Treet Black Beauties, a Review

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:43 pm

Tribe, you're correct, as I said above these blades are not for everybody. Then again, don't assume that someone who has a lot of posts has their technique down.

D.Irving79 · Post by **D.Irving79** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:23 pm

Squire wrote:don't assume that someone who has a lot of posts has their technique down.

+1

Royal Flush · Post by **Royal Flush** » Thu May 29, 2008 9:14 pm

This blade is extremely YMMV, It works somewhat decently for me, but its not entirely smooth. It was the only blade my father used in Pakistan during the 60's until he came to America in the 70's. I was able to get some packs really cheap from Pakistan when my aunt went, but I've decided Polsilvers would be better because they're smoother, and I don't have to dry em out with a cheesecloth.

Overall, I do like these blades, but just not the best.

Luxlover · Post by **Luxlover** » Fri May 30, 2008 10:24 am

I am using a Blue Special right now. I use a slim-Adjustable. This blade works very well for me and I am going on my fourth shave with it tomorrow.
Not pulling yet. Nice blade.
I still like the Derby, Iridium, 7 O'Clock (Yellow) and Wilkinson Economie best so far. I still have to try the Feather.

Steve

Leisureguy · Post by **Leisureguy** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:23 pm

The Treet Blue Special is my favorite blade. I get very smooth and easy and close shaves (typically with a 3-pass shave and a polishing pass). No irritation, no nicks. Once I put in a new blade and got a rough and tuggy shave. After some experimentation I was able to determine that I had gotten sloppy with my prep and my whiskers were simply not sufficiently wetted. (I started shaving about 5 seconds after I quickly lathered.) Since then I've taken more time in the lathering and the problem has no recurred.

I rinse the razor head in 99% rubbing alcohol after shaving and can easily get 5 or 6 fully satisfactory shaves from one blade. I do know some shavers who like the blade a lot and use a new blade for each shave.

And I do recognize that some people really find the blade intolerably dull, even though for me it's quite sharp and smooth. Strange, but true. Everyone must be guided by his own experience.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:58 pm

This is certainly a sharp blade and I would be surprised that anyone would find it dull, assuming proper prep.

TommyDawg · Post by **TommyDawg** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:27 pm

[quote="GA Russell"]
edit: Giovanni sells them under the name Treet Blue Special.
/quote]

This is what was confusing me -- all the different names for the Treet blades. I bought from Giovanni, and there they were the blue specials. I did not know they were the black beauties. I also got the platinum chrome. So that leaves the ones in the grey and blue packs, the dura sharp hi tech steel. Do these have a nickname also? How are they compared to the others? Thanks,
Tom

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:24 pm

Tom, counting the Trig there a half dozen of them. Could be more, it's a big company, these are just the ones I have. I've reviewed all but two and one of those is ready to be published in the next couple days.

NewYorkBuck · Post by **NewYorkBuck** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:10 am

I tried this blade for the first time this morning - two days of Labor Day Weekend stubble - was looking forward to a great shave. UGH! One pass, and this blade tugged and tugged and tugged. For the first time ever, I had to swap out a blade mid shave. Went to a German Wilk and the Teutonic blade glided over my chopped stubble and finished just fine.

These will be going back into storage for some time........

King-D · Post by **King-D** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:13 pm

This is the first time I tried carbon steel blades, and these beauties were both sharp and smooth. A great shave with my '68 slim adjustable. I would encourage anyone to try them out. I didn't bother to get a second shave out of the same blade.

Seamaster · Post by **Seamaster** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:19 am

You can add me to the pro-Treet Blue/Black contigent. I just had my smoothest, most irritation-free shave ever courtesy of these cheap-and-cheerful blades.

To date, my best shaves have been with the erroneously nicknamed "Swedes" (Gillette Platinums), but as we all know, these are hugely more expensive. My worst shaves have been with Derbys and Dorcos, and I know these are popular choices, so once again, we're clearly in YMMV territory.

Yes, they rust, and rust quick, but they're cheap enough to use-and-lose.

FWIW, I invariably get a good shave out of all the blades of the Treet stable, notably Trigs. So I guess if Treets generally treat you well, this is a blade you'll enjoy.

GA Russell · Post by **GA Russell** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:09 pm

King-D wrote:I didn't bother to get a second shave out of the same blade.

David, I tried a Black Beauty blade once, and I got seven shaves out of mine.

Seamaster · Post by **Seamaster** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:35 am

Seamaster wrote:You can add me to the pro-Treet Blue/Black contigent. I just had my smoothest, most irritation-free shave ever courtesy of these cheap-and-cheerful blades. To date, my best shaves have been with the erroneously nicknamed "Swedes" (Gillette Platinums), but as we all know, these are hugely more expensive. My worst shaves have been with Derbys and Dorcos, and I know these are popular choices, so once again, we're clearly in YMMV territory. Yes, they rust, and rust quick, but they're cheap enough to use-and-lose. FWIW, I invariably get a good shave out of all the blades of the Treet stable, notably Trigs. So I guess if Treets generally treat you well, this is a blade you'll enjoy.

Interestingly, my second shave with one of these did not go so well. I tried one in my HD and suffered a number of nicks. My first shave with one was in my Progress dialled down to my usual less aggressive setting (1.5). I shouldn't be surprised, as I have found this to be the case with most Treet blades. Clearly they work best for me in an adjustable. As ever, YMMV.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:34 pm

Well, our shaves do vary as does our golf swing, shaving's cheaper though.

Rufust445 · Post by **Rufust445** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:16 pm

Squire wrote:Well, our shaves do vary as does our golf swing, shaving's cheaper though.

The few times I got out this summer gave me the impression not as many rounds of golf were being played as in previous years.

What I've spent on razors, blades, and cream this year would cover a few rounds.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:01 pm

My shaving is cheaper.

Rufust445 · Post by **Rufust445** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:39 pm

I suspect you have 10 times as many blades stashed as I have.

Straight Arrow · Post by **Straight Arrow** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:31 am

This morning I used a Black Beauty in my Super Adjustable dialed all the way down to #1. Two WTG passes for a not-so-close but very enjoyable shave. I have a few of these left and I think I'll stick with adjustables on low settings. Any other razor I've tried them in resulted in uncomfortable pulling.

NewYorkBuck · Post by **NewYorkBuck** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:42 am

This blade only provided a serviceable shave for me in the Futur, but then again I think the Futur can get a serviceable shave from a piece of broken glass.

It was a horror show in the SS. As usual, YMMV....

infotech · Post by **infotech** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:55 pm

I used a five pack of these blades with two razors: an aluminum handled ball-end tech and an no date code Super SPeed. I got pretty decent shaves out of both of them.

This is probably the most controversial blade on the market