A bit of advice needed please :)

The last few weeks I haven't had the time (or energy) to relax and enjoy my usual straight shaves and have been using a DE instead.

I have been using an old Gillette tech closed comb razor with a variety of blades (up to now I'm leaning towards the feather, shark and laser ultra blades). From what I have read the Gillette tech is a very mild DE and, although I like the results I find myself wishing it had a bit more ooomphh.

I have narrowed my choices down to three razors (open to suggestions though), namely the Muhle R41(2013 version), the Merkur 37c slant and the Merkur Future. I realise that the Futur is an adjustable so my question might not be able to be answered on that one.

What I would like to know is how these razors compare to the Gillette tech I am currently using.

Any help, as always is greatly appreciated :)

Can't talk about your razor possibilities, my slant id about 1955 model, but can say that a Fat Boy will do you well for half the price and then you can go onward from there. The number on the dial and your blade choice that you find comfortable will give you a better asking question when going to the high priced stuff.
~Richard

Going from a Tech to a 37c or r41 is a pretty big jump. Tech's are some of the mildest razors around and you're looking at some of the most aggressive razors. It could be that really aggressive works for you, but I would suggest going to a middle of the road razor next. The Razorock Mission is an inexpensive DE with medium aggression.

You just need to relax and enjoy your usual straight shaves. That's my advice :<0) Heavy on the relax and extra enjoy.

If I've got a lot on my plate for the next day, a nice shave in the evening after dinner is great...wake up and pretty much ready to go. Mind you, I'm usually the type that's always up pretty early, love my hour or two in the morning to ease into the day....

The difference between the Gillette Tech and Muhle R41 2013 version is like night and day. The Tech is wimpy mild in comparison to the R41 2013 and the Muhle can give a shave the can be almost as long lasting and close as those with a straight. Because of that the R41 2013 is one of the last DEs you want to use to quickly whip through a shave with.

Bob

Heres a nice combo..
Attachment 179503

Flair tips have a great grip. Throw in a feather and your good to go. The Genco is sweet too.

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Originally Posted by HaiKarate

Heres a nice combo..
...snip...
Flair tips have a great grip. Throw in a feather and your good to go. The Genco is sweet too.

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The red flair tip is aggressive, the silver-medium, and the blue tip is mild.
~Richard

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Originally Posted by BobH

The difference between the Gillette Tech and Muhle R41 2013 version is like night and day. The Tech is wimpy mild in comparison to the R41 2013 and the Muhle can give a shave the can be almost as long lasting and close as those with a straight. Because of that the R41 2013 is one of the last DEs you want to use to quickly whip through a shave with.

Bob

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+1

I have newer Merkurs and a few vintage Gillettes in my collection, but the Mühle is the DE razor I reach for.

I own Futurs as well, but hardly use them any more.
They were my standard razor for a few years, but at the end the design is too top-heavy and not that maneuverable around my face, and the large overhang on the side makes it unnecessarily difficult to shave around my mustache.

Another Merkur I often used was the 38C, but compared to Mühle I found Merkur product finish and attention to detail wanting and pretty much use only my Mühle R101 (R41 with different handle) for DE shaves now.

IMO, the aggressiveness of the current R41 is overblown. For a proficient shaver the R41 should pose no problems, but will reward the shaver with a smooth, long-lasting shave. For a long time I used Feather blades in mine, but have recently switched to Astras SPs (similar shave at 1/3 the price) and neither one gave me any problems.

If everything else fails, you can always buy a replacement head for the Mühle and make an R89 (closed comb version) out of the open comb R41.



B

I can't speak from experience on the R41 but I will give an absolute endorsement to:

Classic Gillette Fatboy Slammed to 9

Merkur 37C (my go to DE) totally agressive and real tough to beat with a fresh blade

Sanguine R5 Shavette (I dig the way it feels in my hand and although it uses a half DE blade the retention system positions the blade perfectly and securely. Blade exposure is near perfect and it's nowhere near as light and squirrely as most razors of its type.

