Legendary Personna 74* loaded and ready!

**Sledgehammer39** · 05-30-2012, 04:40 AM

Enjoy the shave!

**awa54** · 05-30-2012, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Nova316

I thought I was feeling it as well, but it was just that it doesn't play nice in the OC single ring but very well in the EJ89

I believe that you're right, in my pre-war tech there is no detectable tugging and as with most blades put in that razor it feels dead smooth! I think I can feel a smooth, close shaven week two coming on ;)

**Nova316** · 05-31-2012, 08:46 PM

Had one of the best shaves I've ever had, clean no irritation...
These P74 have to be something else! Still holding strong on my side

**awa54** · 06-02-2012, 09:23 AM

this morning I think I began to feel the hint of some tugging as I shaved with the tech/74 combo, but it wasn't bad and the final result was another great shave!

**awa54** · 06-06-2012, 12:55 PM

I switched back to using it in my R89, the tugging stopped completely, but in the R89 it feels a tiny bit less smooth than it was in the beginning....interesting how the different razors emphasize different aspects of a blade as it dulls. I think that in the R89 I have a good chance of making three weeks without any real objection to the shaves I'm getting.

**Nova316** · 06-06-2012, 01:01 PM

I did my first straight and finished with my DE Smoothest shave by far I've ever had was number 12 shave haha
This blade is starting to baffle me quite a bit

**awa54** · 06-12-2012, 07:34 PM

The blade is in a holding pattern now, no real change in the feel for the last several shaves... It definitely performs better in the R89 for me than in other razors, at least once the first week of use has passed.

**fcdiscus** · 06-13-2012, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by Rivguy

I used them for a long time and they were great blades but I have found other blades that perform equally well.

Regards,

Doug

Can you tell us what blades you speak of?

**awa54** · 06-13-2012, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by fcdiscus

Can you tell us what blades you speak of?

well if you take the 20+ shaves per blade variable out of the equation, then pick your current favorite and do the math so that you compare cost per shave rather than just shaves per blade, then you get this:

I figure that if Astra SPs cost $0.11 each and always give me at least four excellent shaves per blade then that makes the cost per shave $0.0275. On eBay you can get the coated 74s for about $4 each, or less if you buy in large bulk lots, if you call it 30 shaves before most of us would start to think about swapping blades then your cost per shave is $0.1333 per shave or roughly 4.8 times more to use a 74 than an equally close and comfortable "short life" blade. Even at the prices you pay for 50 or more 74s they are more expensive per shave than most lower priced blades and at the current going rate they are no less expensive than using a high priced blade like a Feather.

In my book that makes the Astra SP a better choice for my daily shave; the 74 may have legendary staying power *and* excellent results, but a fresh Astra leaves my face in the same condition for less $$ and only I appreciate how cool shaving with a blade that is still sharp after three weeks is, nobody who sees my face in the course of my day cares!

**Nova316** · 06-14-2012, 07:51 AM

That's very well said, I think P74* are smoother then Astra SP tho but YMMV.
I bought a pack of 20 for 30$ so about $1.5 per blade.
So if I can get 30 shaves it comes to 0.05 cents a shave but still double Astra SP. I don't think if i'll get 30 tho but we will sell, I can when I also just straights and the 74* is just for touch ups.
The 74* will be mostly used as my travel blade or when I am not in the mood to try different blades but Polsilver and SI are amazingly smooth to
I just have a hard time keeping a blade in there for so long without wanting to change it out haha

**awa54** · 06-14-2012, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Nova316

I just have a hard time keeping a blade in there for so long without wanting to change it out haha

That's what a second razor is for!

I have been keeping one of my other razors loaded with a different blade to break the tedium (excellence) of the 74* shaves and for reference to keep tabs on the 74*'s performance.

**Nova316** · 06-15-2012, 08:30 AM

Haha yah I have it currently in my EJ89 and still in there
But I have a slim adjustable on the side with a Med, still shave perfectly and going strong haha no major problems yet esp no tugging which is a surprise

**awa54** · 06-15-2012, 01:47 PM

Well, 23 days in and the shave is starting to feel harsh....my alum stick says this morning was not even close to ZIS, despite feeling pretty good during the shave and producing excellent results.

I traded off a few days with other razor/blade combos, so it was just shy of twenty shaves up to today, very impressive to me even if I didn't get thirty shaves, since four is what I get from a conventional blade

**Nova316** · 06-15-2012, 03:40 PM

Wow I am quite far in them must be 20+ shaves in as I have only detoured from this DE for one day haha and that was a treet classic (Horrible)
We'll see how strong this goes or how far it last, Seems to cut well
Start date was 5/24/12

**awa54** · 06-16-2012, 09:46 AM

I loaded up a Turkish labeled (Russian made) Perma Sharp this morning and was wishing for the 74* back..... well, the 74* from the first two weeks of use at least. Mind you, the Perma Sharp is pretty decent in my R89, but it wasn't as comfortable *or* as close as the 74* is, maybe it'll get better on day two ;)

**awa54** · 06-17-2012, 06:18 AM

good news: day two Perma Sharp is smooth and gave a great shave.

bad news: 43 hairs shed...

**Nova316** · 06-17-2012, 08:45 AM

Good news: P74* Smoothest shave yet so far is number 23 haha well exceptionally smooth like before

Wow 43 hairs, what brush are you using?
Also.... a moment of silence for Awa54 brush

**awa54** · 06-18-2012, 07:52 AM

congrats on breaking the 20 shave barrier with good results!

the brush is a Simpson Special in best, soon to be replaced I think under warranty, since the brush is only a few months old at this point :P

**Nova316** · 06-19-2012, 09:39 AM

I hope you get it replaced, that'd be good esp shedding that much can't be good
On shave 24 was smooth and sharp as usual, it just keeps on going in thie EJ89 haha
Doesn't want to quit on me

Anyone with a 100 box, that'd last forever haha

**bakerbarber** · 06-19-2012, 06:26 PM

I ditched the first P*74 I ever tried after 8 shaves.

Shave 1 through 6 were great.

Shave number 7 was tugging and pulling. It took an extra pass to get a passable shave.
Shave number 8 was considerably worse and left me with a weeper and spots of stubble.

This morning I used the same razor with a Treet Classic and got DFS in two passes.

I agree that the cost per shave equation doesn't work out unless you can push a P*74 for a month or more. I have the rest of the pack I opened to experiment with.

Drying and rinsing the blade was not anything I took too seriously with the first blade, but when I get done with the Treet (maybe two more shaves) I will try the P*74 again.

I kept a journal of the shaves and rated all but the last two a 10 out of 10 for smoothness, comfort, and results.

It seemed shocking to see such a dramatic drop in performance on the 7th and then 8th shave. Honestly I considered changing blades mid-shave on day number 8.

I'm committed to getting at least two whole weeks out of one of these blades. I know how nice the P*74 Injector blades are and I'm going to push the DE blades to the limit. My face cried uncle this time though.