Just about to try Dorco ST301

Well, being unable to hone my own razors, having email account difficulties (what is a POP3 server anyway?) and thus being unable to contact Neil to arrange honing, I bought a Merkur Futur.

Used Wilkinson swords and Personna blades and found them to be decent, father in law keeping me in blades there. Chucked after 2 shaves as I don't want to risk hacking face to bits.

I was doing a search on ebay and came across the Dorco ST301's. 50 for a fiver (5). 'Nice little stock for similar situations with my straights in the future' thinks I and bought them. I did this without ever having tried them, doh!

What do we think of this blade chaps. It's not the end of the world if they're poo, but I'll have a few boxes knocking around for a while if that's the case.

I have the same setup in chrome, and several packs of Dorco 301's. These are among the best low cost blades. I recommend a low setting of 0-1.5 on the Futur for your first shave. The weight of the razor gets some getting used to. Settings above 2.0 start getting aggressive and may cut you. I can get three or four multi-pass shaves from the Dorco 301.

When you really want the best, then get your father-in-law to spring for the Feather. :) They are the best for me.

Dorcos don't have a very good reputation, but that is, as ever, very personal. I got a sample pack with a few and my girlfriend likes Merkurs and Dorcos, but dislikes something as sharp as an Astra. I hate the blunt Merkurs, heard that Dorcos are similarly blunt, and love Astras and Feathers.

Let us know how you find them! Once I receive the 200 for $15 from China for my girlfriend, I'll pop one in my shavette and see how I like them. I don't have a good feeling about it, but I'll try :)

I have only used an astra blade (yup one), I don't use my D/E much :). But I did like it enough to buy 100 from the bay, it seemed to much of a saving per blade to only buy 50, though from a post I just did with the maths in it, I have bought between 20 and 35 years worth of blades.
If the blades don't suit you, you can always give them out as Christmas presents, they come individually wrapped too.

I think I may be getting a slap if I encourage him to buy feathers and pilfer them. He turned his nose up at some dorcos in return for all the wilkinsons. From what I can gather, that's what he's always used, 40 years worth, so I'm not sure I'll sway him. Worth a try though :)

I've only gone for them as I don't use a DE all the time, just between posting off for a hone and the return.

Dorco makes the ST300's for the third-world market that also have less dense whiskers overall. The ST300's are not good blades. However, the ST301's are much better, and for the price very hard to match. Perhaps the negative comments against Dorco are referring to the ST300's, which I agree are not good blades.

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Originally Posted by Gammaray

Dorco makes the ST300's for the third-world market that also have less dense whiskers overall. The ST300's are not good blades. However, the ST301's are much better, and for the price very hard to match. Perhaps the negative comments against Dorco are referring to the ST300's, which I agree are not good blades.

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Ah, good point, I don't know which one I have, but I just checked and ordered the ST300 for my girlfriend.

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Originally Posted by Laurens

Ah, good point, I don't know which one I have, but I just checked and ordered the ST300 for my girlfriend.

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In that case lets hope your girlfriends whiskers are less dense :)

I have not used the ST301 in about 4 years but I remember them being a very good blade. Much better then the ST300 which most of the stores sell under their brand name.

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

In that case lets hope your girlfriends whiskers are less dense :)

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Seems I got the right ones, she uses ST300s now.

I must say, I did the shaving a couple of times and the hairs are quite tough. I guess she just uses quite a bit of pressure, as she was used to doing with the ridiculously cheap Venus cartridges. Despite that, she (and I) enjoys the soft feel of her skin and has much less irritation than she used to.

Well, after a manic few days I'm getting to try the blades. Updates to follow. Found a merkur blade aswell, don't recall buying any, must have come with the razor.

Attachment 147350

This was my set up for my first go with the Dorco ST301.

My usual prep, hot bath, exfoliating face wash, shave oil and cream.

My first impressions were good. It mowed around 3 days growth well on the cheeks, chin and lips.

Then we come to the neck. The blade tugged and skipped causing a few weepers and its a wee bit uncomfortable still, I don't recall the last time I had razor burn. This was on setting 1!

My opinion, the Wilkinson swords are better 'OH POPS. FANCY DOING A SWAP FOR SOME BLADES?'

Have you tried the Wilkinson blades in this DE? You may want to use it a few more times before drawing a final conclusion about the Dorco 301's.

