Newb went shopping - Which one to use?

**Fotoman** · 07-28-2009, 08:51 PM

After reading this site till I went cross eyed, I went to a local antique shop and found a few razors. I couldn't decide which was best for me so I bought 5 of them for about $35 US.

I am hoping I have identified them correctly. Please let me know if I haven't.
L-R
Slim (G4) Inks all there
Fatboy (E3) Inks all there
1950's? Blue Tip (No date code)
1950's? British Flair?
1932 British Tech

They all look in really great shape through my newbs eyes and I hope I did ok, but now I need to know which one to learn to shave with?

I have been shaving with a cartridge, Nivea moisturizing shaving cream, Nivea sensitive skin moisturizing after shave and an inexpensive unknown brush from a drug store.

I experience lots of razor burn and bumps shaving this way in the shower, and would like suggestions how to convert over to one of the above DE's.

Any help would be appreciated before I slit my throat using the wrong razor to learn with.

Thanks

Bill

**michiganlover** · 07-28-2009, 08:57 PM

Holy crap!! You robbed that store blind, at $35.00 for 5 very nice condition razors, and one of them happens to be a very nice condition fat boy to boot!! The Fat Boy alone is probably worth $30.00 by itself!!

As for what to shave with first, you want a mild razor, as they tend to be more forgiving of imperfect technique. That being said, your best bets are either the Blue Tipped Superspeed, or the Tech. Both should suit you very well to learn on.

What do you have in terms of blades? You will want to purchase a blade sampler very quickly. See here:

http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/blsapa.html

http://westcoastshaving.com/index.ph...=index&cPath=2

**fidjit** · 07-28-2009, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by Fotoman

1950's? British Flair?

Good pick up on identifying that one. Most people would probably assume it's a US Flair. Note the gap between the TTO when the doors are closed. I"m guessing the gap "disappears" when you open the doors.

( Then again the made in England probably gives that away

)

Good pickup !!!!

If the Fatboy alone is worth the price, the British flair definitely makes it so

Note that the nomenclature on this one is a bit ambiguous. Is it a rocket, is it a flair rocket ????

On an Australian advertisement on Mr Razors site it's just know as "automatic razor "

Check out The Shave Den - Forums - Safety Razors - Sticky - Gillette Rocket The refined DE by MTGrayling for more info on British Razors.

**Fotoman** · 07-28-2009, 09:06 PM

Please don't arrest me!

I guess I did OK with the razors, is the rest of the kit OK to start with?

The only blades I could find locally to start with are Gillette. Don't know anything about them except I will be ordering a sample pack right away as these were about $13 for 10.

Is one sample pack better than another?

**rm71** · 07-28-2009, 11:40 PM

Great find! The flair tip is a lovely starter DE.

**mdunn** · 07-29-2009, 05:57 AM

i'd start with the tech. Nice and mild, and no adjustments to get in the way while you get started

**AECUSN** · 07-29-2009, 09:18 AM

Nice score!

**vitaman** · 07-29-2009, 10:42 AM

WOW! Another vote for the Tech.

**studioguy** · 07-29-2009, 11:00 AM

Nice finds!!

My vote would be the Tech or the Fatboy set at 2. Both should be mild and great shaves.

BrightFutur · 07-29-2009, 11:11 AM

What a score! Those razors are in *beautiful* condition for the price you got them at! Amazing deal compared to antique stores around here (22 bucks for a British new that is actually corroded to the point where it looks like there are no teeth!)

I second recommends for the tech!

**Fotoman** · 07-29-2009, 12:59 PM

Thanks for all the positive remarks. Looks like I did ok. For the record i did clean them up following the directions in the wiki.

Look like I will try the Tech first, then the Blue Tip or the British Flare Rocket (thanks for the link Fidjit).

Thanks for your suggestions!

**OpusX** · 07-29-2009, 01:01 PM

I only have a Slim for now, but I found it to be a great shave. As I was a bit worried on technique I was happy to know I could adjust the razor to where I was comfortable with it. All in all, it was much better than the multibladed razors I have previously used.

**michiganlover** · 07-29-2009, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Fotoman

The only blades I could find locally to start with are Gillette. Don't know anything about them except I will be ordering a sample pack right away as these were about $13 for 10.

Is one sample pack better than another?

Sampler packs are all, for the most, equally good. Try to get one that includes both Derby blades, and Feather blades. If you buy the larger packs, you get more blade brands to sample/ choose from. I would avoid sampler packs that focus on just one particular brand.

As for the Gillette's, they can be really good, or really bad. The Gillette Seven O'Clocks are very well regarded, but if your blades are these:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18058

they are pretty much regarded as some of the worst ever made.

**FreezerBurns** · 07-29-2009, 02:36 PM

I vote for the one all the way on the right (whatever that's called). I have one similar to that and it produces a nice mild shave.

**senorsignor** · 07-29-2009, 02:44 PM

Honestly, if you can truly restrain yourself from trying all of them in the first week, rather than just sticking to the tech, maybe this forum isn't for you. ;)
That is a VERY nice selection and should give you a very thorough vintage Gillette experience.

**Yooper** · 07-29-2009, 03:15 PM

Wow, you did well with that group purchase! All look to be great shape. I'm still looking for an elusive antique shop in my area that has that type of treasure on hand. Congratulations - let us know how they all work for you.

(+1 on starting with the Tech)

**DunEdinRanger** · 07-29-2009, 03:28 PM

That's a great score! Congrats on the haul!

**dbconlin** · 07-29-2009, 03:42 PM

Great find!

And any one of those razors should be great for a noob - my recommendation would be to start with one of the adjustables (whichever one feels more comfortable in your hand) on 2 and switch to 3 pretty quick if you don't get enough cutting power. Once you get the hang of it, try kicking it up to 4 or 5.

I shaved for my first 3 months with a slim on 3, trying assorted blades, before I tried upping the adjustment dial. It makes a major difference, so if doing it over I would try it a little sooner than I did.

My 2 cents.

**ProfMike** · 07-29-2009, 08:18 PM

Nice score!! Awesome collection, especially for the price. I wish I could say more about what you found, but the only thing I've got that comes close to these are my 1953 Gillette red-tip. It's great for my tough beard, but if you prefer something milder the blue-tip might be for you.

Let us know what you think as you try them out.

**fidjit** · 07-29-2009, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by Fotoman

Look like I will try the Tech first, then the Blue Tip or the British Flare Rocket (thanks for the link Fidjit).

No problems at all.

Something to consider...........

I started off with 3 razors I bought as a "lot". I decided on one razor to start myself with .......was kinda easy as one of them was a slim, something that I considered to be "a razor" unlike the other two ( tech/knack ).

Over the next couple of months however I found about another 9 different razors and as I've found them , I've moved between all the razors.

I think I'd have been better off sticking with just 1 razor for the first month or more to hone my technique rather than jumping around .

Given you've got 7 razors ready to go I know it'll be hard......

Just my 2c worth ( 2.2c in Australia with GST ) .