I think it makes more sense to set each razor at their individual optimal levels for each pass. No need to keep the numbers the same. I find “ smoothness” is a function of how ridged the blade is clamped in the head most of the time. This reduces the feedback to me and sometimes causes me to over shave. Generally I prefer a bit of blade feel and chatter.
Steve, the nice thing with both razors is that the head locks down keeping the blade secure. So, I can eliminate a loose blade in the razor head as a reason for lack of smoothness, etc. Again, the T2 was a bit more aggressive at level 3 and smoothed out for me at level 2. The Konsul was smooth throughout.
I completely agree with Steve. You can't compare different heads of razors at the identical number level, because when it's a different razor, you already aren't comparing 3vs3 as equal.
Morning Mark. Great comparison shave. I have owned my Konsul now for about four months and love it more and more. I often use a different razor everyday but when I decide to use my Konsul I shave the entire week with it. I set the dial on six for the first pass then go to a three for the remainder of the shave. Usually it’s a two pass shave. Take care and be safe.
Hi Mark, I am new to wet shaving. Purchased a Supply adjustable injection razor three months ago but wanted to move on to a double edge safety razor. I’ve been using Proraso White (sensitive skin) pre-shave, shaving cream (squeeze tube) lathered up in a lathering bowl and Proraso shaving Baum. I just took advantage of Rockwell’s sale and purchased a T2 stainless steel. My wife does not support my new found hobby of wet shaving so everything I do has to be kind of private. Getting to the point, I look forward to shaving every day but have to put off to every other day because of my skin an razor burn. Do you find that PAA’s C 2.0 and their CK6 is worth the investment. Also I was considering purchasing an assortment of blades from Razor Emporium. Do you think I’m doing the right thing? Love your TH-cam. Respectfully, Stuart S.
Nice shave. Liked the comparison of the two razors. Very interesting. I think a fairer comparison would be the T2 vs Ambassador since both razors are not slants. And by the way, I get lather all over also. On my ears and even up my nose. Have a great weekend Mark.
Yeah, no! You're not painting my trim lol. Great shave Mark and a good side by side comparison. While the numbers may vary from razor to razor, they may each have their optimum # for the perfect shave 🪒. Have a wonderful weekend and stay blessed my friend.
Hi Mark- Great shave and razor showdown; thank you! It’s nice to see the two razors in a side-by-side comparison shave, in addition to the great information on both. I hope you have a great weekend ahead. Be safe and be well. Best regards, as always, Mark!
Love the showdown videos Mark. Your evaluations are honest. I would love to see a showdown between the Rex and the Vikings Blade Emperor Meiji. I happen to have both of those and would be interested in your thoughts.
A very good suggestion. Are you referring to the Rex Ambassador or Konsul? (I assume you mean the Konsul). The only Rex adjustable I have is the Konsul.
@@MarkSzorady I actually have the Ambassador. But I would like to see the showdown between the Konsul. The Meiji gives me a nice shave but I’m not a fan of the dual sides with different aggressiveness. I don’t have to rinse so often with the Ambassador. And as you mentioned, I can easily see the setting on the Rex with the red dot. I have a really hard time seeing the setting on the Meiji.
Great video. I will really appreciate if you could also do a comparison between Yaqi adjustable (either the basic chrome-plated TFC, or the full brass version, or the stainless stell Ultima model) versus the Rockwell T2.
Nice comparison - Mark! As expected reading the boards. Question and maybe a mmmb topic if you are talking about the Konsul…. Where is the balance point on the handle? Is it below or on the adjustment dial? Meaning if you hold the razor with 2 fingers where does the weight balance? For example when I had the Slim I needed to choke up and grip on the lower portion of the dial. Thanks!!
Great showdown. I would love to see a comparison between the Rockwell T2 and the Vikings Blade Emperor Meiji. (Note, Amazon has the Meiji on sale for $46.97)
Agree with others' comments that a more comparable showdown would be with settings of more similar blade specs, or even just comparing the setting on each that gives similar smoothness in the shave feel, and see how much stubble remains. Regardless, it's still an entertaining watch.
Comparison shaves are always interesting. Great shave! Without the specs, it's hard to know if the settings are comparable. I do like the quality and style of my Rex Ambassador. I just wish I had waited for the Konsul if it is smoother than the Ambassador. I never get comfortable/smooth shaves because of the RA's positive exposure. I will admit that I am biased towards my Rockwell 6S. I always get a BBS shave with no nicks or irritation.
