Dorco Blades Terrible

[ARW1971]

I have to write this. Used a dorco blade yesterday and it is the worst blade I have ever enountered, so much so I had to change it. In two years of using a slant bar safety razor, this is the first time I have ever had to do this. Even Merkur blades were better!!!

[Luc]

Which Dorco? 300 or 301?

I used the 300, they were all right, still have to get to the 301...

[ARW1971]

Dorco 300 ST. I'm sure two letters were missing.

[Luc]

No, I think that's it, Dorco ST-300... I had those, there were not so bad, however, I never had them in a Slant...

[SRock]

Dorco 300 ST. I'm sure two letters were missing.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

+1 The title of this post says it all!

[SepticTank]

I have to write this. Used a dorco blade yesterday and it is the worst blade I have ever enountered, so much so I had to change it. In two years of using a slant bar safety razor, this is the first time I have ever had to do this. Even Merkur blades were better!!!

A torn pop can would be better than a DullSpoonCo - in my experience (both of them ST-300 and ST-301, although the gulf between sharp and the Dork-O was much narrower with the latter)

[greenbackcut]

I concur....the 300s are terrible!

[Stubblefield]

Dorco 300 ST. I'm sure two letters were missing.
Were the two letters B–E, as in "they were the BEST?" :biggrin::biggrin:

I personally did not get a great shave from them but others have.

[kingfisher]

Guys, I started a thread on this exact same subject about 3 days ago!



However, this morning I had an idea of how I could get at least SOME use out of the Dorcos I have left (8 of the original 10). In my experience they are TERRIBLE on the first pass but so-so on the second and beyond. I happen to have a 12-pack of Walgreens disposable one-blade razors I picked up before I started to use a DE.

So my plan is this: Get rid of the cheap-o disposables and the Dorcos at the same time by doing the first pass with the disposable, and the second/third passes with the Dorcos in my SS. This ought to at least get me two shaves from each disposable and two shaves from each Dorco.

It won't be the BEST shave in the world, but it won't be the WORST, either, and I won't have to waste my blades. (I refuse to PIF the Dorcos to a newbie, because if I had used these blades first, I would have quit DE shaving right away and gone right back to cartridge razors.)

[Joshua Da Silva]

I just got to the 301s in my sample pack and I didn't find them to be too bad. Not the best, that's for sure, but certainly not terrible.

[kingfisher]

I just got to the 301s in my sample pack and I didn't find them to be too bad. Not the best, that's for sure, but certainly not terrible.

There must be something different about our beards. For me they begin to tug the second I put the blade to the face and they don't stop tugging until I stop attempting to shave.:frown:

[poppi]

They, for me, without a doubt are the most horrid little piece of metal on the earth. My face hurts if I'm even in the same room with them. I can do better with broken glass or pieces of flint.

My, I feel better for getting that off my chest. Have a nice day y'all.

[Gravy]

When I jumped into DE last yr. the first blades I tried were from the dollar store. Nothing great but they did the job while reading more on DE shaving. I found out about the Westcoastshaving sampler and looked forward to improved shaving once that arrived.
I tried the Dorcos first and they almost had me rethinking the whole DE shaving thing. The shaves were supposed to improve, not get worse!

I have a theory that people pick a personal favorite blade by whichever blade they try first after a Dorco.

[kingfisher]

I have a theory that people pick a personal favorite blade by whichever blade they try first after a Dorco.

This is great. :lol:

[SavantStrike]

I tried a ST 300 once. I used it more than one day too. If I tried to ATG with it that's when the pain started, but if I didn't go ATG, they were smooth as silk. Sure they give a crappy shave, but they're comfortable. They have to have a niche somewhere :wink:.

[SCWilson]

I've used the ST-300s and got an ok shave out of them (never tried them in a slant, so I can't say what I'd think of that experiance). I'm finishing up my pack of them though.

After searching for a while, I tried the Dorco ST-301s. Those are a completely different ballgame! I used about 3 or 4 blades before I decided that I really liked them. I bought 200 blades. I only meant to by 100, but oh well. Now I have plenty of blades for my Slim Adjustable. :biggrin:

[SRock]

I tried a ST 300 once. I used it more than one day too. If I tried to ATG with it that's when the pain started, but if I didn't go ATG, they were smooth as silk. Sure they give a crappy shave, but they're comfortable. They have to have a niche somewhere :wink:.

That's kind of how I experienced it to. They are ok WTG, but XTG is uncomfortable and ATG is impossible. I gave the last of my Dorky Dorco blades away.

[David in Boston]

I just got to the 301s in my sample pack and I didn't find them to be too bad. Not the best, that's for sure, but certainly not terrible.

Tried the 301s.

They give a DFS with my Super Speeds and Techs.

Plus I can get them for .13 cents each so now they are part of my rotation.

David

[soapbox]

I have a theory that people pick a personal favorite blade by whichever blade they try first after a Dorco.

:lol: Awesome.


I tried a ST 300 once. I used it more than one day too. If I tried to ATG with it that's when the pain started, but if I didn't go ATG, they were smooth as silk. Sure they give a crappy shave, but they're comfortable. They have to have a niche somewhere :wink:.

