In my opinion, same blade behaves differently in different razors. So whenever you are trying a new razor, you should again go a back to your sample packs or your 2-3 favourite blades. Find the best combination for you. Some razors or some blades might not work for you at all, no matter how great the reviews are in the forums. Every face is different in terms of hardness/coarseness of the beard, your skin sensitivity etc. Thats why I like the phrase YMMV.
I Just Can't Handle Astra SPs
- Thread starter Renato1
- Start date
I agree that each razor might have a different mate. The Personna Red is one of my favorites in my R89, but was not good in a Merkur slant from a passaround.
Then again, to tie it back to this thread, for me Astras have worked well I'm the three razors I've tried (as mentioned above plus a New LC)
- Thread starter
- #23
You aren't kidding - but the 100 were only costing A$13, so I thought What The Heck?
Cheers,
Renato
I like the Voskhod in the Weber.. YMMV of course..
The QA/QC process on Astras could certainly use improvement. When they are good, they are very very good, albeit very finicky about what razor into which they are placed. My Gilette Knack works great with Astras. On the other hand, my 1908 doesn't work at all with them...I think there is a bit of slippage. However, I've noticed that you seem to get a bad blade with Astra more often than you might with some other blades.
+1
Shave is OK but I get a few hours of mild neck irritation after each shave. There are plenty of others out there as cheap that do a better job for me.
I like to think of the Astra's as Russia's take on the Dorco
Yeah, but 'Astra' is a much cooler name!!!
I agree with the statement, "they're not sharp, they're rough." Astras feel like a sunburn to me, where Feathers do not.
I love the Astra SP's...my fav are the Feathers though....Just bought(got ripped off buying) a 5 pack of the Gillette 7 o'clock SP Blacks, and cant wait to try them out. I use a fatboy and a merkur34c and the Feathers rock, and the Astra SP's are a close second for quality of shave. So much so that I just bought 100 or each Feathers and Astra SP's.
If you dont like the SP's send my way...
If you dont like the SP's send my way...
I just bought 200 of them for like $18. They work well for me, but admittedly better in some razors than others.
- Thread starter
- #32
It certainly seems to be a constant theme that the Astras work better in some razors than in others.
Cheers,
Renato
- Thread starter
- #33
I don't have a Fatboy or Merkur 34C, though the Lord L6 has pretty much the same head as the 34C.
I might try an Astra SP in my Merkur Open Comb. Who knows, something good might come if I use my worst blade in my worst razor.
Regards,
Renato
- Thread starter
- #34
It is a shame to hear about your experience with Astra. Have you tried Gillette Silver Blue or Shark blades?
I have to say, this thread threw me for a loop. Anytime I'm trying a new razor I start with the Astra SP as it is the best-behaved blade I've ever found. It pairs well with a Super Speed or a Fatip, and anything in between.
YMMV Indeed!
YMMV Indeed!
Same here. YMMV.
Smooth blades for me, ordered by decreasing relative sharpness:
Feather
Polsilver SI
Rapira Platinum Lux
Personna Platinum Chrome
Those four give me the smoothest shaves in my Schick Krona or Feather Popular. Other blades may be sharp as well, but they feel rough for me.
For those that don't like the Astra blades, I would love to take them off your hands. Or, you could PIF them to others who like them.
I like these blades, and they work great in my razors.
I like these blades, and they work great in my razors.
Oddly, the SP works well for me in my '64 Slim. One of those things...