Bart, I only have the Konsul so cannot compare to the RA. But hearing from folks who have both, the consensus appears to be that the Konsul is smoother. YMMV, I would guess. And yes, hard to compare exactly without specs.
Great comparison Mark! Both seem to be good razors, but if I had to choose between one I'd choose the Konsul for pure looks and aesthetic. It is such a beautiful razor!
Hello there from a fellow Northeast Ohioan! I just watched your PAA Platinum Strangelet blade review from last December and noticed you also have the Ascension Select with the burnt orange decorative knob. Looks like we have the same color preferences, ha ha! I have the Nickel-plated DOC, the Prismatic, the Symmetry straight bar, the Ascension 316L stainless steel, and the El Fantasma as well. Atomic Rocket, Green Ray, and Amber Aerolite brushes are also in my collection. PAA really is one of the top artisan wet shaving companies out there, right up with Stirling, Chicago Grooming Co. (formerly Oleo), and Dr. Jon's. I just got the Van Ulay black cavendish soap and related aftershave and pre-shave, and the deodorant. Should be interesting as it uses emu tallow as its base, similar to how Oleo uses duck tallow. Have you used any of Declaration Grooming's products?
Great comparison shave Mark! I think to make a better comparison would be to get the same blade gap by eyeballing it instead of using the same settings for each razor. I know that would be difficult because one is a slant and the other isn't. In fact, it would be difficult, if both were heads were straight. Have a good weekend!
Very nice comparison Mark. They both are very nice razors. And cold spice was a great choice. Its one of my favorite soaps. Boy its an extra thirsty one though lol. This is a day off for me and i was trying yo decide what to use for my sotd. My rockwell 6c with cold spice soap an after shave. Again, great shave
Thanks, Andrew.:) Yes, CK6 likes water. But, it's really easy to build a nice creamy, thick lather with it. Cold Spices is terrific and I love the scent. Enjoy that 6C!
Paraphrasing my daughter , "Konsuls Rule, others drool" LOL Ever since I got my Konsul, and then the XL, I've maybe used my Ambassador or Henson once or twice. None of them give me the smoothness and just plain amazing feel of the Konsul head.
Rex Supply now has the Konsul and Ambassador in the XL version with a longer handle. I wish they were available when I bought mine as I really prefer the handling of my Envoy XL. Of course they cost more, and if you get the custom features like polishing and plating they are getting into the exorbitant range, but they will last multiple lifetimes. A poster below mentioned that they had rust on their Rex stainless and I'm confused as to how that would happen unless you leave the wet blade in the razor. But it is possible to have variations in metals, especially if they come from China, although I don't know where Rex gets their materials. Oh by the way, I always enjoy comparison type videos, and Matthew Lawrence has some good ones using different blades.
Chris, I'm curious about the rust issue, as well. However, he mentioned that this was an early model...perhaps he was beta-testing for Rex? Not sure. Regardless, I never leave a blade in my razor at all. I make sure to clean and dry after every shave and store the blade off to the side on a magnet. I have the XL handle for my Envoy and enjoy using it and changing it around with the standard handle. For now, the standard handle length on the Konsul works fine for me. Love the razor!
@@MarkSzorady I have magnets on the frame of my bathroom mirror and I clean the blade, put it back in the wrapper when dry and stick it up. No doubt about it, Rex Supply makes very high quality products, albeit on the pricey side. It would be interesting to do a face off (not literally, lol) of the Konsul and Ambassador.
A very nice showdown. As a daily shaver an adjustable doesn't make much sense. I'd just find the level and keep it. If you like slants you should check out PAA'S Bakelite/ plastic open comb slant razors. They are inexpensive and very efficient. I have a first generation Bakelite in the oxblood color and enjoy it from time to time.
Patrick, thank you. I have a few of the monster slants from PAA. I've done reviews. El Fantasma Razor: th-cam.com/video/CH90nus7gTw/w-d-xo.html (Some Halloween fun in this review). Phantom Blue Head Shave: th-cam.com/video/cKYNlVl9QSY/w-d-xo.html Those are some nice razors and thanks for reminding me! I also love that they are twist adjustable.