CJB Kamisori- Replaceable blade Korean Feather Knockoff- Great Shave

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Originally Posted by Geezer

Can't talk about your razor possibilities, my slant id about 1955 model, but can say that a Fat Boy will do you well for half the price and then you can go onward from there. The number on the dial and your blade choice that you find comfortable will give you a better asking question when going to the high priced stuff.
~Richard

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+1 on that. I would look for a Fat Boy or better yet for the price a slim adjustable. I have had the others you mention and IMO there is no comparison to a Gillette adjustable with a good blade.

Thankoyou for all the replys guys, certainly food for thought.

I haven't given up using the straights, not by a long shot its just that my wife has been I'll and in between looking after her, going to work and taking care of an 18 month old monster I just haven't had the time or energy to relax and enjoy a straight shave :(

It normally takes me about an hour for a straight shave but with the DE I can have a decent shave in about 20 mins, at the sink with a nice warm lather in the scuttle :)

At the moment I think I'm fairly set on the muhle r41, working on the theory if I need to be really quick or just can't be bothers I can use the Gillette tech; which to be honest does work well for me and unless you are complete idiot seems quite difficult to actually cut yourself ! If on the other hand if a have a bit more time but not enough for a straight shave I can grab the R41 and have something (from what I have read) that comes close to my true love......the straight shave :D

Well that's my thinking at the moment anyway!

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Originally Posted by mike1011

Thankoyou for all the replys guys, certainly food for thought.

I haven't given up using the straights, not by a long shot its just that my wife has been I'll and in between looking after her, going to work and taking care of an 18 month old monster I just haven't had the time or energy to relax and enjoy a straight shave :(

It normally takes me about an hour for a straight shave but with the DE I can have a decent shave in about 20 mins, at the sink with a nice warm lather in the scuttle :)

At the moment I think I'm fairly set on the muhle r41, working on the theory if I need to be really quick or just can't be bothers I can use the Gillette tech; which to be honest does work well for me and unless you are complete idiot seems quite difficult to actually cut yourself ! If on the other hand if a have a bit more time but not enough for a straight shave I can grab the R41 and have something (from what I have read) that comes close to my true love......the straight shave :D

Well that's my thinking at the moment anyway!

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The most important thing is family and it appears you are taking good care of them. I wish you the best

I would recommend a Maggard razor. They are much more aggressive than a Tech, but not so aggressive that you might have problems adjusting to the difference. They are based on an EJ or Merkur, but the general consensus is that they are a bit more aggressive. Mine is a wonderful shaver, at a decent price point.

Some of these razors are much more aggressive than the Tech... maybe just go up one step more aggressive than the Tech and still not cut yourself up. Something like a Gillette 40s style SuperSpeed are more aggressive but still not likely to cut you up

Agree with the super speed--the 40's style was made up to third quarter (if I recall correctly) '54 and can be had for very little. They were made to last. Just make sure the doors open correctly.

Your choices for your second razor are a BIG leap in aggressiveness compared to the Tech. I advise a middle of the road razor, namely the Edwin Jagger DE89. It is mild without being wimpy. I can get just as close with it as I can with my Merkur Slant, albeit with just a tad more work. I don't own one, but from what I've read, the Merkur HD is a great medium aggressive razor also.

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Originally Posted by mike1011

Thankoyou for all the replys guys, certainly food for thought.

I haven't given up using the straights, not by a long shot its just that my wife has been I'll and in between looking after her, going to work and taking care of an 18 month old monster I just haven't had the time or energy to relax and enjoy a straight shave :(

It normally takes me about an hour for a straight shave but with the DE I can have a decent shave in about 20 mins, at the sink with a nice warm lather in the scuttle :)

At the moment I think I'm fairly set on the muhle r41, working on the theory if I need to be really quick or just can't be bothers I can use the Gillette tech; which to be honest does work well for me and unless you are complete idiot seems quite difficult to actually cut yourself ! If on the other hand if a have a bit more time but not enough for a straight shave I can grab the R41 and have something (from what I have read) that comes close to my true love......the straight shave :D

Well that's my thinking at the moment anyway!

