iKon TECH Razor Beats Mühle R41-Shave & Review with Captain's Choice 

I agree

Thanks Dan, your comment is greatly appreciated. There should be more Gents like your Grandpa! I'll keep putting out these videos, you keep watching! Share the Love!

Thanks Adam!

Thanks much Chris!

Thanks Joey-greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much for watching, commenting, and supporting!

Great! Thanks for posting Sam. Enjoy.

Thanks Mister!

Thanks Ronnie! Happy belated Father's Day!

Great that you have one. Are they no longer made?

Try the Merkur Futur at 6. Even more aggro than the R41 imho.

Queue the dramatic music! Dun Dun Dun!!!

Thanks James-I'm still trying to figure out that comment though!

Sometimes it makes sense to put it down and revisit the razor at a later date. The results can be better!

@@geofatboy The Ikon Tech is a very finely crafted razor. It will reward anyone who cares enough to master it. And really, it's not hard to use the Ikon Tech. Once you learn how to shave with little to no pressure, it's cake. The Tech holds the blade well (no blade flexing), and I've had shaves with no sting after the alcohol splash (because with this razor, you definitely don't have to apply pressure). It shaves me closer than milder razors, I have dark hair so it's immediately apparent. Also, a more "aggressive" razor doesn't necessarily nick you more. Sometimes I find myself scraping the face with the milder razor because it's not whacking the beard away properly. Another thing I like about the Ikon Tech, I find that you don't need the sharpest blades to shave with this thing. The blade simply needs to be sharp enough to cut hair. Blades which I thought were unusable in milder razors give me great shaves in the Ikon Tech. But I still bin blades when they tug (I'm no masochist, lol). I also have a stainless steel R41, but I think I prefer the Tech (though the R41 is better to decimate a beard).

r41 2011 or 2013?

sperman 2013

D Twitchell Thanks for your answer!

D Twitchell Thanks for your answer!

Try Edwin Jagger DE 89LBL, wildly accepted as a great all around razor. Not too aggressive, medium, but durable and reliable.

NeeeeDeeep.....NeeeeDeeep.....

If they want to send me a Oneblade, I'll take it for a test drive! I'm glad you're still enjoying your Fine Slant-since they aren't making any more like that. Take good care of it.

geofatboy maybe Mantic59 can help as he mentioned he lives a short distance away from their production factory in one of his recent videos? Indeed! I find the Fine Slant is a relatively mild shaver if you don't abuse the angle and is very efficient in "slicing through the whiskers!" :D

The Tech is no longer made... shavenation.com/ The other items are still available.

Sometimes the old way is the best way! Enjoy, and share the love!

That's because ikon isn't supplying anymore.

It doesn't happen too often, but it does happen sometimes. This razor is more aggressive than the Merkur Futur set on 6 let alone 3!

The Merkur Futur on '6' is less aggressive than the Mühle R41 (though some say otherwise), but the iKon Tech is in another league of aggressiveness and will clean up any stubble those razors fail to mow down. Unfortunately, at an initial price of comfort until one learns how to use it. You might want to use the iKon Tech for only one pass at the beginning or end of a shave, use very slick lather, no pressure and a shallow shaving angle (where the head cap is nearest to your face) so the blade can shear off any beard stubble, then use a favorite razor on the other passes. Using a steep angle (where the safety razor handle is closer to your skin) may show just how aggressive this razor can be, but one might find it otherwise. It would be nice if I could find a comparison between the iKon Tech and a Feather DX kamisori straight razor with a Feather Professional Super Blade (their most aggressive) and see which option is to be more feared -- I'd guess the Feather DX, since there isn't a safety bar.

geofatboy im having a hard time getting a good strop technique down for my straight razor abs finding an hone miester

Watch this video, it will help: shavenation.com/collections/premier-strops

@@geofatboy I agree completely. Shaved every day with a Futur on 6 for six years. At some point the stop wore down and I could go around 3 times to 6 (18 total). Found it shaved pretty much the same as at 6 with a light touch. The blade gap was enormous so one could get into trouble with pressure that might cause a fold of skin to wind up getting caught. But after years and years with this razor, I knew it inside out. Now the first time I tried the Ikon Tech, it was a like a revelation. Have not picked up the Futur since. Have run it against lots of other razors including the 2011 R41. So far, nothing outshaves the Tech. I say this despite having had a very unpleasant run-in with Greg Khan, it's creator. The guy's a piece of work! But his razor is off the charts good.