I have the Konsul, and love the fact that I can adjust the aggressiveness based on the length of my beard and drop it down to a lower number on subsequent passes. My skin is very sensitive, so I enjoy the ability to adjust for multiple passes even if I shave frequently.
Interesting video, Mark. I guess if you weren’t doing the comparison, you would have just turned the T2 down from 3 to 2.75, but I understand the logic of proceeding as you did. I have the T2 and reckon it’s an excellent, comfortable shaver. I also have the 6S and a heap of other razors that I hardly ever use. On the basis of your video, it would be difficult to justify purchasing a Konsul (not because it’s not a good razor, but because it doesn’t substantially outperform what I already have). BTW, like you I only use mild razors. I’ve stopped watching videos where the influencer starts his shave on level 6 (or higher), even when he has never used the razor before. What’s he trying to prove by doing that? I’m a daily shaver, and in my line of work could never get away with sporting a 3 or 4 day stubble. I don’t know what world these guys live in… And on the incredibly rare occasions when I can’t shave for a few days, I keep the mild setting (or mild razor) and just do an extra pass. Works perfectly. Cheers. 👍🪒
I think it makes more sense to set each razor at their individual optimal levels for each pass. No need to keep the numbers the same. I find “ smoothness” is a function of how ridged the blade is clamped in the head most of the time. This reduces the feedback to me and sometimes causes me to over shave. Generally I prefer a bit of blade feel and chatter.
Steve, the nice thing with both razors is that the head locks down keeping the blade secure. So, I can eliminate a loose blade in the razor head as a reason for lack of smoothness, etc. Again, the T2 was a bit more aggressive at level 3 and smoothed out for me at level 2. The Konsul was smooth throughout.
I completely agree with Steve. You can't compare different heads of razors at the identical number level, because when it's a different razor, you already aren't comparing 3vs3 as equal.
Mark, how about a comparison between the Rex Ambassador and the Rockwell T2 SS?
Morning Mark. Great comparison shave. I have owned my Konsul now for about four months and love it more and more. I often use a different razor everyday but when I decide to use my Konsul I shave the entire week with it. I set the dial on six for the first pass then go to a three for the remainder of the shave. Usually it’s a two pass shave.
Take care and be safe.
Always a great shave and perfect explanation of both razors, well done good show....😊😊😊😊
Hi Mark, I am new to wet shaving. Purchased a Supply adjustable injection razor three months ago but wanted to move on to a double edge safety razor. I’ve been using Proraso White (sensitive skin) pre-shave, shaving cream (squeeze tube) lathered up in a lathering bowl and Proraso shaving Baum.
I just took advantage of Rockwell’s sale and purchased a T2 stainless steel. My wife does not support my new found hobby of wet shaving so everything I do has to be kind of private.
Getting to the point, I look forward to shaving every day but have to put off to every other day because of my skin an razor burn.
Do you find that PAA’s C 2.0 and their CK6 is worth the investment. Also I was considering purchasing an assortment of blades from Razor Emporium. Do you think I’m doing the right thing? Love your TH-cam. Respectfully, Stuart S.
Nice comparison. Thank You. I own the T2, Not great, in my opinion. I'll consider the Konsul, but pricey
how does the Rex Konsul compare to the Leaf Twig
Great vid as always. Love the enthusiasm! 😀 Other than gliding along the straightaways-- slants are scary. Waiting on my T2 today. 👍
Thanks, Ted. Please let us know how the T2 works for you.:)
Nice shave. Liked the comparison of the two razors. Very interesting. I think a fairer comparison would be the T2 vs Ambassador since both razors are not slants. And by the way, I get lather all over also. On my ears and even up my nose. Have a great weekend Mark.
My next razor will be a Konsul. I will probably go for the longer handle so it can be used for head shaves. Great video as usual Mark.
Yeah, no! You're not painting my trim lol. Great shave Mark and a good side by side comparison. While the numbers may vary from razor to razor, they may each have their optimum # for the perfect shave 🪒. Have a wonderful weekend and stay blessed my friend.
A very good review! Thank you. I am in the market for one of these two and your input was very helpful.
Hi Mark- Great shave and razor showdown; thank you! It’s nice to see the two razors in a side-by-side comparison shave, in addition to the great information on both. I hope you have a great weekend ahead. Be safe and be well. Best regards, as always, Mark!
The T2SS I have is fantastic. Never had a better shave.
