Matching Razors With Blades

Ladies and gentlemen:

Much of this past week I was up and about early in the morning and, rushed for time, relied on the old double edge razors to pamper my Hollywood face.

This was an opportunity also to dedicate specific blades in my stash to specific razors until my supply of blade varieties is trimmed. Here is what I came up with:

Feather stainless steel razor: Feather and Super Iridium.

Edwin Jagger razors: Gillette 7 O'Clock "Sharp Edge" yellow packs and Israeli Personna red packs.

Muhle razor: Gillette 7 O'Clock "Sharp Edge" yellow packs.

Vintage Gillettes, open and closed comb: Derby and Dorco 301.

Merkurs: Astra and Gillette 7 O'Clock stainless steel.

Weck open comb: Astra

By week's end I was pleased with my blade shuffling. When the Dorco and the Derby blades run out I will bid them farewell. The others are keepers. A generous friend gave me a gift of the Super Iridiums and I use them sparingly (they are guarded within a perimeter lined with Claymore mines).

Do you find yourself matching your razors to specific blades in your stash? Thanks.

Regards,

Obie

When I got my first blade sampler I actually made an Excel spreadsheet listing each razor and blade in my possession. After shaving with two blades of a particular brand (@ 3-4 shaves per blade) I'd assign the blade/razor combo a rating from 1-10, with side notes stating the pros and cons of each combo. This may have been a little overboard, not to mention OCD :), but it was an effective system to remind me which combos worked and which ones didn't.

I have found that there are certainly some blades that match well with particular razors. I have determined that Feather's are the best blades for my beard so I use them exclusively regardless of which safety razor I choose to shave with. I can say that different razors shave differently with feather blades. My blue tip superspeed feels slightly rougher during the shave vs my 30's long tooth open comb which feels like silk, both with feather blades. I always get great comfortable shaves with feather's so I am stuck on them for life.

i used to do this.. seems i have become spoiled with feather blades these days.. vintage gillettes still get the 7 o'clock yellows till i run out.. then i'll use feathers with every razor..

my derby blades are given away to new wetshavers.

Sort of reached nervana a couple yrs back,long comb new and feathers,boring yes,but the perfect combo for me.

Open comb and Feathers for me too. Only got onto Feathers last year, won't use anything else now.

Absolutely. I love combining a Feather with my iKon, or an Astra with my Merkur....although the Astra goes well in the iKon too for a very mild (albeit not BBS) shave. I personally don't like to shave myself shiney, so I like a tame razor (like a tech or iKon), with a super sharp blade to reduce the amount of "effort" required.

I'm also a fan of the Shark, or the tame Walmart Wilkinson blades in my Merkur.

Personas, Durbys, Bluebirds, Treets, and Lords I find too be too blunt for me, and use them as utility blades.

I like the 'feel' of the 7o'clock super sharps, but I always wind up with wicked razor burn after using them. Pity, as I like everything else about them.

Of course I don't have that much of a collection of DE's and really only use 2 the feather and the EJ Chatsworth and I've found feather blades work well with both. The last time I bought I got a bunch of Wilkinson so once I use them I'll go back to the feathers. I find I get a good shave with pretty much any blade.

I while back I bought a Edwin Jagger Chatsworth and a sampler pack of blades that includes:

Feather, Feather Black, Merkur, Wilkinson, Precision, Dorco ST-301, Lord, Derby, Astra Stainless, Astra Platinum

I only use the EJ when I'm really short on time, and seeing as that's not terribly often, I've only had a chance to try the Feather's and the Derby's. What I'm curious about is if anyone could recommend which of the other blades would work well together with the EJ. I know most people tend to develop a blade preference, regardless of razor, and I plan to try all of the blades, but being that it will take me a couple years to do that (at this rate, anyways haha), I was hoping a couple of you guys could give me some suggestions.

Of note: I found the feathers to be very effective, however they did feel a bit harsh at times. Is this maybe something that would wear away after a few shaves on the blade? The derby's I did not like at all.

I was going to post a smart-alec reply about how Wilkinson Sword blades have worked better for me than any other blade I've tried...because that's all I've tried...but then I remembered the GEM SE blade I tried. The micro-matic will only take SE blades, so I can't combo it up with Wilkin's and vice-versa.

I had a fantastic shave Sunday morning with my Fatboy and a Wilkin's Sword. The GEM SE works, but there's something about it that just doesn't sit right with me.

FWIW my $.02

BigJim,
I started out on Wilkinson Swords, and I agree that are pretty good blades, better than some of the 'name' brands that are more frequently talked about. But I've got to say for my beard the Feathers work beautifully.

Gentlemen:

Please keep on topic.

This thread focuses on matching razors to razor blades. Thank you.

Regards,

Obie

I find the Astra superior platinums in my Edwin Jagger DE89 to be a very mild, and easy to use combination :)

I find that my merkur Futur will work wonderful with about any blade that is put into it. But I do find that Super speeds work well with those Astra's. Astra's don't work for me in other razors. Barbasol razor does awesome with feathers, aggressive razor aggressive blade, a great combo. Same with a slant I get my best results with a feather. But a feather in non aggressive razors tears me up.