Thread: first DE razor

Blue,

You need to know, from what I understand (myself included), we are all tight wads! Then, something happens....and then they buying starts;

Better brush
Better soap
Better pre shaves
Better blades
A jump to straights
A strop
More straights
Another strop, another straight...

So....$1 million dollars later, I now understand I will have to live three lifetimes to outstrip the Mach 10 costs, but I'm just so happy, I actual don't give a crap!

Enjoy the journey!

Hi Blue,

From my own experience I can tell you as most will say Feather blades are probably some of the sharpest. I have used Derby, Shark, Merker and Feather. I can get a really close shave with the Derby but it takes more passes and I risk skin irritation. The shark killed me and nicked me up everywhere, im not to sure why. The feather was by far my favorite you use. I have yet to cut myself with the feather blade. Also i'm not exactly sure what razor i'm using since it was my grandfathers and all the markings are rubbed away. But thats just what i've learned about those specific DE blades. It's best to use as many as you can and find what feels good on your face.

Every razor and blade combination is unique shave. Add to this the difference in beard and face and you soon realize that there are too many combinations to try them all. Your goal is to fined what works best for you.

The terms used to describe razors and blades ( mild, aggressive ) are relative to the user. I started with safety-bar razors (often called mild) and then tried open comb razors (often thought of as aggressive). I found the OC heads gave me a closer, more irritation free shave than most of the closed comb razors I tried. What works best for me are OC razors on the model of the Gillette old type (which I also have). It can take awhile to find your best combination.

The razor head determines the shave. You don't need to spend a lot on the razor in some cases to get the head you want to try. The Merkur OCs all use the same head. The handle is important to some shavers and not to others. I replaced the Merkur handle with a Bulldog handle from Weber and I love the combination. There is an esthetic aspect to DE shaving just as there is with straights. If it becomes a hobby (as it has for me) then it's up to you how much to spend.

Hey Guys,
Thank you so much for the replies and ideas. I have been getting the feeling that this is not REALLY a money saving venture... Ah well, it's cheaper than alot of hobbies...

SO I made my first blade change today. I had been using the Merkur blade that came with the razor. I had a pretty rough shave last night so I pitched it. I bought a sample pack with the razor. If you don't mind, can someone give me a direction to go in terms of which blades I use next? I'll list what I have below. I know that everyone is different and my mileage will most certainly vary from what others get, but I'd just like to have a place to start.

I am currently using a Derby Extra super stainless with the vertical lettering on the box. (Yes I've been doing some research..)
I also have:
Rainbow Super Stainless
Big Ben Super Stainless in a blue box
Lord Super Stainless in a blue box
Lord Platinum class in a white box
Big Ben Super Stainless in a purple box (appears to be made by Lord as well)
Merkur Super Platinum Stainless (white box)
Timor Solingen Stainless
Wilkinson Sword in a white box
Feather New Hi-Stainless platinum coated blade

I guess I'd like a recommendation for a gradual ramp from least sharp to most. I realize there is much to be said for smoothness and coating. But if you can steer me to a path from Beginner Hill to Black Diamond shaving I'd appreciate it...

It looks like I'll have, potentially, almost two years before I have to buy blades. Assuming, of course, these ALL work...
Thanks again for your patience.

ALSO, before I COMPLETELY hijack and derail Mike's thread, I'll ask: Mike, how are your shaves coming. Better once you flipped the razor head over?
Gary

Originally Posted by bluedivergary

Hi Hardtop,
I settled on the 39C because I'm a real tightwad. I read thread after thread and realized I would probably be "moving up" the line of razors anyway, and read the 39C gets the closest of the safety razors to a straight edge. Based on that I went with the 39C, so I wouldn't have to keep buying more razors, and a box of sample blades. I have enough sample blades to last me at least a year. There is one box of Feathers in the sampler. I plant to use that one last. . . .

A suggestion, FWIW:

If you have an aggressive DE, put a Feather blade in it

. . . and shave as though you were holding the sharpest straight razor you've
. . . ever held.

The combination will be unforgiving, but it might give you a really close, comfortable shave.

If you have any Astra's, they're more forgiving than the Feathers. Either is significantly sharper than a Derby.

. Charles

I have to agree with Charles, I prefer feathers in my aggressive razors. Something about the combination yields a very close shave with no irritation. Only requires a very light touch.

Those Merkur's feel like lawn mower blades to me lol.

Derby
Astra
Feather (my favorite)

Also, not sure if you have them but the Gillette 7 o'clock' in the yellow are pretty nice too.

Good luck

CP and Zero, Thank you for those pieces of advice. I had thought about putting a Feather in and just going super light. But I think I am going to wait a while and get my technique down. Plus I am hoping to get some good soap and lotion for my B-day and Christmas in the next few weeks. Of the ones you two suggested, the only blades I have are the Derbys (I am using one now) and Feather. The rest of the stack is somewhere in between I guess...
My razor is a Merkur 39C. As I sit here this morning, my face feels pretty good from the shave last night.

The rotation of blades with razors isn't a standard procedure because for instance, I might use a feather blade in an R41 and get a great shave and you might try that and get a terrible shave. You have to experiment with the variables with DE shaving meaning your face, the razor and the blade. Change any one of those and the result can be drastically different. Of course that assumes you are very proficient in using each razor which isn't always easy and can be another variable in and of itself.

I agree!

I don't rotate with DE blades. I have one or two that I use and that's it. You can try something out, but when trials done, I'm either using it or I don't. For instance for my EJ 89 or Muhle, it's either derby or Feather. I was going to replace the Derby with the Gillette 7 (black) but finding them in bulk cheap was a no-go, so here I sit with Derby still in the rotation. Trial is good, rotation not so much. When you finally get to straights, (which a lot of us do) this no longer applies.

I wasn't planning to "rotate". I was planning to work my way through all of them and, in the end, settle on the one I like best. I guess what I would do is compare each successive box to the previous one and throw out the empty box of the one I don't like. At the end of the trial, not rotation, whichever box was left would be the one I would stick with. I am regretting buying this sample pack as there seem to be almost TOO MANY options.

Hardtop, that's quite a variance between Feathers and Derbys in the same razor. I might just bite the bullet and pt a feather in the 39C and see what happens. After, of course, I get my good soap and lotion. I already have the Alum bar...

Eventually I'll get to straights, I'm sure of it. But for now I'm going to stick with safety razors. I may take the leap sooner than I plan though...

Thanks again.