So I did Feather vs. Dollar General USA blade

[guitarslinger]

I used two recently cleaned lady gillettes to make it fair.

Seriously, They didn't feel very different at all.

1. I think the feather is over-hyped and needlessly feared. Any razor blade is sharp. Any razor blade can cut your face. Stop lionizing this piece of metal.

2. The DG ASR USA is underrated and a kiiller value. Judging from today, it felt pretty on-par with an Israeli. better than a Derby IMO.

BTW, I used:

1. Permafrost mixed with erasmic
2. alum
3. aqua velva
4. nivea ultimate comfort
5. TBS synthetic Brush

[Private Pwnage]

i know what you mean man, i can agree with you whole-heartedly

[guitarslinger]

i know what you mean man, i can agree with you whole-heartedly

yeah, seriously.

If any blade should be feared, it should be the Merkur. Ripping and Tearing of my skin is much more scary than a sharp blade that works.

[allenavery]

I think blades do make a difference. I had been using walgreens/rite-aid blades, and assumed they were decent because they were platinum chrome. However, I've found the quailty to be uneven. Sometimes the blades were sharp, and gave smooth shaves as well as a smooth face, but others seemed to have jagged edges from the get-go, resulting in a bleeding face!

I recently got some wilkinsons and the quality is much more consistent. They're sharper and smoother than cheap blades. They give a great shave in my 1948-50 superspeed. When I finished with a wilkinson blade in that razor, I decided to try the rite-aid blades again, and got razorburn on my still-stubbly neck for my trouble. I'll have to find another use for all those blades, perhaps on model airplanes, if I ever find the time or the courage to do build and fly again. Balsa wood contacting the ground a high speed, or even low speed, greatly reduces your enjoyment of the hobby, particularly if it happens in the first seconds of a flight attempt!

[guitarslinger]

I think blades do make a difference. I had been using walgreens/rite-aid blades, and assumed they were decent because they were platinum chrome. However, I've found the quailty to be uneven. Sometimes the blades were sharp, and gave smooth shaves as well as a smooth face, but others seemed to have jagged edges from the get-go, resulting in a bleeding face!

I recently got some wilkinsons and the quality is much more consistent. They're sharper and smoother than cheap blades. They give a great shave in my 1948-50 superspeed. When I finished with a wilkinson blade in that razor, I decided to try the rite-aid blades again, and got razorburn on my still-stubbly neck for my trouble. I'll have to find another use for all those blades, perhaps on model airplanes, if I ever find the time or the courage to do build and fly again. Balsa wood contacting the ground a high speed, or even low speed, greatly reduces your enjoyment of the hobby, particularly if it happens in the first seconds of a flight attempt!

I totally agree. I've tried about 50 different blades looking for the perfect one. I'm just fed up with the feather fanboyism and the aura of deadliness that accompanies it. I also think USA ASR's are unnecessarily crucified as junk blades, when I can get WAY above average shaves with them.


I really like Wilkinsons too, BTW.

[stubbleaway]

I disagree completely - the feathers are a step change in sharpness you cant compaire them to anything because nothing comes close. One thing I have discovered is YMMV because I find blades that some people say are sharp really, really blunt (like treet carbon steel). I think it really depends on your hair and as we know the thickness and density of this varies from person to person, just like people have different head hair (course or fine and whispy). Once you find a blade that is sharp enough to slice through your hair easliy without dragging then an even sharper blade you wont notice any difference except perhaps more chance of niks. I have really course head and beard hair so I really need the feathers because others just dont cut cleanly and need extra effort.

I bet if you had a figure for hair shaft thickness multiplied by folilicle density per sq inch this number would vary by as much as opionions about the best blades. Its more to do with the sharpness you need to achieve a good cut.

[endcycle]

Disclaimer: I'm only a couple of months into wetshaving, and a devoted derby fanboi.

I loved using the feathers once I got used to them, and got very smooth shaves. BUT... they also resulted in very bad ingrowns. They cut TOO closely for me, which is a darn shame because I loved how easily they slid across my face.

All blades are SHARP - but some are smoother than others. I think that feathers in general are the smoothest (which allows for closer shaves) than most of the blades I've ever tried.

So far the Derby blades are the best compromise for me.

[allenavery]

I disagree completely - the feathers are a step change in sharpness you cant compaire them to anything because nothing comes close. One thing I have discovered is YMMV because I find blades that some people say are sharp really, really blunt (like treet carbon steel). I think it really depends on your hair and as we know the thickness and density of this varies from person to person, just like people have different head hair (course or fine and whispy). Once you find a blade that is sharp enough to slice through your hair easliy without dragging then an even sharper blade you wont notice any difference except perhaps more chance of niks. I have really course head and beard hair so I really need the feathers because others just dont cut cleanly and need extra effort.

I bet if you had a figure for hair shaft thickness multiplied by folilicle density per sq inch this number would vary by as much as opionions about the best blades. Its more to do with the sharpness you need to achieve a good cut.

