Really that much difference in de razors?

[Tauntman]

I am new to de's and started with my Dad's gillette black beauty and then bought my first, a EJ89 Barley which I have enjoyed. I have considered getting a Merkur 39C Slant but am wondering is there that much of a difference in the various de's? I mean you can only get so close of a shave, right? Have you had noticeable different shaves, enough to warrant the money spent searching or is it more of a hobby? I am enjoying trying various creams, etc. but just not sure about investing the money in the razors when what drew me to use them was the savings as well as the enjoyable experience each morning of what used to be just something like a burden to get through.

[PaulL]

It is a hobby.
That being said, I notice a big difference between razors. I have a modest collection, perhaps six or seven razors.
A few I simply don't care for.
My Merkur is a dream. It gives a very close shave and I LOVE the size/weight.
My two vintage Gillette single rings are a little light, but give me the closest shave ever.
I really like the looks of the Gillette New.
It's tough to choose in the morning. I wish I could shave twice a day!

[AgBill]

Yes, DEs are highly variable. There are different blade gaps, head shapes, and weights. All of these things affect the experience of the shave. The good news is that with almost any DE, with the right blade and technique you can get great shaves. For folks that have been doing it a while, the enjoyable experience also becomes about trying different razor/blade/brush/soap combinations...

[Tauntman]

Which Merkur are you referring to? Can you tell me what razors those are from left to right? Thank you for the feedback.

[PaulL]

I'm not sure what my Merkur is. It's not a slant, it's a standard head. The handle is silver plated. I think it's a vintage HD. I had a modern HD and it wasn't nearly as aggressive as this vintage one. I think it might be called the White Lady? It's the one on the far left.

[alex2363]

Yes there is....

[alex2363]

thousandths of an inch millimeters Razor weight, grams
15 Merkur Progress 570 @ 1
17 .43mm Gillette Adj Black handle @ 1 Long Handle, 67
18 .46mm
19 .48mm GEM 1912
20 .51mm Ming Sui
Gillette Rocket (UK)
21 .53mm Gem Micromatic
Gillette New Improved Tuckaway
Schick Krona
22 .56mm Gillette Adjustable @ 1
Gillette New Norfolk
Gillette TECH Fat Handle, 48
Merkur Classic
Weishi
Merkur Progress 570 @ 2
23 .58mm Gillette NEW Ball-end, 54; square end, 51
Gillette Super Speed 1954 - 1968 (Regular) 58
Gillette Super Speed 1956 58
Gillette Super Speed (Blue Tip) 45
24 .61mm Gem G-Bar
Gillette Adjustable @ 2
Feather Popular
25 .64mm Gillette Aristocrat (US) late 1940s, 69
Gillette Knack 43
Gillette Ranger Tech
Gillette Super Speed (black handle) 46
Gillette Super Speed (late 1940s) 54
Merkur HD Long Handle (38C)
Wilkinson Croma
Schick Injector Type L
Merkur 23C
26 .66mm Bic Disposable (orange handle)
Gillette Adjustable @ 3
Gillette Aristocrat (UK)
Gillette Super Speed Red Tip (US) 65
27 .69mm
28 .71mm Merkur HD (34C) 78
Merkur Progress 570 @ 3
29 .74mm Gillette Adjustable @ 4
30 .76mm Mühle R89 / Edwin Jagger DE89L
31 .79mm Feather Portable
32 .81mm Gillette Adjustable @ 5
Bic Metal
Gillette Super Speed Red Tip (UK)
33 .84mm Merkur Progress 570 @ 4
34 .86mm
35 .89mm Gillette Adjustable @ 6
36 .91mm
37 .94mm Merkur Progress 570 @ 5
38 .97mm Gillette Adjustable @ 7
39 .99mm
40 1.02mm
41 1.04mm Gillette Adjustable @ 8
Gillette Adjustable (black handle) @ 9
42 1.07mm
43 1.09mm Lord L6 44.5
44 1.12mm Merkur Futur @ 1 120
45 1.14mm Gillette Adjustable @ 9
47 1.19mm Merkur Futur @ 2 120
53 1.35mm Merkur Futur @ 3 120
58 1.47mm Merkur Futur @ 4 120
63 1.60mm Merkur Futur @ 5 120
65 1.65mm Merkur Futur @ 6 120
69 1.75mm Merkur Futur @ 6 .5 120
? Butterscotch Schick Injector 31
? Lux 56
? Stahly Live-Blade 164
? Gillette Super Speed 1953 56
? Gillette Super Speed 1952 42
? Gillette Super Speed 1959 55


Note: Gillette Adjustables
- Slim and Fat Boy range from .022 @ 1 to .045 @ 9; Fat Boy (195) weighs 79 gm, Slim Adjustable weighs 70
- the Black handle Adjustable ranges from .017 @ 1 to .041 @ 9 or 1 setting smaller than the Slim or Fat Boy
- Merkur Slant has a slightly variable blade gap, and is difficult to measure; it weighs 76 gm.

Subjective differences in ranking were limited to +/- .001 measurements
so differences of .001 - .003 can be considered functional equivalent.

[Go West Young Man]

Different razors really do feel different on your skin. If you're getting good shaves and are happy, then there's no reason to try another.... except that a different razor may give GREAT or SUPERB shaves, and you'll never know until you try them all!

[KM-instructor]

you'll never know until you try them all!

I feel I have done just that. at least 200 razors to finally find just one that works best for my way of shaving.

[Tauntman]

Never mind...I just shaved with my EJ89 and then used the Gillette super adjustable (not black beauty - I was confused) and the super adjustable cut quite a bit more off but my neck did not like the super adjustable too much.