Graduating to a Merkur Slant?

[yaderhey]

It's been a full three months since I started wet shaving. Am I ready to try a slant?

Sounds scary, but my technique has markedly improved over the last two weeks. Not quite BBS yet, but certainly DFS.

Is it really that hard?

[Easttexasman]

Not hard at all,just make sure when you load the blade that it is even on both sides.


Paul

[Luc]

The slant is more aggressive but other than that, it's a different model of safety razor, that's all. As mentioned by Paul, as long as you load the blade properly, it's fine. If you feel ready, get one!

[Granaura]

Agreed! My gold slant is basically my go to for those tough neck areas... Even closer than injectors or my futur (but I won't dial that above 6... )

[Arctic]

I say go for it. I've got a 39C. I don't think they're that scary. Since I got my slant I hardly use anything else. No blood yet.

[danparker77]

Just go for it! Load it up with a feather and find shaving bliss! The 37 has become my daily driver. I have one problem with my 37c it "eats" blades. For some reason a blades life is cut in half than if it was in a regular razor. Just curious if anyone else has found this to be true for them?

[mandoman]

more aggressive but very close shaves

[brucered]

It's been a full three months since I started wet shaving. Am I ready to try a slant?

Sounds scary, but my technique has markedly improved over the last two weeks. Not quite BBS yet, but certainly DFS.

Is it really that hard?

3 months? i've been debating on purchasing one and i've only been DE shaving for a month

[Walter Sobchak]

Not hard at all,just make sure when you load the blade that it is even on both sides.


Paul

+1

It's not scary, Man. Just load the blade properly and shave as normal. You'll get a great shave and wonder what all the trepidation was about.

[Eric V]

Hmmm. It seems I skipped the slant and went from DE open comb to straights. Let us know how the slant works out for you. I may get one for those days I don't have time to use a straight.

[Kevan]

I used a Slant exclusively for 5 months once. Don't be afraid of it. It's a very good razor that teaches good technique, but it also doesn't deserve its fearsome reputation.

Go for the "normal" Slant first. The Barberpole version is crazy aggressive.

[dpm802]

I love my Slant-39C/Feather ... despite all the scary hype, its very easy to use, and I get a BBS in 2.5 easy, comfortable passes every time.

Just keep in mind that the Slant does its best work when it has lots of stubble to work with. Give it a good 3+ days of whiskers to harvest, and watch it go to town!

[that man]

Just go for it! Load it up with a feather and find shaving bliss! The 37 has become my daily driver. I have one problem with my 37c it "eats" blades. For some reason a blades life is cut in half than if it was in a regular razor. Just curious if anyone else has found this to be true for them?

So far I've noticed I've been able to use Derbys twice and a Russian Gillette thrice with 37c. Maybe it's just not my over cautiousness or imagination or blade quality or leap of stropping that have caused this.

[netsurfr]

Go for it. Light pressure and attention is all that is needed.

[Gabadab]

[I have one problem with my 37c it "eats" blades. For some reason a blades life is cut in half than if it was in a regular razor. Just curious if anyone else has found this to be true for them?[/QUOTE]

Yes, blade life for me is shortened in the slant - half is a good estimate.

[danparker77]

So far I've noticed I've been able to use Derbys twice and a Russian Gillette thrice with 37c. Maybe it's just not my over cautiousness or imagination or blade quality or leap of stropping that have caused this.

Yes, blade life for me is shortened in the slant - half is a good estimate.

Thanks, thread jacking over!

[bladeruner]

Here is a thread about blade alignment.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...lant+alignment

[Sunburst]

I don't wish to threadjack, but I don't know if the question merits its own thread...

I'm debating similarly, except I was considering stepping up to an open-comb that is a notch or two more aggressive than my 89. I figured after my competence increased by using that I could step up to a slant. Make sense or just being overly nervous? I don't bleed very often, unless I have really good lather and the first three passes are great, then excitement kicks in and the weepers are my fault, lol.

What say those affected with RAD and wisdom?

Thanks.

[bladeruner]

I don't wish to threadjack, but I don't know if the question merits its own thread...

I'm debating similarly, except I was considering stepping up to an open-comb that is a notch or two more aggressive than my 89. I figured after my competence increased by using that I could step up to a slant. Make sense or just being overly nervous? I don't bleed very often, unless I have really good lather and the first three passes are great, then excitement kicks in and the weepers are my fault, lol.

What say those affected with RAD and wisdom?

Thanks.

To be honest you will probably end up with both. It happens welcome to B&B : I felt the same way when I was considering my first slant. I now have both a slant and an open comb in my rotation that I use regularly. With good technique and prep you can make good use of just about any razor. After you get to that point it comes down to personal preference.

So I say go for both. You shouldn't be afraid of either. When I got my slant it helped me a lot with my technique because I had to slow down a bit and pay closer attention. In the beginning I didn't change to many things to early. I really took it slow. But everyone is different.

Being able to try something new is what I find most enjoyable about this hobby of ours (besides the great shaves of course) So don't be overly nervous about the slant. It's just a different type of razor. And my favorite.

[Sunburst]

My slant should be here tomorrow. Thanks for the advice. I'll order an OC later.