Merkur razors

Hi, now don't get me wrong, i now this place is the STRAIGHT RAZOR PLACE, but does anyone in here use anything else, like the merkur vision or whatever?!

I wondered if anyone here mixes up there tools of the trade so to speak!

I know it's kinda off topic, but i'm just curious!

and please dont banish me for thinking i'm giving up on my straight, cos that aint gonna happen, especially after my sunday hone/shave has just blown me away. I really do love my straight now!!

straight razor we worship you,,,,shaaaaaaaawing:bow

I still use my Merkur HD and Slant with feather blades, can't get much better than that in my opinion :D


John

I have a Feather DE, a vintage Gillette travel DE and my wife has a Merkur Futur. I don't use them much anymore, occasionally if I miss a spot at already have the straight cleaned off and put away I'll use the DE to get it but that's about it.

Still have a fondness for them, particularly the Gillette, since it's what put me on the road to getting better shaves. I'll never go back to disposables or electric but there's definitely nothing wrong with a nice DE shave.

Ant

Merkur HD, Slant, Gillette Super Speed and a few others I haven't used yet.

RT

I love my Gillette Superspeed, and I have a Gillette Fatboy that I have yet to try out.... So many razors, only a limited amount of stubble....

Josh

I've been having some fun lately playing around with a Gillette Slim Adjustable, with a Superspeed waiting it's turn.

I usually get better results on my neck with a DE, a straight does better everywhere else.

I'm actually glad this thread is here....
I have been thinking for some time that I should grab a DE razor for travel (it would be easier for overseas travel to have a DE as a carry on, than a straight razor). I did own the 'Vision' at one point, but was not sold on it, so I sold it! (that'll learn ya') And besides the 'Vision' was a bit cumbersome and much for a 'travel' razor in my opinion.

However, with that said, and me thinking that I'd like a small DE for travel I am torn between the Merkur 'Progress' and the 'Slant'. While the 'progress' has the option of adjustment I feel that I will find the one setting and stay with it, making the adjustment option obsolete.. The 'Slant' has an apparent slanted edge, which makes me think that it would have a shaving-slice similar to that I am use to with my straight razor....AND any angle there after (which I would have determined with the 'progress') could be acheived with overall angling of the razor. SO, I am somewhat leaning toward the 'slant' but am still not sure.
:shrug:

What would you DE-experienced guys recommend to a straight razor user?

C utz

I have a Merkur HD loaded with Derby blades in my rotation. I know it's blasphemy, but there are some parts of my shave I can get better with a DE. There are also some parts I can get better with a straight. I've been mixing it up lately using both.

Some of the guys at Badger & Blade refer to the Slant bar as Satan's Razor, opining it is a pretty aggressive cutter. I've never shaved with one so I can't tell you if this is true or not.

Cutz,

As usual it will boil down to what you get used to or your own personnel preference. You will probably get different answers from each and every one of us. Perhaps you could run a poll.

I myself only have my Merkur HD & Merkur Gold Slant which I reckon is simply the best. I also have a Schick Injector which I have only shaved with a few times and I wouldn't give you two bob for that shave, but others would disagree and say the Schick is a great shave. For me its just not close enough. Others say their superspeeds or fatboys are the one, but I cannot comment as I have never tried them.

So for what it's worth its the slant for me + Feather blades.

John

For DE comfort and shaving satisfaction I go to my Gillette Toggle - for absolute, near straight closeness, like John, I reach for the Merkur Gold Slant - for the ultimate closeness on my neck (better than I can get with my straight) I reach for a Bic Metal disposable.


(closeness???...is that really a word, or did I just make that up?....does it really matter?)

-whatever

-Lou

Foul!

All this talk about DE's and no one has posted a link to that movie where the guy cuts open that girl's eye? Sheesh.:(

Cutz, this is my little DE travel razor (5/8 straight in the picture for size relationship). Works great though I don't travel much... really tiny all packed up. Still need to get a travel brush, etc. to go with it (used to occasionally use it with spray cream - yuck!)

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...g/P1010016.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...g/P1010017.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...g/P1010018.jpg

Ant

I've had nothing but straights for quite some time now. I used to use the M3-type disposables, and kept using them when I first started with straights until the spare cartridges ran out. Then I figured it's all or nothing.

James.

They wouldn't happen to have a Merkur 'slant' as a travel razor, would they?

C Utz,

I would suggest the Merkur HD Classic razor. When I use a DE, 9 out of 10 times, this is the one I grab. However, if you don't want to invest a fortune, check around at Wal Mart of a local pharmacy for Bic Metal Razors. They are as close to a DE you can get in a disposable without investing in a DE. When I travel, it is what I pack since DE blades are not allowed in carry on baggage. I do have both the Slant and the HD, and love them both. The HD is more gentle than the Slant. The Slant will result in a closer shave. But if you normally use a straight and not a DE, the results with the DE will be more what you are looking for.

