Multi-blade razors

[Davie_GLA]

Never made it today, shall make more of an effort tomorrow.

Just so i know what my viewing range should be i'm thinking:

Razor: Adjustable(1-9)
Blades: Feathers, depending on stock.
Brush: Whatever is there and keenly priced
Cream: LIek the sound of this woolfat stuff but will probably go with bluebeards new one
Pre / Post shave: Open to suggestions.
Cut stick thing: NO idea.... Again open to suggestions.


So, even middle or the road stuff i reckon this isn't far off £100. Sound about right?

Onto method, have been scouring YouTube and there is lots of help on there so will mostly follow that but what about my first EVER shave with this thing. Should i have the wife on standby with my blood group handy?

[NSFW]

Well, a big thanks to this thread and I have taken the plunge and bought a Wilkinsons Safety Razor, some new soap and a Badger Hair brush to replace my old synthetic one.

1st Shave today and very impressed, even though it was a very quick 2 pass - so much closer than my Gillette 50,000 blade thingy.

I'll be investing in some Sandalwood soap soon though, just for the smell. But whats a good moisturiser to use after though? (Sensitive Skin).

[Agrispeed]

Davie_GLA said:

Never made it today, shall make more of an effort tomorrow.

Just so i know what my viewing range should be i'm thinking:

Razor: Adjustable(1-9)
Blades: Feathers, depending on stock.
Brush: Whatever is there and keenly priced
Cream: LIek the sound of this woolfat stuff but will probably go with bluebeards new one
Pre / Post shave: Open to suggestions.
Cut stick thing: NO idea.... Again open to suggestions.


So, even middle or the road stuff i reckon this isn't far off £100. Sound about right?

Onto method, have been scouring YouTube and there is lots of help on there so will mostly follow that but what about my first EVER shave with this thing. Should i have the wife on standby with my blood group handy?

i wouldnt try feathers on your first go, would be a bloodbath WS are the best blades commonly on sale.

WS brushes are ok, and pretty cheap, other wise saving shacks own are ok, as are (allegedly) bluebeards ones.

Proraso pre/post cream is good. as is the cut stuff - much better than Alum sticks/ matches. IMO

[CoolHands]

I can confirm that sticking your razor in the dishwasher does an excellent job of bringing it up like new again. This is after:

[Agrispeed]

CoolHands said:

I can confirm that sticking your razor in the dishwasher does an excellent job of bringing it up like new again. This is after:

I assume without any detergent? it eats metal like no ones business...

My parents get annoyed at me putting car parts in ours already...

[CoolHands]

It had a persil 'tab' in - I just stuck it in with all the normal washing up. Obviously made sure the missus didn't see The metal seems alright (it's stainless steel)

[Davie_GLA]

Morning all.

With all this talk of awesome smelling soaps it seems a shame to ruin it with aftershave.

Aftershave stings like mad after i shave, i'm guessing that wont change

ETA: Having pretty much decided on a Merkur 34C everywhere seems to be out of stock. Typical.

Edited by Davie_GLA on Sunday 21st October 09:23

[zygalski]

There's one in the states on ebay at the moment. £38 inc shipping.
http://tinyurl.com/8f4yrn7

[Bonefish Blues]

Materially quite close, slightly better finished - and cheaper...

http://www.traditionalshaving.co.uk/en/Edwin-Jagge...

[Davie_GLA]

Hmmm. For some reason a smooth handle isn't making sense when thinking about shaving and ridiculous sharp blades. Think I want a textured one.

[Bonefish Blues]

Much less of an issue, if at all, than you might imagine, but I understand your concern.
ETA
I got mine from here and the ridged handle's fine
http://www.superiorshaving.co.uk/de-safety-razor-c...

[manic47]

Davie_GLA said:

ETA: Having pretty much decided on a Merkur 34C everywhere seems to be out of stock. Typical.

