’s simply like your love of Paladins. It’s just worth it in fit, finish, and function for some. Undoubtedly, exclusivity also plays some small part.
 
Is it worth the cost? In cost to produce, labor, and material...no, most certainly not. But based on the short time I have owned mine and the handful of shaves I have on it, I would buy it again simply because I like it and I was drawn to it. Fit and finish are very good and it performs very well for me. I enjoy having and using it.

Spider said:
So why should I join the 333 club?
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If it hasn't called to you or grabbed your attention then you probably shouldn't join. It's like Wolfman razors for me, while I'm sure they are great and are very high quality, they're really not going to do anything that my RazoRock Game Changer doesn't do. Are they really worth 8-10 times more than my GC? For me no they are not, however for some people they would really enjoy the Wolfman and it would be worth it to them.
 
Spider said:
I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around what could possibly be so good about this razor to justify the cost of it. It's just a holder for a blade. There are many other holders for the same blades out there... at a fraction of the cost. And, I own several "shavettes" that already use the same blades. So why should I join the 333 club? Help me out here. I really want to know what it is about this razor that makes it so much better than all the rest and worth the price of admission.
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I think you are quite correct on the cost vs shave results ratings scale.

What makes it worth the $$$ in my book is primarily my own vanity for something I think looks really cool.

Secondarily the thin head profile and gripping options make it a little more versatile and easy to make certain shave moves.

Early after the release of this tool, an owner of a Feather DX asked me what level of improvement in shaves could he expect over his DX. My response was NONE, and that if he could not shave as well with the DX as he could with The Essence razor, he needed to work on adjusting his own skills. He promptly went out and signed up for The 333 Club.
 
If it helps…anyone that’s kept up with my journal/continued shave journey knows that after my 500th open blade shave…I was pretty much ready to call it good. The Feather SS met my criteria for low maintenance but I was a bit more limited in what I felt I could reasonably do with shaves (hence my consistent use of 2 open blade passes and one DE to finish). It also didn’t fit my form wishes for something that was a nice looking as a traditional SR…the SS and the DX in my opinion are clunky beasts and as the then pinnacle of replaceable blade shavers, the DX did not impress me as much as I’d hoped once I finally got my hands on one to try. So I never invested.

If my month long streak with it is any indication, I’d happily continue to use the Essence daily for the foreseeable future and it marks all the boxes for what I initially wanted in my journey but which was not yet available. The only reason I’m going to take a small break at a 50 streak is because I feel bad with my other razors sitting there 😂
 
Your interventions are excellent as always.
But what I see in this picture is not good for me.
Tedalus_lama De.jpg
In some situations I like to work at peak and with the Tedalus / DE balde it is not possible
 
Spider said:
I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around what could possibly be so good about this razor to justify the cost of it. It's just a holder for a blade. There are many other holders for the same blades out there... at a fraction of the cost. And, I own several "shavettes" that already use the same blades. So why should I join the 333 club? Help me out here. I really want to know what it is about this razor that makes it so much better than all the rest and worth the price of admission.
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I will echo what has been said. With this logic, a Paladin, Sorrentino, or Simpson are just animal hair holders. Or your aftershave is just different flavored, colored alcohol.

It depends on what you really like, cost justification is subjective, and only
To the buyer and user

You as an engineer understand tolerances, workmanship, shaving angles and ergonomics. That being said it hits 100% on all fronts. I have close to 3000 straight razor shaves under my belt, not to mention 30+ years of Traditional shaving. Have 100’s of straights, as as many DE’s, SE’s, gems and so forth. NO RAZOR, again NO RAZOR has had the impact the Essence has. I never thought that for a removable blade straight could be better than the Feather DX. But this one is. In fact it now infringes on the quality of shaves and efficiency of actual straight razors. That is why I am not only using this at home, but a 2nd one for shop use. It is that good. Between myself and clientele I do about 25-30 straight shaves a week and I could easily use the Essence for all of them all the time.

So ergonomics, design, use, feel, I could go on. You mentioned years ago the Feather ASD2 and how it is a no-brainer shave and is intuitive. It is the same with the Essence

Just my opinion , but it is worth it
 
Spider said:
I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around what could possibly be so good about this razor to justify the cost of it. It's just a holder for a blade. There are many other holders for the same blades out there... at a fraction of the cost. And, I own several "shavettes" that already use the same blades. So why should I join the 333 club? Help me out here. I really want to know what it is about this razor that makes it so much better than all the rest and worth the price of admission.
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Listen, buddy. Until you make today's bingo calls, you have no reason to worry about anything else.
 
Not exactly the responses I was expecting. I thought this was The Shaving Cadre, Home of the CEC! It almost sounds like you guys are trying to talk me out of it! LOL.

I do appreciate the responses though. If I'm going for looks and aesthetics, I can appreciate that, and have no problems with that (Paladin, duh). Also engineering and tolerances I appreciate. I guess I was expecting more people talking about how it gave a better shave. Like something inherent in the design held the blade differently making it skate around the face better or easier. Yes there is some of that notion out there, I just expected more people to echo those sentiments.

Trust me, I'm still considering it. You haven't talked me out of it yet!

