I have both machines. At first, Rockwell was among the favorites. But after buying Parcker Variant, he moved into second place. . I now have Parcker Variant clearly in the first place.
Very interesting comparison. Have you ever thought of making videos on your Top 10 or Top 5 (soaps, razors, aftershaves, etc.)? That's always interesting for me to see.
Well have got both these razors Kev and I cannot say I really like either even with any sort of blade the best pat is the Nivea dual action balm at the end it is spot on.
4 years old video today but still Really very relevant. The Rockwell 6s is still unbeatable value compared to many other razors released since in the last 4 years, it still holds it own. My Variant is good but aggressive and has over time developed uneven blade gap on both sides. I think I'll order a 6s and polish it gently on the exposed top cap and the plate guard areas to make it shine +
Another cracking video, mate!😎 I think I'd like both!🤣 I am going to Ireland for two weeks in September and my brother-in-law will be getting me some Nivea two-phase so I'm looking forward to using that! 😊🍀👍
I did not sign up for the Model T. I only use Plate #4, so I don't need to adjust "on the fly". I'm sure it will be a great shaver. I look forward to watching you shave with it.
Thank you for this i rolled out the progrss I have the r41 and merkur slant I am eying rockwell 6s, parker variant open comb and the viking I will get two razors What do u suggest and a bit feedback is appreciated
@@kevyshaves4109 thank you. Already placed my order for the Parker and hope to get it soon, so the other one would be on my list. the Merkur slant bar is great. just had a superb shave with it and the key is drier brush than i normally do to have a richer lather and paying attention to light hold of the razor
From the US. I am always amazed at how aggressive you can shave with a DE. I still can't get past 2 on my Parker or progress. Fyi, I tend to gravitate to the Parker. Can you get a clean shave on setting 1 or a very mild razor? You always start out with a pretty aggressive razor or setting.
It's taken me around 18 months for my skin to adapt to being able to shave this way. I think it get's easier over time to shave with more aggressive razors. I can get a clean shave on setting 1 with some razors. It really depends on the blade you use in the razor. Mild razor with a new sharp blade, like a Polsilver Super Iridium will give me a nice close shave every time on setting 1. Cheers. Kevy :)
Not sure what is to be garnered by this "comparison" as Rockwell is 6 position and parker is a 5 position so matching the numbers and setting does not seem so relevant,
I have a Parker Variant and absolutely love it. Performs very well. I'm sure the Rockwell is fantastically made razor. But I don't think I'll enjoy changing plates after every pass. I just don't have the patience to do that. I do a 3 pass shave and dialing up or down between settings is a breeze. Yes the Variant does feel a little aggressive on higher settings but with proper technique and a good blade, I always get an awesome irritation free shave. The Variant is my favourite along with my Merkur 34C and Edwin Jagger DE89. Thanks for sharing this wonderful video Kevy. Not sure how I missed it previously as I've watched almost every video u shared. Stay safe.
Great comparison shave. I have both 6S & Variant. Wonderful razors. I give the nod to the Parker Variant. I find it smoother and can adjust on the go! Perfect time to be a wet shaver!
Hey Stuart. They are both great razors. I like to change the settings on an adjustable and being able to do that as you shave with such ease might give the Variant the nod to a lot of shavers but the 6S is still a wonderful piece of shaving gear that will last forever. Cheers. Kevy.
Stuart Collins I am.in the same boat. I love my 6S. It was my.first wet shave safety razor I got. I followed it up with a half dozen other razors which I enjoyed but never replaced my 6S as my go to razor. That is until I got the Parker Variant. It got to a point where it became my daily.go to razor because.of the on the fly adjustment. They are still.my.2.favourite razors. I look forward to getting my Rockwell Model T soon to be able to compare it to these two.
Great vid! From my understanding of the Rockwell 6S, they were built with the blade angle built in through the blade cap and handle. It was built so that you would not feel the blade, but get the smooth performance to reduce nicks, cuts, and burn. I have a Merkur Progress and it’s the same as the Parker- when you increase that blade gap, you’re gonna feel that blade.
