Just starting out

[SLR_65]

Hi Guys,

My wife usually does the shopping but she was on a trip so I did the shopping and I was absolutely floored by the cost of the triple edge blades my two boys and I had been using! Especially when I realized that my boys don't think you can use a blade for more than one shave! The Jack Benny really came out in me!

I started looking around and decided to give my father's old double edge razor a try and so far I've been pretty successful - I've been able to miss the carotid artery anyway :smile: and haven't had any real problem with knicks, just the occasional razor burn and even at that it's not been bad.

My boys have given up though! Especially my 20 year old! He just couldn't shave without knicking himself up. He has a dimple on his chin and kept sliceing it off. It didn't help when I pointed out that eventually it'll get sliced down level and wont be a problem any more! :biggrin: Evidently plastic surgery via double edge razor just doesn't appeal to him!

I told the boys they could use the DE and could even use a new blade for each shave, but I wasn't buying any more of the triple edge blades -> especially since I couldn't get them to shave more than once with them! They aren't happy but have now went out and spent their own money on triple edge razor blades and now they seem to be able to use them for a bit longer, imagine that!

Anyway, so far I'm doing OK but I'm wondering if a razor change isn't in order. My father has passed away and Mom just gave me Dad's old razor. She said the blades got hard to find so he quit using a DE years ago. The one we found isn't the one I remember him using, I remember him using one with a silver head and black handle and you twisted the bottom of the handle to open a trap door at the top to expose the blade. The one we found is a gold Gillette and I can't find a date on it anywhere. I think it's similar to the first one shown in the Gillette sticky and the author says he doesn't recommend it. I think I'm going to stick with this so I wouldn't mind spending ~$50 or so to buy a good razor. I don't have the camera handy, but I've attached a couple photos of a razor I found on eBay that's just like the one I'm using (though mine is in much better shape). Whatta ya think - get a new razor? If so, which one for a biginner?

Beyond that razor I'm using some Personna blades from Walmart. I think I'll order some Israeli Red Box blades shortly though. I've been using a new blade for each shave just because they are so cheap and I thought it would help eliminate a variable (i.e. did I get a sucky shave because I was doing something wrong or because the blade was dull? A new blade eliminates that question). I've also went completely retro and also picked up some Van Der Hagen Deluxe Shave Soap from Walmart and it seems to work well, though reading the soap reviews here I may splurge and try some Tabac. It isn't a huge lather, but works nicely. Even if I give up on using a DE razor I think I'll keep using shaving soap! I also picked up a shaving brush from Walmart - a Van Der Hagen boar hair brush. I know badger is recommended but this one seems to work fine for me, though I think I may order a Tweezerman badger brush just to compare.

Anyway, just checking in and thought I'd ask about my razor.

Take Care,

Steve

[crankymoose]

Steve, Welcome to B&B

FYI you can but Tabac refills just the puck without the ceramic jar relatively cheap at Amazon and plenty of other sites for under $13. put it in your own bowl and you have a great quality soap that with everyday use will last well at least 6 months maybe a year, I don't think I have ever read of anyone finishing one, I have been working on mine off and on for 2 years without barely a dent in it

[Gruder]

Welcome to B&B! The Gillette you're currently using is a tech -- it's a fine razor, but a bit too mild for many (meaning that you end up making extra passes, resulting in burn, etc.). The razor you describe sounds like a black-handled superspeed. I do indeed think that those perform better than many techs.

All that said, my personal recommendation is the Merkur HD. I think you'll find it similar to the tech you've been using in head design (and thus easy to get accustomed to), but superior in shave quality. As for your sons, well, good luck!

[40_Caliber]

Howdy!

[SLR_65]

Thanks guys!

I just surfed around a bit and my razor is indeed a tech - thanks for the id!

I think I'll go for the Merkur HD as it sounds like my Tech may be a bit mild for me as my only real issue has been the occasional razor burn and I do seem to have to make several passes to get the shave I want. The Merkur seems rasonable enough and if I don't like it I'm sure I could peddle it and go back to my Tech (though from what I gather reading the forum here it seems you really can't have too many razors :smile: so I'm sure I'd hold on to it for the occasional whim to try something different again).

I think Dad's razor I remember was adjustable, but again it's disappeared. I think this Tech razor is one he kept in the camper as now that I think about it I think I remember seeing it in there.

He also used to have a red handled shaving brush that sat in the cabinet for years, but I don't recall him ever using it I just remember the trusty can of Barb-o-Sol sitting in the cabinet. Mom said the brush left many years ago when they remodeled the bathroom and cleaned out the cabinet.

