Merkur Blades are evil!

[JeffW]

I just exhausted my box of Merkurs and had my first Isreali Crystal shave. OH MY GOD! What a huge difference. I had chalked up my 2-3 hour face ache to my crappy technique....but switching to the Crystal has no pain!

As seems to be the mantra of the board, YMMV, but I recommend that you try the different blades in fairly rapid succession.

Jeff.

[Halden]

I don't hate Merkur blades but there are definitely better out there.

[guitarslinger]

I truly hate the Merkur blades.

dull, tugging, terrible.

I can't finish a full against the grain pass with a merkur.

dreadful, dreadful, dreadful.

[Robxcarlson]

I used a Merkur blade this morning for the first time and it wasn't bad. I'm not in love with them, but I got a good shave. Very little irritation.
Incidentally, I hurt myself with Derbys every time.

[sebell]

I can get a decent shave with Merkurs,
but I do not go against the grain. I'm
sure if I tried I would butcher my face
like some of you guys seem to do :rolleyes:

Anyways, blades are definitely a personal
preference, and some folks can have a
wide variety of experiences with different
blades. Sample packs are the way to go
here!

- Scott

[guitarslinger]

I used a Merkur blade this morning for the first time and it wasn't bad. I'm not in love with them, but I got a good shave. Very little irritation.
Incidentally, I hurt myself with Derbys every time.

That's just bonkers. I've had great results with derbys for the last month or so.:confused:

crazy:badger: :badger: :badger:

[murchmb]

I've had bad to decent results with Derbys, but they are inconsistant. Merkurs, for me, are good blades. Reasonably smooth, consistent, and long lasting. IP's are a better shave (and value) for me than the Merkurs, but perhaps not as long lived.

[patrisVII]

I don't like them in their own razors but the do well for me in my Gillette Red Tip.

I've got a s*#@load of them to go through - my wife bought out a mall cutlery store when it was closing - 47 packages for $20.

[Stauff]

Merkur: great razors, poor blades.

[Aaron622]

dull, tugging, terrible.

+1
And not all that cheap or consistent (as least for me).

[Norse23]

I used a Merkur blade once. Once.

[minstrel]

The Merkur blade which came with my Merkur HD was terrible. Then I tried one from the LetterK blade sampler, and got a baby butt smooth, irritation free and nick free shave... once. It shaved well the first time and the shaves got progressively worse from there.

/Nicholas

[Peppery John]

Nothing wrong with the merkur blade.

It's a poor workman that blames his tools :biggrin:

[htownmmm]

Merkur: great razors, poor blades.

Amen brother!


Marty

[JeffW]

I should probably add a bit of information... I've been using the 38C with the Merkur blades. I have been getting by with good shaves and have gotten past the nicks/bumps and true razor burn. However, my whole face has been a bit warm for several hours after the shave. Until this morning, I'd been attributing that to either a) poor technique or b) face break-in period.

I was shocked by the magnitude of difference in the mornings shave. Based on the knowledge of B&B, I expected a difference btw. the blades. But to be honest, I figured that to an inexperienced person like me, I would be challenged to notice the difference. I don't think that is the case.

My plan now is to more through the different blade progression quicker, as opposed to burning through all of one type. Also, I plan to go back to earlier brands that I think I like to try to eliminate the effect of me being on a steep learning curve.

[SingleShotVictor]

Their blades are like lotto tickets for me, once and awhile I draw a winner but more often than not I am worst off. But when I find a good blade man I get a good shave. I don't know if they have spotty manufaturing or what but almost no two blades from merkur shave the same. Their razors are top knotch however.

[13th Duke of Wymbourne]

I've had bad to decent results with Derbys, but they are inconsistant. Merkurs, for me, are good blades. Reasonably smooth, consistent, and long lasting. IP's are a better shave (and value) for me than the Merkurs, but perhaps not as long lived.



+1

I like Merkurs, I find them sharp, consistant & I can get 5-6 good shaves out of a blade but they are not as forgiving as a Derby, I have to take my time & no pressure is a must. I think blades are the ultimate YMMV topic but in my opinon sometimes it can be all to easy to throw a Derby in because they seem to offer a bigger margin for error but only get 3 decent shaves out of it. I enjoy Merkur blades but I do have to prep well & concentrate so for me they have been a good training tool, I don't think my technique would be as good if I had used a Derby in my Futur from the start.