I bought a Rockwell 6S to be my new daily razor, meaning to keep it for life (replacing a Merkur Futur which had a spring break from the pot metal top rendering the top loose and the razor junked). Unfortunately, I don't usually use a really aggressive razor but after quickly working my way up to plate 6 it still left me wanting for closeness. Having just shaved with a new Parker Variant, I found even on the lower settings it was more aggressive and left me with a much cleaner shave. I'll be selling my Rockwell 6S, because the Variant for my face is just totally superior.
@@ER-ws2pb The Variant is a great shaver. Not too aggressive on the lower settings and aggressive enough once you dial it up. Good to hear it's working out for you. Kevy 👍😀
@@kevyshaves4109 FWIW I contacted Rockwell to ask if they would consider making an additional plate 7/8 to make the razor more aggressive, they replied quickly and said others have asked but recommended I try a different razor of theirs (currently out of stock Model T). The 6S/6C is a great razor if it works for your face, I would recommend against it for those with daily strong stubble -- multi passes didn't work nearly as well as with the Merkur Futur or the Variant, or just buy the 6C to start off and then upgrade to the S if the razor works for you. I tried the Rockwell out with a variety of blades, so it is more about the blade gap than anything else in my case, too bad, it is a nice solid razor...
I have them both. The Rockwell 6S and the Parker Variant. They are both great razors the cons I find are: - the 6 s demands to change plates. It's not really an adjustable, but an interchangeable razor. Yet I don't mind. You just don't have to rush. Take your time and enjoy. It's solid built. Thing for a lifetime. The VARIANT is a bit more fragile and the rolling knob at the bottom has a little problem... when you handle the razor during the shave as it is very sensitive you can switch the setting inadvertently. But it performs very well.
Very helpful video. I have the Variant and it's a fine and very pleasing instument. I was wondering whether I was missing anything by not having the 6S. Also, from this video, picked up the idea of two rinses: a hot and cold one. Thank you. Helpful and enjoyable video.
Thanks Martin. The Variant is an excellent razor. The Rockwell 6S is my favourite razor at the moment, very smooth and a joy to use. Thanks for the comment. Happy new year. Kevy :)
Sir, I have got both the blades not the razors , I use PARKER VARIANT RAZOR with ASTRA SP BLADE only, ASTRA STAINLESS BLADE is useless and doesn't give a nice shave.
The 6c is made of chromed zinc alloy, the 6s is made of solid stainless steel, so the 6s is more solid and durable, particularly if you drop the razors on a hard tiled/concrete type floor the 6s is less likely to break, hence the price difference.
I think there's much advantage with head weight when it comes to efficiency in razors. Design is just as important a factor certainly, but I have felt that the weighted heads help do the work. And these two have that factor in their favor.
Hi Kevy, I tried the Treet blade for the first time today in my Parker Variant. Proraso pre-shave D R Harris Windsor soap and used my Trumper CB2 super badger brush.Quite a nice shave with virtually no irritation. Not BBS but pretty good. I liked the Treet blade, nice and sharp but with no nasty surprises. I may try a Treet in my Outlaw next time I use it. Cheers and stay safe, Dave.
@@kevyshaves4109 Yes....I have only used it the once but I liked it! I may try one in my Feather Razor but I think the Feather blades are really matched to the Razor. My best to you, Mrs Kevy & Riley. 😁😁 Dave.
Hi Kevy ... those are my 2 favourite modern razors. I used to have a bunch of DEs, like 10+ but now I've cleared stock and reduced it down to three, 6S, variant and a Gilette Red tip for the occasional nostalgic DE shave. My problem now is that I graduated to the straight razor ... currently have six with few more on the way ... (-; (thought the madness would end...) Any plans for you to try a SR ? It's the next evolutionary step ... (-: Cheers!
Hi Caeser. I have a straight razor but life at the moment doesn't give me the time to fully focus on using it -stropping, honing etc. I've never used it yet but I hope to try it one day!! LOL! I'll stick with the ease of DE razors for now. You have kept three of my favourite razor's. Cheers. Kevy :)
Looking forward to the SR shave video .... the learning curve is loooooooonnnnngggggggg ! I'm still working on it but it is a bad ass way to shave ... (-:
A nice side by side comparison video Kevy. I don't have either of them but I do think the 6S is a better looking razor but the price of it lets it down for me, it's just not worth that kind of money. If they do a adjustable like the Fatboy where you just turn the sittings and they bring the price down then I would get one but for now you have to give the nod to the packer just for the price of it and you don't have to keep switching plates all the time.
