A week of Trac II

[Robxcarlson]

I was fortunate awhile back to get a razor lot that contained a fancy Trac II handle
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii130/robxcarlson/PICT8832.jpg
It's the Paul Revere version of the Schick Super II by International Silver and is Trac II compatible. I've been staring at it for a couple of months and decided finally to get some store brand Trac II cartridges and give it a go. I found my cartridges at HEB, a texas grocery chain. I assume they are ASR, but nothing on the pkg would indicate the manufacturer. I shaved with it yesterday and this morning for s's and g's and it was a pleasant experience. I still did 3 passes and got a nice clean shave. I've decided to make it a whole week. It won't replace the DE's, SE's and injectors that I've grown to love, but I think I could see myself using this razor from time to time, or taking it with me to travel. A lot of dissatisfied cartridge guys could probably switch to Trac II and save a lot of money without getting themselves into all the hullabaloo we go for around here.

[jpkunst]

I've thought about acquiring a Trac II (or GII, as it's called in Europe) handle for travelling. But those handles are no longer made and difficult to find so I've been using single-blade Wilkinson Sword Pronto disposables for that purpose.

Let us know how shaving with the Trac II for a week turns out for you.

[Jethro1984]

Do tell how it turns out. I've used the Atra and it wasn't that bad but the Trac II is even more primitive.....which probably means it's better.

[michiganlover]

I've thought about acquiring a Trac II (or GII, as it's called in Europe) handle for travelling. But those handles are no longer made and difficult to find so I've been using single-blade Wilkinson Sword Pronto disposables for that purpose.

Let us know how shaving with the Trac II for a week turns out for you.

If you really want a Trac II, go to your local Wal-Mart (at least if you live in an area with a significant African American population), and pick up the "Bump Fighter" razor by Personna. This is a all metal handle that will nicely hold the Trac II carts, in addition to the single blade Bump Fighter carts. It's marketed specifically towards African American males who suffer from razor bumps.

[Jethro1984]

Yes but it says "Bump Fighter" on it which is just UNCOOL!

[guru]

I like the TracII. I have a solid brass handle similar in shape to yours. Plenty of heft. Alas, I rarely use it. Cartridges got too expensive, so I just keep some around for when I do want to use it.

[masonjarjar]

Do tell how it turns out. I've used the Atra and it wasn't that bad but the Trac II is even more primitive.....which probably means it's better.

yea, it throws off the balance and I get weepers.

dammit.

:001_rolle

[Robxcarlson]

I've thought about acquiring a Trac II (or GII, as it's called in Europe) handle for travelling. But those handles are no longer made and difficult to find so I've been using single-blade Wilkinson Sword Pronto disposables for that purpose.

Let us know how shaving with the Trac II for a week turns out for you.

There's a bunch of new and vintage Trac II handles on eBay - here's one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=260463701635&Category=35989&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D2#ht_2039wt _943) made by feather sold by B&B member Dridiot - he ships worldwide so it looks like you could get this delivered for less than $10 USD.

[michiganlover]

Yes but it says "Bump Fighter" on it which is just UNCOOL!

For less than $5, I think I can accept the fact that is is "uncool". :lol::lol:

[jpkunst]

If you really want a Trac II, go to your local Wal-Mart (at least if you live in an area with a significant African American population), and pick up the "Bump Fighter" razor by Personna

There are no Wal-Marts or Bump Fighter razors to be found in my country ... but thanks for the tip anyway :001_smile

[Robxcarlson]

There are no Wal-Marts ... to be found in my country :001_smile

You're lucky!

[brg]

I've thought about acquiring a Trac II (or GII, as it's called in Europe) handle for travelling. But those handles are no longer made and difficult to find so I've been using single-blade Wilkinson Sword Pronto disposables for that purpose.

Let us know how shaving with the Trac II for a week turns out for you.

Last weekend I bought two razors: a GII Plus (TracII) and a Contour Plus (Atra). In the back of the GII reads (c)2004 and has some advertising to the Gillette Series products. The Contour has no date, but the same advertising, so I am assuming it should be around the same date.

These were just some remaining stock the store had, I was lucky to find them as I have not seen them at any other stores. If you look around a bit you may still be able to find them.

[Robxcarlson]

Last weekend I bought two razors: a GII Plus (TracII) and a Contour Plus (Atra). In the back of the GII reads (c)2004 and has some advertising to the Gillette Series products. The Contour has no date, but the same advertising, so I am assuming it should be around the same date.

These were just some remaining stock the store had, I was lucky to find them as I have not seen them at any other stores. If you look around a bit you may still be able to find them.

eBay still has plenty

[ClubmanRob]

The Trac II (the version/type shown in the OP's post) is my "perfect" razor. Loaded with Personna carts, it's shaving Nirvana in my humble, honest opinion.