Love the showdown videos Mark. Your evaluations are honest. I would love to see a showdown between the Rex and the Vikings Blade Emperor Meiji. I happen to have both of those and would be interested in your thoughts.
A very good suggestion. Are you referring to the Rex Ambassador or Konsul? (I assume you mean the Konsul). The only Rex adjustable I have is the Konsul.
@@MarkSzorady I actually have the Ambassador. But I would like to see the showdown between the Konsul. The Meiji gives me a nice shave but I’m not a fan of the dual sides with different aggressiveness. I don’t have to rinse so often with the Ambassador. And as you mentioned, I can easily see the setting on the Rex with the red dot. I have a really hard time seeing the setting on the Meiji.
Great video.
I will really appreciate if you could also do a comparison between Yaqi adjustable (either the basic chrome-plated TFC, or the full brass version, or the stainless stell Ultima model) versus the Rockwell T2.
Nice comparison - Mark! As expected reading the boards. Question and maybe a mmmb topic if you are talking about the Konsul…. Where is the balance point on the handle? Is it below or on the adjustment dial? Meaning if you hold the razor with 2 fingers where does the weight balance? For example when I had the Slim I needed to choke up and grip on the lower portion of the dial. Thanks!!
Great showdown. I would love to see a comparison between the Rockwell T2 and the Vikings Blade Emperor Meiji. (Note, Amazon has the Meiji on sale for $46.97)
Great video Mark! Anxiously waiting for Monday Morning Mail Bag!!!
Great comparison. I’d like to see one between the Rex Konsul and Pearl Flexi. I have the Flexi and it’s incredibly smooth.
Yes, I'd like to do that too. If I ever get a Flexi, I will.
Agree with others' comments that a more comparable showdown would be with settings of more similar blade specs, or even just comparing the setting on each that gives similar smoothness in the shave feel, and see how much stubble remains.
Regardless, it's still an entertaining watch.
Good Morning, Mark!! Very nice razor/shave comparison!!! Have a nice weekend!!!
Thank you, Beth. Have a wonderful weekend.
Comparison shaves are always interesting. Great shave! Without the specs, it's hard to know if the settings are comparable. I do like the quality and style of my Rex Ambassador. I just wish I had waited for the Konsul if it is smoother than the Ambassador. I never get comfortable/smooth shaves because of the RA's positive exposure. I will admit that I am biased towards my Rockwell 6S. I always get a BBS shave with no nicks or irritation.
Bart, I only have the Konsul so cannot compare to the RA. But hearing from folks who have both, the consensus appears to be that the Konsul is smoother. YMMV, I would guess. And yes, hard to compare exactly without specs.
Great comparison Mark! Both seem to be good razors, but if I had to choose between one I'd choose the Konsul for pure looks and aesthetic. It is such a beautiful razor!
Jacob, I agree. being all stainless steel is great too.
@@MarkSzorady definitely a plus!
Good morning Mark! Best your make your video channel! Have a great weekend with your family.
Barbus The Company, Thanks so much. I'm very happy to hear you enjoyed the video.:)
@@MarkSzorady Mark no problem.
Hello there from a fellow Northeast Ohioan! I just watched your PAA Platinum Strangelet blade review from last December and noticed you also have the Ascension Select with the burnt orange decorative knob. Looks like we have the same color preferences, ha ha! I have the Nickel-plated DOC, the Prismatic, the Symmetry straight bar, the Ascension 316L stainless steel, and the El Fantasma as well. Atomic Rocket, Green Ray, and Amber Aerolite brushes are also in my collection. PAA really is one of the top artisan wet shaving companies out there, right up with Stirling, Chicago Grooming Co. (formerly Oleo), and Dr. Jon's. I just got the Van Ulay black cavendish soap and related aftershave and pre-shave, and the deodorant. Should be interesting as it uses emu tallow as its base, similar to how Oleo uses duck tallow. Have you used any of Declaration Grooming's products?
Great comparison shave Mark! I think to make a better comparison would be to get the same blade gap by eyeballing it instead of using the same settings for each razor. I know that would be difficult because one is a slant and the other isn't. In fact, it would be difficult, if both were heads were straight. Have a good weekend!
JT, that would be difficult. I agree with you...blades gaps at equivalent levels are probably quite different.