Sounds like more research is needed! All members should get a picture of one square inch of their beard growth, and submit along with their favorite blade. Would help newbies, or those that are still searching for that perfect blade. Measuring hair thickness accurately might be tricky though. We could all go to a local crime lab, or start a fund for a Badger & Blade scanning electron microscope!

[guitarslinger]

Measuring hair thickness accurately might be tricky though. We could all go to a local crime lab, or start a fund for a Badger & Blade scanning electron microscope!

It sounds outlandish, like a joke or something, but just wait a week or so.

I'm sure we have a couple of B&B forensic investigators and a couple of University PHD's with access to an electron microscope.

[endcycle]

It sounds outlandish, like a joke or something, but just wait a week or so.

I'm sure we have a couple of B&B forensic investigators and a couple of University PHD's with access to an electron microscope.

Actually there was a thread a bit ago showing the microscopic images of some blades. I'll see if I can find it.

EDIT: Yep -
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=50258
There you go.

[stubbleaway]

im not sticking my heed in an electron microscope they operate in a vacuum! :S

[Walravine]

I think blades do make a difference. I had been using walgreens/rite-aid blades, and assumed they were decent because they were platinum chrome. However, I've found the quailty to be uneven. Sometimes the blades were sharp, and gave smooth shaves as well as a smooth face, but others seemed to have jagged edges from the get-go, resulting in a bleeding face!

Ditto. One blade will be like silk and then the next feels dull.

[BroJohn]

...SNIP!!

I also think USA ASR's are unnecessarily crucified as junk blades, when I can get WAY above average shaves with them.

I quite agree. The store brands from ASR are a pretty decent blade, IMO.

I like others, too. But I don't trash the ASR's you can get for cheap at Wal-Mart, etc.

Of all the blades, and I like many, I'm particularly taken by the Red-Pack Israeli's, and the Pella PTFE coated stainless Single Edge blades. Especially the Pellas.

-- John Gehman

[stetienne]

I used to be able to find Israeli-made Dollar General blades, but they don't seem to carry those anymore...too bad, they were by far my favorites. Anyone know where to get them? Or suggestions of something similar?

[guitarslinger]

I used to be able to find Israeli-made Dollar General blades, but they don't seem to carry those anymore...too bad, they were by far my favorites. Anyone know where to get them? Or suggestions of something similar?

I think the Israeli Crystal blade is the same thing.

[OldSaw]

Nearly every blade I have gives me a good WTG shave. I can also do a good two pass shave, (WTG & XTG), with just about any DE blade. It's the ATG pass that really separates the men from the boys in terms of sharpness.

And of course YMMV.

[Aevum]

from my understanding, super+ = crystal = Israely personna = most rebadged israely blades, but they are not the same as red personnas, red personas are chrome coated, while super+/ip/blue personna and company are platinium coated,

the crystals are sharper in general then the red personnas, but the feathers are sharper,

i usualy cant do a ATG with a feather becuase its too sharp and shaves up small facial impefections, so i end up with a large number of small cuts and holes,

[HairyUK]

I think it really depends on your hair and as we know the thickness and density of this varies from person to person, just like people have different head hair (course or fine and whispy). Once you find a blade that is sharp enough to slice through your hair easliy without dragging then an even sharper blade you wont notice any difference except perhaps more chance of niks. I have really course head and beard hair so I really need the feathers because others just dont cut cleanly and need extra effort.

I think I'm in agreement with you on this. I do notice a big difference between the feel of a shave with a feather and that of a different blade - the feather seems to slice hair much more cleanly, while most other blades come with a slight (but noticable) amount of tugging during the shave. I have very course beard hair (seriously, its like wire-wool or something) so this supports what you're saying.

[bones59]

Please don't flame me, but... I tried a feather blade today and didn't think the shave was any better than the shaves I get using....pause.....deep breath.....Merkurs. Yes, the Merkurs that some people on this forum love to bash. I get great shaves with them. Two pass BBS shaves. I expected the whiskers would fall off in terror after all the hype I read about the Feather blade. What a let down. I dont know, perhaps it's like people have said, YMMV. I'll keep trying different blades, and I know one shave dont make no show, but for now, I'll keep my Merkurs.

[spinyeel]

Please don't flame me, but... I tried a feather blade today and didn't think the shave was any better than the shaves I get using....pause.....deep breath.....Merkurs. Yes, the Merkurs that some people on this forum love to bash. I get great shaves with them. Two pass BBS shaves. I expected the whiskers would fall off in terror after all the hype I read about the Feather blade. What a let down. I dont know, perhaps it's like people have said, YMMV. I'll keep trying different blades, and I know one shave dont make no show, but for now, I'll keep my Merkurs.

I've been using freebie Merkur's in my Muhle Pinsell R89 and they give a great irritation free shave.