Mark1966
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The Personna Micrometric
- Thread starter Mark1966
- Start date
filobiblic
Facepeeler Extraordinare
State Convenor - NSW
Group Buy Caporegime
2017 Sabbatical Fail
2016 Sabbatical Fail
2015 Sabbatical Fail
Nice. So branching out into non-Gillette razors now? Plenty more to choose from! [emoji14]
Mark1966
Canberra dwelling Happy Clapping Bean Counter
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No not really.
It will be interesting to see if this one still adjusts OK. That could be questionable and if not ....
filobiblic
Facepeeler Extraordinare
State Convenor - NSW
Group Buy Caporegime
2017 Sabbatical Fail
2016 Sabbatical Fail
2015 Sabbatical Fail
What?! You actually shave with your vast razor collection?!? [emoji13]
Mark1966
Canberra dwelling Happy Clapping Bean Counter
Staff member
Site Moderator
Grand Society
2016 Sabbatical Fail
2018 Charity Auction Winner
2019 Charity Auction Winner
2020 Charity Auction Winner
Not all of them @filobiblic - just the lucky ones 
Mark1966
Canberra dwelling Happy Clapping Bean Counter
Staff member
Site Moderator
Grand Society
2016 Sabbatical Fail
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Well after a clean up of the Micrometric it got its first run today.
A very vintage SOTD
Brush: Vintage butterscotch Simpson
Soap/Cream: Vintage Yardley Shaving Soap
Razor: Personna Micrometric [6]
Blade: Personna 'Lab Blue' [1]
After-shave: Floid Vigoroso
The Micrometric cleaned up really well. There are a couple of splits starting to develop in the bakelite handle but nothing serious. The gold plating is well done and has stood the test of time.
While some may not like the bakelite handle is certainly gives a good grip. The ridges along it are pronounced and easy to hold. At 73g (with blade) and 8cm long it is very similar in size and weight to the Gillette British Aristocrat #21 or #22/66 or the US rhodium plated Executive. The bakelite handle does affect the balance with a little more weight seeming to be in the head - but it doesn't feel unbalanced.
I dialed it up to 6, the maximum, which looked like a pretty wide blade gap so I was cautious. Now there are actually two marks on the dial and the other one was on 'N' but this is certainly the greatest gap I could manage to create.
After lathering up the Yardley we were off. My initial caution was unnecessary. This is one s-m-o-o-t-h razor. I combined with a fresh Personna 'Lab Blue' which is my standard test blade (and also Personna branded!) and the combination worked well.
My standard 2 1/2 pass shave done (north -> south, then vice versa, then across the jawline) I could still feel a faint stubble when running my hand ATG up my cheeks - so I did another ATG south -> north pass just on the cheeks. The result was a truly BBS with only a couple of very minor patches where running my hand ATG I could feel anything, mainly on my neck and under teh jawline. I'm sure if I'd done a full 3 pass shave these could have been addressed.
Then the test - applied the Floid Vigoroso generously. I expect some sting but that was not to be, just the warm glow of the menthol.
Overall: An outstanding shave.
The results equally that of the Barbasol Floating head and the R41 but without the uber-aggressive fear and trepidation they bring.
The only downside I can see is that I had this dialled right up to the most aggressive setting so I'm unlikely to get a closer shave than this. By way of contrast when I use a Fatboy or Slim I don't tend to dial them right out - the results are uncomfortable and not worth the hassle. I know I will not have any problems with the Personna, it will always be smooth, but the lower settings will not get much use I suspect, at least for me.
Having said this, and conscious that I've only had one shave with one type of blade compared to the many combinations I've used with the Fatboy and Slim, the Gillette adjustables had better watch out - there could be a new King of Adjustables if the Personna keeps performing like this.
So if you see one, grab it, certainly worth a run.
A very vintage SOTD
Brush: Vintage butterscotch Simpson
Soap/Cream: Vintage Yardley Shaving Soap
Razor: Personna Micrometric [6]
Blade: Personna 'Lab Blue' [1]
After-shave: Floid Vigoroso
The Micrometric cleaned up really well. There are a couple of splits starting to develop in the bakelite handle but nothing serious. The gold plating is well done and has stood the test of time.
While some may not like the bakelite handle is certainly gives a good grip. The ridges along it are pronounced and easy to hold. At 73g (with blade) and 8cm long it is very similar in size and weight to the Gillette British Aristocrat #21 or #22/66 or the US rhodium plated Executive. The bakelite handle does affect the balance with a little more weight seeming to be in the head - but it doesn't feel unbalanced.
I dialed it up to 6, the maximum, which looked like a pretty wide blade gap so I was cautious. Now there are actually two marks on the dial and the other one was on 'N' but this is certainly the greatest gap I could manage to create.
After lathering up the Yardley we were off. My initial caution was unnecessary. This is one s-m-o-o-t-h razor. I combined with a fresh Personna 'Lab Blue' which is my standard test blade (and also Personna branded!) and the combination worked well.