Very nice comparison Mark. They both are very nice razors. And cold spice was a great choice. Its one of my favorite soaps. Boy its an extra thirsty one though lol. This is a day off for me and i was trying yo decide what to use for my sotd. My rockwell 6c with cold spice soap an after shave. Again, great shave
Thanks, Andrew.:) Yes, CK6 likes water. But, it's really easy to build a nice creamy, thick lather with it. Cold Spices is terrific and I love the scent. Enjoy that 6C!
top video Mark !! have a great weekend
Thanks, Razor Michl.:)
Very professional mark. Thanks
Thanks, Gerald.:)
Paraphrasing my daughter , "Konsuls Rule, others drool" LOL Ever since I got my Konsul, and then the XL, I've maybe used my Ambassador or Henson once or twice. None of them give me the smoothness and just plain amazing feel of the Konsul head.
Rex Supply now has the Konsul and Ambassador in the XL version with a longer handle. I wish they were available when I bought mine as I really prefer the handling of my Envoy XL. Of course they cost more, and if you get the custom features like polishing and plating they are getting into the exorbitant range, but they will last multiple lifetimes. A poster below mentioned that they had rust on their Rex stainless and I'm confused as to how that would happen unless you leave the wet blade in the razor. But it is possible to have variations in metals, especially if they come from China, although I don't know where Rex gets their materials.
Oh by the way, I always enjoy comparison type videos, and Matthew Lawrence has some good ones using different blades.
Chris, I'm curious about the rust issue, as well. However, he mentioned that this was an early model...perhaps he was beta-testing for Rex? Not sure. Regardless, I never leave a blade in my razor at all. I make sure to clean and dry after every shave and store the blade off to the side on a magnet. I have the XL handle for my Envoy and enjoy using it and changing it around with the standard handle. For now, the standard handle length on the Konsul works fine for me. Love the razor!
@@MarkSzorady
I have magnets on the frame of my bathroom mirror and I clean the blade, put it back in the wrapper when dry and stick it up. No doubt about it, Rex Supply makes very high quality products, albeit on the pricey side. It would be interesting to do a face off (not literally, lol) of the Konsul and Ambassador.
@@chrislj2890 If I ever get an Ambassador, I'll be sure to do that face off.:)
A very nice showdown. As a daily shaver an adjustable doesn't make much sense. I'd just find the level and keep it. If you like slants you should check out PAA'S Bakelite/ plastic open comb slant razors. They are inexpensive and very efficient. I have a first generation Bakelite in the oxblood color and enjoy it from time to time.
Patrick, thank you. I have a few of the monster slants from PAA. I've done reviews.
El Fantasma Razor: th-cam.com/video/CH90nus7gTw/w-d-xo.html (Some Halloween fun in this review).
Phantom Blue Head Shave: th-cam.com/video/cKYNlVl9QSY/w-d-xo.html
Those are some nice razors and thanks for reminding me! I also love that they are twist adjustable.
I have the Konsul, and love the fact that I can adjust the aggressiveness based on the length of my beard and drop it down to a lower number on subsequent passes. My skin is very sensitive, so I enjoy the ability to adjust for multiple passes even if I shave frequently.
Boom Lather 😄
Morning Sir!
Good morning.:)
The Rockwell has a bigger gap and exposure at all numbers, IMHO.
dont agree w the hot water part
Hey Mad Man Mark 😂Another great video as always-I am gonna have to get the T-2 -just what I need is another razor 😂😭-Have a great day 👍✌️
Great video. Your sound is a little off. Slight echo and tinny sound. I hope you fix it soon. My ears are ringing. lol
Interesting video, Mark. I guess if you weren’t doing the comparison, you would have just turned the T2 down from 3 to 2.75, but I understand the logic of proceeding as you did. I have the T2 and reckon it’s an excellent, comfortable shaver. I also have the 6S and a heap of other razors that I hardly ever use. On the basis of your video, it would be difficult to justify purchasing a Konsul (not because it’s not a good razor, but because it doesn’t substantially outperform what I already have). BTW, like you I only use mild razors. I’ve stopped watching videos where the influencer starts his shave on level 6 (or higher), even when he has never used the razor before. What’s he trying to prove by doing that? I’m a daily shaver, and in my line of work could never get away with sporting a 3 or 4 day stubble. I don’t know what world these guys live in… And on the incredibly rare occasions when I can’t shave for a few days, I keep the mild setting (or mild razor) and just do an extra pass. Works perfectly. Cheers. 👍🪒