My DE noob take on some blades

I started using a Gillette super speed for my weekday shaves and picked up a 7 pack of different blades to try. Finished with the last one and thought you all might have some recommendations for different ones based on my preferences.

The seven blades were Astra superior platinum, Kai, Shark super chrome, Voskhod teflon coated, Gillette nacet, Gillette silver blue, and Feather yellow.

My two favorite were Gillette silver blue and Feather. The Feather seemed to give me a little closer shave, but the silver blue was a little more comfortable. My bottom two were the Astra and Kai. The Astra felt horrible for the first two shaves, but I gave it a third to be sure and suddenly it was ok, then number 4 was back to not great. The Shark, Voskhod, and Gillette nacet were pretty similar for comfort and closeness, but the Voskhod was the long life champ. I got close to two weeks out of that one.

So any others that would be good to try?

I've also been eying a new Parker 87R TTO. How would this compare to the super speed I've been using?

Haven't tried a huge number of different blades but found for me the Gillette Silver Blues work in any razor I own and gives me a good close, smooth shave for about a week.

Bob

following with interest .....

I find I get good shaves using Wilkinson blades on my Merkur. Also good shaves using Voskhod (?) Never had much satisfaction from the Astra.

I'll give Wilkinson blades a try, thanks for the recommendation. I liked Voskhod, they just weren't quite as close or comfortable as the silver blue or Feather.

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Originally Posted by JellyJar

I'll give Wilkinson blades a try, thanks for the recommendation. I liked Voskhod, they just weren't quite as close or comfortable as the silver blue or Feather.

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Here is where personal preference and the need to actually try different blades comes in. I would not recommend Wilkinson blades from my experience with them. Others may find them perfectly fine. YMMV

Bob

Yeah, this is definitely a personal preference thing. Lots of individual variables.

If a lot of people like a blade I figure there's a better chance it might also work for myself. It might not work out for me, but that's fine also.

I have a bit of an experimental bent and like to try different things. I'm just hoping to draw on other's experience to increase my chance of success. It seems better than randomly making a guess.

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Originally Posted by JellyJar

I'm just hoping to draw on other's experience to increase my chance of success. It seems better than randomly making a guess.

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That it is.

Bob

+1, +1.
I bet i tried 30 diffrent name brands and or options on DE blades and found the silver blues my fav. Not as keen as a feather, but i could get 4 days consistant shaves from one blade.
YMMV

I didn't get on with the Wilkinsons either, very tuggy for me im afraid.
Ive just started using Derby premiums, after my first shave they seem very promising. I'll let you know how I get on.
Another thing to bear in mind is that DE blades will feel different in different DEs. For instance a Feather blade will feel great in a mild razor like a Muhle R89 but feel awful in a more aggressive razor like a Muhle R41.

There are a lot of blades out there and I certainly have not tried them all or anything even approaching it however over the years I've found the feathers to be second to none no matter the razor they are in (well maybe not in the original R 41). The Gillette yellows are good blades though I've found them to be on the rough side depending on the razor and the Astras have been decent.

These days I only use the feathers. Even with the timeless which is on the aggressive side they work really good. You just can't push more than 3 shaves from them.

I wish they still made blades like the original Willkinson stainless from the 1960s. Ten great shaves guaranteed from those babies.

Good to know about different razors changing the blade performance. I'd heard something to that effect, but you know...internet :shrug:

Right now I've only got the one DE (OK, technically two, but their both super speeds and my wife has absconded with the other). If (more realistically when :)) I get a different one I'll run through some more tests. My current understanding is super speeds are pretty mild.

Super speeds are mild. I enjoyed the gillette ball-end olds. Mid level agressiveness with the comb. You can still find them for a very low cost. Just watch for cracked handles. But that can be fixed too. Bent combs dont fix well those so take a good look at them before you pull the trigger.

