Dorco...never again!

[nymtber]

So today I decided, for a reason unknown to me, that I would try some Dorco ST-301 that were from my sample pack, instead of following my plan and popping a fresh lab blue into my Gillette SS.

Mistake!

Horrid blades. Tore my face up, I have 3/4 weepers now and a terrible shave. I have 9 left, if anyone wants to pay shipping, they are theirs. Otherwise, they are going in the trash tomorrow. Waste of steel is all these blades are!

[Scott0079]

Agreed. Why some folks love em' is a mystery to me.

[Topgumby]

While they aren't my current blade of choice, I can get along with the ST-301 just fine. Don,t chuck 'em, PIF 'em for postage on the BST.

Somebody will be happy to have them.

[kingfisher]

Agree with the OP. Dorcos are the worst blade I've ever tried, bar none. I'd just as soon pluck the hairs out one by one with an oyster shell as shave with a Dorco blade.

[ThurstonHowellIII]

When I first started shaving, Dorco 301's were a favorite. I ordered 100 and went through 70 and was pleased with them. Lately I have become chasing sharper blades but have nothing bad to say about Dorco's.

Please dont ever throw away any blades. That is such a waste. If you dont like a blade, there is a B+B'er who will.

[Pasha]

+1 on not throwing them away. If someone pays the postage, itll cost the same either way for you. Not that Im a fan of the 301 but no need to throw away perfectly good gear.

[Ozgun]

Yep, they always forget to sharpen the blades at the factory.

[Mitsimonsta]

I found them so smooth and with so little blade feel on my face, that I would apply pressure which then tore me up.

Once you get very light on the pressure, they worked very very well. But they really aren't my thing. Only PermaSharp Supers for me now (and my mega-stash of NOS GBE's and Dark Platinums)

[KM-instructor]

I actually don't mind them too much, never failed to get a good shave from them so far, but then my face is like an old piece of leather.

[nymtber]

I found them so smooth and with so little blade feel on my face, that I would apply pressure which then tore me up.

Once you get very light on the pressure, they worked very very well. But they really aren't my thing. Only PermaSharp Supers for me now (and my mega-stash of NOS GBE's and Dark Platinums)

I used almost zero pressure, and all they did was skip and jump and tug. Been at this for 2 months now, I think I finally got it down ;) However I shaved with an electric for 8 years, so my face is not as tough as it was when I was in my teens. I used to shave dry (sometimes) when I was younger! Even Derby are not THIS bad. They irritate my skin a little, but I can get a good shave at least...

I am going to order a few hundred Lab Blue and be done with it. They hit both the smoothness and sharpness just right for my beard. Might try a few polsilver's too...

[talibeard]

They go blunt very fast; some edges last only one or two strokes. I tried them some time ago and could get an ok shave out of them but it took 4 blades in one shave. To be frank; I should have used even more of them but I was too perplex to go beyond that number.

The ST-300 blades start out less sharp (=not sharp enough but YMMV) but are at least capable of holding what should be an edge for 2 or 3 SAS-shaves. Not recommended either!

[goby]

I see you're a newbie (nothing bad about that---we've all been there), I highly recommend that you not throw them away. They "may" work in another razor, or when your skills improve.

I hated green Gillette 7'Oclocks for a long time. Then one day I put them in a new razor and they were amazing.

[nymtber]

I am trading off the Dorco, some Astra sp and some feathers for Personna Meds, Labs, and Barbers. Blades that I know will work, and a fellow B&B member will get to try some blades or maybe add to blades he has luck with :)

Newbie? Been doin this 2months now, I don't think newbie is the correct word. Ive learned that a 40's style SS loaded with a Lab Blue and a 3 shave pass avoiding ATG will give me a shave that ranges from DFS on my neck to BBS on my cheeks. I know that no matter what, ATG is out of the question unless its quick short strokes on my neck with negative pressure to get a few pesky hairs, with skin lightly stretched. And I now know that Dorco ST-301 are not at all meant to shave my face. If they work for others, great because they are CHEAP. But at only twice the cost, I can get 4 really good shaves out of a Lab Blue, compared to one terrible shave, and keep my money here in the USA. The last part is not necessary, but I kinda like that I can support my fellow country men!

[~Spyne~]

Perfect case of YMMV i guess.
I have been working my way through a super-sampler from a guy here in Oz, since I first started DE shaving back in Feb this year.
The Dorco-ST301 is one of my favourite blades, along with Feathers and 7OC Blacks. Consistency wasn't the best, as two of the blades I used were a little rough on the first shave, but then became excellent on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th shave.

Other blades I like have been 7OC Yellow, Personna Israeli Reds and Astra SPs.
Voskhods, Bolzanos, 7OC Greens (both Russian and Indian), Treets and Derbys are all being PIF'd, as for me they just weren't very good.

[MikeC]

They go blunt very fast; some edges last only one or two strokes.

Seriously just stop please!

[drquantum]

As one who got into DE shaving with Crystals, and then decided he should use the Dorco (Dorko?) ST-301's that were sent with his Merkur HD 34C... I concur. The Dorco's really are inferior. My first shave with one of them left me asking whether I had actually put a blade in... then, in order to get them to actually shave, on the third pass, I ended up putting a bit too much pressure and nicking myself.

Back to the tried and true.

[talibeard]

Seriously just stop please!

That is the best advice I've seen concerning Dorco ST-301's.

[Shave A Buck]

I do think there is quite a bit of fraud going on with this brand however. Many packs are coming from China which are not up to the original quality.

[nymtber]

I actually have a 5 pack of Family Dollar blades, which I have read to be Dorco, and they gave me a far better shave. Not the kinda shave I prefer, but my face was not torn up.

The ST-301 are out of my house now, along with Astra SP. Neither will find home here again. :)

Now I have two SE razors to learn...This could be scary!

[Topgumby]

I do think there is quite a bit of fraud going on with this brand however. Many packs are coming from China which are not up to the original quality.

That would go a long way to explaining the YM-------------------------MV gap with Dorco blades. I know that some blades, like Bluebirds and I don't get along but play well with others, but I can't really see myself getting four to five nice shaves out of a blade that goes dull with two strokes on another shaver. I ain't packing peach fuzz, either.

As to keeping your money in the US by buying Personna...It's only kind of the case, since they got eaten up by Energizer.

Buying Korean products doesn't phase me in the least. They have been a staunch ally, and I have a big soft spot for Bulgogi.