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Mike, if it takes you an hour to straight shave, you might want to re-think the R-41. From what I've heard, that thing will bite just as quick, if not quicker than a straight.

A Gillette Tech is one of my regular razors - mild, but a nice shave.
I got a Merkur 37c. Was a bit worried the first time, but with due respect, definitely a closer shave and no blood transfusion required.
Would not try an against-the-grain pass for a good while - or maybe not ever with a slant.

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Originally Posted by earcutter

Bandaid solution though :).

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Ha! In more ways than one!:medvl:

Just got my Merkur 37c slant today and took it for a short spin with a feather blade. An ATG and a XTG shave quicky. Initial impression is that it is a good shaver and less aggressive than the Muhle R41 2013 that I use with the same feather blade. A long trial with the 37c should be able to tell me how close it will come to the Muhle R41 for closeness and how long the shave lasts.

I have no idea how the 37c slant got such a rep for aggressiveness as it shave like a regular DE non slant to me. If you are used to DEs and have good technique this could be a very nice DE for you. Goob knurling on the handle so the grip feels very secure.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Just got my Merkur 37c slant today and took it for a short spin with a feather blade. An ATG and a XTG shave quicky. Initial impression is that it is a good shaver and less aggressive than the Muhle R41 2013 that I use with the same feather blade. A long trial with the 37c should be able to tell me how close it will come to the Muhle R41 for closeness and how long the shave lasts.

I have no idea how the 37c slant got such a rep for aggressiveness as it shave like a regular DE non slant to me. If you are used to DEs and have good technique this could be a very nice DE for you. Goob knurling on the handle so the grip feels very secure.

Bob

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Couldn't agree more...having shaved with several vintage DE's both fixed and adjustable, I was expecting the 37c to be an entirely different experience in DE shaving. When I saw it, first realizing that it wasn't in fact warped LOL, that was the slant part, I thought this looks like it could be very interesting. It looked potentially very aggresive.

Upon shaving with it using a Lord blade, I couldn't really tell the difference between it an my other DE's.

Having used it a few more times with a Gillette Platinum blade, it was in fact the closest shave I've had aside from a straight, irritation around the neck area was almost non-existent, and I actually used the same passes with it, WTG, XTG and ATG...was quite nice.

Only difference was, still nothing, for me at least, lasts as long as a straight shave, but this was the best as far as DE's along with matching a good blade with the handle.

I usually shave with SRs, but have several DE as back-ups. I got a Maggard with a heavy stainless handle a few weeks ago and loved it, BUT, the head required me to be very careful when I tightened it to make sure the blade was centered...so I was shopping for a head only. Found a Muhle R41 2013 head "al la carte" at Bullgoose and got it yesterday. Used it this morning and while it is different in that it is kind of open comb, I found that I got a great, very close shave with no discomfort or irritation. I love the combo of a very heavy stainless handle and the Muhle R41 design. Maybe i paid more attention than I usually do with a DE, but I was using a Personna blade and got better than a DF shave, easily. I expected it to be much more aggressive. I'd recommend it if you know your way around a DE.

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Originally Posted by BeJay

Going from a Tech to a 37c or r41 is a pretty big jump. Tech's are some of the mildest razors around and you're looking at some of the most aggressive razors. It could be that really aggressive works for you, but I would suggest going to a middle of the road razor next. The Razorock Mission is an inexpensive DE with medium aggression.

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This is the only DE I own and really not looking to update. I get great shaves from this and the price can't be beat. Of course YMMV, but I absolutely love it. My favorite blades so far are a Feather and an Astra. Both seem to fit better than the most of the other blades I have tried.