The initial impression of the Rockwell 6S safety Razor was so solid that we had to write a review about it. We have an adjustable double-edge safety razor created by Rockwell in our hands. It is a part of a set of three adjustable razors, except for 6S being the high-end, stainless steel version. 

In all honesty, we could call this one an interchangeable razor because the safety plate on the head needs a change for another size instead of adjusting the blades higher and lower. But this fact doesn’t make the Rockwell 6S any less of one of the world’s best safety razor blades that we have ever tried. 

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and take things in strides. 

What Is Rockwell 6S

The company that created this razor, Rockwell, is relatively young as it was founded in 2014. It is based in the US and was crowdfunded by Kickstarter and soon became known for its adjustable safety razor products and reliability. The Rockwell 6S is one of their premier products in a long line of blades. 

When unpacking this product, the first thing you will notice is the nicely knurled handle. It means that it provides a better grip, mainly when your hands are wet while shaving. Although it looks like a massive tool for shaping your beard, it is much handier than it seems. The handle itself is what gives it its size. It is much longer than some other products, so it is more suitable for shavers who prefer better control. 

The handle gives the razor its balance due to its thick base plates. The top cap is thinner, more than enough for the task. The Rockwell 6S razor is not your standard double edge razor by all means. It is a very nice and precise tool for shaping your beard, but even a suitable razor for head shaving as well.  

Benefits of Using Rockwell 6S

Using a quality double edge razor alone is enough of an advantage over using a disposable razor. But the Rockwell 6S adjustable razor comes with many more benefits than a standard double edge razor of the same quality. Actually, by choosing this product you are also choosing the many advantages that it comes with. 

Adjustability

You have a choice between six settings, allowing you to pick between a level for sensitive skin and that for hardy skin. 

Price

At a pre-order price of $75, this is one of the cheaper razors in its line. 

Precision

The product is well balanced and has a longer handle, allowing you to shape any beard style you wish. 

Performance

You get a blade capable of allowing an incredibly close shave that can also be used on any skin. 

How Does Rockwell 6S Work

Preparing to shave with the Rockwell 6S starts like with any razor. If you are a veteran wet shaver, you probably have a shaving bowl among your shaving kit and know how to prepare the perfect lather. So after washing your face with some warm water and lathering up, time to choose the setting. 

There are six settings to the Rockwell 6S razor, with 1 being the most suitable for sensitive skin and 6 being the go-to version for sturdy skin. We suggest starting with setting 2, appropriate for somewhat sensitive skin. Load the razor with a new blade; you will notice that the top cap creates a lot of camber on the blades. This will cause a different handle angle than with other types of blades. 

Different settings also come with a different angle of holding the blade. You will have to find the sweet spot with every setting. After a few tries, you will probably get the hang of it and learn how to do it. Once you start shaving, you will notice that the razor creates a lot less tugging and pulling. But you will also hear a lot more audible feedback. 

The noise that the razor creates helps determine if you have shaved the area correctly or not. If you don’t hear anything, you are good to go. Switching to a different setting, like 3 or higher, might cause a more aggressive shave. So be prepared for that if you decide to try it out. 

After you are done, put on some moisturizing beard oil for your beard style or some aftershave if you like a close shave. In the latter situation, you will also notice that this blade can provide one of the smoothest and closest shaves than you have ever experienced. It is the quality of the shave where the secret of this product comes in. 

Pros and Cons of Rockwell 6S

Pros

• Excellent handle, both the knurling and the length allow for good grip and feel. 
• The interchangeable base plates make this a six-in-one blade. 
• 100% stainless steel construction, straightforward to take care of and does not degrade over time. 
• Excellent value for money; you get much more with this razor than you would with a pricier option. 

Cons

• You need to adjust the shaving angle with every setting. It’s like learning to use a completely new razor every time.
• Needs a bit of polish. 
• The end of the threads on the very top cap need a bit more bevel.
• The tabs on the ends of the blade stick out beyond the ends of the head.  