The Edwin Jagger DE89 or Merkur 34C are usually recommended, but an adjustable safety razor might be best, since it can better suit various shave needs. It can be set to very mild (best for beginners) to moderately aggressive (best for shaving several days of beard growth). Shave Nation Shaving Supplies offers two good options: Parker Variant. You can see GeoFatBoy demonstrate it here -- /watch?v=YX2szG8ft3M Rockwell 6C. This is the less expensive version of the Rockwell 6S that GeoFatBoy demonstrates here -- /watch?v=N2DJBv84RM4

I have a 2011 the 2013 1/3 less aggressive to me. 2011 my favorite razor in the collection.

Hi Dan, I'm not a big fan of the horsehair brush but I will keep it in mind.

You sound like someone who hasn't actually tried an Ikon Tech.

I agree. Just received my tech a few days ago and it's a nice shave but not too aggressive. It's along the lines of my Barbasol floating head, Joris and Muhle 2013. The R41 2011 is something I only break out once in a while when I'm feeling brave :)

@@Parallax982 some people don't admit that ikon shavecraft tech is the most aggressive razor out there.

@@coolguy298 If they've actually tried it, I've got no problem with that. Everyone's entitled to their own experience. I think the R41 coasts a long way on reputation and many cite it as most aggressive without ever having tried the razors they claim it out performs. In my experience the Ikon Tech, Charcoal Goods Level 3, Wolfman WR1 .94 and the Le Coq Caged Head all out-perform the R41. There are probably a few others I've not tried. The R41 is poorly made (out of Zamak which is just a fancy name for pot metal). The 2011 R41 had fairly aggressive architecture but it's not the ultimate. A few years back it was the most aggressive easily available razor. The Ikon, Charcoal Goods and .94 Wolfman didn't exist yet, and few were aware of an obscure French razor called Le Coq (literally, the cock). The R41 brought high-end aggression in its time and at a reasonable price. Then they dummed it down in 2013 but it's still fairly aggressive. Nothing to write home about anymore. I could name a whole bunch of razors that are less aggressive than the 2011 version but more so than the 2013.

@@Parallax982 i have to disagree with you on that. R41 is well made razor. It is one of the best zamak made razors in the market. I have the 2013 version. Many experts whom i know say that the ikon tech is more agressive than the R41. The. R41 i have gives me a very close shave. Not sure on the charcoal goods and wolfman razors being agressive. Ive heard that they are efficient. I have the ATT H2 which is far more agressive than the R41.

You can't remove it from your head...

A straight razor is a completely different animal, and has a learning curve to becoming proficient. The tech is much easier to learn to shave with and will provide a super smooth shave when used properly.

@@geofatboy Did you start straight and safety shaving before starting Shavenation?

You found your magic formula!

I recall his favorite is the R89 twist.

Yes- I am human :) Thanks Luca.

I still believe that you could get a decent shave from a broken glass! thank you for the reply

:) Thanks Luca!

Hi Dismont-I was pretty surprised by its performance. It doesn't look like a beast but it sure acts like one!

Absolutely!

@@geofatboy Thank you

Amen Brother!

iKon has not made anything for a while now. If they do, we will surely get some.

