Thread: Stupid Question about DE blades.

Hi,

I've just bought my first straight razors, 2 from Larry and Whipped Dog (can't say enough good things about that experience), and I've asked my sister to send me our father's old DE razors from England. I think they are Gillette slims and a Gillette with a dull blue plastic handle. I'm getting the DEs because of the scar tissue I'm currently amassing on my top lip. I plan to use the DE until I become a little better at close combat shaving with the straights.

Anyway, the stupid question - Why do different makes of DE blades make such a difference to the shave? Aren't they all made with the same tolerances and, if placed in the same razor, held at the same orientation? I haven't used a DE for decades but can't remember the blades being that much of an issue back then... I just bought whatever was sold at the local Chemist.

I've bought a sampler pack with Gillette, Feather (2 kinds) and Derby in it. And was just wondering if I should be aware of some DE shaving black magic secret.

Mostly it's the sharpness and smoothness that varies.

Feather is the sharpest available. Anyway you will experience for yourself once you try those blades.

Everyone will have thiers own favourite blade for their skin type, beard type, razor etc..

My favourite is feather followed by astra SP though I haven't tried as many as others.

YMMV

And welcome to the forums

all the blades are different, different tolerences different coatings different sharpness different longgivity different metals thats kinda like saying arnt all straights the same. older blades were verry thick and would actually be sharpened , check out the twinplex, its pertty cool looking. The sampler pack is a great idea but use the feathers last they are to be respected because of there sharpness. they are also my favorite. the yellow ones not the black ones. I also like astra ss. my worst are dorco and all colors of derbys. good blades for the money are personna med preps voxholds personna blues astra ss and astra sp sharks etc.

Thanks guys - I didn't know they were so very different until I started researching - as I said it's been a long time since I've used one of these things, probably the 70's. I'm loving the straight blades except for the top lip problem. And I've just had it with the multi-blade abominations. I refuse to throw any more money at that rip off.

Loving the forums and learning all the time.

Ian are you doing a fools pass on your top lip?

Originally Posted by admvalentine

Ian are you doing a fools pass on your top lip?

I remembered hearing somewhere the "fool's pass" was passing your open straight razor from your left hand to your right hand (or vice versa) directly in front of your face and cutting your nose....

Originally Posted by Phrank

I remembered hearing somewhere the "fool's pass" was passing your open straight razor from your left hand to your right hand (or vice versa) directly in front of your face and cutting your nose....

buh dump bump lol

in case mr Ian is new, a fools pass is going against the grain on your top lip....

I actually know what Fool's pass means and no. Hell no! I cannot imagine the blood loss I'd incur if I tried that.

I've actually worked out what I'm doing wrong. I start off stretching the top lip pretty good but seem to release the tension a bit when repositioning the blade. Then the blade hits tough hair and skips.... blood. I also noticed the last time I shaved that the lather had dried a bit by the time I got to the top lip.

I've only been at this about 10 days and I imagine I'll get it right soon or build up enough scar tissue that it won't matter.

Again, thanks for the advice guys.

I remember when I was a kid, when cartridge razors were still new, (and only had one or two blades each), the local drug store carried 3 or 4 brands of blades, and 2 or 3 soaps. Dad just made due with what he could get his hands on. I'm sure before I came along, he tried each of those 3 or 4 blades and settled on The One, and simply learned to use that one. We pretty much do the same thing today, but thanks to the internet, we have a hundred or so types at our disposal. The basic size and shape are standard, but they can be amazingly different other than that.