Experiment with feather, Shark and Gillette Super Thin

[IronHammer]

I am on the search for the perfect combination of price, sharpness and smoothness (as we all are) and I am still trying out blades. Here was a test of Shark and Super Thin.

I don't like it much but, for now, I have settled on using Feathers. They are really good once I get to the 3rd shave. The first and second shaves are wicked sharp and eat my face up even with an extremely light touch. Even on the 3rd and 4th shave, I have to be careful. But they are so super smooth!

So I tried an experiment last night while shaving. I loaded up a new Shark Chrome in my '34 Aristocrat and got to work. I really, really tried to give it a go and after about five swipes, I dropped that Shark in the blade bin. It seemed almost like it was dull and it pulled like crazy. I wanted to like the Shark so much because I dig their logo. Too bad.

So I tried to finish my shave up with a Gillette Super Thin (orange and white box, NOT the black and red box) and it was exactly the same as the damn Shark! It too went into the blade bin. Got ten of those darn things and I will never use them.

So, I put my used Feather back in and finished my shave very smoothly and comfortably.

I know that blades are VERY subjective, but there has to be a blade out there that is smooth as well as sufficiently sharp as not to pull!

[The_Cheapo_Knight]

You should give the 7-O'clock or the Astra Super Stainless a try. :001_smile

What i can find locally are the green 7 oclock (russian), astra ss and feather. These are my favoured ones.

[kingfisher]

the Feather is the best, to be sure, but I think the Super Thins are nice, too.

If I'm not mistaken, there may be Gillette Super Thins from two different countries? Maybe Thailand and Vietnam? Not sure.

Anyway, the Super Thins I tried were pretty sharp.

[kingfisher]

I just looked over your post again..... the Super Thins I used were definitely in a black/red wrapper. Pretty nice blades.

[IronHammer]

Yeah, I have the Vietnam Super Thins. These are in the orange and white box. That one was pretty darn rough! I think is a big difference between the two Super Thins.

I have been searching in vain for a US supplier of the Thai made Super Thins because I tried just one of those and it was, in my opinion, the perfect balance of sharpness and smoothness. Very much like a class Gillette Super Stainless blade!

[IronHammer]

You should give the 7-O'clock or the Astra Super Stainless a try. :001_smile

What i can find locally are the green 7 oclock (russian), astra ss and feather. These are my favoured ones.

I have been wanting to try the Yellows as they have such high reviews. I also am dying to try the new Gillette Goal blades from India.

[Optometrist]

Feather is without doubt my preferred blade, but the Bolzano Superinox Inossidabile is also an excellent one, and is my second choice.

[hatmpita]

Wow! I have had such good luck with my Sharks! My beard growth isn't that thick or course so maybe thats why! Good luck on you blade search!:001_smile

[franz]

Feather is without doubt my preferred blade, but the Bolzano Superinox Inossidabile is also an excellent one, and is my second choice.

Todd: my blade preferences are similar to David's, but I actually get great shaves out of Sharks. I find them plenty sharp.

[IronHammer]

Maybe I had a bad blade. I don't think it was sharp enough for my heavy stubble. It wasn't cutting the hairs but rather hanging or dragging as I ran it across my face. It was a very unsatisfying feeling! I am sure I will try them again some day but for now, that was enough for me.

[franz]

Had a similar experience with a Timor blade, which I had expected to be a lot sharper. I will go back go them and try again eventually but it made me quite reluctant. Nothing like having to toss a blade mid-shave :thumbdown

You might like the 7 O'Clock yellows. Then again, the answer may be that Feathers are the end-all, be-all blade for you.

[IronHammer]

Yeah, I am planning on getting some samplers of Gillette blades, including the Yellows. I have heard great things about them. I am hoping to find that blade that performs as well as my very limited supply of spoilers and NOS Gillette Super Stainless blades!

[Mitsimonsta]

I have been searching in vain for a US supplier of the Thai made Super Thins because I tried just one of those and it was, in my opinion, the perfect balance of sharpness and smoothness. Very much like a class Gillette Super Stainless blade!

There's no difference between the Thai and Vietnamese SuperThins IMO. Both made in Shanghai.

See David @ razorbladesandmore for your SuperThins. Good prices and great postage rates.