[Peppery John]

I should probably add a bit of information... I've been using the 38C with the Merkur blades. I have been getting by with good shaves and have gotten past the nicks/bumps and true razor burn. However, my whole face has been a bit warm for several hours after the shave. Until this morning, I'd been attributing that to either a) poor technique or b) face break-in period.

I was shocked by the magnitude of difference in the mornings shave. Based on the knowledge of B&B, I expected a difference btw. the blades. But to be honest, I figured that to an inexperienced person like me, I would be challenged to notice the difference. I don't think that is the case.

My plan now is to more through the different blade progression quicker, as opposed to burning through all of one type. Also, I plan to go back to earlier brands that I think I like to try to eliminate the effect of me being on a steep learning curve.

How often are you shaving? if you're going for close shaves, you may find that 24 hours between shaves is too short a period to allow your skin to recover if you have sensitive skin. You could try shaving every other day or allow at least leave 32 hours between shaves. It's worth trying and much better than going through a load of blades when that may not even be the problem, also it could be a coincidence that you got a better shave with a particular blade as technics can improve quite quickly with DE shaving.

[steveni]

Crystals Are My Blade Of Choice Followed By The Red Personnas.

[MooingLizard]

I like the Crystals, as they don't tear up my face much in my HD. Still, the Dorco 301s I'm using give me a much closer shave, but with nicks and cuts. If I can ever learn to tame the 301 I'll be a happy (and smoothfaced) man.

So many possible blade-and-razor combinations, so little time!:biggrin:

[Radman]

I second the hate for Merkurs!!! by far the worst blade for me.:thumbdown

[kwk285]

This totally is a YMMV. I find little differences between all of the blades that I have tried. Not one of the blades has stood out as inferior or superior. I am leaning towards the Crystals because they are inexpensive and easy to get. I find the Derbys OK as well but do not like doing business on Ebay. I know too many people that have had major problems with Ebay.

[Conrad]

I've had a pretty good experience with Merkurs. Derbys are now my favorite, but I found the Merkurs to be very smooth and rarely irritated my face. Preferences for the best point on the sharpness/smoothness spectrum appear to vary widely.

[Consettmag]

I'm not suited with the Merkur blades at all. I used one for a week and wish I never. Yesterday I ended up with terrible irritation, it was like the Mach 3 days all over again.

I'll stick with the Derby's, they last a week for me easily!

[tim8557]

Merkur: great razors, poor blades.

That says all that needs to be said !

[Jarmo P]

I think they are not good blades.
Used the blade my Merkur 34C came with and then another from the sample pack. I have no real experience more.

[Labarum]

The Merkur blade is the most outsatnding example of the princple that the choice of blade is very personal.

Everyone has to get a sample pack and find out what suits them best.

[Hobbesoxon]

What seems most evil about Merkur blades is their variability: the first of my pack (coincidentally, my first ever DE blades!) gave me a magnificent shave, and lasted about 2 weeks of shaving every other day. Truly smooth.

It got a bit worn, so I went to razor #2 - and it was like shaving blunt. Irritation, lumps, nicks... nasty.

Razor #3 is... OK. It's not as good as the first, but hasn't cut a swathe of devastation as did #2.

I'm switching to a pack of Wilkinson Sword recently obtained from a UK chemist after this #3 Merkur is finished... unpleasant!


Toodlepip,

Hobbes

[falkon]

hmmmm....... Obviously YMMV but I like merkur's. Although a little pricey, they are quite forgiving. I have no problem going XTG although I prefer IP's for such a task. YMMV

[morajam]

A merkur blade ran over my dog and knocked up my girlfriend...

ok... maybe not but i'm no fan either.

[DirtyDave]

I've had good results with Merkur blades, but I think Crystal's are a better buy. Funny but the blade I have had the worse results with are the Feathers. Don't last and tend to nick me.

[duckintheface]

A Merkur really starts cutting my face up on shave #4. A Derby gives at least 7 good shaves.

[rm71]

I got a free 10 pack of merkus with my 38c and expected better of them. I now use Astra Superior platinum. A good blade IMO.

[pjggy]

Given they command a price premium you'd think they'd be better. Perhaps thats why the guy at "edited by AACJ" supplies different blades with the mekur razors they sell. Still to try the Nacet blades I got with the 25c I got from them. Generally prefer Derbys.