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Tonight I used a Derby DE blade for the first time. While it gave me a ok shave thats about it, just ok. The soap that I used was my normal D R Harris cream. I've been using the Crystal and the Personna Red both from Israel and I really like both of these blades. The Derby didn't seem as sharp and sort of dragged although I did not experience any razor burn. I can not imagine the Derby being suitable for more then one shave only.
Jim
What DE did you use it with? Skin type and beard will also make a huge difference.
I only swear by Derby and Swedish Gillette. They give me the best shaves. Tried them all. For me personally the Personna Red and Crystal gave me a crappy OK shave. I'm extremely disappointed in those. I favor my Gillette President.
I used a Edwin Jagger Ivory Chatsworth.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maximilian
yep. I remember feeling the same way when I started using a double edge (4/1/2010). I have the DE89L and the derby is poor for face shaving but other areas like chest and shoulders it's acceptable. Stick with the gillette 7'oclock yellows or a feather (thanks Obie).
I agree about the Derbys. They feel like a good blade after ten shaves. They cut, but not comfortably. They feel dull.
Merkur is much better, they're a lot smoother, but not the sharpest.
I usually use Feather, they are super sharp and go many shaves.
Just goes to show that blade choice and experience is purely personal. My preference is, Treet, Astra or Feather. In that order. I find derbys to be very mild and a little harsh. Merkurs to be over priced and not worth shaving with anyway. Never tried any of the 7 O'Clock blades, but I will. Feathers are the sharpest blades out, but they last all of four shaves maximum for me. All of this is what suits me. You must find, by trial and error, what suits you. Derbys obviously don't so move on to something else. Get a sample pack of blades. Get a few different sample packs if you can. It takes a while to find what you like best, but it is a fun and interesting journey to go on, and there is always something new out there to try, as there are many different blades on the market.
Mick
I prefer the feather blades, but watch the pressure you put on your face as they can bit back. I use a merkur futur with the adjustment set at 4 for the WTG/ATG and turn down to 2 for the final ATG pass.
This is why you will see folk recommend a variety pack to test shave a variety.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimk
A lot of folk like them because they are mild and mild for some minimizes
razor burn. As for the number of shaves get back after you give it a fair shake.
It may fall short but for me the second and third shave is the telling shave.
For example I dislike the first shave from a Feather but enjoy the three after
that first harsh one a lot.
I have a bigish box of Derby blades and think of them as training wheels.
But I liked them enough to buy the big old box full.
So far (new to DE shaving) I like Astra. In fact, I like Astra so much I"m not sure I'd ever give the others another whirl (Derby, Dorko, Gillette 7o'clock), maybe the 7 o'clock, but the others not...
DE razor blade choice is the most individual choice I can think of in traditional shaving. What often works for one doesn't work for another, etc. For example, most of the shaving world thinks Feathers are the best thing since sliced bread and I find them entirely too sharp to use regularly. Derbys are another blade that people either love or hate. For me they are OK, but not great. They were my blade of choice for most of my first year of DE shaving. Three plus years into this adventure and my favorite blades are Astras, any of the Gillette blades, and Sharks. Even my own choices have changed over time.
While I'm disappointed with the Derby, I very much like both the Crystal and the Personna Red. And I will be giving the Derby several more chances as I still have more of the blades that I will not waste.
Jim
Hello Jim,
The Derby blades work well for some and not so for others. I have a variety of Edwin Jagger and Muhle double edge razors, all of which share the Muhle shave head, and all do quite well — for me — with the Gillette 7 O'Clock "Sharp Edge" in the yellow packets. So do the Israeli Personnas and the Crystals, which probably are the same blade in different clothing. I came across a nasty Feather last week. Oy, the two shaves in my Feather all stainless steel razor were really irritating. Those two Feathers are perfect for each other. Then again I could have hit on a bad blade. The best thing is to acquire a sampler pack. That lovely Edwin Jagger 89 with the right blade will give you a beautiful shave.
I always found the Derbys to be pretty mild mannered blades. I think the Feathers are the best with the exception of in my Muhle open comb which then becomes way too aggressive for me.
I see there's not a lot of love for Derbys around here. They seem to be better regarded at DE-centric wetshaving forums.
I started with Derbys and Merkurs. I was really impressed with Derbys until I tried sharper blades, now I find them to be middle-of-the-road but serviceable blades.
This is a highly subjective topic. But they still kick the crap out of Merkurs and Sharks though... ;)
I havent had a run in with a derby blade yet....have been thinking about it due to their availability and price. I can say that I hate Merkurs, like 7 o'clocks, like swedish 7 am's, distrust sharks. I have some astra's at home that have yet to make it to my rotation. I will pick some derby's up to try, I like testing things :)
Well I'll add a update. Used another new Derby for todays shave and it was much better then the previous shave. I used the same prep, cream etc.. I still prefer the Israeli Personna Red and the Crystal blade, however today shave with the Derby was quite nice.