Your observation is a fair one. I'm a social scientist and thus shackled by "statistical significance" and increasing the number of observations to analyze a problem. I often try to revisit equipment that hasn't worked well for me in the past, to see if it's really that bad. Dorcos, time and again, fail the test. However, the 301s are acceptable for shaving my head. There are a multitude of better options, and I just won't use a 300 ever again, but the 301s have their place. I also don't recall ever not shaving against the grain with a blade when trying it out, so perhaps WTG and XTG would work fine for the 301s. However, there are better blades for nearly the same price out there. And I'm happy to pay double the price of a Dorco blade to get a great shave.

[Kratos]

I didn't have too terrible a time with them. Just mediocre shaves, not the best blade for me.

[Mr Whiskers]

For me, my Dorco 301's = :thumbdown

[soapbox]

For reference, here's the other recent Dorco thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1211856).

[htownmmm]

They, for me, without a doubt are the most horrid little piece of metal on the earth. My face hurts if I'm even in the same room with them. I can do better with broken glass or pieces of flint.

My, I feel better for getting that off my chest. Have a nice day y'all.

best description of a bad blade I have heard to date.


marty

[New2DEShaving_Montreal]

My rule for the Dorco 300 is simple. 1 shave and throw.

[Brodirt]

I agree ShiTe-300!

[SavantStrike]

:lol: Awesome.



Your observation is a fair one. I'm a social scientist and thus shackled by "statistical significance" and increasing the number of observations to analyze a problem. I often try to revisit equipment that hasn't worked well for me in the past, to see if it's really that bad. Dorcos, time and again, fail the test. However, the 301s are acceptable for shaving my head. There are a multitude of better options, and I just won't use a 300 ever again, but the 301s have their place. I also don't recall ever not shaving against the grain with a blade when trying it out, so perhaps WTG and XTG would work fine for the 301s. However, there are better blades for nearly the same price out there. And I'm happy to pay double the price of a Dorco blade to get a great shave.

I think what you're saying here has the most merit. Honestly if it doesn't work out, don't bother, there are plenty of other options available and DE blades just aren't that expensive.

[Topgumby]

I'm glad to be the exception to the rule in this case...I get great shaves out of the ST-301, and that includes ATG, XTG, WTG...My beard isn't soft as a mouse belly nor is it made from depleted uranium. I toss 'em after about three or four multipass shaves.

The ST-300 didn't do as well for me but it wasn't terrible. I'd rate it as being about on par with Personnas from American Safety Razor.

I really think the scorn heaped on Dorco blades has to come from:


The name - It just sounds bad, no doubt about that. Should have named them "Seoul Man Blades" or "Kimchi Kutters".
The price - Cheap has to be bad, right? Just look at those crappy Palmolive shave sticks...
Lord of the Flies peer pressure - Hey, to be cool I gotta help push these fat kid Korean blades over the internet cliff!
DNA - There's a magic gene that makes some people have facial hair that is totally resistant to Korean steel.


Anyway, if you can't abide to be in the same room with these suckers then by all means send them my way...

[Jelle]

DNA - There's a magic gene that makes some people have facial hair that is totally resistant to Korean steel.


:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

[soapbox]

I really think the scorn heaped on Dorco blades has to come from:


The name - It just sounds bad, no doubt about that. Should have named them "Seoul Man Blades" or "Kimchi Kutters".

Besides the obvious statement that you should go into marketing :smile:, I don't think that this is it -- plenty of ESL folks here on the board.


The price - Cheap has to be bad, right? Just look at those crappy Palmolive shave sticks...

I think for the same price, Red Pack Israelis (IPs) are much, much better for me to use than Dorco 301s.


Lord of the Flies peer pressure - Hey, to be cool I gotta help push these fat kid Korean blades over the internet cliff!

We all fall in to this trap from time to time -- I think it's most true for Merkur blades, actually. I think Merkurs are mediocre, but they catch a lot of flak. If you go back a few years, Merkurs didn't catch so much hell from the B&B. I think you're correct here.


DNA - There's a magic gene that makes some people have facial hair that is totally resistant to Korean steel.

:lol: Awesome. I feel so...Tolkien-ized.

[rainman]

I like either Dorco blade. No problems.

[blantyre]

My fortunately limited experience with Dorco blades have been consistently miserable. Apparently this is normal.

[rm71]

Hmmm.. YMMV.I've shaved with the ST-300's. They weren't that bad. An OK shave but not brilliant.

[wizard]

What is it they say YMMV! I've been using them both over a month now & the only problem I've encountered is the 300 dull quicker (3) shaves & the 301 (5) shaves. I put off using them in my sample pack till I read about some people here that liked them. The best part is the cost! 100 blades for less then $10.00 shipped off the bay. I feel lucky that my face likes them. Come to think of it, I really can't say I've gotten a horrible shave from any certain type of blade. Not that I haven't had a bad shave from a bad blade, poor mix of a cream or soap or just being in to big of a hurry.
I am sorry to hear so many that can't use them though. I guess that is why there are so so many blade types out there...

