Can someone tell me how de blades are tested for sharpness?
And please rate them.
Thanks.....
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Can someone tell me how de blades are tested for sharpness?
And please rate them.
Thanks.....
There are many DE blades one can purchase. As many as there are, there are as many opinions on which is best/sharpest/smoothest... I suggest you look for an assorted package and start trying them.
Absolutely agree. This is how I started. The ones I found sharpest were Feather blades.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mvcrash
I know of no rating for DE blades. Even if there was one the blades perform quite differently depending on the razor let alone your technique in using them.
I have no doubt that Feathers are the sharpest. However sharpest does not mean it's the best for everyone. Every time I've tried them, I nicked myself (my straight shaves are mostly nick free), and my skin was not merely irritated but roasted. As to your question of how they're tested for sharpness...I know of no scientific test. The only test I know of is the shave test. As far as rating blades, that is a very subjective and your preference for a given blade will differ from mine. Happy shaves.
Most of the comments throughout the forum are very general....."try them and find the one that works for you"......Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne1963
How has the Feather blade been tested to claim it's the sharpest????? Is it only an individual preference?
I don't think there is an actual "Certified Test" out there on the sharpness of the Feather DE vs other blades; there may be.
This is not a sarcastic response at all, so please don't take it as one. I too, like to see hard data on anything in life that claims superiority in a category. I think/feel that approximately 80% of the member's feedback on the Feather's sharpness, placed it at the top of the DE Sharpness Category. Think, being the key word here. I'm new, 8 months, into DE shaving. I had the same question as you. I got a large sample pack as suggested & I'm still evaluating the pack. Feather is in the lead, hands down, so far. I do notice a difference in my shaves with the Feather, if I switch out DE razors, slight, but still a change. Something for you to keep in mind. I do not think that the slight difference that I get in switching out razors, has any reflection on the Feather blade itself.
With the large number of experienced DE shavers here, many with 30 + years under their belt, giving the Feather a ranking of # 1; is test enough for me.
You will find that 99.9% of everything about shaving with a blade whether it be a DE or a Straight is ‘Personal Preference’!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulA
The suggestion of buying a package of various blades is an Excellent Recommendation!!
I won’t contaminate this thread with my preference for a DE blade. If you would like to try what I use on a rare occasion, PM me and I’ll gladly send you a 5 pack!
My counsel is to just slow down, take your time! Nothing that you do with shaving is going to make the Space Station come crashing to Earth!!
Enjoy the ride as it’s a wonderful new world! While I do have a few DE’s I normally shave with my straights.
Thanks for all the feedback, I merely needed to understand how some conclusions were attained.
Last time I shaved DE was when the cartriges first came out and that was with a Gillette and standard red blades.
Over time I will try different blades just for comparison.
Paul,Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulA
It sounds like you and I have a lot in common!! I’m going to be 60 in August and I started with a DE because that’s what my father used. When he went to the injector razor that’s what I used. However when he went to the electric, I tried it once and said ‘F’it! I stayed with wet shaving, even those (UGH), ‘Disposables’!!
About 4+ years ago I took up shaving with a straight and it’s been the best thing I’ve ever treated my face to!!
Yes, I still on occasion get ‘Bit’, but its well worth it! I leave my workplace with less 5 o’clock shadow than some guys show up to start their shift with!
The time it takes to prep and shave is ‘My Time’; time just for me! Also the honing and stropping is very relaxing and gives me some personal satisfaction knowing that what I’m doing isn’t being ‘done for me’ by some corporation. Even if they could, the results wouldn’t be the same or as good!
I’ve probably used my DE’s maybe 10-12 times in the last 4+ years. While they do a nice job, I don’t find the shave as ‘satisfying’!
My offer to send you some blades still stands, just let me know!!
Cudarunner.....
I'm sorry to say, but our commonality kinda ends with the DE shaving.......I'll be 75 next March.
In 1953, as my father was leaving for Tripoli, Libya on assignment for the US Corps of Engineers, he pass me a one dollar bill. The next day I ran out and bought my first razor and blades.....yep, Gillette. I was 14 then with the beginnings of a mustache. Later when I joined him in Tripoli, I somehow acquired a straight razor and managed to do a fair job shaving despite the acne...many bloody bites. I then resorted back to the DE. I would unscrew the handle from the heard maybe a quarter of a turn to get a closer shave, but the cuts and irritation increased. I never did get a decent shave with Noreclo, Remington or Braun, always left my face burning. Now I'm back again with the DE EJ R356 and Wilkinson blades......thus far, best shave yet. Can't use a straight, neck surgery several years ago limits my movements, but i will continue to try.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!
I'll take you up on your generous offer and send you a private message with my address....thanks.
hehehe
Whats a few years to Brothers In Blades!!!!:rofl2::roflmao
I got your PM, I'll get back to you!!
Gute Rasur /glatte Rasur, mein Bruder der Klinge
(Smooth Shaving My Brother In Blades)
Just my personal observation from using different blades. If you go to the DE forums, you'll find that most concur that Feathers are the sharpest. I'm not saying the best, they don't work for me, but most folks comment that they are the sharpest.
Here's quite a lengthy comparison of de blades that might help
https://sites.google.com/site/gdcarrington1/home/de
That is a very interesting test. However, you cannot generalize the info beyond him and some of the blades he rated highest are now defunct. I do hand it for him for putting that test together.Quote:
Originally Posted by tintin
There are too many variables involved. His test is only applicable to him.
Okay, just thought it might be helpful. Is there any way of measuring sharpness other than trying them all for yourself?
I seem to remember seeing that manufacturers QC blades by checking the amount of force required for a blade to cut a wet stack of paper to a certain depth. That could give you a scientific measure of sharpness I guess. There's more to it than sharpness though. Some really sharp blades feel really sharp (not that smooth) on your face. Really good blades are sharp and smooth. It's just hard to tell which ones will feel best to you though.
IMO, the thing to do when beginning is buy a selection of some decent quality blades that lots of people like and very few say bad things about. If you have a really tough beard, there's nothing wrong with starting out on Feathers. Just be careful with them as you should with any blade. If they irritate your face even when you're using a really light touch, you may have to try something else.
Feather and Kai are the Top for me
For example Bolzano is sharp too but only in the first shavings,after becomes like Chisel
Feather and Kai (Personna follows) keep going the same way till the end.
I've been using Kai's for the past week and I really like them. I wish they weren't so hard to find and expensive when you can find them though. $.60 per blade is a bit steep but my first blade lasted 5 shaves so they're not ridiculously expensive. I like Personna Super Stainless (Labs/Meds) very much too. I have a pack of Feathers that I just haven't got around to trying yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doryferon
I use a lot of DE's (due to time constraints in a morning.) and feathers are generally regarded as the sharpest (That said I didnt find em that smooth), but for me Astra SP where the best combination of sharp and smooth.
But DE blades is a big YMMV item and really does vary between razors and users, so you would probably be best getting a sampler pack and finding out which is best for you.
There isn't an official rating system, but feathers are considered the sharpest ( possibly along with Kai). Some other blades considered sharp are Polsilver Super Irridium, and yellow, blue, and black pack Gillettes. I think that Rapira and Astra Stainless ( platinum a nice enough blades but not as sharp) are also sharp blades, but that isn't as commonly agreed on as the polsilvers and gillettes.
As others have said, sharpest isn't always best. most guys are fine with most blades, but if you have sensitive skin and or an unusually tough beard, then you will find blade choice a lot more important.
I like your statement about different razors. the "modern" blades are much different with a vintage razor than the ones being made "at the time."Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur