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I`ve been shaving with a straight for 6 months now, but saw a cheap DE for sale in the supermarket, and i have been converted.
My stuble grows in an awkward direction for me to get with a straight but with a DE i can get it no problem at all.
well chuffed!
The heart wants what the heart wants
Hello, BigIan:
I shave with the straight razor; however, I also have two double edge razors in rotation with the straights. I like the double edge.
Your decision is sound. If you prefer the double edge, fly on and enjoy your shave. Still, I suggest occasionally shaving with the straight razor so that you keep up your skills.
Regards,
Obie
I have a Merkur DE that I use on days when I am in a rush. I used it this morning in fact, and its a great little shaver.
I agree with Obie, use what you want to use, and maybe keep the straight razor for the weekend or for special occasions or something..!
Enjoy your DE! :)
BigIan,
Variety is indeed the spice of life :)
My SE & DE safety razors add another dimension to my shaves, and I really enjoy using them.
Best of luck !
Have fun !
best regards
Russ
Ian,
Been DE shaving for two years now and only picked up str8s within the past few months....although I'm really trying to get BBS all over with just a str8, even when I do achieve that I dont think I'll ever get rid of my DEs. Too many neat vintages to name that provide an amazing shave!
Best of luck with your DEs....and dont feel bad for trying them out...variety truly is the spice of life!
NOTE: Except when you're married....then you can still have variety...just not with women! :rofl2:
Ive been using DE's for 30 years just started using straights last few mths , use straights mainly an de's once or twice a week ..like using both variety is truely the spice of life as said above
Oh i fully intend to use my straights for my "sunday shave" but the De does seem to fit the lifestyle better.
Ru4scuba, funny you should say that i get married on the 10th :P
Can any one recomend a good DE with a chunky handle?
Welcome to SRP!
I started with a DE after I was tired of the horrible disposables and high cost of sensor cartriges. I just started using a staright razor this month. You might consider a Fatboy it has some wight to it and has a fat handle.
Richard
Numerous possibilites come to mind...do you like open comb or safety bar? All the following are awesome vintages that work great!Quote:
Originally Posted by BigIan
Vintage Gillette Fat Boys, Gillette Presidents, British Gillette Aristocrats (16, 21, 22, 66 - all these Brits are pricey though), Fat handled Techs, Hoffritz slants etc - all would work for something with heft in the handle.
Hunt around on Ebay or B&B and you'll find a TON of options at decent prices (if you are patient, you can get a Fat Boy for around $40...Presidents will go for $100 in near mint condition....Hoffritz slants $20-$40). The British Gillettes, while AWESOME shavers are much pricier however ($100-$200+ range).
If you want new, I suggest trying out some of the options on Vintage Blades, West Coast shaving etc...all the regular wetshaving vendors...Merkur makes some heavy handled options. I'm not as well versed in new DEs as Vintages though.
Chris
Hello again, BigIan:Quote:
Originally Posted by BigIan
I suggest the Edwin Jagger "Chatsworth" barley. The razor not only is gorgeous and a great shave, but it also has a thick and solid handle. The English Shaving Company in the UK has it.
Regards,
Obie
I like yourself like a hefty razor...with that being said I have a 1937 Gillette Sheraton open comb that I love to shave with. Well balanced and made to last forever. The 1938 Gillette Senator is made the same, "37" gold plated, "38" chrome. They maybe hard to find but well worth the hunt.
I recently picked up 4 from ebay including one very nice Gillette gold plated item. I plan to use it with my straight as i'm not fully shaving with it yet, i still have to complete ATG with my mach 3, so i decided to try the DE instead :)
ian
Yes, the EJ how can I forget that one. I own one and happy with mine and is one of the best DE razord I have. In fact I just used it this morning.
Richard
Ive been using DE's for 30 years just started using straights last few mths , use straights mainly an de's once or twice a week ..like using both variety is truely the spice of life as said aboveQuote:
Originally Posted by Ru4scuba
I highly recommend a Gillette Big Fellow -- both "Old Type" and "New Improved" are "chunky" and exceedingly "hefty" (see below).Quote:
Originally Posted by BigIan
Smooth shaving!
1921 Gillette Big Fellow (Old Type)
http://www.horen.org.il/jpegs/shaving/2007/05/13.jpg
1925 Gillette Big Fellow (New Improved)
http://www.horen.org.il/jpegs/shaving/2007/11/11.jpg
+1 on the Aristocrats! Esp No. 16 Heavy and the best Shaver iv used. No. 21 is pritty good to.
But 2 passes with a straight = 4 with any good DE.. + i can shave with a straight in 5min start to finish.
Enjoy your sundays ;)
How did the wedding go??? Grats my 6yr was 11th, good month :)
+Sz
Ian,
For a new build razor I think the Muhle R109 is a super razor.
If you would like a vintage that will shave the pants off a lot of razors, then I would suggest a Gillette New; my #88 New (long comb) is my favourite DE.