[PaulUK]

I tries the Dorco ST-300 in my Merkur Futur and wasn't impressed at all.
The ST-301 s were better.

[talibeard]

I need 4 st-301's to complete one, hardly mediocre, shave. I can get two crappy shaves out of a st-300. That would make the st-300 the better blade for me but really; I rather pass on both...

[zoom]

I've been using them out my WCS sample pack for the last weeks. I don't have much to compare them to since I have just started into the samples, but the Merkur blade that came with my razor seemed a little better and lasted longer, but I was able to get some o.k. shaves.

WCS recommended to use these first out of the sample pack. Now I gather that there is a reason for that.

[Fozziebear]

Anyway, if you can't abide to be in the same room with these suckers then by all means send them my way...

Although my experience is fairly limited (ST-300, Merkur, Derby), I was still able to 2 decent shaves from the ST-300. This is about ... um ... 2 decent shaves more than I was able to get from the Merkurs.

If you don't want 'em, don't toss 'em. Send them to someone who likes them (or doesn't dislike them). We're out there. Really. :a29: Okay, well maybe not that many, but there are at least a few of us. :001_smile

Cheers,
Matthew

[Sabre]

I posted on the other site, that the Dorco's maybe made under license in China:


http://www.runweiblade.com/en/cp_re....=596&specid=66


Do Dorco make any in Korea? or are they are made in China? Is it the Chinese blade that provide the bad shaves if sold in the distribution chain?

[morijinal]

Dorco 301 aren't so bad. I use them WTG. Dispose of after every shave. They seem to work better in my 61 Fatboy than in my Merkur HD.

The shaves aren't terribly close, but they are very cheap, and I can't make myself buy more blades until I have used up my 100 blade stash!

[soapbox]

I posted on the other site, that the Dorco's maybe made under license in China:


http://www.runweiblade.com/en/cp_re....=596&specid=66


Do Dorco make any in Korea? or are they are made in China? Is it the Chinese blade that provide the bad shaves if sold in the distribution chain?

Great Scott! (http://www.runweiblade.com/en/cp.asp?pagenum=1&specid=66)

It looks like they make Dorcos, Derbys, and (gack!) one of my favorites: Super Iridiums. Or, maybe they make knockoffs of Derbys, Super Iridiums, and Schicks (look at the "sekich" blades, and the font-- they're dead ringers for Schick). See also the "Weiye" blades on that page -- they look like Derby (ahem) "inspired" packaging.

[Rufust445]

Dorco ST-301's were my first bulk buy, last year when my technique wasn't as good as now.

Last time I used one was during the Christmas holidays when I was travelling, in a Slim Adjustable. Great shaves.

Wouldn't hesitate to put one in a razor tomorrow, but I've been having too much fun trying other blades and revisiting other brands, now that my technique has settled down.

Smooth, forgiving and just sharp enough, I can get plenty close without paying very close attention to technique like I do with a Super Iridium.

[JimBow]

Here are my personal experiences with the ST-300 and ST-301's:

ST-300

I used this kind for about a week and a half with the same razor. It was a ball-ended Tech, and I switched out the blade after every third shave so as to keep the blade from getting too dull. To me, the blade seemed to give a DFS the first two shaves, but it took considerably more effort on the third shave to get to DFS. Not the best blade, or the sharpest, but you can get 100 for $8. To some, that's enough. For the rest of us, I'd avoid the 300's unless you're really just about saving money.


ST-301


I have recently tried out this one, seeing as how I already tried the 300's.
I've been using this in my usual rotation of three razors, so I'm confident of my ability to judge this one. Again, I would dispose of the blade after three shaves to avoid dullness. The first two shaves would give me BBS, no doubt about it. The third seemed to give a DFS/near BBS, with a little more effort being needed. It's not nearly as sharp as my Derby Extras, but it's a good runner-up for me. You can get 100 for $12, which is a good deal.


So, in conclusion, you can spend $8 and get a lot of so-so blades, or spend $4 more and get some pretty good blades. Either way, you're putting very little money into a crap shoot of a blade. If you're bored and want to try something new, go ahead and spend a few bucks. If you're unwilling, you're really not missing out on much. There are plenty of other blades that do the job better, and even more that do the job worse.


My verdict?

300 = blah
301 = not bad



I hope this adds to the confusion!!!

[David in Boston]

Great review Soldier!

David

[bearbear]

There must be something different about our beards. For me they begin to tug the second I put the blade to the face and they don't stop tugging until I stop attempting to shave.:frown:

I could probably get a better shave with less burn using 600grit wet sandpaper.
The 301s took more skin than hair, tried in my shavette, 58 and 73 ss, ball end tech and a krona. All shaves were unbearable.

i don't like to waste, so i've found i can get a bear-able one blade one shave if i strop the blades prior to use, which really only lasts about 1 pass.

First time round, i made the mistake of using pinaud bay rum as an aftershave. I'd honestly compare it to having been mased.