Irridiums

xillion · Nov 2, 2010

ltjaw said:
Is this run on St. Petersburg blades entirely the result of Bruce's blog? Did anyone happen to read his entry for 11/1? Sounds like he's pushing for a run on the other Russian blades, too. What gives?

Maybe he owns the factory. :lol:

Daryl_the_Disturbed · Nov 2, 2010

This is good news. Looks like I'll get to try Iridiums after the situation settles down. :thumbup1:

MikeC · Nov 3, 2010

I was thinking of quitting wet shaving if Iridiums were discontinued.

fisherbln · Nov 3, 2010

MikeC said:
I was thinking of quitting wet shaving if Iridiums were discontinued.

Really?!? I'm fairly new to wet shaving and love my irridiums too, but there are too many other blades that are just as good for me to even consider going back to cartridges.

MikeC · Nov 3, 2010

fisherbln said:
Really?!? I'm fairly new to wet shaving and love my irridiums too, but there are too many other blades that are just as good for me to even consider going back to cartridges.

Exactly!

mdevine · Nov 3, 2010

Iridiums, when they can be found at a reasonable price (under 25 cents/ blade), are my favorite blade. However, other excellent blades are out there at or below that price point. I find Feathers and Gillette Sharp Edge blades to give a very similar shave. Furthermore, in most razors I get a great shave with Shark, Derby and Astra blades at half the price. I hope the Iridiums stay on the market because I like as many options as possible to remain available. If 7AM blades, banned vendor razors or Jack Black shaving cream were to go off the market, it would disappoint me, even though there is almost no chance I would ever purchase any of them.

NewYorkBuck · Nov 3, 2010

jgkeegan said:
+2

DE Shaver said:
Unfortunately, a few members took the news of a "suspension of production" of Super Iridiums as these blades being permamently discontinued instead, which of couse isn't the same thing. In addition, the cited sources were far from authoritative so most individuals should have taken this as more as rumour rather than as fact. There was even pure speculation that all the St. Petersburg plant razor blades were at risk. Regardless, this "doom and gloom" view caused a run on the supply of Super Iridiums as many people panicked to ensure a personal supply. I guess next time people will be more reluctant to hit the panic button too quickly. That's not to say that the Super Iridium supply will automatically resume and there is no merit to promulgating news but running around like "chicken little" doesn't sound like a very helpful exercise.

Interesting point, but I have had good luck doing the opposite. When Swede and NOS Wilks were rumored to go the way of the dodo, I immediately jumped on 200 of each. Within a week, they were gone off every site save Ebay. Havent regretted those rush to the exits one bit.

DE Shaver · Nov 4, 2010

NewYorkBuck said:
Interesting point, but I have had good luck doing the opposite. When Swede and NOS Wilks were rumored to go the way of the dodo, I immediately jumped on 200 of each. Within a week, they were gone off every site save Ebay. Havent regretted those rush to the exits one bit.

My comment wasn't focussed about those stock up but more directed at individuals that insist on a "chicken little" routine that panics others, just to serve their personal agenda. Rember, the only bit of information we have is an "alleged" suspension of manufacture. The fact their gone certainly supports this rumour of suspension but it doesn't mean these blades are gone forever. Futhermore, creating a climate in which runs up the price unnecessarily is not in anyone's interest, except maybe profiteers. For those that paid a stiff price for the "last run of blades" will have little consolation if Super Iridiums appear again, will seems quite possible.

In any event, it's not the first time that good blades have disappeared and it certainly won't be the last. This has been happening for decades and will continue for sometime as shaving paradigmns, increasing affluence and marketing shape consumption. Regardless, DE shaving will be around a long time and there are many good blades still out there.

bluemoon · Nov 5, 2010

All we know for sure is that the Super Iridiums are virtually unavailable right now. Whether they ramp up production again remains to be seen.

I'm going to continue to look for alternatives that seem like they might be around for awhile, and also try the straight again. Didn't have much success with that the first go, though.

DE Shaver · Nov 5, 2010

If you want a good candidate to replace the Super Iridiums, the Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge would my recommendation. Both of these blades have exactly the same grind and hone pattern and are made in the St. Petersburg plant. You view each blade edge with a microscope and you can not tell the difference between them. Coatings, however, are possibly a different matter but all I know is these blades both shave very well and quite similarly.

jgkeegan · Nov 5, 2010

I have no confidence in this whatsoever, but ....

DE Shaver · Nov 5, 2010

jgkeegan said:
I have no confidence in this whatsoever, but ....

I'm not sure what you are referring to with this link. It goes to a Chinese website but it has an "English" version. It looks like they make blades for other companies. One of them is Derby and the other is Astra Super Stainless except they have Chinese names.

jgkeegan · Nov 5, 2010

DE Shaver said:
I'm not sure what you are referring to with this link. It goes to a Chinese website but it has an "English" version. It looks like they make blades for other companies. One of them is Derby and the other is Astra Super Stainless except they have Chinese names.

I was told they supplied irridiums in bulk.

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21761

Patrik · Nov 5, 2010

DE Shaver said:
If you want a good candidate to replace the Super Iridiums, the Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge would my recommendation. Both of these blades have exactly the same grind and hone pattern and are made in the St. Petersburg plant. You view each blade edge with a microscope and you can not tell the difference between them. Coatings, however, are possibly a different matter but all I know is these blades both shave very well and quite similarly.

+1

I also recommend the current production Gillette Platinum (in the white packs).

jgkeegan · Nov 5, 2010

DE Shaver said:
If you want a good candidate to replace the Super Iridiums, the Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge would my recommendation. Both of these blades have exactly the same grind and hone pattern and are made in the St. Petersburg plant. You view each blade edge with a microscope and you can not tell the difference between them. Coatings, however, are possibly a different matter but all I know is these blades both shave very well and quite similarly.

Patrik said:
+1

I also recommend the current production Gillette Platinum (in the white packs).

I'm really happy with Astras. I used the Irridiums a bit, still have some, but if there were no Astras or Irridiums, I'd be happy going back to using Kais or Feathers.

--james

my19 · Nov 5, 2010

DE Shaver said:
If you want a good candidate to replace the Super Iridiums, the Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge would my recommendation. Both of these blades have exactly the same grind and hone pattern and are made in the St. Petersburg plant. You view each blade edge with a microscope and you can not tell the difference between them. Coatings, however, are possibly a different matter but all I know is these blades both shave very well and quite similarly.

The 7 O'Clock SharpEdge is a great blade, and while YMMV, on my face it's at least the equal of the Super Iridium. The German Timor is very nice, too (and comes in one of the coolest packs on the market).