Though Dad was still using a DE when I learned to shave I had older brothers and they used the newer plastic handled razors that resemble the ones available now. I think they had two blades but the head did not pivot and you changed them by sliding the head sideways. Since the heads didn't pivot I guess I learned to keep a good angle and that's helped now with the DE, though my boys have always had pivoting heads and are having a much harder time of it with the DE (well, had a much harder time - they've already given up on the DE!).

Thanks for the tips and the welcome! . . . back to reading the forum, WOW! What a bunch of stuff to catch up on!

Take Care,

Steve

[netsurfr]

Welcome to B&B!

[rainman]

The red IP's are a good choice for a blade. Good quality at a low cost. You should be able to get 100 of them for less than $15 shipped. I get four shaves per blade. I recommend getting the progress for an adjustable razor.

[Dustinl]

Steve,

Welcome to Badger & Blade!!!

DL

[zpb101]

One of the best things I did was getting a sampler pack of blades from West Coast Shaving. Although there is some consensus on bad blades - the contenders - derby, dorco, reds, swedes, feathers - are really up to personal preference and your face.

[thirdeye]

Steve, Welcome to B&B,,,Enjoy the shave!!!

[pal]

Welcome and I hope the HD works for you.

[DunEdinRanger]

Welcome!

Did you and the boys watch Mantic's videos? I think that would be a great help.

Maybe I missed it, but are the kids making their own lather? If not, that would be a huge improvement in shave quality.

I think that a combination of the videos, shave brush and warm lather, zero pressure and better blades will help the boys stick with DE shaving.

I have one of those dimples and it requires a feather light touch, care, and patience, but it can be done.

[SLR_65]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the welcomes and advice!

Yes, I've watched the videos - good stuff!

The boys have tried the soap/brush but are more interested in speed than "fun" (yeah, I find the brush and soap fun!).

I believe the boys are done with the foray into DE razors!

It's kinda humorous, my kids kinda remind me of the Queen of England sometimes . . . they get this high pitched whiny voice and usually start out with "We are not happy . . ." :lol:

I'm flipping a coin right now between the Merkur HD and Progress. I will be honest, I AM the type to "tweak" things, so I'm thinking the Progress may get me into trouble so I'm leaning towards the HD. I'll make a choice and get one ordered by tomorrow. The HD is reasonably priced so if I don't like it it's not like it's a major thing (heck it costs about what I used to pay for 12 throw away blades!!!)

Take Care,

Steve

[scottydoint]

Welcome Steve!

I'd say go for a vintage Gillette.

[DunEdinRanger]

How about the Barber Pole HD in the snazzy red or blue? :biggrin:

[oldmodnz]

I'd say go for a vintage Gillette.

+1

And welcome :001_smile

[kzoo1]

Welcome back to the "old way" of shaving.:001_smile

[rsvossen]

Welcome to B&B!

[SRock]

Welcome Steve, glad to have you as a member!

[TFrankMac2140]

Welcome to B&B Steve! Enjoy!:thumbup1:

[profsaffel]

Great opening. You are most welcome. :cool:

[Anton von Tripp]

Dear Steve,
Excellent first and second posts - well done.
Don't worry too much about your boys - it is the duty of teenagers to wind their parents up and to treat anything they say as the vapourings of aged imbeciles - that is why God created them.
Interesting secondary point too - I wonder what razor HM uses?
Welcome aboard.

Cordially, AvT.

[SLR_65]

THANKS for the warm welcome guys!

We may have new members soon . . . we got to discussing shaving at work today on lunch break and several of the guys were amazed you could still get DE razors, blades, and . . . shaving soap! Most of the guys remembered soap fondly and most commented they were headed out to Wally World to pick some up after work! I referred them all to this web site so I'll bet we pick some new members up! :smile:

It's amazing how the conversation picks up when bring this up, it seems EVERYONE is sick and tired of being ripped off with the new plastic multiblade shavers!

I'm on the fence with my razor. The Merkur HD has very good reviews here, but I'm thinking the Progress may be nice too since it's adjustable. Are there any real differences between the two beyond the adjustability?

I do like to tweak, but knowing that switching settings all the time is a sure fire way to ginsu up my face I think I could muster enough self control to just set it on one setting for while till I get my technique going good.

Sooo, what are the thoughts? Do you guys with adjustable razors actually adjust them or do you usually just leave them on one setting?

