New blade and cork?

[denboy]

a couple of people have suggested a run a fresh blade (merkur) through a piece of cork as my fresh blade shaves are normally fairly rough. What benefit does this have and are all new blades rough??

[nav]

a couple of people have suggested a run a fresh blade (merkur) through a piece of cork as my fresh blade shaves are normally fairly rough. What benefit does this have and are all new blades rough??

I haven't tried this because I feel that running the blade through cork is simulating a "first shave" with the blade. You may reduce the roughness of the blade however, wouldn't it also decrease the blade life??

[neilxvx]

Alright, this is slightly controversial. Generally, you don't hear about people corking Merkur blades because they are typically thought of as one of the dullest blades out there.

Now, corking Feather blades is what you hear a lot of people talking about. A lot of people love Feather blades, and cork them with every use. Some people think this is silly and turns the Feather into a Derby.

Personally, I'm with the latter crowd. Feathers are my all time blade, and I tried corking them once, and the blade was more forgiving, but it wasn't the same. The best part about Feathers is their super sharpness. Some people find this uncomfortable, but that's how they are, and that's why I love them. Not to offend anyone that corks their Feathers, just my opinion.

[netsurfr]

Not sure that corking a Merkur is going to help it at all. Merkur
Folks sometimes recommend corking some of the very sharp blades like a feather but I use feathers all of the time and do not personally recommend it. I would just suggest a lighter touch with a feather.

[denboy]

Thanks for the advice guys, I will be switching my blades, I hear derby's are the way forward??

[neilxvx]

Thanks for the advice guys, I will be switching my blades, I hear derby's are the way forward??

Derby's are good blades. I would also try Israeli Personnas. After a year and a half of wet shaving I just recently got around to trying these and was very impressed. The cheapest blade and one of the best blades I've tried. Only thing I don't like about them is they really seem to lose their edge after two shaves, but it doesn't matter. If you shave every single day for a year, and used a new blade after two shaves, it would cost you 20 bucks or less, that's cheap!

Derby's are great though, and a little easier to get.

[denboy]

I will try and source some here in the UK, I will try a sample pack and see what works. I just know there must be better blades than merkurs! their razors are great, but the blades are not so cool

[Musky]

Denboy, I am sure everyone would suggest that you get a good sampler pack. Personnally I am not a fan of Derby's and prefer Feathers, LORD, PoliSilver, 7 O'Clock. You really need to try them all to see what works for you IMHO.

[Robxcarlson]

For me Merkur blades provide great shaves. I noticed in the past that the first shave was not so hot, but 2nd and 3rd were very smooth. When I use Merkur blades now I cork them first and get 3-4 nice shave from them.
Take that how you will, but I think that, while not the best, the Merkur blades are decent and capable of good results. In fact, if you don't want yours, send them to me!

[AverageJoe]

As far as I'm concerned, a razor blade should be sharp! The sharper the better. It's only purpose is to cut whiskers and the sharpest blade will do the best job with the least effort and irritation----if it doesn't, you need to adjust some other part of your set-up or technique! So no corking for me----you're basically dulling it.

[Robxcarlson]

As far as I'm concerned, a razor blade should be sharp! The sharper the better. It's only purpose is to cut whiskers and the sharpest blade will do the best job with the least effort and irritation----if it doesn't, you need to adjust some other part of your set-up or technique!

But aren't you assuming that corking dulls the blade? I really think that corking strops the blade.

[Confilo]

a couple of people have suggested a run a fresh blade (merkur) through a piece of cork as my fresh blade shaves are normally fairly rough. What benefit does this have and are all new blades rough??

Basically corking is the equivalent of stropping a DE blade to remove edge imperfections or polish the edge. You can find some good demos of how it is done in this forum.

[dmnall]

I will chime in on Corking a blade, if you put too much force when running the blade through a cork will definitely dull the blade but lightly running the blade through the cork, from what I can tell does not dull the blade much if at all! I tested this with a feather and so far I have 5 comfortable shaves in my slant! I have been corking all of my blades *force of habit* to strop the blade but I will try hand stropping my next feather to see how it does...

Cheers,

[cvac]

You can also cork a blade with a piece styrofoam if you want, be careful not to cut yourself though. I stopped corking because I'm lazy...maybe I'll try it again and see if it's worth it....

[AverageJoe]

Yea......I guess whatever works for you is fine with me. The time I tried it though, it didn't seem to make any noticeable difference. My guess is that after your first shave with a particular blade uncorked, it will shave the same way it would had you corked it. Again, not worth the extra time and hassle to me. When I feel like sharpening, I get out my Dovo or Hess and use them! A big reason for using a DE in the first place was to get away from "blade maintenance".

[yomuppet]

Corking is cutting into a cork with your blade. This will dull the blade. Period. End of story. Thank you.

J

[thirdeye]

I corked a blade once or was it bladed a cork...

[Trius]

I tested this with a feather and so far I have 5 comfortable shaves in my slant!

I just got 10 shaves with an uncorked Feather! All but the last two were very comfortable, the last two felt like a new Derby ... I went all the way to 10 just to see if it could be done. In all those shaves only one microscopic weeper.

[SRock]

I don't see any advantage to corking. Tried it on a couple of blades and the result was not good.

[pal]

I have never corked a blade.