My standard 2 1/2 pass shave done (north -> south, then vice versa, then across the jawline) I could still feel a faint stubble when running my hand ATG up my cheeks - so I did another ATG south -> north pass just on the cheeks. The result was a truly BBS with only a couple of very minor patches where running my hand ATG I could feel anything, mainly on my neck and under teh jawline. I'm sure if I'd done a full 3 pass shave these could have been addressed.
Then the test - applied the Floid Vigoroso generously. I expect some sting but that was not to be, just the warm glow of the menthol.
Overall: An outstanding shave.
The results equally that of the Barbasol Floating head and the R41 but without the uber-aggressive fear and trepidation they bring.
The only downside I can see is that I had this dialled right up to the most aggressive setting so I'm unlikely to get a closer shave than this. By way of contrast when I use a Fatboy or Slim I don't tend to dial them right out - the results are uncomfortable and not worth the hassle. I know I will not have any problems with the Personna, it will always be smooth, but the lower settings will not get much use I suspect, at least for me.
Having said this, and conscious that I've only had one shave with one type of blade compared to the many combinations I've used with the Fatboy and Slim, the Gillette adjustables had better watch out - there could be a new King of Adjustables if the Personna keeps performing like this.
So if you see one, grab it, certainly worth a run.
stillshunter
a man of resolve, a man of conviction
State Convenor - ACT
Group Buy Associate
2015 Sabbatical Fail
Great review Mark. I do like the shape of this razor. Dialling back the PMM might be good for buffing?
Nice review, Mark! Bonza SOTD too! Love the vintage touch.
stillshunter
a man of resolve, a man of conviction
State Convenor - ACT
Group Buy Associate
2015 Sabbatical Fail
Ahem, LaP, mate a second....
....[whispers in ear]...
...."I know it's old world charm for you and me, but to Mark these pieces of brass and butterscotch, these old mouldy bits of wood and rank smelling soaps, they are cutting edge (poor guy's still getting his head around this new-fangled 'bakelite' stuff). This is his today. So go with it, by all means say it's nice but please, for the love of all that's holy, don't call it 'vintage'. None of us wants to clean up after that bubble bursts mate"
You're a classic, Stillsy 
Absolute gold plated.
Absolute gold plated.
Mark1966
Canberra dwelling Happy Clapping Bean Counter
Staff member
Site Moderator
Grand Society
2016 Sabbatical Fail
2018 Charity Auction Winner
2019 Charity Auction Winner
2020 Charity Auction Winner
You're a classic, Stillsy
That is why he is loved more than most ...
It is a two piece Pete
filobiblic
Facepeeler Extraordinare
State Convenor - NSW
Group Buy Caporegime
2017 Sabbatical Fail
2016 Sabbatical Fail
2015 Sabbatical Fail
how do you propose that?!? Surely you grabbed the only one that you (and we) have seen?
Having said that, I'll keep my eyes peeled....
Mark1966
Canberra dwelling Happy Clapping Bean Counter
Staff member
Site Moderator
Grand Society
2016 Sabbatical Fail
2018 Charity Auction Winner
2019 Charity Auction Winner
2020 Charity Auction Winner
You're a classic, Stillsy
Just bear in mind that @stillshunter has met me - most here haven't ....
Mark1966
Canberra dwelling Happy Clapping Bean Counter
Staff member
Site Moderator
Grand Society
2016 Sabbatical Fail
2018 Charity Auction Winner
2019 Charity Auction Winner
2020 Charity Auction Winner
Brush: Vintage butterscotch Simpson
Soap/Cream: Proraso 'Red' Cream
Razor: Personna Micrometric [6]
Blade: Personna 'Lab Blue' [2]
After-shave: AoS Sandalwood gel
Second shave, two and a half passes - fantastic result. This razor glides around like no other.
I notice that @Leisureguy uses the phrase 'razors that are comfortable---ideally, very comfortable---and also very efficient' in another thread - that is certainly the way I would describe this razor. Beautiful!
Soap/Cream: Proraso 'Red' Cream
Razor: Personna Micrometric [6]
Blade: Personna 'Lab Blue' [2]
After-shave: AoS Sandalwood gel
Second shave, two and a half passes - fantastic result. This razor glides around like no other.
I notice that @Leisureguy uses the phrase 'razors that are comfortable---ideally, very comfortable---and also very efficient' in another thread - that is certainly the way I would describe this razor. Beautiful!
filobiblic
Facepeeler Extraordinare
State Convenor - NSW
Group Buy Caporegime
2017 Sabbatical Fail
2016 Sabbatical Fail
2015 Sabbatical Fail
A very nice razor to add to your huge collection of Gille... Oh! It's not a Gillette razor!? Well, well, well...
Mark1966
Canberra dwelling Happy Clapping Bean Counter
Staff member
Site Moderator
Grand Society
2016 Sabbatical Fail
2018 Charity Auction Winner
2019 Charity Auction Winner
2020 Charity Auction Winner