I found an earlier post about shimming up razors and I'm wondering if adding a shim would make my Gillette Tech more aggressive? It's not that I'm cheap (though I am! :smile: ), I just like using my Dad's old razor so if I could make it work a bit better it would be great. If not though I can leave it set in the medicen cabinet along with my new one, no biggie.

Thanks again for the warm welcome and great advice!

Steve

[SLR_65]

Never mind . . . I made up my mind and went with the Merkur 34C HD!

Now to go stand by the mail box . . .

[TFrankMac2140]

Never mind . . . I made up my mind and went with the Merkur 34C HD!

Now to go stand by the mail box . . .

Nice choice. Great razor. I'm in love with mine. Hope you like it!

[nrek619]

welcome to da B&B!!!!!!! now....start posting!!!!:biggrin:

[SLR_65]

Hi Guys,

New toys arrived today - Israeli Red Box blades and a Merkur HD!

OK, I've been using an old Gillette Tech, Walmart Personna blades, and the VDH soap from Walmart with a VDH board hair brush.

I had been doing OK, no major knicks or anything but I have a thick beard and I was having trouble getting close shaves. Because I had to make so many passes I was getting some razor burn. I finally decided to cut down to just three passes - one wtg, one xtg, and one atg. If I missed something I didn't worry about it - just figured I'd pick it up tomorrow and that helped the razor burn a alot.

I got lazy the last couple days though and didn't shave and last night's shave was terrible - just a real fight! I could feel each whisker as it cut (and I've been changing blades with each shave just to eliminate a dull blade variable) and I ended up with a pretty good razor burn.

Today's shave was excellent though! First my wife found a bigger mug thingie and I can really work up a lather in it so I had a better lather (though I'm getting pretty good at face lathering). Then I picked up some witch hazel and generic Old Spice at Family Dollar today. The witch hazel felt really good and didn't smell that bad (kinda vanilla like). The Old Spice burnt a bit though! And, I'd forgotten it's what my late father used to wear so I keep catching a whif of it and looking around for Dad!

As I said, I got new toys today. I know I shouldn't change things mid-ship, but I wanted to try the israeli blades as they are cheaper than the Walmart blades and from what I'd read I thought the Merkur HD may help with my razor burn. Boy was I right! First up was the sound, it just sounds like it's mowing the whiskers down! Second off was that I wasn't feeling any pulling on my whiskers -> I'm betting that's due to the Israeli blades being sharper. The Merkur just feels better balanced too!

My face is still a little sore from last night, but all in all today's shave was much better than any I've had to date! :smile:

However . . . I'd like to think this is a manly thing I'm doing here, but I've got more paraphanalia going on in the bathroom than my wife and daughter! :blushing: Oh well, at least I'm enjoying shaving now instead of it just being a chore!

Thanks for everything guys - all the advice given here has been spot on!

Steve

[SLR_65]

Hi Guys,

Just an update.

I've been using the Iraeli Red Box Personnas and the Merkur HD for a couple weeks now.

It's been so-so. It started out promising and I've gotten some pretty close shaves but I keep getting some razor burn on my right cheek and my chin. No matter how light of a touch, just going with the grain, etc. I always end up with a razor burn in those two places. I actually skipped shaving a couple days to give my face a little time to heal up. I'm sure I have the angle right as I start horizontal and then come down slowly until I can hear the blade cutting.

This is in contrast to when I was using the Gillette Tech as my cheeks and chin were fine then but I got some razor burn on my neck. With the Merkur HD my neck is fine, but I razor burn my cheek and chin.

I hadn't tried the new blades in the old Gillette Tech (I had been using some Personna blades from WalMart in it when I first started) so this morning on a whim I gave the new blades and the old Tech a shot. Boy, what a difference! The Tech shave MUCH better with a decent blade in it!

This shave my cheek and chin are just fine, but as with my pervious experience with the Tech I have a hard time shaving my neck close so I make too many passes and ended up with some razor burn on my neck. Not bad though, if I had to choose one razor right now I think I'd stick with the Tech as the neck razor burn isn't as bad as what I get on my cheek and chin with the HD.

If I could just combine the two razors I'd have it made! :wink:

I'm thinking I may use the Tech on my cheeks and chin tomorrow and use the HD on my neck just to see how it goes.

I'm considering a couple things also - maybe trying some Feather blades in both razors and maybe moving to an adjustable razor, what would be a good adjustable razor to try? (new or vintage doesn't make much difference to me)

Thanks guys!

Steve