[nav]

Maybe I had a bad blade. I don't think it was sharp enough for my heavy stubble. It wasn't cutting the hairs but rather hanging or dragging as I ran it across my face. It was a very unsatisfying feeling! I am sure I will try them again some day but for now, that was enough for me.

When I used a Shark in any of my vintage Gillette razors, it was as horrible as you have described.

I then popped one in my Muhle R89 and also my EJ DE86 and got a great shave from both razors. The blade felt sharp and smooth, really nice. Doesn't beat a Feather but a very good alternative for me.

[IronHammer]

You should give the 7-O'clock or the Astra Super Stainless a try. :001_smile

What i can find locally are the green 7 oclock (russian), astra ss and feather. These are my favoured ones.

I have both Sharpedge and Permasharps on the way from bullgoose. Should be here tomorrow or Saturday. I also picked up some more Feathers, since they are my "go to" blade at this point. Oh, I am also getting some Bolzano's from him to try. I also ordered a few Goal blades to try as well. I will be busy testing blades for the next couple of weeks!

[captp]

I am on the search for the perfect combination of price, sharpness and smoothness (as we all are) and I am still trying out blades. Here was a test of Shark and Super Thin.


I know that blades are VERY subjective, but there has to be a blade out there that is smooth as well as sufficiently sharp as not to pull!

Ya think?:tongue_sm I gave two friends a Shark chrome and a Feather to try. They've both been using Merkurs (I love them, I don't care what anyone says:mad3::001_smile), and both like them. They have identical razors. One of them preferred the Shark, the other the Feather. Go figure.

Personally, I like the Feather by a small margin over the Merkur, but like the Shark enough that at the price I'm leaning towards them.

[Altair]

There's no difference between the Thai and Vietnamese SuperThins IMO. Both made in Shanghai.

See David @ razorbladesandmore for your SuperThins. Good prices and great postage rates.

What he said. And he's got a pretty extensive saMpler pack as well. Try the 7 O clock yellows those are sharp and smooth, also rapira plat lux and ladas are good

[IronHammer]

What he said. And he's got a pretty extensive saMpler pack as well. Try the 7 O clock yellows those are sharp and smooth, also rapira plat lux and ladas are good

Yeah, I got some of those sharpedges. I can hardly wait to try them!

[Sledgehammer39]

I throw in a vote for the Gillette 7 o'clock Greens (either Russian or Indian) both really nice blades. B&B member ntguys has them on ebay. He carries legit blades. Also give a try to the Astra SS.. :thumbup1:

[IronHammer]

I throw in a vote for the Gillette 7 o'clock Greens (either Russian or Indian) both really nice blades. B&B member ntguys has them on ebay. He carries legit blades. Also give a try to the Astra SS.. :thumbup1:

Got my shipment from Bullgoose. He even threw in a free pack of Gillette Super Platinum (Russian) and a small bottle of Ogallala Bay Rum Aftershave. What a great guy! Thanks, Phil! I am looking very much forward to trying these blades out. If I decide to use them, I will be going straight back to Phil for huge lot of them!

[ChristopherH10]

It is funny how blade preference can be so subjective. How much of that is related to individual beards and the razor used? I'm giving Feathers another chance but had a horrible experience when I first tried them. I fell in love with the Shark immediately, however. It is the only blade that I've gotten more than three shaves from.

[pirateskull]

Feathers and red IP's I like alot.

[IronHammer]

I agree. I had tried a Feather months ago and hated it. That was before I learned the golden rule of "no pressure". You might think you want to apply a little pressure on those tough spots, but DON'T DO IT. Once I got that into my thick skull, I started having VERY comfy shaves, even with those terribly sharp Feathers. So comfortable, in fact, I am shaving daily now, which is something I have never ever been able to do in all my 43 years! I always thought my face was sensitive. It's really all about pressure...simple as that.

By the way, I tried a Yellow 7 O'Clock and I really like them! First run was in my '34 Aristocrat on Sunday morning. A second run this morning in my 1904 Double Ring was just as lovely. Only thing is, I think they are not as sharp as a Feather. As much I complain about how darn sharp those Feathers are, I find I miss them a bit ... weird.