I picked a 34C as my first DE razor - it could do with a slightly longer handle IMO.

[dazren]

Agree with Manic47. I bought a longer handled 38C as my first mail order DE razor. I wouldn't want to use a shorter razor. Worth trying in preference to a 34C IMHO.

[Bonefish Blues]

...whilst I much prefer a shorter handle. Different strokes etc

[Serendipity72]

Blue62 said:

I'm a feathers man but would be interested in PPI when my stock runs down in 2017, where do you get them from?

PPI blades include Astra, Sputnik, Permasharp, Polsilver, Rotbart, Nacet, Minora and the several different variations of the Gillette brand.
Their discontinued Iridium brand is a legend in shaving circles, there is still stock out there but there are also a lot of fakes.

JUst google the brands to find plenty of online retailers.

[Serendipity72]

Davie_GLA said:

Hmmm. For some reason a smooth handle isn't making sense when thinking about shaving and ridiculous sharp blades. Think I want a textured one.

My DE89L has the lined handle, so is almost totally smooth. In reality this presents no problems whatsoever.

[Serendipity72]

Agrispeed said:

I assume without any detergent? it eats metal like no ones business...

My parents get annoyed at me putting car parts in ours already...

I use the dishwasher when I buy secondhand, classic razors. It does a really good job, even with complex devices like Gillette Toggles. I use liquid detergent which is less abrasive and doesn't even harm thinning gold plate.

Classic razors were made of brass that was chrome plated. There are several places were you can get them replated. In gold or palladium if you want.

Modern razors are made of pot metal (mainly zinc) that is chrome plated. Once the plating wears through they degrade very quickly and cannot be replated.

Very few razors ever have been made of Stainless steel, I can think of 4 brands off the top of my head. The most well known in current production are the ikon and the Feather Stainless, both of which are exceptional razors.

[Serendipity72]

Davie_GLA said:

Never made it today, shall make more of an effort tomorrow.

Just so i know what my viewing range should be i'm thinking:

Razor: Adjustable(1-9)
Blades: Feathers, depending on stock.
Brush: Whatever is there and keenly priced
Cream: LIek the sound of this woolfat stuff but will probably go with bluebeards new one
Pre / Post shave: Open to suggestions.
Cut stick thing: NO idea.... Again open to suggestions.


So, even middle or the road stuff i reckon this isn't far off £100. Sound about right?

Onto method, have been scouring YouTube and there is lots of help on there so will mostly follow that but what about my first EVER shave with this thing. Should i have the wife on standby with my blood group handy?

Most people don't use the adjustability of an adjustable razor. This morning I used my Mergress maxed out for the first pass then on about 3 for the second pass. Had I done a third pass it would have been on 1.
Feathers are not the best blade, really. They are very sharp and a bit rough which makes them feel even sharper. They don't last long.
Brush. Get a Vulfix 404, it looks the business and works well with both soaps and creams. It is exceptional value. After that go to Ian Tang in China on eBay, who gives incredible service with fantastic brushes.
Soaps and creams, these are very different to each other to use. There are many to experiment with, lots from India and Russia that are brilliant, for instance.
For cuts just buy an alum block off eBay. It will last ages, costs very little and is the easiest to use.

[NDA]

Serendipity72 said:

I use the dishwasher when I buy secondhand, classic razors. It does a really good job, even with complex devices like Gillette Toggles. I use liquid detergent which is less abrasive and doesn't even harm thinning gold plate.

I have six, at the last count, vintage Gillettes.... I've put them in an electric jewellery cleaner thing (which vibrates) with some fairy liquid. Seems to work OK. I would like to oil them really, but understand that any oil in the mechanism could clog it. Do you ever lubricate yours with anything?

[Davie_GLA]

Heh. Bit of a result this morning.

Just got notification of winning a £20 amazon voucher through work.

So i can get this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edwin-Jagger-De89bl-Chrome...

For 35p delivered!