[brg]

eBay still has plenty

Some are compatible, but not made by Gillette. I got the two handles, new in box with 2 blades.

LocalBay rules :biggrin:

[Robxcarlson]

I just wanted to update this thread after using my Trac II for all of last week. I think it went pretty well. The trac II actually provides a great shave. After a week I don't have any ingrown hairs or razor burn, which was a constant problem for me before I discovered B&B - it may be due to how much more I know now than I did before, but the trac II is capable of providing a great shave - I think if I had been a shaver in the 70's (instead of a little shaver) I would have switched from DE - Not that I would now but I could see myself using this a lot more and taking it for travel too.

I think whenever I hear guys complaining about the cost of Fusion cartridges instead of campaigning for a switch to DE (which can be a hard sell) I will suggest a switch to the trac II - there's still plenty of quality aftermarket handles available.

[Noebie]

my first "really nice" razor was a gold colored handle made by avon (i think) with my initials engraved on it (christmas gift) that used trac ii carts - at some point it got dropped and the tracks got bent, and it was finally so tricky to get a cartridge to stay on that i abandoned it...i still used a black handle and a green handle trac ii until the sensors came out...i believe the black and green razors came together in a set - have no idea why...used one for home and kept one in my dopp kit

this thread is making me a little nostalgic

[jpkunst]

Thanks for the update!

I ordered a NOS Gillette G II (= European name of Trac II) handle from dridiot in Singapore, looking forward to trying it out once it gets here.

[Robxcarlson]

Thanks for the update!

I ordered a NOS Gillette G II (= European name of Trac II) handle from dridiot in Singapore, looking forward to trying it out once it gets here.

Even though I already have this handle, I'm tempted to order one of the feather brand handles he sells. They look really nice!

[kingfisher]

Even though I already have this handle, I'm tempted to order one of the feather brand handles he sells. They look really nice!

Where could one take a look at these handles? Does dridiot have an e-bay store?

[michiganlover]

Where could one take a look at these handles? Does dridiot have an e-bay store?

Yes he does have a website:

Dr. Idiots's Website (http://doubleedgeshavingplace.com/)

[Robxcarlson]

Where could one take a look at these handles? Does dridiot have an e-bay store?

He does. He's a member and I've ordered from him before. Great seller.

The handle is BIN so here's a link (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-FEATHER-Razor-fits-Gillette-Trac-II-GII-G2-Blades_W0QQitemZ260463701635QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_ DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca4d8ae83&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_2039wt_943).

There are other handles on the 'bay and not all of them are marked "trac II."

[Rufust445]

Yes but it says "Bump Fighter" on it which is just UNCOOL!

Though it comes with a few "Bump Fighter" cartridges, the handle itself is ergonomically shaped and very cool. It takes standard Trac II cartridges, and the Wal-Mart about 2 miles from here sells the Bump Fighter handle, as well as Gillette Trac II and Atra cartridges.

I like the way they hang packs of 10 cartridges on four hooks in a row on the display rack:

Gillette Trac II - $12.44; Personna Twin II - $3.54; Gillette Atra - $12.44; Personna - $3.54.

I have some old Atra handles lying around, and it's been tempting, but I have plenty of very good DE blades that cost half or less than the $0.35 for a Personna/atra cartridge.

[lamina]

Some are compatible, but not made by Gillette. I got the two handles, new in box with 2 blades.

LocalBay rules :biggrin:

Nice find indeed brg!! Both are work horses and shave wonderfully!!But it's just me i'm a cartridge guy mainly...:rolleyes:

[ClubmanRob]

One thing I wanted to add is that the type of handle used on the Trac II can greatly factor in on the quality of the shave. For example, I have the one pictured here in this BIN (http://cgi.ebay.com/ALL-STAINLESS-STEEL-RAZOR-for-Gillette-TRAC-II-Blades_W0QQitemZ170375430180QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_ DefaultDomain_0?hash=item27ab2ac024&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) and the quality of the shave is pathetic due to the way in which the head is angled. There's almost a thirty degree difference in angle compared to most Trac II heads, and the long handle makes it a extremely difficult to get creative in the positioning department.

[rsp1202]

The Bump Fighter handle seems to do the trick for me. A close second place would be the Schick Super II. The Gillette's handle was a bit too narrow for me, while the BF and Schick handles are a better fit. Both razors take Trac II and Twin II cartridges, and while I wouldn't characterize the cartridge attachment to either head clip as "firm," they stay put well enough during the shave.