Hi all,
Just thought I would post to say that I'd discovered a (YMMV) interesting thing about the Supermax stainless blades.
These are the blue/orange ones (like these) that cost £6 for 200 on ebay in the UK - I think they are the same as the SuperStainless in the blue pack (they only have "stainless" written on the blade, unlike the green/yellows which are marked "Super Stainless").
I tried them in my '74 Gillette tech, and TBH, it felt awful. Pulling and tugging - not pleasant. So I left them for a while and went back to my astra SPs.
Then I got hold of a '55 SS Red-tip. Loved it with my Astra SPs.
Curiosity then got the better of me and I tried the Supermax blade again, this time in the red-tip - and got 4 decent shaves out of it. Not BBS like I get from the Astras, but certainly DFS-territory and perfectly acceptable for work - no horrible tugging, and for 3p a blade instead of 10p. I was using a face-lathered palmolive stick, and found it needed quite a loose lather with lots of water in it - a tight lather didn't work as well.
So I'll be keeping the Astras for weekend-best (and keep hoarding them in case PPI do an "iridium" on them), but thought it worth mentioning for those who have a superspeed or the like that they might be worth a go.
Also, SuperMax in the UK (http://www.supermaxworld.com/store/UK/node/16) seem to have their Barber-pack (350 Supermax blue diamond blades, an "interesting" cut-throat razor and a tube of cream) for £7.99. You have to order £8 or more to complete shipping, so it's either a case of ordering two lots, or adding a cream or something. I went for two lots, so 700 blades and 2 creams delivered for £16.
I'll report back later on in the week (when they arrive...I ordered them Friday afternoon, so will see how long they take) as to what the Blue Diamond blades are like... I'm hoping for better than the stainless given they are titanium coated. Saying that, at 2.3p a blade...
Just thought I would post to say that I'd discovered a (YMMV) interesting thing about the Supermax stainless blades.
These are the blue/orange ones (like these) that cost £6 for 200 on ebay in the UK - I think they are the same as the SuperStainless in the blue pack (they only have "stainless" written on the blade, unlike the green/yellows which are marked "Super Stainless").
I tried them in my '74 Gillette tech, and TBH, it felt awful. Pulling and tugging - not pleasant. So I left them for a while and went back to my astra SPs.
Then I got hold of a '55 SS Red-tip. Loved it with my Astra SPs.
Curiosity then got the better of me and I tried the Supermax blade again, this time in the red-tip - and got 4 decent shaves out of it. Not BBS like I get from the Astras, but certainly DFS-territory and perfectly acceptable for work - no horrible tugging, and for 3p a blade instead of 10p. I was using a face-lathered palmolive stick, and found it needed quite a loose lather with lots of water in it - a tight lather didn't work as well.
So I'll be keeping the Astras for weekend-best (and keep hoarding them in case PPI do an "iridium" on them), but thought it worth mentioning for those who have a superspeed or the like that they might be worth a go.
Also, SuperMax in the UK (http://www.supermaxworld.com/store/UK/node/16) seem to have their Barber-pack (350 Supermax blue diamond blades, an "interesting" cut-throat razor and a tube of cream) for £7.99. You have to order £8 or more to complete shipping, so it's either a case of ordering two lots, or adding a cream or something. I went for two lots, so 700 blades and 2 creams delivered for £16.
I'll report back later on in the week (when they arrive...I ordered them Friday afternoon, so will see how long they take) as to what the Blue Diamond blades are like... I'm hoping for better than the stainless given they are titanium coated. Saying that, at 2.3p a blade...