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Originally Posted by BobH

Here is where personal preference and the need to actually try different blades comes in. I would not recommend Wilkinson blades from my experience with them. Others may find them perfectly fine. YMMV

Bob

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To build on Bob's point, there are differences even among blades packaged and named very similarly. When I first went back to DE when I joined SRP, I had some Wilkinson's that were great. The next pack I got were not so great. After trying many, I've settled into Gillette Silver Blue and Feather. The Feather's are a little harsh for me on the first shave, but settle down nicely. The Gillette Silver Blues start great and stay great. I have given up trying to stretch blade life. If I get a "not so close" shave from a blade, I replace it before putting the razor away

Razor/blade combos are also important. In my more aggressive razors (R41 for example) I use only the Gillettes. In my less aggressive ones, I use more Feathers. I also have some Personna med blades that are fine, but don't last as long as the other two brands.

I dont have near as much experience with DE as some of the guys, but from my limited experience, using my dads old Fatboy, and a Slim, and a Redtip, my preference is as follows

Persona Platinum (Red pack) Somebody once suggested these are actually Feathers?
VERY CLOSE 2nd Gillette 7Oclock (Yellow)
and my 3rd place is a toss up between the SilverBlue, and the 7Oclock (Green)
Lots of factors can change the choices. Most notably for me, how long its been since my last shave.
My opinion of the rest of the razors I have tried, has been anything from "meh" to "Best served as a rust scraper or letter opener"

That's really interesting Magpie, because I can't get a decent shave from ANY color Gillette 7'O'Clock blades, but love the Gillette Silver Blues.

I guess it proves everyone's face is different, as is their technique, probably.

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Originally Posted by Haroldg48

That's really interesting Magpie, because I can't get a decent shave from ANY color Gillette 7'O'Clock blades, but love the Gillette Silver Blues.

I guess it proves everyone's face is different, as is their technique, probably.

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Its also possible quality has taken a dump. My supply of blades are all around 4 years old. It was cheaper to buy a pile, and I gave away plenty to my groupies. I still have about 8 boxes of yellow, and down to my last 2 green. (I gave away many more of those) If your experiences are more recent, I may have to make a small purchase next time I go to restock.

my experience is slightly prior to yours, or perhaps the same vintage.

All good info, thanks for the input.

I am finding it interesting that the comments about Feathers and silver blues are very similar to my experience with them. I found the first shave with the Feather a bit harsh, then got great shaves for the next 3-4. The silver blues for me were great from the start, but not quite as close as the Feather.

I'll try a couple of more brands, just for kicks. Though I would be happy with either Feather or silver blue.

This is a bunch of good info.

Thanks guys. :)

I tried the 20 pack sampler. All the blades mentioned before. And then some. GSB’s and feathers are great I agree. Others no matter where I set my razor didn’t make the grade.
For me the Voskhods are the ticket.
Comfortable efficient shaves. And very inexpensive. I have a fairly tough beard. Still I get four nice shaves out of them. That works out to $.225/shave.
In my fatboy many blades work well. The adjustability lets you get the best out of just about any blade.
95%of my shaves are with a straight since 2015. But I did use my fat boy for 30 plus years with grocery store DE’s. So just about any damn blade is better than those. Might be some of the equation that for me Voskhods are good blades. ��
Ken

Thanks for the info.

I didn't think the Voskhods were bad, with and eye towards being picky, they were just not quite as smooth at the feathers and silver blues. If I had no other blades, I'd be happy with the Voskhods.

That's the great thing. The internet with this forum and others, are an epiphany.
I wish I knew about these options for blades back in the 80's.
Literally decades of mediocre shaves with supermarket generic DE's. Could have been avoided. As Col. Kurtz said "The Horror, the horror".

I certainly haven't tried them all, but for now am liking Voskhods in my Gillette Fat Boy, SuperSpeed, and Aristocrat. I get about 4 good shaves out of one-got a 100 pack on Amazon for 7 and change.

