Behind the 5 blades

stuff495 · Post by **stuff495** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:21 pm

This article about what goes into making modern safety razors sure looks interesting.

I'll have something to say about it after I've finished slogging through it

--Vincent

scruffy · Post by **scruffy** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:44 am

I wonder which is closer; using the 5 bladed montrosity or doing 5 passes with a DE?

I do know which is cheaper.

I guess in theory it saves time. Instead of doing 5 passes, you can do 1 pass instead.

Who needs 5 passes anyway?

Pauldog · Post by **Pauldog** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:02 am

I'm surprised the article didn't mention the hazard of razor bumps. That's one of the major arguments against multi-blade razors.

95% · Post by **95%** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:12 am

Good article, Vincent. It's probably the best I've seen on the Fusion razor.

I always got good results with my Fusion, but they have improved noticeably since I joined this forum and began using a brush and high-quality soaps and creams.

I really can't imagine a follow-on to the Fusion. Gillette might make small adjustments to the existing design, by using new alloys and coatings, changing the pivot action, etc., but they wouldn't gain much publicity by doing that. They couldn't tout it as a new blockbuster product. Adding a sixth blade would make the shaving surface too large; it's already a bit too large for shaving in tight places, such as around the corners of the mouth. The battery-powered vibrating feature was a shrewd marketing gimmick that added nothing to the razor's performance.

The basic design of the Fusion is excellent in my opinion, and I suspect razor development has almost, finally, reached the end of its course.

Pauldog · Post by **Pauldog** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:03 pm

The prime motive force isn't improving the shave - it's coming up with something patentable when the old patents expire.

razorburned · Post by **razorburned** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:10 pm

95% wrote:The basic design of the Fusion is excellent in my opinion, and I suspect razor development has almost, finally, reached the end of its course.

I will not argue the design of the Fusion, while I personally don't like it (or any cartridge doohiky), I know many can use them without ill effect.....I WOULD argue though that razor development COULD have ended with the Fatboy in 58, and all other designs since are just marketing ploys....some actually worked, others were just gimmicks.

marsos52 · Post by **marsos52** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:37 pm

razorburned says;

...I know many can use them without ill effect.....

they think they have no ill effect because they dont know any better...
in so many cases you can just look at a person and you know right away
what razor they are using. all irrated and burned and/or razor bumps

thats what i see

marc

95% · Post by **95%** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:21 pm

Marc, I disagree. Let's not reflexively blame every bad shave on cartridges. Lots of guys show up here with problems which they attribute to the cartridge they've been using, when in fact their preparation, technique, and materials are substandard. Plenty of attendees at SMF University are DE users.

You can't tell by looking at a poorly shaven man with razor bumps and burn what razor he is using. He might have a dull blade in his DE razor. He might be washing his face with a harsh facial scrub. He might, unfortunately, have skin so sensitive that no shave will be satisfactory, at least for a period of months or even years until hormonal or other physiological changes occur.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:32 am

Porter I think most guys use whatever their wives pick up at the grocery store and I see a lot of poor shaves in the business environment. Whether they're multi blade or not they are certainly cartridge.

95% · Post by **95%** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:08 am

Squire, since most men in North America use cartridges, it's statistically likely that a poorly-shaven man uses one. But the opposite is also true. The well-shaven man you see - except when you look in the mirror - is probably using a cartridge too.

spinyeel · Post by **spinyeel** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:29 pm

I was given a new Fusion to try out. After the 4th shave the blades became very dull. At $AU6 per cartridge,they can keep it.

95% · Post by **95%** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:42 pm

That's unusual, spinyeel. Most men report eight or ten shaves before they change cartridges, and that's in line with my experience. You must have tough whiskers. How many shaves do you get from a DE blade?

KAV · Post by **KAV** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:01 pm

My take on multiblades

robert-00 · Post by **robert-00** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:45 pm

The original 5-blade razor for Gillette blades.

See it at:
http://www.geocities.com/safetyrazors/M ... tiplex.htm

95% · Post by **95%** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:14 pm

That's a great find, Robert. I had no idea it existed.

jayb · Post by **jayb** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:28 pm

95% wrote:That's unusual, spinyeel. Most men report eight or ten shaves before they change cartridges, and that's in line with my experience. You must have tough whiskers. How many shaves do you get from a DE blade?

i used to get about four shaves from any cart. these days i can get about 10-15 shaves. fact is, i'm not shaving much these days at all.

95% · Post by **95%** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:38 pm

Justin, then either the blades have become more durable or your prep, materials, and technique have improved - or you're doing fewer passes.

jayb · Post by **jayb** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:17 pm

95% wrote:Justin, then either the blades have become more durable or your prep, materials, and technique have improved - or you're doing fewer passes.

Actually, after a couple rounds of chemo, my facial hair has grown back slightly less coarse.

95% · Post by **95%** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:22 pm

Now that's an explanation I never thought of. I'm glad you're coming along well.

jayb · Post by **jayb** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:26 pm

95% wrote:Now that's an explanation I never thought of. I'm glad you're coming along well.

Certainly!