First shave with Muhle R89

[fourtotheflush]

Just adding to my indeciciveness on buying a new DE!

 

[michiganlover]

I don't--just those who disparage a product they have no experience with (i.e. the Merkur 34C) to promote another product with which they have little (or no) experience with. This BTW, is where you recommended the R89 when I was looking for a razor/blade combo more aggressive than the 34C/Personna.

I never said that was the case, in particular because I have as little experience with the 34C as you do the R89, but I do give more credibility to those who've actually used the 34C.

I have shaved with probably at least 25 different razors. Despite only using the Muhle twice so far, I know a good quality razor when I see one. Anyway, I give up. I am not going to argue with you anymore; it's not worth it for me.

Let's get back to the purpose of this thread: singing the praises of the wonderful Muhle R89!!

 

[VR6ofpain]

I agree that the R89 is definitely a better razor than the Merkur HD. This is in both shaving ability and build quality. Yes the HD is heavier, but again heavy does not equal better.

I like the HD, but find the shoddy build and somewhat less smooth shaves less appealing than the R89. What is intriguing to me now is the open comb varients. I was considering the open comb R41, as the only open comb razors I have used are vintage Gillettes. I happen to like the Old Type head more than the NEW varients, so I figured a new open comb was worth a try. Fortunately I was able to score an 11C off the BST for a good price. Depending on if I like it, I may purchase an R41 down the road.

One thing is for sure, my Gillette's are not seeing much use anymore. I am very impressed with the shaves I am getting out of these newer German razors (the R89 and my recently aquired Futur are being used the most as of late).

 

[A35335]

Acquired this yesterday from WCS. Showered, nuked towel, TOBS Sandalwood creme, new Iridium. 2 passes, just a bit of touch up, absolutely the cleanest, easiest shave so far. With a bit of Thayer's Rose Tonic, I feel renewed.

Very nice razor, plenty of heft, and I did not notice anything amiss with regards to handle/head weight ratio. Just let the razor and blade do the work.

I was going to shave my dad with a newly-rehandled M3 today when I go visit, but now, not a chance.

A very nice product, cudos to whomever.

Got Mühle?

Rich

My dad sure did like it. Two passes and some touch up, hot towel, then some Thayer's, he was golden. He may like other razors as well, but I don't own any thing any better than this one.

In years to come, I'll remember giving him a shave, but probably won't remember which razor, as it really doesn't matter to me or to him. At the end of the day, it's still just a razor.

Rich

 

[curtis909]

Hey guys I might have contributed to this little shouting match. We all have our thoughts what shaves better and smoother. However I am hoping that the originator of this thread is getting a little help as far as what the differences are as far as razors. No matter what anyone uses it really does come down to the lather, angle and blade along with the razor. So i will throw out the first olive branch and hope we all can continue to be as helpful to each other as we normally are. Nicest group of people I have ever met.

 

[Sailorman]

........

As for finish, all of them (Merkur, EJ, and Muehle) have very similar finish in the head. The cap is beautifully chromed on the top, and they have a satin-like finish underneath the cap piece. It's poorly done in all of them - IMO. ......

You must have a different or defective EJ. The finish on mine is mirror polished chrome on all surfaces of all parts. No satin finish. And, unlike the Merkur that was full of tiny specks and flaws in the finish, I can't find a single flaw in the entire razor, including the bottom of the cap. And, unlike the HD, I can't make out mill marks in the ends of the blade guard. Also, the finish is noticeably brighter and the plating seems different, i.e. heavier (although that's probably a combination of the better radiused corners and my imagination).

Side by side, the differences in the finish of the EJ/Muhle and Merkur heads is striking.

Oh yeah, the blade aligns perfectly without adjustment, every time. My HD couldn't do that.

 

[michiganlover]

Oh yeah, the blade aligns perfectly without adjustment, every time. My HD couldn't do that.

As long as we are talking about design, one of the first things I noticed about the Muhle (and I assume EJ's as well since they share the same head) is that the blade doesn't stick out very far past the endcaps on this head. On some of my vintage Gillette razors, the blade sticks out nearly a 1/4" past each endcap. (I could be exaggerating, but the difference between the amount of blade sticking out on the Muhle head, and the Gillette is quite striking).

