Hey guys,
My Merkur 34c came with 1 Merkur Super Platinum coated blade and 10 Dorco platinum coated blades.
Let's just say a blade can make a BIG difference!
When researching what kind to try next, the possibilities are almost endless! I loved how well the Merkur blade lasted me (like 6 shaves WOW) and how comfortable it was (almost like nothing was touching me). But it shaved AWESOMELY! The Dorco blades... not so comfortable.
So does anyone have some recommendations I could try out?
Thanks!
Try some Astra Superior Platinum blades. That's what I use now.
Some online vendors have sampler packs that contain lots of different DE blade brands. Get one and see which of the blades best compares to your Merkur.
Just my 2 cents.
Blue n white Israeli Personna blades are great..platinum and chrome coated
sharks and astras is what I use
I'm one of those wierd people who prefers Wilkinson blades.:)
Ouch, Dorco! I made the mistake of buying a 100 pack of them when I was a newbie. Never again!
I have the Merkur "Classic" 33C DE and enjoy using Wilkinson Sword blades. They shave well and give me 4-5 good shaves for the week. I have tried others and find the Derby Extra to be good too.
You can buy a sample pack and try different blades. You will eventually find a blade or 2 that work for you. Blades are funny things: what works for one man doesn't always work for another.
I actually like the Wilkinson Sword blades as well...
And you could try the Feather blades -- very sharp, need very gentle pressure, but give a fine shave.
Get a sampler -- it'll save everybody from posting his/her favorite blade here.
charles
PS -- I also like the Astra blades. I've read mixed reports about the Merkur blades; I have a pack, and it's time to open it up.
My experience with the Merkur blades was about the same as when I tried one of those SE utility blades from Home Depot in my Gem.:(Quote:
Originally Posted by cpcohen1945
BJ:
Say farewell to the Merkur and Dorco blades and order a sampler pack that includes, at least, some of the following: Feather, Gillette 7 O'Clock "SharpEdge" in the yellow packs, Personna, Astra, Polsilver-Iridium, Pro Sharp Super and Derby. All are good blades, with the Feather the sharpest.
BJ:
Say farewell to the Merkur and Dorco blades and order a sampler pack that includes, at least, some of the following: Feather, Gillette 7 O'Clock "SharpEdge" in the yellow packs, Personna, Astra, Polsilver-Iridium, Pro Sharp Super and Derby. All are good blades, with the Feather the sharpest.
Saying a blade makes the difference in a DE is like buying the exact same 2 cars one with a 140HP engine and the other with a 180HP Turbocharger and saying the engine makes a difference.
The Dorcos, well the name kind of tells you. I guess the company was sold and there are not the German outfit they once were. Just experiment with different blades to find the rightr match for you and your razor. I like Feathers.
My experience with the Merkur blade almost brought the DE experiment to an end. Fortunately my Barber had given me a pack of Astra Greens and that saved the day. Since then my two favorites are the Astra Blue (Stainless) and the Feather...Quote:
Originally Posted by Theseus
As for the Merkur, I would rather bust the wine bottle on the counter and use the shards.. but YMMV
And +1 to the sample pack idea, every face/blade/razor/beard/moon phase is different and what is one step away from Waterboarding for me might be shaving nirvana for you...
Part of the fun...
I've enjoyed wilkinson sword, feathers, and derby blades in different razors and on different adjustment points. Awful experiences with Blue Bird blades, felt like a dulled straight razor dragged across my face. Lots of resistance and a very uncomfortable shave overall. I've found that I can get any of the above blades (except the blue bird) to shave nicely at some setting in an adjustable. I prefer the feather's or the wilkinsons in my flare tip and ball tech non adjustables though
I'd say go with a sampler pack, then scour the net for a deal on a hundred pack of something you like. I respect the people that have tried nearly every blade out there, but you can save a few bucks buying in bulk after finding one that works. That said, I'm after a daily shave, not the illustrious BBS nirvana that some here search for. Depends on your motives really!
Obie is a DE afficianado and said it twice! He has offered wonderful advise. I, personally, adore the Israeli Personna platinum blades. I like a smooth and easy shave with a DE but a shave with them is very occasional. Some super sharp blades such as Feathers seem to warrant experience. JMHO
I use Derby extra's and more recently I've became a fan of the Astra platinum blades. I'm consistantly getting 30 day's of use out of them (no pulling or irritation). And for reference, medium beard, shave every day, the dome and my mug. I'm using an EJ Barley.....your results may vary
Feathers blades plus Bolzano. Awesome. This are my recomendations.
Kenneth
Out of the ones I've tried, the most consistent good shave has been the Derby Extra...got 100 for 18 from a gentleman on here. I should note I haven't tried feathers yet.
Haha! That thread brings back good ol' memories of days DE shaving. So many different options and so many different experiences with same blades. I think you've been given some good advice regarding a sampler pack. That way you can pick the blade that suits you best.
For me I found the Merkur blades to be complete rubbish! Never tried Dorcos. My go to DE blades are Super Iridiums and Astras.
Ash
I have to edit my earlier post, I was getting almost thirty shaves from an Astra, changed the blade finally and twice since this post after 3/4 shaves (which would be more on par with other blades.) I was getting some skin irritation. I must of had a really good pack of Astra's and now those blades are gone... oh well 75 more blades to go, maybe there will be some more in that carton. I still think there good blades.
Hey, I am one for the Wilkinson Swords that you can get at Walmart dirt cheap!!! They shave beautifully and last for several shaves 4+, just posted somewhere about it earlier today I think! They have a nice cut and work very well on my super coarse hair.
I have tried the Personnas, and they are wonderful as are the Derbys, but I don't find either to be a superior shaver to the Wilkinson for my face!
I have not had good luck with the feathers! They are very sharp and give an unbelievable shave, but I can't use one more than twice and I end up with a touch more razor burn! They ARE that SHARP!
YMMV, but for $1.75 for the Wilkinsons at Walmart, it can't hurt to try them!
I really like the Astra Superior Platinum blades. They feel great and I got 100 of them for around $10 from Amazon.:D
I've been doing some research into the Tesco blades I use, and waddaya know..? They're 'rebadged' Personna blades. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by smalltank
Another fan of the Astra Superior Platinum's here :). I've only really tried a couple of brands so far but I like the Astra's the best... Worst so far for me were the Merkur's (I was surprised at this). The Merkur's pulled and nicked me from brand new. Everybody's face is different though so I would also recommend you try a sample pack to see what works best for you. Definitely loving my Astra's though, and they're dirt cheap to boot! :D