Time For My Regular 3 Yearly Post.... Merkur Again & Der

Let's talk about single and double edged razors and the blades that they use.
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Englishman
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Time For My Regular 3 Yearly Post.... Merkur Again & Der

Post by Englishman »

Yes... I'm back again and still shaving...

I have been using a brush and cream forever, but only started using
a DE razor about 8 years ago. First I had a Merkur Vision, then I bought
a Futur, which I had for many years.

3 years ago I decided to shave off my goatee and realised that the Futur,
although it was a fantastic razor, was a little bulky so I ended up selling
that and the Vision and bought a good old Merkur 34c HD and have loved
it ever since.

The reason I am not a prolific poster is because that's the only razor I
own and I only have one shaving brush, so I'm not in much of a position
to comment on anything else and as the Merkur HD works so well for me
I have never felt the need to buy another razor.

Now, all this time I have been using Mekur blades as they have always
done the job with little fuss and no blood, but a little while ago I actually
made a new shaving purchase so I feel I now have the authority to
make a post on it... \:D/

What did you buy and hurry up about it I hear you say.......

Well, although the Merkur blades seem just fine, they are a little bit
pricey so I was having a little look around and thought I'd try the
Derby blades..... and Oh my.... they feel even better than the Merkurs.

Very Very smooth, No tugging, No irritation and after 4 BBS shaves
with the same blade, they seem to last very well too... and all for a silly
low price. I don't know what the consistency of these blades are like, so
perhaps I have just been lucky with the first pack, but if they are always
like this I am converted and will be using these blades all the time with
my little Merkur HD.

I'd be interested to hear everyone who have used these blades opinion
on them, especially if you have used them in a HD, to see if it's just me
or if it seems to be a good combo in general.

Thanks for listening.... See you in another 3 years.... :mrgreen:



Cheers,
~ Rico ~
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Raze R. Blade
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Post by Raze R. Blade »

I have been pretty scarce around here myself for much the same reasons as you. Perhaps that is the pinnacle of wetshaving - to find a razor/blade combination that works well and then just go and enjoy wetshaving. A minimum of fuss and effort.

Like you, I use only one brush, but switched from the Merkur 34C (HD) after two years to an Edwin Jagger DE89L. The 34C is still a very good razor, though. My experience switching from Merkur blades to Derbys roughly mirrors yours. The Derbys are excellent in the Merkur, one of the very best razor/blade combinations I have found to date. Surprisingly, the Derbys gave me rough and rather irritating shaves in the DE89L. Sometimes things work out that way.

After trying about 50 blade types in the 34C, a handful were found that approached the Derby in shave quality:

Gillette 7 O'clock Permasharp (green wrapper)
Iridium Super Extra Stainless
Polsilver Stainless
Rainbow Super Stainless
Super-Max Platinum

These blades are also quite good:

Big Ben Super Stainless
Wilkinson Sword (blue and white wrapper, by Gillette India)
Gillette 7 O'clock Super Platinum (black wrapper)

If you ever want to try different blades, Connaught Shaving has many brands. They also have blade samplers. Of course, your mileage may vary from my results.

It is good to hear you are having such fine luck with wetshaving. May all your shaves be smooth and irritation free.

Now it is time for me to disappear back into the aether for three years, too ;)
ShadowsDad
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Post by ShadowsDad »

Welcome back! I wasn't here the last time you posted if it really was 3 years. Obviously, keeping your distance is why you only have one razor. Staying away from the infected keeps one from catching the ADs we have.

I was going to suggest a blade sampler also. In addition to the blades suggested, I'd add Gillette 7 O'Clock Yellows to the list. Really any Gillette blade out of St.Petersburg.

Regarding razors you sound like my buddy- sort of. I bought a Merkur 34c for him 1 1/2 years ago and it's taken me all this time to get him to try other razors. Now he loves them! He now has a Vintage Slim Adjustable, and a GEM Featherweight, and wants the 2 MicroMatics (OCMM and ClogPruf) I was going to put on the s/t forum. I think he finally understands why I have so many razors. He called me the other day to tell me that the Slim set to 9 gave him the best shave of his life. He was pretty happy. So now he has RAD (razor acquisition disorder), the same as me. He just doesn't have a full blown outbreak of it yet.

Good luck with your search for the perfect blade! Enjoy your shaves!
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
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Englishman
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Post by Englishman »

Well that's interesting.... It would seem re-reading my last thread from
3 years ago, at the time I bought my HD, it would seem I must have bought
a pack of Derby's or had them given free with the Razor..... and by the looks
of it I wasn't bowled over by the experience.

It looks like I thought they were ok, but not as nice as the Merkurs and now
I feel the complete opposite. Do you think after 3 years of using the HD I
have just become so used to it I can unconsciously feel the best way to
shave with it or is it something else.....? Interesting none the less.


Thanks for the welcome back ShadowsDad. Yes it was exactly 3 years ago
since my last thread, well it will be next month. :wink:
I haven't caught any of the AD's but I am quite fond of allot of the Taylors
shaving cream, and at one time I probably had 8 different tubs, I know
that's not exactly SCAD, but I was on the way. They were always going
to get used though. :lol:

Cheers for the heads up on the blade choice Raze. I may just have a look
at trying a couple out.... Prepare for my thorough review in Ooooo about
3 years... :mrgreen:
~ Rico ~
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Englishman
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Post by Englishman »

Well after my joy with the first Derby blade I loaded the second one
from the pack I bought and this one was a bit tuggy.... Still got a great
shave with it, but I had one tiny weeper, first one in years, and the
shave didn't last as long either.