STEVEN1987 Thanks Steven. You're right, some people are put off by the price and having to mess about changing plates etc. I'll be interested to see what people thing of the Rockwell model T when it becomes available, which is supposed to be similar to the old Gillette slim and Fatboy adjustable. Cheers. Kevy 👍
Great video Kevy these are my two best razors. Have to say I don't think you could go wrong with either of these excellent razors. With that said for me I have chosen the Rockwell 6S as my main razor based on the fact it gives you a great close shave while being the most comfortable razor I have yet to use. The Parker will give you a great close shave but for me even at only setting 1I felt like too much blade. The Rockwell on plate 4 for all three passes felt awesome. Have a great day!
Thanks John. I love both of these razors. I honestly couldn't choose between them both. The Rockwell is great on every plate. The thing with the Variant is, if you want a more aggressive shave, it can give you hat on the higher settings. Cheers. Kevy :)
Finally got my head around the Variant. I start using setting 1, which barely takes the soap off my face. Then a few passes on setting 3, then finish off with an against the grain on 5. Time consuming, but end up with a face as smooth as a snooker ball, no soreness or cuts.
Great to hear that James. That's what's great about the Variant, the whole level of mildness or aggression in the shave. It's a great razor to have in your den. All the best. Kevy 👍
I have the Parker Variant and the cheaper Rockwell 6c and rate them both highly. At the moment the 6C is my daily go-to razor... even though I usually rotate through my razors with each shave. I love it.
Two great razors Julian. I have to,say, I think I would find it difficult to choose between the two. I like to rotate them all too. Keeps things fresh. Cheers. Kevy 👍
I have a variant, shes my one and only.. the only thing i dont like about it is that you cant tell where the blade is when edging sideburns and going up under the nose, which is annoying, other than that the shave is incredibly smooth using most any gillettes or astras blades . i love your videos btw!
Excellent comparison, Kev! It appears that the Rockwell plates should have been 5, 4, then 3, to equal the gap and feedback of the Variant. This went very well and does highlight the finer points of both adjustable razors. I too prefer the Variant rather than the Progress. I enjoy the Nivea cream too. A very successful shop and compare. Cheers!
Thanks once again for the kind words Alex. Maybe it should have been on a slightly more aggressive plate to match up to the Variant. However, still a great shave from both of these wonderful modern DE's. Cheers. Kevy :)
Kevy, Kevy my man. nice video and thank you. I am new to wet shave with de. I just received a merkur future clone yesterday. $12 dollars to see if I want to go de route. Man, what a difference, even with a chinese clone vs what the industry says I should have. on blood thinners so was scared. but to my surprise with patience and learning curve, no nick, no sore neck, no alcohol aftershave burn. I am going to order the 6s for my go to and hope I like it. Will give the clone to a friend who like me has sensative skin...also, used poraso green with a brush. Man, shaving is fun again!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cant wait till the wife says,,,,,,what did you spend 80 dollars on LOL.
