The Yaqi Torqx – The Adjustable Slant Razor with a Twist.

Recently the Yaqi Shave Company unveiled the new Torqx razor, a very unique adjustable slant razor. There are a sizable number of adjustable razors on the market, plenty of regular slant razors, but few adjustable slant razors. Follow along with me and I shall discuss the why’s and wherefore’s of the exceptional new shaving sensation.

By Way of Introduction…

For those of you with a keen eye, the Yaqi Torqx is inspired by the Homelike Shaving Elbrus razor. I tried many times over the years to acquire an Elbrus razor in titanium, but given the current political situation this proved to be impossible. The Torqx serves as a decent substitute on a budget.

Speaking of budget, this rolled in my front door at a tidy price of $150 or so when purchased during a Black Friday sale special. The optional stand sets you back another $10 or so, but I neglected to buy that during my purchase.

This Yaqi razor stands aside from other slants on the market by the extreme amount of twist put on the blade, hence the Torqx name. This acute blade torque is almost unlike any I’ve witnessed elsewhere on the market, excepting perhaps the plastic slants from PAA. Modern adjustable razors are somewhat uncommon, and adjustable slant razors even more so, thus this razor is exceptional on two fronts already.

The theory and concept behind a slant razor is discussed elsewhere, but the core idea to bear in mind here is increased shave efficiency. The torque imparted on the blade all but eliminates blade chatter, which greatly increases shave comfort. This proves itself in the shave, which I discuss later.

Let’s Talk Numbers

The manufacturer specified blade gaps are as follows:

The easy adjustment of 0.15mm per “tick” makes the Torqx very easy to work with. This razor functions like owning an array of slant razors all in one, which makes for an easy purchase and removes the guesswork and “hoping” inherent with purchasing a shaver you’ve not experienced before. You may rest assured there is a setting here for you.

Fit and finish are exceptional at this price point, and the material is the much-coveted 316 marine grade stainless steel. Usually, I don’t have high hopes for certain products from China, and my low expectations might extend to minor blemishes, geometry and alignment errors, and/or tooling marks on the inside. Here the Torqx shines like a star right out of the box. The finish is mirror-quality, all outside surfaces are super smooth, and you can easily see yourself reflected in the top cap, although your reflection warps and distorts like a funhouse mirror. All parts fit together easily, and the adjustment mechanism slides up and down smoothly and with minimal resistance.^[1] The only debit I see in this department is the knurling on the handle is less pronounced than I’d like, so it is semi-slippery to hold.

A minor annoyance with this razor is the numbering on the handle under the baseplate. Numbers and tick marks are engraved into the upper handle assembly, but after the mirror polishing operation these become difficult to observe during the shave. I fixed this by fully disassembling the razor, applying black nail polish to these areas, then scraping off the excess with my thumbnail after it dried. It’s not perfect but it is much more readable now.

The weight of the Torqx pushes us into the “chonky” department, tipping the scales at 109 grams when assembled. (Part of my interest in the roughly equivalent Elbrus razor is the lighter weight of 59 grams when arriving in titanium, but alas, such was not to be.) Due to the complexity of the Torqx razor, the center of gravity tilts towards the head, thus you tend to grip it more towards the top of the handle. This is unusual and perhaps annoying at first, but not impossible to get used to after a few passes.

Putting the Torqx to the Test

“How fares your shave?” you may ask. In answer, they go extremely well. I find it most rewarding to really open up the gap on the razor to #5 or #6 setting for my first pass With the Grain (W.T.G.), then tighten up the blade gap to a #3 when performing the finishing shave artistry Against the Grain (A.T.G.). I also use slightly lower gap opening adjustments when shaving the finer, more delicate skin on my neck. Doing so all but eliminates spots or nicks, but leaves behind the much sought after glossy smooth skin all wet shavers yearn for.

The increased efficiency inherent in this slant design is no joke, and it really shines through when put to the test. Unlike other razors and my shave den, practically all of my whiskers are gone after just a single first pass. The need for touch-up or buffing strokes is minimal or nonexistent. The curved blade glides by, the whiskers and shave soap simply vanish through the generous lather channels, and the shave business concludes for the day.

Head shaves similarly proceed much faster than with my usual milder D.E. razors. Again, the better efficiency of the slant design comes into play. A simple saying I concocted regarding head shaves is: If the skin is not in your sight, use a razor which will not bite. My head shave is usually between 2 and 3 passes to get a Baby Bottom Smooth (B.B.S.) finish, and I apply with the similar logic of a face shave here. I start on a milder #2 setting for the first passes W.T.G., and maybe Across the Grain (X.T.G.), then I drop down to the lowest #1 setting for my penultimate A.T.G. finishing passes. As the skin is more delicate here, less aggressive settings are key to avoiding irritation or minor spots. The final shave is not as forgiving as the milder Henson or Cyber razors, but it approaches that level of comfort on the lowest setting.

Some here may wonder how the Torqx razor stands against the Rex Konsul, so I will briefly outline my thoughts. I do not own a Konsul razor to compare against directly, but I did some shaves with it earlier when I received one on a passaround from Matt over at Rex Supply Company. Going by memory, both razors are efficient but the Yaqi is perhaps slightly more so if the different weight distribution is an indicator; The Rex has more even weight distribution, whereas the Torqx has more weight in the head assembly. I can state authoritatively the feel of both razors are different, but this is a subjective phenomenon. Both are comfortable and pleasant to use, and you are well-served by purchasing either razor for your daily shaves.

Pros:

• Good mirrored finish.
• Very efficient, especially at higher settings, yet still forgiving.
• Quality 316 stainless steel.
• Decent price, even when not on sale.

Cons:

• Handle could use better knurling.
• Numbers are hard to read.
• Weight distribution is unusual.
• Titanium would be nice option.

The Final Cut:

The Yaqi Torqx is the a good quality adjustable slant readily available at a reasonable price. Strongly suggested.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807527791649.html

Note: This razor was purchased with my own funds, and neither Yaqi nor any other person, group, or entity influenced my thoughts and opinions herein. I have no connection nor any business arrangements with Yaqi.

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  Be especially careful when disassembling this razor. If you are momentarily unobservant, the spring has a tendency to, well, spring away from you and launch itself across the room, which prompts a frantic search trying to find it. Should you lose the spring permanently, you are forced to order another from the original manufacturer. ↑