Until Shave Nation gets them restocked, iKon ShaveCraft has (finally) restocked the iKon Tek (Tech) head on their website (currently on sale for $30). It seems to have been over a year since they (or anyone else) has offered them. They recently had an iKon ShaveCraft Tek Razor, but this is now out of stock. If you're interested in this razor head I hope you pick one up, as it seems iKon may let this razor head go out of stock again (since it doesn't seem iKon is actively producing new models) -- or permanently halt production. (Of course, I could be very far from what they really have planned!) In any case, I have tried numerous aggressive razors (Mühle R41, Merkur Futur, Gem MMOC, Karve with F plate, Blackland Dart, Yaqi Helmet (plus Beast and Slant), RazoRock Wunderbar & Hawk V3 Open Comb, & Charcoal Goods Lvl 3) and this razor head is probably the most aggressive/efficient of the bunch and should 'clean' any stubborn stubble left on your face from other razors (albeit -- for myself -- in a somewhat harsh manner -- so, be warned! Curiously, some find the razor head smooth.). [I really should buy a backup!] Still, a lot can be said with proper beard prep (with hot lather and towels) and skin stretching. If you can't get the iKon Tek (Tech), the RazoRock Hawk V3 Open Comb is perhaps my second favorite aggressive razor (that uses thicker Feather Artist Club style blades), though I was also very surprised by the efficiency (and smoothness) of Classic Shaving's Occam's Razor (using the 3 dot plate) and the Feather Professional Super blade (their most aggressive one). While it is wonderfully efficient in some areas, in other areas it's not quite as efficient. Sadly, some haven't had the same experience (maybe you could borrow one first). Should you pick up an iKon Tech or RazoRock Hawk V3 Open Comb razor/razor head, I would also highly recommend giving Maggard's 3.85" MR18 handle a try for either of those razor heads.

TS13 m.indiatimes.com/health/healthyliving/14-natural-ways-to-make-your-beard-grow-faster-242637.html

grow it out ...... been growing mine out every winter for the past 5 years - each year it gets thicker - and bald spots vanished.

Thank you for your support TS. I think it's mostly related to genetics. There are a lot of myths about accelerating beard growth. Shave every day, don't shave at all, etc. Check out Adam's video below, might be helpful. When I was about 13, my Dad told me to put some milk on my face and let the cat lick it off :) Not sure if that worked or not.

Thanks for posting this Adam!

No problem, i hope it helped

Have you ever tried a Scheermes Roedter 1909 Titan? It appears to be a Fatip Grande (or a Premax, which is said to be a re-branded Fatip), but with a faulty head cap which doesn't bend the blade. Two sources have claimed that the Roedter 1909 is more aggressive than the Mühle R41 (2011). Another dangerously aggressive razor is the BBNY Barbe Bleue BB Model X, which doesn't have much of a base plate, though I would imagine it would shave similarly to an adjusted Merkur Futur set to '12' -- /watch?v=T_MfTRZYp00&t=10m0s

I have not tried or ever heard of the Scheermes Roedter. It appears like it might be hard to find. I'll have to check it out. Thanks

www.barbieredifigaro.nl/scheermes-roedter-1909-titan

@@borbetomagus I've shaved with a Futur set to 18 (3 times around to 6). I find the Ikon Tech more aggressive. I also find it more aggressive than the 2011 R41. I've not tried the Rodeter 1909 or the Barbasol floating head. So far, the Ikon Tech tops my list for aggression. Amazing razor.

That 2011 R41 is indeed a beast; a while back, I did two cheek-by-cheek comparisons with the Tech (two shaves needed to account for different growth on each side of my face), and they both felt very different, but the outcomes were similar with the Tech a notch (well, maybe a half-notch) closer in the end. The R41 for me always tended to leave more weepers; I just don't get that with the Tech, and that's why I've adopted the Tech as the aggressive razor in my stable.

Both Feather blades are the same. Check out this video: shavenation.com/collections/de-razor-blades

Cheers Geofatboy 👌

The Tech is absolutely more aggressive than a Piccolo.

Yes, all though the Tech is closed comb and it does clog on longer hair (if you haven't shaved for a few weeks).

My beard grows very quickly, and the Fatip Piccolo is my go-to razor when I haven't shaved for a few days. It's a very efficient little bush hog. In my experience, the Piccolo always provides a smooth shave and it never clogs.

SN wide stick alum block and aftershave balm. bit.ly/WideStickAlumSN shavenation.com/search?q=aftershave+balm

Yes, that is how it is displayed on the Ikon web site. "Tech" is the spelling from the Gillette Tech razors. "Tek" is the spelling Ikon is using now. They sell the razor head and handle together or separately. So, you could save money by buying one handle and different heads.

Off to find my feeler/Gap gauges!

It sure is!

Ty-You will find out for yourself in a few days! Let me know what you think. PS-Nice phone convo today :)

Yo TY! I'm anxiously awaiting your review of the TECH on the Shave Nation Website! shavenation.com/products/ikon-shave-craft-tech-flat-bar-safety-razor

Nope, not even close to the dragon slayer. This comparison is between an ikon tech vs a Muhle R41 2013 head (much much milder than the 2011 head). The dragon slayer is the Muhle R41 2011 head which makes the ikon tech feel like a child's toy

@@len_kimjones8320 I disagree. I have the 2011 R41 and the Ikon Tech. I find the Tech is by far the more efficient and effective razor. I've not yet found anything that out-performs it.