Has anyone else experienced inconsistency with Derby blades...?

I thought before I bought a few packs of Derby's I had a look at
Connaught Shaving as recommended and I might try their popular
blade sample pack. The popular pack includes....

Astra Superior Platinum (5)
Crystal Platinum (10) - Israeli Personna, Super + Platinum
Derby Extra (5)
Feather New Hi-Stainless (10)
Gillette 7 o’clock Super Platinum Edge (RUS) (5)
LORD Platinum Chrome (5)
Personna Platinum Chrome (10) - ‘Red Personna, Israeli Reds’
Shark Super Chrome (5)
Wilkinson Sword Double Edge (5)

Are there any blades in that sample pack that are universally hated or
do all of them get a general thumbs up and are worth trying in a Merkur
34c HD...?
~ Rico ~
ShadowsDad
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Post by ShadowsDad »

Rico, blades are probably the single most YMMV item in shaving. The blades I may love you might hate and vice versa. Neither of us is wrong. It just means you have your face and I have mine.

OK, now having written that, I see there are no Dorcos. Those are the blades from hell. :lol:

If they have any other Gillette 7 O'Clock blades have them throw a pack of each in with your order. You won't be sorry if you like sharp and smooth.
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
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Englishman
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Post by Englishman »

Hmmmm..... another interesting development. After that first shave with
the new tuggy blade, I decided to hand strop it and try it again for a
second shave and what do you know, it was much much better. No tugging
or pulling, smooth shave and very smooth face... 8)

Now whether it was the hand stropping or the first shave that smoothed
out the blade I guess we will never know, but I will try it for a third shave
and see what happens.

Has anyone hand stropped a blade that is always a bit tuggy for you and
had an improvement in the shave quality, or is it all psychological..?

Cheers,
~ Rico ~
scruffy
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Post by scruffy »

I found Derbys to be the most inconsistent blade that I have ever used. Some blades are great for 4-5 shaves. Most are good for just two shaves. Some blades are bad right from the getgo.

I find Dorcos great blades for the price. I usually get 2 shaves or more from each blade.

YMMV.
Ed
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Raag
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Post by Raag »

I've personally never hand stropped a DE blade but that's an interesting idea...

I wanted to join in the chorus singing that a blade sampler pack is a fantastic idea. My favourites out of those you've used are the Red Personna blades, Gillette 7 o'Clocks, and the Feathers. Haven't tried the LORD or Shark blades. Of course, as has been stated, blades are SUCH a personal choice and your own experience in this regard should be your gospel. I'm also a 34C stalwart so I'm looking forward to hear about your experiences!
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Gweezemeister
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Post by Gweezemeister »

Rico,

I too find Derbys to being inconsistent. I actually began a quest to find replacements and while I can suggest some pretty nice blades (samplers experience only) but Astras are my other bulk purchase experience. You will like Astras.

Mind you, I also am one who believes (as stated on this forum) that some blades work better on certain razors. I am happy to report that the Derbys are back in my good graces. The last 3 blades lasted anywhere from 4-6 shaves on a tech head (using soap).
Andy
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Post by Englishman »

Well I have ordered the popular sample pack from Connaught and they should be here
in the next day or two. I am tempted to try the Astra first as it would seem they behave
just like a Derby, when a Derby is having a good day. :lol: But, after 9 years of reading
about Feathers I am going to finally try this Marmite blade for myself.

I supose after nearly a Decade of DE shaving it's about time I tried some different blades,
but I will be sticking to the Mrekur 34c HD to try them all out with.

Just to update on the Derby's I've been using, I had a third shave tonight with the second
blade that I hand stropped and although still not as smooth as the first blade I did get a
BBS shave but with a little more stinging after the Alum Block, but no irritation to report.
So far I would be quite happy to use Derby's and there is another 5 pack included with
the popular sample pack so I'm curious to see how they behave.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted, literally... 8) Cheers,
~ Rico ~
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Post by jww »

scruffy wrote:I found Derbys to be the most inconsistent blade that I have ever used. Some blades are great for 4-5 shaves. Most are good for just two shaves. Some blades are bad right from the getgo. ...
YMMV.
+1

I moved to Feathers about a year and a half ago ..... and have only used Tesco, Lords and Wilkinsons a few times since then. The Feather in any razor provides a wonderful shave. I was fearful of the reputation of this blade, but after trying it, found it to actually be an easy blade to tame. In fact, if anything it helped me focus more on technique, which is always a good thing.
Wendell

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ShadowsDad
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Post by ShadowsDad »

I'm agreeing with Wendell about the Feather DE* blades working in all razors I've tried them in. If I have an issue witht them it's that I only get 2 good shaves from one,

But I find that all of my top blades work equally well in all of my razors. The junk blades work poorly in all my razors. That is, a mild razor or an aggressive razor both work to the best of our ability with a really great blade, and vice versa.

*Feather SE blades give me about 10 great shaves.
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
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