NurseDave said:
Listen, buddy. Until you make today's bingo calls, you have no reason to worry about anything else.
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But, what if I already did?
 
Spider said:
Not exactly the responses I was expecting. I thought this was The Shaving Cadre, Home of the CEC! It almost sounds like you guys are trying to talk me out of it! LOL.

I do appreciate the responses though. If I'm going for looks and aesthetics, I can appreciate that, and have no problems with that (Paladin, duh). Also engineering and tolerances I appreciate. I guess I was expecting more people talking about how it gave a better shave. Like something inherent in the design held the blade differently making it skate around the face better or easier. Yes there is some of that notion out there, I just expected more people to echo those sentiments.

Trust me, I'm still considering it. You haven't talked me out of it yet!


But, what if I already did?
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I don't have one of the razors and I don't know if I ever will but just from an observation point I will say this, I have observed a lot of you guys having a favorite item and or company and singing it's praises. You guys seem to develop an affinity for a particular item and talk about it being the "best thing ever invented" , that is until someone else comes out with the next one.. I know the 333 club guys will bash me over this because they say its so great (right now) but I remember them also saying that about past devices, IE soaps , brushes ,and, Blade Holders... If you want to try one I say get it if you are in the financial situation to be able to but , its just the latest thing ( no matter what those who WILL say otherwise have to say ) I mean remember when the AeroPress came out , It was the best thing ever and was constantly being talked about, but you dont hear much about it any more ( even though it is still good and I use mine sometimes )..... If you have things that already work perfect for you then why bother right now "just chasing after a unicorn ".... I know this is only an opinion and a lot of you might think it stinks but those are my thoughts on it....
 
Jaro1069 said:
I don't have one of the razors and I don't know if I ever will but just from an observation point I will say this, I have observed a lot of you guys having a favorite item and or company and singing it's praises. You guys seem to develop an affinity for a particular item and talk about it being the "best thing ever invented" , that is until someone else comes out with the next one.. I know the 333 club guys will bash me over this because they say its so great (right now) but I remember them also saying that about past devices, IE soaps , brushes ,and, Blade Holders... If you want to try one I say get it if you are in the financial situation to be able to but , its just the latest thing ( no matter what those who WILL say otherwise have to say ) I mean remember when the AeroPress came out , It was the best thing ever and was constantly being talked about, but you dont hear much about it any more ( even though it is still good and I use mine sometimes )..... If you have things that already work perfect for you then why bother right now "just chasing after a unicorn ".... I know this is only an opinion and a lot of you might think it stinks but those are my thoughts on it....
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Sure, a lot of truth there, but if we all followed that logic we would all have just 1 razor, 1 brush, and 1 soap, and that would not be much of a hobby or nearly as much fun. 😂

Logically I can not justify 95% of my shaving gear as it is truly not necessary, but I sure do enjoy it.
 
Fenster said:
Sure, a lot of truth there, but if we all followed that logic we would all have just 1 razor, 1 brush, and 1 soap, and that would not be much of a hobby or nearly as much fun. 😂

Logically I can not justify 95% of my shaving gear as it is truly not necessary, but I sure do enjoy it.
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I understand that.
 
While at the TSC Convention I had an opportunity to inspect @BarberDave 's Tedlaus. I didnt shave with it but I was impressed by its construction and design, enough so that I ordered one myself (I suppose I should post a photo of mine). I am not at all impressed by the price (who really enjoys spending several hundred dollars on a razor of any kind) but I must say, the service provided, the speed of shipping and the quality of the product are top notch.

I have no opinion yet on the actual performance as compared to other shavette style razors, so I won't try to sell anyone on that aspect. What I do know is that there are several other options available that shave quite well and are capable of making ME very happy. I have been using the cheap knock-off Kai razor I got to sell through CBL soap website a couple years ago and really like it. I have a Feather Kamisori and a knock-off version of the same, both function very well for me. I have and really enjoy the vintage military issue Weck razors with removable guards. I also have a shavette designed to take half DE baldes...I am truly afraid to use because it is awful. Did I NEED to buy a Tedalus to be able to enjoy a quality removable blade straight razor shave? NOPE.

Why did I get it then? I got the Tedlaus for 2 main reasons. The first being that I was looking for an alternative to the Kai Knock-off because it is just a little bit too small in hand for me to hold the same way I hold traditional straights. The second reason was because the design of the Tedalus was most like a traditional straight (visually and geometry) so I thought it was a natural choice. The high end Feather's etc. I have seen so far all LOOK like a shavette, this looks more like a traditional straight razor. The Price was an obstacle for sure, the cost of the Tedalus was/is in line with the Korat razor I bought 3-4 years ago so it was definitely a luxury purchase ...but most of the name brand shavette options are in a similar price range or only marginally cheaper.

Aside from the reasons mentioned above, the BIGGEST reason I got the Tedalus is because I enjoy using straight razors and I know that I get the best quality shaves from a good straight razor or a shavette with a quality blade. It all boils down to my expectations that I will enjoy my shaves and get the best results. If the Tedalus and I get along as well as @BarberDave gets along with HIS Tedalus, I can see being able to narrow my regular rotation to a small handful of high quality razors. MAYBE I will sell off some of my vintage collection.
 
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