Nice one Dan. The Chinese Clone is a great razor but the 6S is absolutely amazing. Just don't blame me to your wife about you spending 80 bucks! 😂 Cheers. Kevy 😀👍
update for readers, got my 6s today. of course had to shave...plus power went out so why not. I used #2 and did 3 passes. angle for me way different than the merkur , and it is silent. still had some spots i had to go over. guess i will jockey over to #3 setting and see whats up...guess thats why you guys keep reviewing all of the razors. but in the end, probably all good, just personal preference. Will post back with #3 if you don't mind... @@kevyshaves4109
Hey Dan. Yes, let us know how it's going. It takes a couple of shaves to get the feel for a new razor. Keep experimenting with the different plates and it won't be long before you find what's best for you. Have a great weekend. Kevy 👍
Nice shave. Very nice razor comparison. I enjoy the fine details you explain on the feel of the razors, shave. I have both razors and also the Merkur Progress and a Ming Shi 2000(Merkur Futur clone). They are all fine shavers including the Qshave even though it's a lot cheaper than the others. They all have nice audio feedback. I wouldn't recommend getting a adjustable if your a newbie wet shaver. But once you got your technique down, they will be a joy to shave with.👍
I had to unfortunately return & replace my first Parker Variant, then return & refund the 2nd one they sent me. Both had a manufacturing defect where the blade did not tighten down perfectly straight with the safety bar. The blades had an angle to them where one side of the blade would touch the skin a split second before the other. I tried several different brands of blades with the same result. It was visibly noticeable with the naked eye. So, if you order the PV, take a close look. It was especially noticeable when it was set to #2 and above. I went ahead and ordered the Rockwell 6c (gun metal" instead. Only $47 on Amazon! Let's hope it's up to my standards.
@@kevyshaves4109 - Update: I love the Rockwell 6c! My first shave i did a three pass with 4-3-2. The 2 plate was super mild so i might try 4-3-3 next time and maybe 5-4-3. It feels and shaves like a dream with my favorite Voskhod blades.
8:50 and 15:00 you did a sideways pass on your neck! What technique did you used for this? I have sideways beard growth in my neck and jawlines but every time I try a sideways pass I cut myself.
You are well on your way to being labelled a "Completest"(not sure if this the correct spelling for the noun) but that is a collector or enthusiast who must have a example of every item made within a product line....And you are going to be in BIG TROUBLE....ahem(just saying) XD
Hey kevy i am sorry i have not watched the video before this one. I enjoyed this shave a great deal i love adjustable razors i love my gillette slim and my gillette fat boy i think the parker variant would be great fit to my shaving den have a great week kevy
hi Josh. No problem buddy, the videos will be here for a long time to come. Glad you enjoyed this one and you're right, the vintage Gillette adjustable are great razors. The Variant and the 6S are brilliant modern adjustables. Kevy 😀
I'm just going to buy four Rockwell razors...and use a different plate on each one.....HA.......good shave Kevy...but the point is made...The Parker is the way to go...I'm still loving my progress...see no reason to buy a clone...but for those still looking ..the Parker is the winner...and the first choice in adjustables ...cheers !
Nice comparison Kevy. 😌👏 I suppose the results aren't particularly surprising, as long as the razors are similar-ish in terms of aggression, by the time you've done 3 passes and a small pick up pass, you'd expect the results to be fairly identical between the two. Did you flip a coin to decide which razor had to deal with the old trouble spot?
Thanks Dave. You're right, after 3 passes it's down to the very subtle differences. To be honest, they are both fantastic, that's why I didn't want to do a shootout vid, more of a comparison. Ha ha, I didn't flip a coin...Mrs. Kevy was the judge on that! Lol! Cheers. Kevy.
Paid $57 for the Variant and just bought a new 6S for $80. Parker is aggressive on my face even on setting 1. Will be getting my 6S in 5 days and will give it a try. Was told on plate #2 it is like shaving with a Feather ASD2. Will let you know. Also like things made in Stainless and made in USA
Nice buys John. That's a really mild setting in the Variant. But as I always say, what works best for,you might not be good for others. Yes, do let me know how it goes with the Rockwell 6S, I love using mine. Cheers. Kevy 😀
King Kevy, yesterday I bought the Nivea Sensitive Cream. Excellent choice, very slick and I noticed that you had a great creamy, dense, protective lather without trying much. Cheers mate, perfect cream and dirt cheap.
Brilliant. Have you used it yet? I think it's a great cream for the money. No nonsense, just a great cream with a nice, light, refreshing scent. Cheers. Kevy :)
Good comparison, mate! I like the look of that shave cream ...might pick up a tube to try. Cheers and keep up the great viddies ! I can strongly recommend owning a Rockwell 6C. I have been using a pre-production model for some months now and I really enjoy it - every bit as much as the 'S' version. Actually the chrome gives it a pretty nice feel. I got my production example the other week and they really got the chrome right here. Good stuff. I'll travel now with my 'C' version and maybe a Merkur 45 as a backup.
