Mach 3 wins...So far

[yohimbe2]

Gentleman,

I am 43 years old and although a newbie here, I like to think I am a shaving expert. Call me the human rasp. My wife and children are constantly mangled my my VERY tough barbed wire stubble. (seriously, I think I could sand wood) I've tried everything over the years but my favorites are the Mach 3 or good news plain----without pivot razor. My routine consists of using the blade from the previous day for pass 1, and then using a new blade for pass two. Pass #2 is ATG with an advanced "buffing" motion as seen in a few videos on youtube. (something I learned on my own--but was pleased to see was an advanced technique.) I shave in the shower with a mirror. (barbasol red cream)

So I dumped $300 on DE blades razors, bowls, creams, after shaves, etc....

With a brush and good soap/cream, my mach 3 still wins. If I have an hour to shave , my merkur can provide a great shave, but it takes way too much time and may bring out my styptic pencil.. I can shave like buffing maniac against the grain with a MACH 3. No go with DE. Very slow and risky..............

AM I just being real? The Merkur Futur is not what I hoped it would be.

[mandoman]

Welcome to B&B and it take time to get proper technique with a DE but when you do you will be giving your self one of the best shave you ever had just keep trying

[Foyle]

+1

Shaving is entirely pragmatic. If it's works, it works. But hey, you've invested $300 into DE shaving. Why not spend time mastering it? You might surprise yourself.

From my own experience, my first DE shaves were not as good as cartridge shaves but with time this has changed. My DE shaves are much better than I can get with a cartridge now.

[40boy]

2 passes then a new Mach 3 cartridge?

[Greg1911]

Everyone is different but I hated the mach 3 and Fusion and Quattros I wasted money on.

The 2 blade Sensor is the last cartridge razor that I've liked.

[Sledgehammer39]

Welcome Aboard Yohimbe2. I will echo what others has said to me in the past and that is whatever works for you. If it's a Fusion, Quattro, Mach 3, rusty nail, DE/SE whatever. If the Mach 3 works great for you the keep at it . For me the cost of carts were crazy could not justify that expense. I have settled on my DE and SE combo and I am very happy with it. Takes me about a good 10 mins for a near bbs shave. For travel by air I use my Atra or Trac II.

[yohimbe2]

Welcome Aboard Yohimbe2. I will echo what others has said to me in the past and that is whatever works for you. If it's a Fusion, Quattro, Mach 3, rusty nail, DE/SE whatever. If the Mach 3 works great for you the keep at it . For me the cost of carts were crazy could not justify that expense. I have settled on my DE and SE combo and I am very happy with it. Takes me about a good 10 mins for a near bbs shave. For travel by air I use my Atra or Trac II.

OK, here it is. I'm sick of paying a fortune for blades. There are items in the shopping list that you never want to pay $$$ for, even if your doing alright. Razor blades are one of the items I HATE paying for.....So here I am, back at DE after well over 20 years. Considering I use a new blade for every shave, you can see how it adds up.

I have a Merkur Futur, Derby's, feathers, Merkurs, nice supply of oils, after shaves and brushes. (Cheap and expensive all badger) I've tried face lathering, bowl lathering, and hand lathering. GREAT STUFF ! I shave in the shower with a foggless dripping mirror. (love it)

Now being real with myself, I used the brush, fancy oils and soap with the Mach three. VERY nice shave. I'll keep at it with the Merkur, but so far the DE is far behind....

[vitaman]

Prep is very important with traditional shaving. You might try shaving after you shower and treat your beard with some hair conditioner. Until you get your technique right, you might benefit from better prep and not having the shower thin out or dissipate your cream or soap. Hope that helps.

[Obi Wan]

When I started DE shaving it would take me 45 minutes to get a shave I was happy with. 10 months down the line and I can now get a better shave then a cartridge in 10minutes and in 2 passes with a safety razor. Boy am I glad I stuck at it. My skin has improved. I can shave everyday now and not worry about it. Cartridge razors are easy to get good results from, but with practice you can get better results with a safety razor.

