Rusty Bridges
Owns a betacord/betamax
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2016
- Location
- Sydney
I had been looking forward to this as soon as you mentioned it long ago. I can't say that I am impressed with all the backwards and forwards and effort you had to put in to get to some sort of resolve. The Ti version is certainly not cheap either.Henson Titanium (Ti22) +++ Aggressive (Canada)
Titanium, I cannot resist a titanium razor so I ordered a Henson Titanium as soon as they were advertised; well, two actually, I bought a medium aggressive one also. Henson have retained the same block shaped cap design that I was less than enthusiastic about on their Aluminium AL13 razor. It’s a satin finish that adorns the Ti22 but with machine marks visible under the cap, and in different light very faint machine marks can be picked up on the back of the plate. If you rotate the tapered handle lightly between your fingers you can feel burrs that remain after the machining, not big enough to cut you or anything but they should contribute to a fantastic grip. A whole lot of work has gone into machining the plate, it’s one of the more complicated modern plates featuring a lather channel under the blade feeding to large lather discharge slots on each side at the back of the plate. Titanium threaded on titanium has a likelihood to gall (picking up) so to alleviate this Henson have fitted a brass centre post to the cap. Henson’s current model Ti22 claims to have a stainless steel centre post, but the original is surely brass.
That brass handle post was to cause the biggest drama I’ve ever had with any razor, or more correctly, a manufacturer. During assembly, the thread lock holding the brass post into the cap had migrated to the 5mm handle post. When I undone the handle for the first time, the centre post screwed out of the cap and came out in the handle. I’m aware that things can go wrong even with the simplest of jobs and in this case, I’m not blaming anyone on the assembly line, just fix it up and I’ll be happy. I immediately contacted Henson but after numerous emails, they effectively cocooned themselves and would not talk to me. Because I had purchased two Henson razors, I could use the plate in the other razor if I’d been so inclined, but I was totally disillusioned with the whole affair. Two years later I decided to have a crack at removing the post from the handle. Well it came out, but in the process I managed to damage the thread that screws into the cap. Bugger – with a limited number of options available, I emailed Henson and asked if I could purchase a handle post. We don’t sell parts. I let them know that was the answer I expected and that I only wanted to correct their manufacturing error. At that point I stumbled onto a human because he asked for a photo of the problem. All I wanted was the little handle post, but Henson sent me a complete razor. Thanks Henson, but not content, I still wanted the original razor fixed. It made sense to me that if the handle post was metric the other end would also be metric, measured it and ordered a 3.5mm die. Now all repaired with the handle post Loctited in, this is the razor I’m reviewing today.
Even after completing repairs to the Henson Ti22, I was still in no hurry to review it; the Henson AL13 had been such a big disappointment so I scheduled the Ti22’s review for three months down the track. That time came around quickly and while I contemplated pushing it out further, here it is. As soon as the last review was completed, I put a blade in the Henson and set it up ready for action. My plan was to not think too much about having to shave with the Henson Ti22, just grab it and shave as though it was a last shave in the rotation. Well, that plan worked up to a point, initially the cap skidded down the side of my face - here we go again. Luckily that was the last time I had the Ti22’s cap skid down the side of my face, an unconscious adjustment to the handle angle and I was in action. While the +++ plate is the most aggressive plate available, it offered around the Karve CB Level #C efficiency but the point that stood out was just how smooth the shave was. I now appreciate why devotees of the Henson razor rate it so high. My preference is for a little more efficiency and with a corresponding increase in blade feel. Even being tapered, the Henson’s handle is long and it’s thin down near the head where I appreciate something to hold onto. Henson’s Ti22 certainly worked one hell of a lot better than the limp aluminium version, but it is a long way from being anywhere near the top in my choice of razors.
Blades Used – Gillette Rubie and Royal II
Material – Titanium
Blade Tab - Covered
Weight – 63g
Head Width – 43.24mm
Handle Length – 96.07mm
Handle Diameter – Tapered
Availability – Henson
Final Word – Another razor
I'm still boggled as to why they do not offer a completely stainless steel version but hey that is their loss and there are certainly no shortage of better razors out there.
I appreciate your efforts to go forward with the review. I certainly have a one or two razors that I would hesitate to review for various reasons so I know what its like.
There is one razor that didn't even make it to me so there is no chance of me reviewing it even if I wanted to but the less said the better of some people or their razor.
I'm looking forward to the next review in what must be a largely endless backlog. haha.
