Thread: Vanderhagen Safety

I believe it is a good starting point. Never used one but it will get a man into the wet shaving world. Then they can by something made to last.

I shave with straight razors most of the time, but also use DE razors when I am in a hurry. I also use a DE razor for a clean up pass after shaving two passes with the straight.

One of my first DE razors was the VDH TTO. My experience with the short-handled version of that razor was a painful one. I have rather large hands and tended to hold the handle near the knob on the end. One day, I was using the razor and the doors opened just enough so the blade was no longer being held securely. I got a nasty gash on my cheek that took several days to heal. Since then, most of my DE purchases have been long-handled three-piece razors.

However, a few months ago, I saw that VDH now sells a long-handled TTO razor. It is similar to the one pictured above, but with a 4" handle. I purchased one and enjoy using it. I still have to insure the mechanism is secure before every use, but the longer handle is less susceptible to operator error.

The VDH is a mild razor, good for beginners, but it also works well for clean-up passes using the buffing technique. If I am skipping the straight for the shave, I will use a more efficient razor such as a Parker 24C or 98R, and the Muhle R89 Grande or R41 Grande. BTW, I have a EJ DE89lbl, but I much prefer the R89 Grande which is supposed to have the same head. YMMV!

I was given one of the long handled ones for Christmas. I too would say it is a mild razor that is good for beginners.

I didn't like the VDH blades that came with it though, they reminded me of a carpet knife blade in feel. Tried corking the blades and then I tried stropping the blades.
They are just not for me. Put in a 7 o'clock blade and the razor was fine.

For close to the same price and higher quality, go to Maggard online and pick one of their selection: Twist-to-Open Safety Razors | Product Categories | Maggard Razors Traditional Wet Shaving Products While you’re there shopping order a sampler of DE blades. The blades you’ll buy in most drug stores or Walmart won’t cut it ( pun not intended). If you need help deciding, talk to them on the phone. They’re great people.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

I was given one of the long handled ones for Christmas. I too would say it is a mild razor that is good for beginners.

I didn't like the VDH blades that came with it though, they reminded me of a carpet knife blade in feel. Tried corking the blades and then I tried stropping the blades.
They are just not for me. Put in a 7 o'clock blade and the razor was fine.

I agree with your comment about the VDH blades. From the description and performance of the blades, I suspect they are made by Merkur. They are not very sharp. Since the VDH razor is designed to be sold to first time shavers, I suspect that the blades are chosen to minimize nicks and cuts when learning. Since the razor is mild, it is an ideal candidate for a Feather razor once you have developed your technique.

In the past few months, I have purchased Muhle R89 and R41 razors. The R89 is mid aggressive. With that razor Muhle included a Muhle branded blade. The performance of that blade was quite good, leading me to suspect the blade was made by Wilkenson Sword in Germany.

On the other hand, the very aggressive R41 came with a Shark blade, which is not sharp enough to cut my stubble. I guess Muhle was reluctant to put a really sharp blade in that razor for fear the uninitiated might get nicks and cuts.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

For close to the same price and higher quality, go to Maggard online and pick one of their selection: Twist-to-Open Safety Razors | Product Categories | Maggard Razors Traditional Wet Shaving Products While you’re there shopping order a sampler of DE blades. The blades you’ll buy in most drug stores or Walmart won’t cut it ( pun not intended). If you need help deciding, talk to them on the phone. They’re great people.

I agree with your suggestion of purchasing a DE blade sample pack. However, , I think you will find that the generic drug store blades are pretty good. I believe most of these brands are made by Personna, either in Israel or the USA. In some instances, the blades may be marked "Made in Mexico" as they can be made in Israel and packaged in Mexico.

The primary reason for avoiding the "off the rack" blades is the cost. A five pack will cost more than $1 per blade that way. When you purchase in bulk you can get them for less than $0.20. That is a huge difference.