Thank you Mark, the Nivea cream is really good stuff. I haven't seen many videos with the 6C - only Nick Shaves - and I'm not sure how readily available it is over here in the UK just yet. It's definitely on my radar that's for sure. Cheers. Kevy :)
You're welcome Kevy, it was quite a while ago! I received my 6C from shavelounge last week Kevy, very smooth, now my go to razor, it has ousted my beloved Merkur 34C. I used to get that cream in my local Sainsbury's but they don't seem to stock it any longer the rotters 😂😂😂. Great video again Kevy.
Baz McLaughlin Good to know Shave Lounge stock the 6C. I'll need to save my pennies and get one. Thanks again for the cream. I'm sure I saw he Nivea cream in my local Sainsbury's a while back. Have a good weekend mate. Kevy 👍
Rockwell 6S is made in the USA and the 6C is made in China. As you said the materials are different as well. Other than those differences same razor. Shave should be identical. Thanks for the vid! Very enjoyable!
Great review, thanks. Just ordered Rockwell 6S. I have a Gillette Slim Adjustable, but haven't found a need to change the setting during shave. If Rockwell rocks, I'll stick with it.
Love the video as always! My 2 cents: While you used the same blade model in both razors, it's still 2 different blades and, as we've all experienced, blades can vary quite a bit within the same batch from the same mfg. Unfortunately, having to switch the blade back and forth would've made it too difficult to do the video, but it would've eliminated that variable.
Thank,you Brian. I could've used the same blade in each razor but you're right, it would've made the video a bit longer, but the variable would've been eliminated, yes. Cheers. Kevy 😀
Great shave and comparison Kevy. You had an Astra Superior Platinum in the 6s and a Astra Superior Stainless in the Variant though lol. Great video as always mate, take care. Cheers👍
Tony Tony That's so weird! I didn't even notice and I've never tried an Astra blue or even own a pack. These two blades were from the exact same pack, just opened for this shave. What are the chances? I just put them in each razor without even looking! Well spotted. Cheers. Kevy 👍
Thanks Brandon. I don't think the Nivea 2 phase is available yet in the States. Hopefully you guys will get it eventually, it's a great splash for the money. The battle scars seem to be taking forever to heal. Cheers. Kevy :)
Yes, someone pointed that out. Strange but the both blades came from an Astra green box. What are the chances. I didn't even notice when I put it in the razor. Might be time for an eye test...lol! Have a good week. Kevy 👍
Hi Kevin, I received my variant from Amazon on Sunday however the initial shave wasn't as pleasant. I inspected the blade on both sides and one side has a very slight warp like ~ I removed the top plate and when I run my finger tip along the inside edge of the top plate where it presses down the blade, there's a little bump along the edge at middle point. I don't think this is normal. Also after I loaded it with a blade (feather or any other brand) I can't dial it down to 1 mark. It stays snug just north of 1.1 When there's no blade loaded I can go down almost to +. This dial number issue is not as big of a deal as the warp, but the slight warp particularly on one side put me off. Do you observe such abnormal finish on your razor. I'm debating if I should return it for an exchange. At this point Merkur Futur shaves better, but it feels like an oiled up greasy pig that slips out of m grip. Thanks.
I didin't have any issues like that with my Parker Variant. I would return it to Amazon and explain to them whats wrong with the razor. That doesn't sound right to me. They usually have a pretty good customer service. Let me know how it goes. Kevy 😀
I ordered second Parker Variant and will compare that to the one I received on Sunday. Honestly, trusting Amazon and Parker brand name when i received the razor I didn't inspect it carefully and proceeded to shave immediately. Now I see small pitting on the finish on the same side where the warping is. As if there were impurities in the ZAMAC. The knurling on the adjustment knob is much more pronounced and easier to grip than the main handle. The knurling on the main handle is almost smooth but still provides much better grip than the finish on Futur or Progress. Just for the knurling alone I prefer Parker. I hope the fit and finish turns out better on the second one. Also, I wish PARKER brand name was stamped somewhere on the razor. Any brand that claims to be top tier should proudly display their name on their product.
