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Just recently I joined the wet shaving world with the purchase of a Dovo 5/8 full hollow and am loving it. However, I shave my head regularly and find that using the straight edge might be dulling it quicker.
So, I purchased a Parker 71R that came with a pure badger brush and a stand. My purpose was to keep myself from the hone as long as possible. The shaves with the Parker have been incredible! I'm using Merkur blades and cannot fathom that it gets much better than this. Am I wrong?
Try a Personna Medical Prep or Lab blade sometime, it may get better. Other than that, no, the DE shaving is a unique experience all unto itself.
When I started shaving with a DE I didn't think it could get better than using Derby blades (was never a fan of Merkur blades). Nowadays I still like Derby, but have found them to be a very average, middle-of-the-road blade. There are much better out there. Same goes for DE razors too. I like my Parker 22R, but I have better razors. Each seems to have its place in the shave den, so I keep it in the rotation. I'm sure you'll find that the more you experiment the more you will realize the place each piece of gear holds in your shave den, too.
Straight razors require some maintenance. A strop and pasted strop will carry you a long way before a stone honing is needed. If you add a barber hone into the process, you may be able to maintain a straight razor for a very, very, long time.
I like my DE to wrap up a straight razor shave from time to time just for variety, but it always takes a back seat to the straight razors. The big blade on your skin with the heft behind it, and the pressure and angle directed by your hand - this gets the closest shave for me. If you are getting great results with with your DE set-up, then rock on!
Straight razors do take some time to learn how to keep them finely tuned to your preference. But once you are there, its hard to settle for anything else.
SE and/or SR, enjoy!
Pabster
To answer your original question: yes, DE brands shave differently. I've not tried Parkers, but I have a few Merkurs and vintage Gillettes and none of them shave alike. I've also found that the blade you use changes the shave as well. I've used a DE exclusively for the last 3 years and only recently started using straights. I would avoid the medical prep blades myself...I've not heard good things about them. The Merkur blades are OK, but not the best I've ever used. I personally prefer the Astra Superior Platinum, but those are a fairly sharp blade. Derby blades are a good middle of the road blade. There are lots of options and no brand works the same for everyone, the same can be said for the razors themselves.
Blade makes a huge difference in a DE, and razor can make a pretty large one as well. The difference between say a Gillette Tech with a generic Persona blade ( not very sharp at all), and a slant bar with a feather is HUGE.
Costabro,
There are many differences between DEs and the blade you use with them. The usual suspects as the Pils, Feather, Future, FatBoy, etc are very nice, but so are some of the old Gillettes. It really depends on the individual.
For the blades, try a sampler pack. If you want a comprehensive review on blades, then here is a good site:
SMF :: View topic - Squire's Blade Reviews
Good luck.
Ok. I had to find out for myself and have to say, "ya'll were right". I've managed, for a combined cost of about $75, to collect a mint '59 Fatboy, '69 Super Adjustable, flair tip superspeed, red tipped superspeed, fat handled tech, aristocrat, an GEM to add to my Parker. What a difference!
As others have said as well. The overall geometry of the safety bar (toothed or non-toothed when you're talking about VERY old DE razors, then short or long-combed ones are different), there are so many subtleties it's like cars, cell phones, homes, anything there is a variety of in different sizes and shapes and styles.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sargon
When I was a kid, I was given a razor and some blades and that was that. Few years later I got another, then a single edge injector, tried the twin blade disposables for a while and went to an electric.
Doing the DE thing for 5-6 months now, SR about 6 weeks. Any time I go back to trying a DE it makes me a little nervous.
Keep at it.
Add a 1930 Gillette Deluxe Criterion in mint condition for $15!Quote:
Originally Posted by Costabro
Dang, that's a helluva score for $90. I have three safety razors, a new EJ 89, a '50 Aristocrat, and a '64 Super Speed. While they all feel a little different to shave with, they are all similarly mild razors. As to blades, I must be thick but I can hardly tell any difference from one to another although I mostly now use Astra SPs and Walmart Wilkinsons.
Use a parker 98R versus a merkur bakelite. That'll tell you exactly what you want to know.
+1 As they say , YMMVQuote:
Originally Posted by otherstar
Hello Costabro. To answer your original question — "Is there that much difference between safety razor brands" — yes there is. Each brand has its own characteristics and will give you a different shave. Add to that the blade used, then the difference grows even bigger.
I have a dozen Edwin Jagger and Muhle razors, in different models, and all give me a superb shave. They are pure silk. All use the Muhle shave head. The blades I use for these razors are: Feather, Super Iridium, Gillette 7 O'Clock "Sharp Edge," Personna and Derby.
The Pils, a stainless steel razor German razor, is an engineering marvel and an exquisite shaver. It's in its own class. I have used the same blades I note above and kept on smiling all day. This is a heavy razor, and the shave head feels like a small block of steel on the face. The razor is habit forming, but it takes a few days to get adjusted to the slightly different angle you must use to shave with it. The going price for it is $239.
The all stainless steel Japanese Feather is in its own class, as well. I find the razor milder than the Pils. The Feather is also a sweet delight. For me, it works best with Feather and Super Iridium blades.
I find the Merkur razors good shavers, but they lack the silk in the Edwin Jagger and Muhle models. I have had various models through the years. The Progress is the only one remaining in my collection. For me, they rank below the Edwin Jagger and Muhle razors. Others will disagree and that's fine. I am not all that fond of the Merkurs, but they are quality razors.
I've had several Parker razors. The workmanship on these razors is passable. Some of them are aggressive and some not. The only one I have these days is the 99R TTO, which I find mild and acceptable.
The iKon, also stainless steel, has a model which is almost a clone of the Pils. These are good razors. Today I sold my only iKon, the OSS, dual headed razor — one side is open comb and the other with a safety bar. This is an interesting razor. I used the open comb for the first pass and the closed for the rest.
The French-made Jorris, another gorgeous razor, is an open comb, and considered quite aggressive. It, too, is on the pricey side. This razor has an equal number of fans and detractors. It must be experienced individually.
I find the Weishi, the Chinese-made razor, the mildest of the whole bunch. I chose not to waste my time on it.
The Gillettes have fans all over the place. I have never been a fan, really, except of the Aristocrat. For me, the modern razors are much better shavers. Here, too, others will disagree with me and that's also fine.
Double edge razors will shave differently in different hands — even the same models. So you must experience each individually to find your preference. As for blades, yes, there are far superior blades to the Merkur.
Stay well.
Just to throw another log on the fire:
. . . Has anyone tried a Weber razor? --
Products | WeberRazor
Thanks --
. Charles