RT

very interesting thanks guys!!

i'm glad there are so many good opinions and options for us shaving fanatics!!

What about the yellow plastic bic razors, are they any good?.......

Ok that was a joke but i'm sure my eyeballs are for it now!!!!!

Thank everyone!

pea

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by C utz

They wouldn't happen to have a Merkur 'slant' as a travel razor, would they?

---

There was one made at one time - I picked up a nice, gold Merkur slant on eBay that breaks down and fits in a small leather pack exactly like AntC's. It's what I use for traveling if it's only for a day or two - otherwise, I find the Slant to be a bit harsh for continued, daily use. I don't believe they're still in production, but you might put a search on eBay.

(How come whenever I give my 2 cents worth, I always get change back???)

-whatever

-Lou

Classicshaving.com & Leesrazors both sell the Merkur DE travel razors, and Ems still sell the Gold Slant Merkur which by all accounts are now becoming a collectors item in gold.

John

My favorite DE is the Merkur HD Slantbar. Also I have a couple of my dad's old '50s Gillette Super Speeds that I like. My wife has taken over the old Gillette Fat Boy adjustable. Also use a Gem Micromatic SE. For travel I use a Merkur 3 piece bakelite razor that they apparently made for European military use. It works well, but don't use it often; it stays in the dop kit and I don't travel much anymore. I'm thinking of getting an old Schick injector, primarily to get rid of ear hair. Now use a slim head disposable, but I'm opposed to disposables on principle, and the Schick looks like the slimmest shaving head on any safety razor.

Last week, I tried a Gilette adjustable that I probably haven't used since around 1981.

Rick

What makes the 'slant bar' seem aggressive? Is the blade angled, similar to a slight angle of a straight razor?

I wish I could see these razors 'in person'......I could decide better.

BUT, this discussion is helping. There seems to be no commenting on the 'Progress' Merkur.

C utz

C utz,

I haven't used a slant, but from my time over at B&B, I think I understand...

Yes, the slant has a, well, slant to it, which makes it function on a downstroke similar to the way a straight does with the toe-leading stroke from the barber manuals. That makes it more aggressive.

But with DEs, there's another variable--the gap between the safety bar and the blade. More gap means a steeper angle to the blade, and a more aggressive stroke. It's like using your straight at a 35 or 40 degree angle instead of 25 to 30 degrees. (I'm making those numbers up to illustrate my point.)

This is fun to try to explain to the DE guys, because they have a harder time grasping blade angle than straight users do. A "gentle" DE has a low blade angle, like flattening out the angle on your straight. An aggressive one has a steeper angle.

A straight is like a Slant, Progress, Fatboy, Superspeed and Tech all in one. Plus you don't have to change the blades. :D

I do love my DEs, though...

Josh

Hmmm, interesting thread - I can see why you would ask this.

I have to admit it too, I have a DE and keep it for travelling and for the odd DE shave when I'm in a hurry or wake up late. I find the DE is not as close as my traditional straight, in fact I often get ingrowns from using it (this is my worst fear of shaving).

I have to say though, I wouldn't get anything other than a Merkur DE - they are more than good for their purpose. Even if you gave me an original, unopened Gillette DE (spit), I wouldn't touch it. I know they are the inventors of the DE, but I hate them for what they did to the world of shaving by introducing two, three, four, etc blades in their products. I will never buy anything Gillette (spit) as a result. Never ever ever!!

S-o-o, rum, how do you REALLY feel about
Gillette (haw-w-wk....spit.....fart!)?

Don't hold back, now, you're preachin' to the choir!:tu


-whatever

-Lou

For our international brethren:

Preaching to the Choir : A quaint little Americanism referring to the making of an argument where your entire audience agrees with you; from the minister giving a sermon to the members of the choir, who are presumed to be pious individuals and not needing the preacher's exhortations, as opposed to the members of the congregation, who do.

O.K., rum, take it away!!!.....


-whatever

-Lou

Ok. Now you guys have me thinking (spit) that I'd be happier with the 'Progress' with it's angle being closer to that of a straight razor, despite the fact that the 'slant' has a slanted edge similar to that of a straight but with a larger angle (therefore agressive shave, or to me translates to more apt to burn-ala-Razor).

:thinking:
(spit...scratch my crotch...spit))
C utz

Being fairly new to straight razor shaving, I shave with a Merkur Futur DE for 2-3 days following my straight razor experience. I am very familiar with the Merkur and get a great shave out of it while my face heals. Then I'm ready for another whirl with the straight.

I really like the heavy handle.