Thanks for the comparison Kevy! I'm very happy with my Rockwell 👍 i wanted to buy the parker variant too, but i did read too many comments about big issues with the quality. Some people bought 2-3 of them and all were not usable.
Thanks. I love both these razors. I think there were some issues with the first batch of Variant's where the finish was coming off the handle but that has all been sorted now. I like Parker razors. Cheers. Kevy :)
6c has mixed things up. You say changing plates was not an issue for you - it struck me as a potential irritant - and I wondered if some months later your view had changed? Torn between the variant and the 6c.
I honestly don't mind changing the plates. The 6S continues to give me close, irritation free shaves, no matter what blade I put in it. They are both great razors but for me they shave differently on my face. I like the weight and fell of the 6S slightly more than the Variant. Cheers. Kevy 👍
Kevy Shaves thanks for that. If anyone could work out the science of razor comfort, given the difference in alignment is miniscule in some cases, they'd ruin all the fun. But a good shave no matter what blade! That's impressive.
Thanks for sharing your favorites. As for lubricant, I'm using a regular bath soap (Dalan brand, glycerin, it's around less than a dollar) which works but I may be missing out- I want to try the connoisseur way at least once w/ good pre shave, shave soaps or cream. I wish, like in the fountain pen community (I invite you all to this community- writing w/ the fountain pen is the smoothest- it's also connoisseur) What's your favorite preshave if you use that, shaving soap or cream (if you're into creams instead) & aftershave (or could you just use 99% alcohol which I have in hand and of course 70% isoprophyll as well)? I'll do my best to find them, in time for a nice shave when my GEM 1912 arrives (I'm still keeping my cartridge powered Pro Glide Fusion and DE, just in case SE is not for me). I wish shaving stores would adapt the fountain pen industry, whereby they have samplers of their ink (it's not free but it's affordable, so you can try before you commit to buying the whole ink bottle). I invite you to the fountain pen community- connoisseur of fine writing much like fine shaving we have here:-) If the shaving industry adopts this, it'd be easier to buy affordable different types of preshaves, cream or soap or aftershave (perhaps a sampler that's good for 1 shave so that it's cheap to try and buy. It'd be easier to combine things too). Thanks in advance.
@@SevenDeMagnus I have lots of different favourites, it would be hard to name just one! Taconic Shave do a nice scentless pre shave. Truest & Hill pre shave oil is lovely. Soaps and creams I like are Taylor Of Old Bond Street Sandalwood, Catie's Bubbles La Terre Verte and PAA John Frum. I'm not sure where you are in the world but there are places online that you can try small samples of soaps and crams. I'll post a couple of links for you - bit.ly/2TUDnSx shavedash.com bit.ly/2OpE3cB bit.ly/2TYm4jh Hope you find something you like. Kevy :)
The only shaving creams that ever burned me were the Edge Gel Red Cayenne and Barbasol Black Pepper with Battery Acid for sensitive skin ..They were tough,if you got a nick ,it would make a man holler ...Other than those,I never had any to burn.
Aye Kev,they kinda were hard on the blades too, especially the Barbasol battery acid one, yea ,like dull and rusty before the shave was over....lol,,,but the No Burning message on the tube is funny because I have never heard of one or had a shave cream that burned either and the look on your face was like WTF Man after you showed us that ..Thanks Kevy ,nice razors there also buddy..
Where can we get the Kevy Shaves bowl please Kevy? Can’t seem to get hold of any decent bowls in the UK. They are all too small and don’t have any grooves in the bottom.
My face doesn't burn. Only sometimes when the aftershave goes on but that disappears in a couple if seconds. You can get razor burn if you press down on the razor against your face or if you shave over the same area too many times without lather. Kevy 👍
Abe Lundt I didn't notice Abe! That's so weird! I I've never tried an Astra blue or even own a pack. These two blades were from the exact same pack, just opened for this shave. What are the chances? I just put them in each razor without even looking! Well spotted. Kevy 👍
Kevy Shaves I find them both to shave good, but, maybe that's why you like the one razor a little more than the other. It's weird that they both came from the same pack.