There are lots of excellent blades available. Some of the usual candidates has already been mentioned. However, I want to add a few lesser known blades to the list of blades worth trying. I like my blades both very sharp and very smooth, so I like blades like Rapira Platinum Lux, Personna Israeli Reds, Gillette Nacets, 7 O'Clock Super Platinum Black, BIC Chrome Platinum, German Wilkinson Swords, Gillette PermaSharp, and Astra Superior Stainless Blue. The blades below are inexpensive, but compete will with the blades mentioned.

Dorco Prime Platinum STP301 blades are made in Vietnam on state of the art equipment. I find them to be excellent. These are different from the Dorco ST300 and ST301 blades, so make sure you get the Prime blades.

SuperMax Blue Diamond Platinum blades are excellent as well.

Shark Platinum blades are a huge step up from the Shark Super Chrome and Super Stainless blades which are not nearly sharp enough for my beard. I really like the Shark Platinums. The blades are made by Lord in Egypt. There is also a Lord Platinum blade. I do not know if the Sharks are different blades or the same as the Lord blades in a different wrapper.

Went back and played with the Voskhod and Gillette Nacet blades. Both are still nice, I just don't get the same closeness as the Feather and Silver blue blades. I think a more aggressive razor than the super speed I'm using might work well with the Voskhod and Nacet (sounds like an excuse to get another razor :D).

Based on your feedback I ordered up some Derby Extra, Bic Chrome Platinum, Wilkinson Sword, and Gillette 7 o'clock super platinum black blades.

I'll let you know how they work out.

Finally worked my way through the four new blades. The Derby and Bic Chrome were nice ,but they were kinda like the Voskhod and Nacet blades for me. Comfortable, but not as close as Feather and Silver blue. The Wilkinson Sword and Gillette 7 o'clock black however are in the "I really like these pile".

I'll play around with my four favorites till I decide which is my go to.

Thanks for all the input. It was really helpful.

Interesting, but the truth is everybody’s face and beard are different and everyone’s techniques vary. You’ve hit 2 of My favorites, and 2 I’m not fond of. One I can’t use, period. That’s how YMMV became so prevalent a shortcut on SRP��

Totally agree. Way to many variables to try and accurately predict how any particular blade will work for you. But the collective information was helpful to kind of narrow down my choices. I may take a flyer here and there in the search for "better" but I feel like I've got some solid options going forward.

Of course if I get a different razor...:hmmm:

That's just it. A different razor can change everything. I played this game too, and in the end came down to one blade that worked for my face at the time, in whatever razor I put it in. It took a lot of testing. Then bought a hundred pack. So enjoy the fun of trying blades. after a while you just have to give up and settle.

Eventually you will find a blade that works well in every DE you have, at least I did.

Bob

Of course if you want the easy way out you can buy a razor like the Rockwells which just take their blades or the Mongoose SE which takes just two possible blades.

But that also takes the fun out of all this.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Of course if you want the easy way out you can buy a razor like the Rockwells which just take their blades or the Mongoose SE which takes just two possible blades.

But that also takes the fun out of all this.

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I have a Rockwell 6c and use Gillette Silver Blues in it so I don't know about them taking only Rockwell blades.

Bob

I use a DE on occasion, a Henckels Henso and an Aristocrat. I really like the blue Israeli Personnas. I get lots of good shaves from those.
Feathers seem to go from too sharp to dull quickly. I have some others. Some day I will try them all to see.

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Originally Posted by BobH

I have a Rockwell 6c and use Gillette Silver Blues in it so I don't know about them taking only Rockwell blades.

Bob

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I have the same Rockwell razor and use plate 6, because my beard is pretty coarse. I have only recently discovered the Gillette Silver Blues after using mostly Wilkinson and Voskhod. I am beginning to really like the Gillette blades.

Some folks rave about the Feathers, but I didn’t find them particularly durable. I have also tried Derby and Astra without much satisfaction.

I guess it's the new Rockwell Fatboy Clone that takes only their blades as I understand it.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I guess it's the new Rockwell Fatboy Clone that takes only their blades as I understand it.

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That is quite possible and I'd say they shot themselves in the foot if that is the case. That is just me though.

Bob