The Best Blades??

Let's talk about single and double edged razors and the blades that they use.
rickcaron2008

The Best Blades??

Post by rickcaron2008 »

After over 40 years of shaving i still can't seem to find the perfect blade and believe me I've tried quite a few. I find the best are platinum plated; any opinions????
Image

Image
brothers
Posts: 21507
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:18 am
Location: Oklahoma City USA

Post by brothers »

Rick, after that long, maybe it would be easier for us to make suggestions if you'd go first and list all the platinum coated blades you've already tried and found not to your liking :D That way we could skip those and shoot for just the ones you've not tried? What do you think?

Seriously though, whether they're platinum coated or not, I have no idea, but I'm having great luck with my favorite the Personna Prep "for hospital use". They just seem to work for me and my particular razors. Other guys will be happy to list their favorites too, I'm sure!
Gary

SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
User avatar
Squire
Squadron Leader
Posts: 18932
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:41 pm
Location: North East, MS

Post by Squire »

The best currently available are Feather followed by the Russian made 7'oclock series.
Regards,
Squire
User avatar
Straight Arrow
Posts: 1259
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:45 pm
Location: NJ

Post by Straight Arrow »

It's really a matter of personal preference. I can only hope that all will find their best blade. I prefer vintage carbons over stainless blades.
Rich
User avatar
never2close
Posts: 521
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:31 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

Post by never2close »

I rotate between 3 blades. Hospital use Personna, Polsilver, Super Iridiums. My conclusions are not subject to that whole "your mileage may vary" disclaimer. Use the 3 blades I have suggested and you're done.
ShadowsDad
Posts: 3121
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:13 am
Location: Central Maine

Post by ShadowsDad »

Well, really all anyone can do is to tell you what we like, and that's pretty useless, it's like saying try a blade sampler.

Other than the carbon blades which I haven't tried there has been no blade mentioned so far that didn't make the cut for me, and I DON'T grade on a curve.

Now if you don't like sharp and smooth the blades that have been mentioned will be the pits for you.

Just a few more for the list: Bluebird, Vidyut Supermax, and Treet classic (carbon steel)
Brian

Maker of Kramperts Finest Bay Rum and Frostbite
Or find it here: Italian Barber, West Coast Shaving, Barclay Crocker, The Old Town Shaving Company at Stats, Maggard Razors; Leavitt & Peirce, Harvard Square
User avatar
Squire
Squadron Leader
Posts: 18932
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:41 pm
Location: North East, MS

Post by Squire »

Treet classics are certainly good, I read the op as asking about stainless blades.
Regards,
Squire
ShadowsDad
Posts: 3121
Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:13 am
Location: Central Maine

Post by ShadowsDad »

Whoops! Missed that.

OP, disregard the Treet Classics.

Geez, I hope the 'net police don't nab me!
Brian

Maker of Kramperts Finest Bay Rum and Frostbite
Or find it here: Italian Barber, West Coast Shaving, Barclay Crocker, The Old Town Shaving Company at Stats, Maggard Razors; Leavitt & Peirce, Harvard Square
Jonnieboy61
Posts: 582
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2008 4:14 am

Post by Jonnieboy61 »

For me its the following:

Gillette Platinum Swede's (Stockpiled)
Super Iridium (Stockpiled)
Gillette 7 O'clock Yellows and Blues
John
User avatar
jww
Woolly Bully
Posts: 10960
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 10:49 am
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Post by jww »

The best blades are a matter of opinion -- ymmv.

I would, notwithstanding, agree with those who have endorsed Feathers.
Wendell

Resident Wool Fat Evangelist & anglophile. Have you hugged a sheep today?
rickcaron2008

the best blade

Post by rickcaron2008 »

thanks guys i guess i'll keep looking any more suggestions would be welcome......rick
smoothshaver
Posts: 1183
Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:03 pm
Location: Texas

Post by smoothshaver »

jww wrote:The best blades are a matter of opinion -- ymmv.

I would, notwithstanding, agree with those who have endorsed Feathers.
I agree. Once my technique became good enough to use them they've been the best. Still, YMMV.
-Ed
User avatar
KAV
Posts: 2607
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:57 pm
Location: California, just above L.A. between the Reagan Library and Barbra Streisand's beach house

Post by KAV »

