Anybody try one of these butterfly designs? Walgreens and Target here have them for around $20-25. as well as different brands of blades. Thinking of this as a try out for my son and I.Attachment 289551Attachment 289550
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Anybody try one of these butterfly designs? Walgreens and Target here have them for around $20-25. as well as different brands of blades. Thinking of this as a try out for my son and I.Attachment 289551Attachment 289550
I have a vintage one, but haven't tried new production. As far as I'm concerned, there are no safety issues inherent in the butterfly design.
The design has been used for a long time. Id recommend a vintage Gillette from the date of your birth. It will be a great razor to have for years and years. The new stuff you just dont know about until you g8ve it a try. And unless you have experiance with safety razors, you really wont know what is good or bad. The Gillette has past the test of time and will work well for even more generations.
And that's just what I found at moms house on the way back from town today. She still had 3 old gillet butterfly razors, said "here take them!" I'm still interested in that vanderhagan but gonna hold off for now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gasman
If you want to know what Gillettes you have post some photos or look here mr-razor or RENALDO.US - Gillette Razor and Blade Dating and Feature Information or RENALDO.US - Gillette Razor and Blade Dating and Feature Information and https://sites.google.com/site/shavelog/gillette-info .
Bob
I know nothing about the Vanders however in general they make bottom of the line stuff so that's just something to consider.
I'd be looking at vintage Gillette's myself and also look at the Rockwell Razors which are still in development.
Yup, Rockwell 6C razors shave very well and are not too pricey. They seem readily available too now. My shaves very well.
Bob
Well my son decided to go back to base with my Dovo BQ & a Barbers Pet along with my SRD modular strop. He did not want to risk loss or damage to grandma's old safety's in the field so a fusion and tube of good shave cream go in the pack for field ops.
This still saves him a bunch of money. He shaved 3 times with my razors and liked it, plus being able to take a slice of home with him helps keep his mood good. Thanks for the input guys!:beer1:
Forgot to add, today's shave was was with my 3/8 Bismark and Emerson Elastic Strap.:DAttachment 289806Quote:
Originally Posted by Zemke
For future people looking at the vanderhagen I have one as well as a couple of geletts and have had no issues or complaints about it. It isn't to aggressive and would be a fine starter razor and they seem to be in every drug store so why not.
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by criswilson10
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haroldg48
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.