I have gotten sloppy enough in the past to actually cut myself on the nose lol:) with this part of the blade sticking out from the sides of the razor, so this a welcomed design feature.

 

[talibeard]

What is intriguing to me now is the open comb varients. I was considering the open comb R41, as the only open comb razors I have used are vintage Gillettes. I happen to like the Old Type head more than the NEW varients, so I figured a new open comb was worth a try. Fortunately I was able to score an 11C off the BST for a good price. Depending on if I like it, I may purchase an R41 down the road.

I have build a little shrine for the R-41 and the thing leads you directly into shaving Nirvana...

But no kiddin' it is a very nice shaver and though fitted with the Merkur Classic OC head the quality and alignment of the blade is just as perfect as on the R-89 and way better than on my 25C.

Even the shave is better; get the same result in one pass less without the razor being noticable more aggressive as the 25C is. Which is pretty mild btw.

I don't know how the Mühle guys do this but they lift the quality on Merkur parts too. I like it so much I consider buying a second one since it went out of production; I hardly dare to use it anymore...

 

[VR6ofpain]

I don't know how the Mühle guys do this but they lift the quality on Merkur parts too. I like it so much I cosider buying a second one since it went out of production; I hardly dare to use it anymore...

I have seriously considered buying another R89 just in case mine over broke and they stopped producing it. Pretty sick in the head, right?

 

[A35335]

I have seriously considered buying another R89 just in case mine over broke and they stopped producing it. Pretty sick in the head, right?

Seems perfectly normal to me, as I was thinking the same thing. Altho', I can't imagine how it could get broken. The more I look at the R89, the more I think: an Abrams M1A2 built by Rolls-Royce.

It's really a nice razor and I like nice stuff. As far as the extra cost goes, I'm worth it. I'm sure no one on this board is serious about not paying an extra $10 for something, are they? With all the money we're saving by not using those M3 cartridges any more?

Rich

 

[talibeard]

Seems perfectly normal to me, as I was thinking the same thing. Altho', I can't imagine how it could get broken. The more I look at the R89, the more I think: an Abrams M1A2 built by Rolls-Royce.

To me too but on the other hand I doubt we at B&B really fit into the "perfectly normal" category; I know too many people who consider my shaving habits to be weird to be comfortable about it.

It's really a nice razor and I like nice stuff. As far as the extra cost goes, I'm worth it. I'm sure no one on this board is serious about not paying an extra $10 for something, are they? With all the money we're saving by not using those M3 cartridges any more?

Rich

+1 all this talk about $10 is a bit of nonsense in the long run, especially when you see how easy we spend it on other stuff of which we don't know if we really like it....

 

[SHarris]

I have a Mühle R41, a Merkur 12C, and an EJ DE89L (closed comb). They all have the same style of head - though the 12C is a 2 piece razor and the R41/89L are 3 piece. The "aggressiveness" of the open combs is the same, but they shave very differently. The R41 is 1.85 oz and the 12C is 3.9oz. I've been using a DE since September and razor burn has been my number one issue. I cannot get through a shave with the 12C without getting burn if I use a new or very sharp blade. I won't use a Feather in it ever again. The R41, because of the lightness, needs a new or sharp blade. My EJ DE89L (closed comb) weighs 2.5 oz and seems to be in the sweet spot for weight which allows me to use the widest variety of blades - manufacturers and times used. I am moving to the lighter razors to overcome the burning problem. I don't see any difference with the combs for aggressiveness. I think weight is more of an issue with these style razors. I've never used a vintage Gillette.

As for finish, all of them (Merkur, EJ, and Muehle) have very similar finish in the head. The cap is beautifully chromed on the top, and they have a satin-like finish underneath the cap piece. It's poorly done in all of them - IMO. As for the handles, the EJ and Muehle handles are much nicer than the Merkur....much nicer, and worth the cost.

Excellent summation Mink...Jagger and Muehle do use Merkur heads and as suggested use their own handles and occasionally different finishes.
It is a fallacy that the open comb is more aggressive just because it bares its teeth, the usual principles of razor aggression apply....gap, exposure, angle not safety bar.