To rate a 'stainless' blade you must understand what they are. ANY steel can and will rust. Stainless has a lot of crome that make it more
resistant.
Modern stainless began with the 440 alloy family. These were 'stainless' and were, and are infamous for being difficult to work, sharpen and resharpen. Many chefs still use carbon for ease of resharpening. Stainless
is a good choice for salt water use and long period storage such as survival kits. Razor blades that don't rust make sense for retailers. maintaining stocks. Modern stainless alloys have came a long way. However, it is still a tough
( literally) medium to sharpen. One of the solutions is a molecular bonding of super smooth Platinum to produce a HONED or perfectly planed surface overlaying the grind marks.
I suspect lesser platinum blades suffer from poor coatings or rapid wear.
I found the SWEDISH Rapiras superior to the platinum Rapiras.
I suspect swedish may refer to a very good stainless alloy the european knife industry favours.
Another consumer myth is that XYZ steel is always used. Manufacturers submit requirements to steel mills and the product merely has to met those parameters. One run of xyz may have subtle differneces in alloy and treatment from xyz # 2 and both different from the industry xyz steel formulae as given.
This may account for people believing xyz has been 'reformulated' or production source changed when a known product suddenly 'goes south.'
People demanding precision in many activities know this. IE a competitive shooter will buy virgin brass from ONE production LOT to gain consistent
case performance ( after many loading operations that would overwhelm casual shooters.)
The bottom line? If you find your EXCALIBER buy lots of EXCALIBER bulk packs.
brothers
Posts: 21507
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:18 am
Location: Oklahoma City USA

Post by brothers »

KAV wrote:. . . If you find your EXCALIBER buy lots of EXCALIBER bulk packs.
OK, Chris, following your advice I ALMOST bought a case of these!
Gary

SOTD 99%: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, soaps & creams, synthetic / badger brushes, Colonial General razor, Kai & Schick blades, straight razors any time, Superior 70 aftershave splash + menthol + 444
User avatar
druphus
Posts: 1957
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:57 pm
Location: Denver, Colorado USA

Post by druphus »

Jonnieboy61 wrote:For me its the following:

Gillette Platinum Swede's (Stockpiled)
Super Iridium (Stockpiled)
Gillette 7 O'clock Yellows and Blues
Nice stash John!
Regards,
Andy
User avatar
LookingGlass
Posts: 732
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:05 pm
Location: Virginia

Post by LookingGlass »

Any answer you receive is purely and absolutely subjective based on the user's perspective. I can say Personna Reds are the best of the best - that no others compare but, that is from my experience. You have to find what works best for you. BTW - a Personna Red in my Fatboy is shaving heaven; however, others may disagree. My desire is that you can find a combination that works for you. Feathers, Gillette Yellows and Blues, Astra Super Platinums, Personna Reds and Blues, German Wilkenson Swords, and Indian Gillettes are in my stable of blades and all provide great, close, comfortable shaves.

Take care,
Ed :D :D
rickcaron2008

i think i should keep looking

Post by rickcaron2008 »

Actually is all that i can do is keep trying different blades,,,,,some of the blades that you guys wrote about i have tried, at least most........maybe i should use a different razor???? right now i use a 1930's Gillette New. it does give a quite good shave
User avatar
Raze R. Blade
Posts: 86
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:20 pm

Post by Raze R. Blade »

When someone says a blade works well or poorly, what he really means is the razor + blade combination. A given blade can perform very differently depending on the razor in which it is used.

You said that you can't find the perfect blade after trying quite a few, but also said that the New gives a quite good shave. Maybe the problem is looking for the perfect blade as opposed to very good blades? Shaves that are quite good are nothing to sneeze at.

If you are looking for blade recommendations, these work well for me.

- Gillette 7 O'clock Super Platinum (black label)
- Lord Extra
- Personna Double Edge Platinum Chrome (black and red packaging, dispenser marked “Platinum Chrome Blades”)
- CVS store brand blades. I think the are the same as the Personnas
- Rainbow Super Stainless
- Timor

The above might work well for you, although they might not. As others have said, "good" or "bad" blades is a subjective thing.

If you are considering a different razor, I recommend the Edwin Jagger DE89 series. They are capable of giving very good shaves and are of superb quality.
User avatar
shlalaw
Posts: 22
Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:12 pm

Post by shlalaw »

Still trying to winnow my choices down after about 6 months in. Right now, Feather, Personna medical, Gilette black, Voskhod, Merkur.
User avatar
celestino
Posts: 49
Joined: Wed Feb 29, 2012 6:14 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC

Post by celestino »

brothers wrote:Rick, after that long, maybe it would be easier for us to make suggestions if you'd go first and list all the platinum coated blades you've already tried and found not to your liking :D That way we could skip those and shoot for just the ones you've not tried? What do you think?

Seriously though, whether they're platinum coated or not, I have no idea, but I'm having great luck with my favorite the Personna Prep "for hospital use". They just seem to work for me and my particular razors. Other guys will be happy to list their favorites too, I'm sure!
+1
Post Reply