In other words do you prefer your jacket potato from a microwave or a conventional oven? I know which I prefer

[Sledgehammer39]

OK, here it is. I'm sick of paying a fortune for blades. There are items in the shopping list that you never want to pay $$$ for, even if your doing alright. Razor blades are one of the items I HATE paying for
...

Yup carts are expensive . I don't know where you are located but I know the folks in the USA pay less for the same cart systems that we have in Canada. Even at Costco or Walmart Canada it was bloody highway robbery. That was my motivation $40 dollars a month on carts or put that money towards a utility bill.

[yohimbe2]

When I started DE shaving it would take me 45 minutes to get a shave I was happy with. 10 months down the line and I can now get a better shave then a cartridge in 10minutes and in 2 passes with a safety razor. Boy am I glad I stuck at it. My skin has improved. I can shave everyday now and not worry about it. Cartridge razors are easy to get good results from, but with practice you can get better results with a safety razor.

In other words do you prefer your jacket potato from a microwave or a conventional oven? I know which I prefer

When I make pasta, I use flour and eggs...when I make marinara or bolognese, I hand pick the tomatoes off vines, peal and seed them and cook them in good quality olive oil...Reggiano anyone?

I don't mind an extra effort for quality, but am willing to admit when a good blade is better....So far, the DE are not measuring up.

But then again, maybe my beard is much tougher than most? I dont see much talk here about beard difficulty..

Last thought. Why do professional barbers use Mach 3's? I researched it and was ver surprised to see many high end salons using these blades. And why does Merkur make a handle for the Mach 3 blade? I really want to love these cheap blades, but so far my Mach 3 stays on my shelf. Just being real. I have a feeling there is a strong case of the "emperors new clothers" here on this forum...............

[craig87c]

If it works for you, good on you.

For most of us, DE or SE razors work better. I in particular avoid most of the irritation and ingrowns that I always got with multibladed carts. I enjoy taking my time with it and getting better shaves. As we always say, YMMV.

I think the answer to why barbers use cart razors is that they're idiot-proof. You don't really need to think about angle and pressure with them. Merkur makes a Mach 3 handle because it makes them a boatload of money. They're a lot easier to produce than a DE is, I'd think.

[klm099]

I am 62 years old, been wet shaving since I was 12, guess I'm an expert as well, I have a dozen or so DEs in regular rotation (includes 3 new Merkurs, EJ, Muhle, and about 5 vintage Gillettes and Schicks) and a few SE that I will use when I feel like it. I get an excellent shave in under 10 minutes, use a blade for 3 - 5 days, have no irritation, no ingrown hairs, no bumps

I spend zero time worrying about buffing or j hooking and I don't cork my blades, I just shave like I have for 50 years, 2 passes, the first with and across the grain the 2nd pass is against the grain with free hand pulling the skin tight

I refuse to buy into any hype that using a hunk of plastice that will not degrade for many years, if ever can produce as a satisfactory and enjoyable shave as these DEs do

This ain't rocket science, my grandfather lived to age 99, so I guess he shaved for at least 85 years, including WWI and most of it without running water; he would find it humorous that so much effort is put into the daily shave. He would shave every morning and spend the day walking his property inspecting the timerland, cotton fields, turpentine plant, sawmill, corn, pig pens, cattle land, corn fields all while sipping on his own home made liquor as he walked. He would complete his day around 5, start a fire in a huge fireplace, hold conversations until well after dark, then retire and do it all over.
I guess I am saying life can be simple and enjoyable, we are the ones who take the pleasure out of it by screwing with a good thing
I wish you well and God's peace,
ken

[Alacrity59]

Not sure if it is Mach 3 winning or yohimbe2 losing. I'm not one to attribute awful shaves to cartridge blades to make DE or straight shaving, which I prefer, seem like the only way for non-morons to shave. I will say that I found with a bit of practice I get as good a shave with a DE as I ever did with a cartridge . . . better than I ever tried to do with a cartridge as well.

On the other hand I can get as good a shave with a cartridge as with a DE . . . with a little bit more effort than I typically used with a cartridge.

Speed and not cutting yourself comes with practice. I've moved on to using a straight razor . . . and I can say basically the same things comparing Straight Shaving to a DE. It all gets better with practice . . . it is up to you if whether or not you think it is worth it.

