A Texan Shaves Review -Yaqi Excalibur and Caramel Cat's Whiskers

Another good technical review of the gear you used. Excellent stuff! Thanks.

Nice review Bary! I have seen mixed reviews with their razors. Appreciate your honesty.

Great honest review!

So this has not been the first time I have seen issues with a yaqi razor. I seen another user have the same issue with the head wobble, and not clamping right. It seems like yaqi makes great brushes but their razors can have quality control issues. Great review and great video.

That brush handle is beautiful. I had a brush with an awesome 26mm handle but I couldn’t cope with the knot. I replaced it with AP Shaves SynBad Bulb synthetic ($11.00), really enjoying it. Too bad about the razor but these are the type of things that make this hobby interesting 🪒

Thanks for the honest review Bary. I found the Cat's Whiskers knot has too much backbone for me but I find the same with a lot of G style synthetic knots. With my Excalibur I find it's better to load the blade in the top cap first where there is an alignment slot pin in the center with the screw, still like you said there is some play between top and bottom cap to be aware of (like many other cast Zamac heads) and yes the finish should been better and must have contributed to your blade alignment issues, personally I get good shaves with KAI Caption Titan Mild or Feather Pro-Guard blades. I think it's still good value, the Excalibur head cost about US$10 (I don't like the standard skinny handle), I don't think there's another AC razor around for that price. Btw: after you cranked down the razor the blade was already out of alignment, I don't think the head moved during the shave. Take care Bary👌🤠👌

I love my Excalibur. I too struggled with a head shave. The play in the head is noticeable but you can easily align it and tighten the blade. It was my go to AC blade razor until I got my Shield. Still a good razor and I shaved with mine yesterday at my camper. I’d love to see them tighten up their tolerances and make this a great razor. Mine needs fiddling but doesn’t seem to be as much as yours.

Awesome review Bary!!!! Seems like they need to check their razors a little closer. Especially if they are sending it out for review.

Had this razor, same issues traded it for a razorock hawk aluminum and that’s my fave AC razor now.

They seem to have a quality control issue in many of their razors. I have a brass razor handle from them which is good but I returned a razor that had a horrible flaw in the finish. I'm not impressed with this company and it seems I'm not alone. Good honest review Sir. I respect that more than anything. Cheers- Kevin W

Howdy Bary! Luckily my Excalibur head is made fine and not looking like yours - don't know why yours not. I think it might need some break in - have so with a lot of my synthetic brushes at first stiff and than nicely soft from about the 3rd use. Have a nice Sunday my friend. Greetings from Germany 👋🏻 Christian

Yikes Bary! Looking at the blade and top cap alignment when you showed, made me really worried... Glad that this razor didn't peel off your face.

I love my Yaqi Excalibur. I just have the razor head and bought a different handle for mine. I’ve used it 2-3 times and don’t remember having any alignment issues. Maybe I got lucky. I’ve since bought 2 more and sent them to friends. I hope those are ok.

I was waiting for this review and I'm glad I did! Just like you I have a few Yaqi and just like you I've had some good ones and bad ones. I bought the mercury head and it cut me pretty bad so I chucked it immediately, I knew Yaqis reputation and made sure the blade was aligned but it still cut me pretty bad, for $6 and I don't have time to mess around with it and moved on. CONSEQUENTLY, I have their double OC head and I get really smooth and close shaves with it! For $6 it was a great deal, I also have two stainless steel handles that have great weight and really good knurling, I use these "full time", I use the handle with my 6C which is my primary razor. I have two other Yaqi heads that work fine, no issues whatsoever. I have two other Yaqi heads in the mail on the way too 🤣. I'm going to skip this one, I also have a med course beard so it would definitely tug for me, I'll just wait and get a shield head when they go on sale 🤓. That brush is on my radar and I know a lot of people like it, I'll wait to see how you feel about it before I consider pulling the trigger. Thanks again for the review ❤

Very good! To be honest I didn't know they even made the Excalibur anymore. I think the all stainless Romulus replaced it and it's a much different head design. The tolerances are tight and it's a smooth shaver. I'm not much of an AC safety razor guy though and prefer those blades in a shavette. Sometime I'll have to let you borrow an Enders Speed Shaver with my adapter and Black Label injector blade. Vintage fun with a super smooth blade. Take care!

I just had a conversation with Bary. Between us we have a sample group of three of these razors. I own two of them as one is at my seasonal campsite. Bary’s seems to have horrible play in the head and not worth using. Mine at home has slight but manageable play and takes a second to align the blade. My other one at the camper seems to be tighter than a bulls ass in fly season. I find mind to be great daily drivers as I shave daily. Once you have a couple days growth it can be scrappy tuggy. There needs to be more consistent quality control. I use the same blade in this razor and my shield and I have none of the above issues with my shield (or Razo Rock Hawk AC)

Barry when does your oliworks review come out? Just ordered after watching your unboxing.

Ultra super mega first. No one in the history of man has firsted like this.