Features of Rockwell 6s

We already mentioned some of the features that the Rockwell 6S has, but it’s better to analyze them all separately in detail. A thorough breakdown will explain why this can be a premium razor for sensitive skin. 

Material

The razor is made out of grade 316 stainless steel manufactured in the US. The advantage lies in stainless steel being tougher and allowing longevity of the blade. Also, the razor comes in a matte finish, either in blue, red, or black. 

Closed Comb 

The bottom part of the Rockwell 6S comes with a straight edge safety bar. The closed comb makes it easier to use and safer than the open comb razors. 

Three Parts

Here we have a three-part razor on our hands—the handle screws off, allowing the head to detach in two pieces. Loading the blade is easy and done in a standard way. 

Settings

The highlight of the Rockwell 6S is its six interchangeable settings. Each bar or plate can be reversed for a different blade setting. Three reversible bars allow for six settings, as each one comes with two separate settings. These settings can qualify for a very close shave, even better than choosing a straight razor. 

Blade Replacement

Since we have a three-part unit on our hands, it allows easy blade replacement. By unscrewing the handle, you are supposed to put the blade on the center stud and the two securing studs and then screw back the handle—a practice known to veteran shavers but something that novice users can easily acquire. 

Blade Gaps

Having six different settings means that the razor has six different blade gaps that will allow for a unique shave with each change. The gaps go as follows: 

• R1: 0.008″ (0.20 mm) 
• R2: 0.014” (0.35 mm) 
• R3: 0.019” (0.48 mm) 
• R4: 0.024” (0.61 mm)
• R5: 0.027” (0.69 mm)
• R6: 0.031” (0.79 mm)

Aggressiveness

The flexibility of having different base plates allows for adjusting the aggressiveness of the razor. You can change it as you wish and set the aggressiveness of the razor based on the type of beard you have or the sensitivity of your skin. 

Grip 

The knurled handle is an excellent touch for the Rockwell 6S razor. It allows for a very tight grip, particularly during wet shaving while your hands are all wet and moist. You are never going to lose control with this one. If we are to nit-pick, we would like the knurling to continue on a bit more towards the head. 

Length

The handle is long and might be too much for some shavers. We would disagree and think that the length of the handle is more than appropriate. Combined with a fine grip, it allows for better control and accounts for precision shaving that not many products on the market can provide. 

Pricing

Having a quality double-edge razor and an interchangeable one for a price lower than $100 is insane to think of. And yet, this one comes at around $75. More so, you are getting six different razors into one for a very, veeeery affordable price. 

Warranty

One of the more convenient parts about the Rockwell 6S razor is that it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee or a 60-day replacement guarantee after buying it. The razors will then be on a lifetime guarantee subject to conditions. Pretty sweet if you ask us. 

How to Choose the Best Blade Gap Settings

Having tickled your fancy with the mention of the six settings that the Rockwell 6S comes with, we also wanted to explain in detail how each setting could be used. So prepare your shaving cream warmer dispenser and set the blade according to the following standards. 

Setting 1

The first setting is most suitable for people with sensitive skin, those with a 5 o’clock shadow, or shavers prone to nips and cuts. This setting is also perfect from switching from using a cartridge shaver and can be used to shave your body’s sensitive parts. 

Setting 2

The second setting is more suitable for people who have less sensitive skin. But it also serves well for people with a heavier 5 o’clock shadow, prone to irritation, and those who like shaving every one to two days. When it comes to body shaving, you can use it generally for all areas. 

Setting 3

This one is perfect for an everyday bloke with average skin. People that sport a short stubble, are somewhat irritated by cartridge razors, or those that prefer to shave every one to three days will enjoy this setting the most. If you shave your head, be sure to use the third setting for it. 

Setting 4

Change to the fourth setting if you have hardier skin. People prone to ingrown hairs, razor bumps, or sport a longer stubble will benefit the most from the fourth setting. Also, set it to four if you usually shave every three to five days. 

Setting 5

Hardy skin, prone to razor bumps and ingrown hair, and generally coarse facial hair deserve the fifth setting of the Rockwell 6S razor. This one is also perfect for shorter beards and is preferred by those who shave between five to seven days apart. 