Jim
I find the Derby blades good (just good not unique as Feather-Kai) for my open combs
I use them often when i don't want a very deep shaving
No cuts and no irritation
The Red are one click better than the Green.
Well, I just tried my first Derby blade today. I think it's an excellent blade. It's sharp enough (not quite as sharp as an Astra), and it shaves very smoothly. It shaves as closely as any other blade, but without the harshness. I think it might be both sharper, yet smoother than the Shark blade I tried recently.
I don't know how long it's going to last, yet, or how it compares to the Shark (which I really liked) after a few days, but so far, I like both the Derby and the Shark better than my Astras.
I tried the 7 o'clock on Saturday and wasn't impressed. For me, Astra is still my favourite.
I see what you mean otherstar.. I just tried to use a shark and it pulled like a mother.. so on to a new blade for me.. do you want them? trade for a feather or two?
Sounds to me that you got a bad blade. Another one might be great.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimk
When the first blade you use of a particular brand is good you have a good first impression and are more likely to be able to overlook an occasional bad one.
At least, I think that's why opinions vary so much on blades. My personal favorites are Medical Personna and Astra Superior Platinum.
I'm thinking that the first blade must have been a bad one. I've since used two more Derby's and each shave has been very nice. I will be keeping them in my rotation.
Thanks, Jim
Derbys are a very love hate sort of blade. They're almost the Williams of DE blades that way. I don't have any evidence, but from having shaved with them, they seem to have a different sort of grind than most other blades.
i have only OK shaves with the Derby's. i do not find them to be very good; just mild.
I hate derbys...they are not for my bear
Gentlemen,
On the other hand, the Derby can also give a comfortable shave. Yesterday I used a Derby in my gorgeous Muhle "Sophist" in the light bone handle. The pre-shave product was Castle Forbes, the soap Tabac and the brush a densely-packed 22 mm. Rooney Heritage. I had one of the most comfortable shaves I've had in a long time time. No, the Derby is no sharp Feather, Super Iridium, Gillette yellow or Polsilver. Then again the Derby can do the job, as well. I have discovered that one can run into a bad blade in almost any blade made. I have experienced that even with the great Feather. Here I blame quality control, and the Derby seems to have a problem with that, sometimes more than the others do.
On those unusual occasions when I use a DE I just love Derbys. I have 200 stockpiled, I'm old, that should be enough.
I agree with my dear friend Obie on this. Admittedly, Derby's can have a dud blade in the pack, but overall they are a good quality DE razor blade at the low end of the cost spectrum. It is no Cadillac; more of a Chevrolet. Like the Chevy, however, the Derby will get the job done.
Comfortable, yes. They are definitely not the sharpest, but I think there's a huge myth that you need to have the sharpest blade to get the closest shave. I don't find that to be true. In fact, the #1 closest shave that I have gotten was from a Derby. My Astras and Wilkinsons are much sharper blades, but they are not as comfortable, and they give almost as close a shave. But I have never gotten as close a shave as this one time with a Derby.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
It could have been a minor variation in technique that day, but I don't believe that sharp blade = closer shave.
PS: I think I might be the only one in the world who hasn't found a blade that "shreds up my face." Everyone seems to have a horror story about some brand of blade, but I can shave just fine with any.
THG,
Indeed, a sharp blade does not necessarily mean a closer shave. You are correct. Which takes us to the next question: What exactly is a closer shave? Closer than what? Closer according to whose definition? For me, whether I use the straight or the double edge, what matters more is a silky comfortable shave rather than my Hollywood face rendered smooth by a light saber. What helps make the silky comfortable shave possible is good preparation, a good razor, a good blade, and a skilled hand.
Stay well and have a Merry Christmas.
Closest shave? Well, first BBS then when does the stubble return. That's how I decide what's close. But you're right Obie it's more about the comfort.Quote:
Originally Posted by Obie
I get the closest with the Muhle open comb but the agony.
Most of the time it's not your face disagreeing with a blade, it's the blade disagreeing with a certain razor. Of course as Obie pointed out there are other factors like prep and technique, which are equally as important as finding a good razor & blade combo.Quote:
Originally Posted by THG
I currently have around 10 different brands of blades in my collection (yeah, peanuts compared to DE fanatics), and there are only two blades that disagree with all my razors and, more importantly, my face: Merkur and Shark. They don't "shred" up my face per say, but they aren't very comfortable - however, I can get maybe 2 close shaves from them before they give up the ghost. YMMV.