The News are quite well priced as well. Mr Dave Glynn of www.safetyrazors.co.uk is a good source of vintage safety razors in the UK.
Have fun !
Best regards
Russ
I am new to straights, coming from the world of de's, i love my de's, and will never stop using them, but also enjoy my straights, so i will continue down the same path and use both.
Merkur 38C has some great heft and is an outstanding shaver. It's about $45. The Gillette Slim is much less expensive than the Fat Boy but has some nice heft itself and IMHO shaves just as fine.
If I were to be honest, the Merkur Slant DE razor gives me the best shaves I ever had, but if I gave up the challenge of getting BBS results on the straight razor I might lose interest in shaving.
The biggest thing I have gotten out of this retro shaving that I started over the Easter weekend is that I have begun to enjoy shaving after 40 years of hating to do it and being dissatisfied with the results no matter what I used or what I spent. That transcends whatever razor or technique I use, the feeling of accomplishment and the better results.
BigIan,
Nothing wrong with DE's. I've been using those for last 30 years.
Part of the straight razor shaving has been sort of a journey to me. It is not only about shaving but how to keep your razors sharp or how to bring some old razor back to life it was meant to be.
It is a bit different with DE's. As long as the blade is good, they just do the job they are meant to do: BBS shaves with no nicks. Some old DE's look very fascinating as well. I have my old FatBoy, Gillette Aristocrat and Gillette my father-in-law used when he was at war. All excellent shavers.
It is the best that every one of us finds the shaver that he is happy with. It doesn't have to be straight or DE, but rather something you feel comfortable with. My son shaves with electric and he's ok with it. I'm happy for him.
Unfortunately, with this being a straight razor site, the DE gets a bum rap around here. That's too bad, because with the right razor/blade combo a DE is capable of excellent shaves on par with a straight shave. That's why so many of us SR users still use DE's every now and then. We say it's "just to save time", but really......
I used DE/SE for 2 yrs before my face KNEW it wanted a straight razor..now I have 3..all different in every way!..5 months in no more razor burn unless I go more than 3 passes!
pcdad
Hello, Ryan:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
I use a double edge razor when rushed for time, of course, but I also have it in regular rotation with the straights without fail.
At one time I had about a dozen double edge razors, all top of the line, but I sold most except for two: the Edwin Jagger "Chatworth" barley and the Muhle-Pinsel. I also have a Gillete "Red Tip," which I refurbished, but I don't much care for Gillettes and, therefore, it sits in the rack with a forlorn look.
In my modest collection of 22 straight razors, which I rotate regularly, including the Feather Artists Club, the Edwin Jagger and the Muhle-Pinsel rotate with the straights every seventh shave. In other words, every seventh shave goes to the double edge.
I love my double edge, and I love my straight. Yet I don't see the merit in comparing two. I love each razor for its distinct characteristic — for what it is.
Regards,
Obie
Just wondering...is a Feather Artists Club a straight razor?..or a disposable razor with a straight handle?
..I wondered for awhile ;-)
pcdad
Hello, pcdad:Quote:
Originally Posted by pcdad
The Feather Artist Club is a straight razor with replaceable blades, yes. It's a well made razor that has most characteristics of the straight razor except that it uses replaceable blades. No, it is not a plastic disposable razor. My Artist Club has attractive wood scales.
I get a great shave with it, as I do with my double edge razors.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I keep it in regular rotation with the rest of the straights and the double edge razors. Sometimes I also take it on trips for backup to my regular straight.
Regards,
Obie
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigIan
My DEs are 38c and HD Slant. The whole heft of razor doing the work for you bit. It's true.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razorburn
Therefore when I bought my straight I found a Wapi on sale. Reviews said it was easy to learn to hone on and the metal scales give heft. I bought it thinking that if heft works for DEs then it should work for straights.
Not so I found, when I got to try a non metal scaled straight it was a breeze.
I will soon be buying another straight. For now, pretty much taking the summer off and using DE. Soon I will buy a better straight and go at it again.
Obie
I have 20 straights razors now, and 12 need to be honed or repaired. In time I will use them all , but I will always use a DE when I don't have time for a straight shave.
Richard
Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
I started with DE's and love them.
I picked up a couple straights because of the mystique and curiosity of what it would be like to shave like my forefathers.
I was going to give up using the straights because of numerous factors, but once I had a couple that I had honed for me, learned to maintain the edge properly(still learning), practice technique and what works for me on my face, the spark has returned and I love it and enjoy the learning curve and shaves.
I also enjoy taking an otherwise deteriorating razor and making it worthy of shaving with again.
That said, I still have a smaller collection of DE's I also enjoy using.
As far as recommendations for fat handles, well I enjoy my vintage Gillette razors, the New Improved, the British HD, and British Aristocrat #21 are excellent shavers in my book.
Enjoy your shaves and have fun.