Setting 6

The final sixth setting is what people with hardy skin should use. Also, it is suitable for people prone to razor bumps and ingrown hair and long beard fellows. Perfect for a person that enjoys a shave every seven days or longer. 

How to Use Rockwell 6S

Step 1 – Prepare a creamy lather

Wash your face with warm water before you start. Use an elegant shaving brush to lather up the parts you wish to shave.

Step 2 – Adjust the setting accordingly

Load up a new blade. Enjoy a thorough and relaxing shave.

Step 3 – Apply some aftershave when done 

If you are unsure how to start, use the third setting first, as it is a kind of a sweet spot for most people. Also, if you change the blade settings, pay close attention and align the blade correctly. It can be annoying but needs to be done to get a proper shave. 

How to Maintain Your Rockwell 6S

Maintaining the Rockwell 6S razor shouldn’t be an issue. Due to it being made out of 100% stainless steel, you can rest assured that it will be in good shape for an extended period of time. Nonetheless, you can choose to store and keep it in its original box or use a razor stand when you are not using it. 

After each shave, be sure to take the razor apart and wash and then dry each part of the razor with a towel separately. It works fine if you leave the dismounted razor lying in your shaving den. There is the option of putting the razor in a simple mug, but the former is much more appreciated. 

Rockwell 6C vs 6S

There are some apparent differences between the Rockwell 6C and 6S razors. The 6C is the cheaper version for a reason and you are going to get a lot more with the 6S just by paying a bit more. While both razors have the same design with three combs that allow for six different settings, manufacturing represents one of the main differences. 

First of all, the 6S is made purely out of stainless steel, while the 6C is made out of nickel alloy. Also, the chrome plating of the 6C will start to show its age after a while as it might chip after some wear and tear. Stainless steel is far more durable and will survive any damage even after being dropped on the ground. 

The 6S is made entirely in the US, while the 6C manufacturing is not disclosed. Even though it says “designed in Canada,” this probably means that the blade was made in China. This does not have to be a bad thing as many quality razors are created in Asia, but in this case, you can truly see the quality between the two. 

Performance-wise, the two-act almost the same. The 6S is a bit heavier because it is made entirely of stainless steel, but it has a longer handle to compensate for the weight. The 6S is about 120g, while the 6C weighs 100g. The weight shouldn’t cause any enormous discrepancies. But a lighter razor does offer more feedback when shaving, while a heavier one adds a better feeling of control. 

Do’s and Don’ts With Rockwell 6S

Do’s

• Always clean the razor and let it dry after each use.
• Make sure to use the proper setting for your beard and skin type. 
• Align the blade correctly when changing between the settings. 

Don’ts

• Use a coarser setting for sensitive skin. 
• Use it before trying out the settings. 
• Forgetting about the pre-shave and post-shave rituals. 

FAQ About Rockwell 6S

Is Rockwell 6S still made in the USA?

Yes, it is. The Rockwell 6S blade is manufactured entirely in the US. 

How well does the Rockwell 6S shave?

The Rockwell 6S is a perfect blade for various types of shaves due to it being an adjustable type of blade. You can change between six settings based on your beard and skin type. 

How easy is it to load the blade on the Rockwell 6S?

Loading the blade is a standard process. You need to unscrew the handle and place a new blade between the two detached pieces. 

How do I know which Rockwell 6S settings I should use?

The lower the number, the better it is for sensitive skin. On the other hand, the higher the setting, the more suitable for hardier skin. Setting 3 marks the sweet spot, but you should still determine the setting based on your skin’s sensitivity. 

Where can I buy Rockwell 6S?

You can find the Rockwell 6S on the brand’s website or right here on our page. 

Conclusion

The Rockwell 6S is a very quality adjustable double edge blade. It is the higher-end product out of the line of Rockwell shaving products and it deserves that monocle for a reason. At the same time, it is an affordable purchase, much less pricey than some similar types of razors on the market. 

If you decide to switch to this product, following the instructions and combing your beard after each shave will ensure that you have a perfect look for various situations. 

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