Mike

[yohimbe2]

I am 62 years old, been wet shaving since I was 12, guess I'm an expert as well, I have a dozen or so DEs in regular rotation (includes 3 new Merkurs, EJ, Muhle, and about 5 vintage Gillettes and Schicks) and a few SE that I will use when I feel like it. I get an excellent shave in under 10 minutes, use a blade for 3 - 5 days, have no irritation, no ingrown hairs, no bumps

I spend zero time worrying about buffing or j hooking and I don't cork my blades, I just shave like I have for 50 years, 2 passes, the first with and across the grain the 2nd pass is against the grain with free hand pulling the skin tight

I refuse to buy into any hype that using a hunk of plastice that will not degrade for many years, if ever can produce as a satisfactory and enjoyable shave as these DEs do

This ain't rocket science, my grandfather lived to age 99, so I guess he shaved for at least 85 years, including WWI and most of it without running water; he would find it humorous that so much effort is put into the daily shave. He would shave every morning and spend the day walking his property inspecting the timerland, cotton fields, turpentine plant, sawmill, corn, pig pens, cattle land, corn fields all while sipping on his own home made liquor as he walked. He would complete his day around 5, start a fire in a huge fireplace, hold conversations until well after dark, then retire and do it all over.
I guess I am saying life can be simple and enjoyable, we are the ones who take the pleasure out of it by screwing with a good thing
I wish you well and God's peace,
ken

Again, no offense, but I think many of us have very different beard types. J hooking and buffing are a must do to get a close shave with my beard type. No fun, but its always pissed me off watching the videos that insist that shaving only goes with the grain.....20 passes this way wont shave my beard. Considering how hard I have to shave to get close, the safety of the Mach 3 is nice....

I'm not giving up....But so far the soap, oils, brushes and after shaves are the only thing I'm impressed with.

[Greggy_D]

I still believe a cartridge offers a superior shave. One of the big negatives is the price.....but when you can score a Korean Dork for .25/cart at Dollar General......why not.

[yohimbe2]

Not sure if it is Mach 3 winning or yohimbe2 losing. I'm not one to attribute awful shaves to cartridge blades to make DE or straight shaving, which I prefer, seem like the only way for non-morons to shave. I will say that I found with a bit of practice I get as good a shave with a DE as I ever did with a cartridge . . . better than I ever tried to do with a cartridge as well.

On the other hand I can get as good a shave with a cartridge as with a DE . . . with a little bit more effort than I typically used with a cartridge.

Speed and not cutting yourself comes with practice. I've moved on to using a straight razor . . . and I can say basically the same things comparing Straight Shaving to a DE. It all gets better with practice . . . it is up to you if whether or not you think it is worth it.

Mike

Spend all the time you do prepping for your old school blades.....Hot towels, oil, heated mugs full of lather, etc..... Now shave with a new Mach 3. Brush up a lather and try again. Go three passes and report back.

But then again, you may have a girly beard.....Most men do.

Last thing.....I've read a lot of posts here and hope that being real is not hated. Going against the grain here with an honest opinion should be OK right? (Even if I think most of you have woman mustaches !)

[kcw12]

I would shave with a mach 3 but i hate changing blades every day due to it pulling and so on. Thats why i only used to shave once a week. Now i can shave daily!!!! And no pulling and tugging.

I would keep trying it. You've a lot of nice equipment there.

[Greggy_D]

I would shave with a mach 3 but i hate changing blades every day due to it pulling and so on.

Seriously....you were doing something wrong then.

[kcw12]

Again, no offense, but I think many of us have very different beard types. J hooking and buffing are a must do to get a close shave with my beard type. No fun, but its always pissed me off watching the videos that insist that shaving only goes with the grain.....20 passes this way wont shave my beard. Considering how hard I have to shave to get close, the safety of the Mach 3 is nice....

I'm not giving up....But so far the soap, oils, brushes and after shaves are the only thing I'm impressed with.

Have you tried Gillete 7.0 clock sharpedges. Made in russia ones? They give me a much better shave them them damn derbys, they failed to cut my wired hair beard..