I cannot belive it already happened!

[tommyg50]

I've contacted a disease, I did'nt think it would happen so fast - RAD - to be exact. Been reading the threads about DEs and decided I had to have one. Ordered a HD but it was out of stock, so I let the order stand and also ordered a Futur. Being impatient, I went to my fathers house and rummaged around his old saving stuff and found a Gillette slim adjustable and a pack of Personna blades. Shaved with it last night - set the blade to 2 and had a very comfortable shave. Am eagerly awaitng the arrival of my razors and sample pack of blades.

Now come the questions;

1 - Have read a lot about the poor quality of some of the Merkur razors, hopefully this is behind them now.

This is one of my pet peeves with businesses that become popular and then to keep up with the demand QC falls by the way side. I would prefer to be told there is a wait and the quality of the product to be superior.IMHO

2 - When you mention BBS is that in all directions or only WTG?
My shaves of late have been BBS with the grain but with a little stubble against the grain. Is this the way it is or is my technique off?

[Straight Arrow]

The only Merkur razor I own is the HD and it is a good quality razor but not as good as some of the vintage Gillettes in my opinion. Regarding BBS, if you like the comfort and look of your shave, even though you can still feel some stubble going against the grain, I say you have arrived at your everyday optimum shaving level. BBS is, in my opinion, unnecessary. Comfort and presentability are my goals. Besides, by mid-afternoon the whiskers are back anyway. I look at BBS shaves as a once-in-a-while luxury rather than an everyday must-do.

[Treedoc]

BBS is, in my opinion, unnecessary. Comfort and presentability are my goals. Besides, by mid-afternoon the whiskers are back anyway. I look at BBS shaves as a once-in-a-while luxury rather than an everyday must-do.

Rich, this is a great answer and a way of looking at BBS shaves that I had not considered, it makes a lot of sense, thank you.
John.

[Patrick D]

John, lately I've just been going for the looking good finish instead of BBS. When I want BBS and have the time to go for it well, I load up the Vision with a Feather blade, open it up to the "i" and go for it, but there's sometimes a price that's paid, a little rawness is not unusual, which is why it's not a daily practice here!

[BeeWolf]

I absolutely agree. I don't strive very hard for BBS everywhere, not every time I shave. Mostly I like BBS everywhere except I don't go nuts trying to get it just under my chin and jawline. I usually do one WTG pass everywhere, one ATG pass everywhere, and then one XTG across the underside of my jaw, pulling my face upwards with a wash towel. All is done with no pressure, very lightly and very few repeating strokes. The result is a very comfortable and very close shave. And if I can still feel a bit of stubble when running my hand ATG under my jaw, I don't really care that much. The flip side is that I haven't had a nick in a growing number of weeks.

Also, I believe getting that stubble under control in that area is going to be done by careful technique - shaving certain directions, pulling skin this way or that - rather than more passes or more pressure.

[Stauff]

I own six Merkur razors and they're all built like tanks. No complaints whatsoever. Or maybe those Germans are shipping the bad bunches across the pond?

[takehiro12]

First Merkur I received was faulty. The blade wasn't perfectly centered and stuck out more on one side than the other. Sent it back and the replacement is perfect and shaves great.

[RichGem]

2 merkurs here, the "classic" and the "1904"... LOVE them both. I think the QC problems were with the newer/more techno models, but don't remember off the top of my head.

[Hawkeye5]

I would think for Merkur two and three piece razors it would be difficult to screw up quality control. I have a HD and a slant, and Merkur heads on two Edwin Jagger razors.
Every day I try for a BBS shave. 70% of the time I get there. Shoot for the moon and aim high. I just enjoy my day more if I have a BBS shave, or have given it my best shot.

[Christoph]

I have 5 razors and two one the way. It may not be RAD yet but I am certainly high risk for it.

[vespergo]

if you were already able to have a good shave with an old gillette and a pack of personnas then i can only imagine what will happen to you when you get a new rig and some good blades

[HedoDiver]

I have 5 razors and two one the way. It may not be RAD yet but I am certainly high risk for it.

Dude... sorry to break it to you... but that counts as RAD.

[Leisureguy]

If you're going to shave XTG and also ATG, I recommend that the XTG pass be done BEFORE the ATG, rather than after. ATG goes best if the stubble's already been reduced as much as possible.

[ratcheer]

I own six Merkur razors and they're all built like tanks. No complaints whatsoever. Or maybe those Germans are shipping the bad bunches across the pond?

+1

I own two, but I concur. A Classic and a Vision, no problems, whatsoever. Great shaves, too.

Tim

[gigemlee]

I have the OC Classic, and I love it.