Rockwell SETPOINT Adjustable Razor: One Week Later
Hey, what’s happening, gents? Mike here, back in the shave den. Thanks for joining me. It’s been a week since the Rockwell SETPOINT adjustable razors launched, both the aluminum and the stainless steel. I’m about to head out of town for a couple of weeks and won’t be able to film, so I wanted to get you an update before I go instead of leaving you waiting.
The Weight Difference (and My Own Mistake)
One thing I didn’t realize until after my last video, the side-by-side comparison, is just how different these two razors actually are in the hand. The stainless steel version is marine-grade 316L stainless, and it comes in at exactly 4 ounces. The aluminum version is 1.4 ounces. That’s more than double the weight.
When I filmed that side by side, I had both razors going at once, and looking back, I was pressing too hard with the aluminum because I was so used to the heft of the stainless sitting right next to it. That’s what gave me the weepers on my neck in that video. User error, plain and simple. Not the razor’s fault at all. I do think the stainless shaves a touch smoother overall, but that’s a small edge. Outside of the weight, these two are nearly identical.
A Week of Switching Back and Forth
Once I separated them and shaved with each one on its own, the story changed completely. Two days on stainless, two days on aluminum, back to stainless, back to aluminum. No weepers, no irritation, nothing. My skin adapted to the weight difference just fine once I wasn’t jumping between them mid-shave.
I kept both on setting six the whole week. I never dropped it down. I know the whole point of an adjustable is to run six on your first pass, then four for your second, then three to clean up on a third. That’s the idea behind the dial. But I’m a double-edge guy at heart; I’ve got a lot of razors that only have one setting, and I’m used to shaving that way. So six it was, every pass, every day. No complaints.
I’ve got to say, the response to this launch has been something else. A lot of you have been messaging me with questions, and I try to get back to everyone. For the people who already picked one up, especially through my affiliate link, thank you. I appreciate it more than you know, and it really does help the channel keep going. Based on what you’re telling me after you order, I think you’re going to be happy with these.
That Wobble at the Bottom Isn’t a Defect
There’s been some chatter online about movement at the bottom of the handle. If you shake it, you can hear it rattle a little. I want to clear this up because I had the same question, so I reached out to some folks at Rockwell directly. It’s intentional.
During development, which took them about three to five years, people wanted to pull the razor apart beyond just the top cap. They wanted to be able to pull out the bottom section too, so they could rinse the whole thing under water and clean it properly. There’s a metal collar down there. Squeeze it slightly, and it comes apart, then it snaps right back in. It won’t fall out on you.
Here’s the part that matters for actually shaving with it. When you tighten the top cap down fully, there’s still a little give at the very bottom where it screws together. You’d think that movement would carry up and shift the top plate while you’re shaving, maybe around the neck where you’re bending the handle. It doesn’t. Once that top cap is screwed down, it’s locked. The blade plate stays stationary. You’ll hear the rattle more on the stainless than the aluminum, but on either one, it has zero effect on the shave.
Price and Which One I’d Buy
This is a solid razor. If it were my money, and you know I’ve always had a thing for titanium and lighter-weight gear, I’d probably still lean toward the stainless steel, even though it costs more than the aluminum. I like the aluminum a lot too. I like that it’s lighter. If you can afford both, great, you won’t regret either one. If you want to save the difference, you’ll be perfectly happy with the aluminum. Your call.
Where does it land against the Rockwell 6S? I still like the 6S better, honestly. I run that one on setting five most of the time, even though six works fine on it. There’s something about that fifth plate, smooth but still efficient, that’s earned it a permanent spot on my top shelf. The SETPOINT is close, though, and I really like the direction they took with the design.
A Tip for Loading the Blade
One tip I picked up. When you’re loading a blade, pinch it down flat first, hold it pinched, then bring the bottom of the razor up to meet it and make sure everything is fully seated before you start screwing it closed. If you just let the blade sit loose and start turning, it won’t catch the threading right away, and you might not notice until you’re already shaving.
What I do after every shave: pull the blade, break the razor down, rinse everything out, and leave it standing face down to air dry. I run a rag over it first to get the water off, and if I want to go further, I’ll run one of those small wire brushes through it. Being able to break it down this far to clean it is a direct result of feedback Rockwell got during development. With the T2, you can’t do that. You’re stuck with what you’ve got.
Is It Worth It?
After a week with both of these, I’m genuinely pleased. If you’ve got the budget for one, I’d say go for it. If what you’re already shaving with does the job, there’s no need to switch. But if you’ve got some extra room and you’ve been curious about trying an adjustable, this is a good one to start with. Run it high on your first pass, drop it to four for your second, and dial it back to three to clean up. That’s exactly what the adjustment is built for, and I think you’ll walk away happy with it.
I’m still not sure what this means for the T2 long term. I don’t know if Rockwell plans to keep making it now that the SETPOINT is out, or if this is meant to replace it. I don’t have a clear answer on that one yet.
That’s the feedback, gents. Appreciate everyone who’s been messaging me about these, and thanks to everyone who’s used the affiliate link; it really does help the channel. I’ll see you guys in a couple of weeks.