The angle must be more shallow when using the Futur. It is easy to roll the angle into a sharper angle that can scrape rather than cut whiskers. The handle should be brought just below perpendicular to the cutting surface until the blade just starts to cut, then hold that angle. Rolling the handle too far forward will start scrapping regardless of the blade being used. This is especially easy to do on the neck.

Good luck.

I have tried the wilkinsons and get a way with a higher setting on them. This may have been part of the problem as the razor didn't feel like it was cutting in it's usual way, I may have fiddled a bit on the neck to try and get it going.

I'll bang it up to the dizzy heights of 2.5 and give the Dorcos another go.

Day 2, shave 2 and I'm happy to report I don't need a lie down this time!

Cranked it up to 3 and let rip. It did a much better job but I had to take it easy on the neck after yesterdays shenanigans.

I have to be honest, while better on a higher setting, they aren't great. I'll probably hang on and use them with the DE until they're gone but I won't be replacing them.

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Originally Posted by DaveTheGeordie

Day 2, shave 2 and I'm happy to report I don't need a lie down this time!

Cranked it up to 3 and let rip. It did a much better job but I had to take it easy on the neck after yesterdays shenanigans.

I have to be honest, while better on a higher setting, they aren't great. I'll probably hang on and use them with the DE until they're gone but I won't be replacing them.

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So if you shave daily, in about 4 months you should have used em up then.

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

So if you shave daily, in about 4 months you should have used em up then.

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I hadn't thought of using it daily, perhaps if I don't have time to use the straight. My god these blades are going to hang around like a bad smell :0

In fairness, the blade did a lot better today and I honestly don't mind them, especially as 50 cost less than £5. At superdrug or boots, if they have them, 10 Wilkinson Sword will set you back around £4.

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Originally Posted by DaveTheGeordie

I hadn't thought of using it daily, perhaps if I don't have time to use the straight. My god these blades are going to hang around like a bad smell :0

In fairness, the blade did a lot better today and I honestly don't mind them, especially as 50 cost less than £5. At superdrug or boots, if they have them, 10 Wilkinson Sword will set you back around £4.

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My 35 years worth of astras cost $13 us. I wish I had done the maths before ordering.them :)

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

My 35 years worth of astras cost $13 us. I wish I had done the maths before ordering.them :)

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You and me both ED, on the bright side they are good blades.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

You and me both ED, on the bright side they are good blades.

Bob

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Yeah, I have used one from a 5 pack that MickR sent me, I just wanted to make sure I had some blades to hand before I ran out.

Hey guys, Just my 2 cents; I been using the Blades they sell at shop Rite. Using A Merkur 34c and getting Great shaves with them. Been DE ing for about 4 months now so kinda new. I have a sample pack coming so we'll see what change there is. keep at it Dave, and good luck with the Razor.

Sheesh - I got 3 packs (30) of Lord Platinum's for $7.50 for my Gillette Aristocrat DE I got awhile ago. I've got as far as putting one in the DE, still haven't used it yet!!

The DE I have has no settings, so one day I may find out what it's like to use a DE again after 30 years!! Still terrified of the thing...brings back memories of pieces of toilet paper on the face spotted with blood!!

Are the Lord's any good, or another dud type blade? And yes, I suppose I should try and find out for myself, problem is, wouldn't have anything to compare them to?

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Sheesh - I got 3 packs (30) of Lord Platinum's for $7.50 for my Gillette Aristocrat DE I got awhile ago. I've got as far as putting one in the DE, still haven't used it yet!!

The DE I have has no settings, so one day I may find out what it's like to use a DE again after 30 years!! Still terrified of the thing...brings back memories of pieces of toilet paper on the face spotted with blood!!

Are the Lord's any good, or another dud type blade? And yes, I suppose I should try and find out for myself, problem is, wouldn't have anything to compare them to?

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Take it slow, on your first shave just do from your sideburn down on your cheek .............. :)

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Take it slow, on your first shave just do from your sideburn down on your cheek .............. :)

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Ed, your eidetic memory, combined with your superb sense of macabre humor, will not get me to shred the side of my face with that Gillette! I'm thinking of naming the Gillette after a certain car, "Christine" comes to mind.

:D

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Ed, your eidetic memory, combined with your superb sense of macabre humor, will not get me to shred the side of my face with that Gillette! I'm thinking of naming the Gillette after a certain car, "Christine" comes to mind.

:D

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YOU ARE WEAK, CALL YOURSELF A MAN! :)

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

YOU ARE WEAK, CALL YOURSELF A MAN! :)

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Hahahaha! More of a poet trapped in the body of a wrestler....