@@Parallax982 I find that hard to believe. You sure you have the 2011 head and not the 2013 head? The 2011 head has way more blade exposure than the Tech, it's not even comparable.

head over to the badger and blade website - they have a wiki on how to identify the age of your razor.

i Cryostorm what’s the website?

Ok I checked, it’s from 1967

Find the date code on the razor head and ... Oh, I see you got it sorted out already. Thanks for helping out Cryostorm.

"Tech" is the model of the Ikon razor. It has the basic head shape of the old Gillette Tech razor.

Robert Castro Álvarez What happened to the head????

Buy from reputable sellers. Contact ikon maybe

The cap I'm wearing is the Shave Nation Bandana: shavenation.com/search?q=bandana The iKon Tech razor has not been made for quite some time. Not sure which "cap" you were referring to so I covered them both.

@@geofatboy has ikon stopped producing the shavecraft tech? I want one. Can you help.

@@coolguy298 Hi Neil, the Tech has not been manufactured in a couple of years. Maybe it will make a comeback someday!

@@geofatboy thanks for replying. You havent been active on youtube since a few months. Hope so everything is fine and your business is doing well. Regards.

@@coolguy298 Thanks Neil, I've been around, new video a few weeks ago, have a couple coming in the next few days.

Yes, that's exactly what I said...

Is there any razor currently made that's comparable in efficiency to the Mühle R41 (2011)? I find the iKon Tech noticeably more efficient than the Mühle R41 (2013), but since the 2011 version is no longer available I may order the Aimsport Razor Labs' 3D printed 'C410i Spitfire Mk. Ia' top cap for the Mühle R41 (2013) to (hopefully) approximate the Mühle R41 (2011). Ever try a Barbe Bleue BB Model X (which lacks any blade support) or a Roedter 1909 Titan razor (apparently a Fatip Grande with a top cap that doesn't bend the blade )? /watch?v=zM8nAjhWGj8 You can still purchase both razors if you look around.

The only thing I've ever used that is comparable to a Muhle R41 2011 is a devette (basically a straight razor on a stick). I have heard that the Rodter 1909 Titan might be even more aggressive than the R41 2011, but you can only buy from one website based overseas and the shipping is too expensive. I agree with Buzzbeat7268 though, the Ikon Tech is not even in the same stratosphere as the Muhle R41 2011. Muhle has caused a lot of confusion by changing the head, but not publicly announcing it. You would think a shaving expert like geofatboy would have known the difference though.

I could not disagree more. I have the 2011 R41, the 2013 R41 and the Tech. The 2013 R41 is like weak tea compared to the other two but I don't find the Tech to take a back seat to the 2011 R41 in any way. For me the Tech is the more aggressive razor, the razor with better feedback, the more intuitive razor -- and it produces better shaves. I'm into big-time razor aggression and the Tech is my grail razor.

@@Parallax982 Ever try a Charcoal Goods Level 3? Or Above the Tie H1 or H2? (I haven't) I got the Blackland Dart, but despite using the iKon Tech on most shaves, find the Dart more aggressive (since I haven't been able to use it without numerous weepers). Any other razors you'd recommend? I find the Occams Razor (version 1) on level 3 with a Feather Professional Super blade can give a very smooth and efficient shave in some of my trouble areas (neck XTG), but it's not as efficient in others (cheeks ATG). I'd be tempted to try a straight razor, but doubt the XTG results on my neck could match the results of a safety razor (though I don't know).

@@borbetomagus I've found the Tech more aggressive than the Dart, the Karve with an F plate, the Fatip and everything else I've tried so far except a devette. I've not yet tried the Charcoal Goods L3 or the stainless PAA DOC Evo, both of which I look forward to sampling. Assuming one sticks within the realm of safety razors, a good case can be made for the Tech as most aggressive of all but it's of course an individual experience and your's may be different than mine. All of these razors are more than capable of taking your face off if misused.

Triple G why not 2 passes?