Zookeepers of the Muhle R41 BEAST

[cpacamper]

I have the 2011 and 2013 R41 with both razors I only get 2 shaves per blade. The 3rd shave is not worth the effort. I trash the blade after two shaves blades are fairly inexpensive

With GSBs and 7:00 yellows, I found the second shave on both inferior to the first. I'm wondering if my beard only allows for 1 shave per blade! My hair is thick and I have a lot of it, maybe three passes kills my blade.

2011 using the steep angle method.

 

[Badger Bill]

With GSBs and 7:00 yellows, I found the second shave on both inferior to the first. I'm wondering if my beard only allows for 1 shave per blade! My hair is thick and I have a lot of it, maybe three passes kills my blade.

2011 using the steep angle method.

Well, it's certainly possible, I guess. I have as thick a beard as anyone… I can't imagine that yours is any coarser or thicker than mine, and I can get two shaves out of each blade, and I use a steep angle too. But of course as always YMMV and if you find that the second shave isn't as good as the first, blades are cheap enough that I'd tell you to just roll with it and pitch them in the bin after each use. Life is too short to worry about stretching every last bit of life out of each razor blade!

 

[striker6]

Well, it's certainly possible, I guess. I have as thick a beard as anyone… I can't imagine that yours is any coarser or thicker than mine, and I can get two shaves out of each blade, and I use a steep angle too. But of course as always YMMV and if you find that the second shave isn't as good as the first, blades are cheap enough that I'd tell you to just roll with it and pitch them in the bin after each use. Life is too short to worry about stretching every last bit of life out of each razor blade!

I'm in the one and done camp myself. Gotta keep the Beast's teeth sharp ya know?!

 

[Voere]

With GSBs and 7:00 yellows, I found the second shave on both inferior to the first. I'm wondering if my beard only allows for 1 shave per blade! My hair is thick and I have a lot of it, maybe three passes kills my blade.

2011 using the steep angle method.

If you only get 1 shave per blade that is okay plenty of variables involved in blade life anything is possible with so many variables involved. Beard type creams, soaps, water & on and on.

I try to purchase blades in 100 packs. I do not purchase the more expensive blades. The cost average for me is about 10 to 14 cents per blade. I can live with 2 good shaves.

With the blades I use the 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] shave drops off big time. I start to get skin irritation/razor burn. I have not tried all the blades on the market. I have good luck with Astra SP, Derby, Personna lab blue, Shark & Voskhod.

I tried Feather blades the cost is just about double the cost of the other blades mentioned. For me it is easier on the pocket book to stick with the inexpensive blades and toss them in the trash after two shaves.

On the days that I'm in a hurry or too lazy to clean the razor or blade after use it's one blade and done.
Good Luck

 

[something better]

i have been getting a week to 10 days with gillette silver. only 3 or 4 days with feather though.

 

[nuclearblast]

i have been getting a week to 10 days with gillette silver. only 3 or 4 days with feather though.

Probably you prefer the shallow angle, that helps extending the blade's life. Good for you anyway!

 

[Codfish]

With GSBs and 7:00 yellows, I found the second shave on both inferior to the first. I'm wondering if my beard only allows for 1 shave per blade! My hair is thick and I have a lot of it, maybe three passes kills my blade.

2011 using the steep angle method.

As one of the first adopters of the R41 2011, one of the most baffling things we noticed was the shortened life that our usual blades had. This led to organized searches for "the best" blade--and eventual understanding that the R41 was simply hard on blades.

We found that a shallow blade angle worked best for us (as Muhle recommends) and that we has to live with 35-45% shorter blade life. We all found "best" blades eventually (very individual results) and that excellent prep helped a lot. My favorite Irridium SPs and Russian Perma-Sharps gave me 3 shaves max as opposed to 4-5 with other razors. BTW, for me, Feathers can get only one decent shave per blade to this date.

 

[eezee]

As one of the first adopters of the R41 2011, one of the most baffling things we noticed was the shortened life that our usual blades had. This led to organized searches for "the best" blade--and eventual understanding that the R41 was simply hard on blades.

We found that a shallow blade angle worked best for us (as Muhle recommends) and that we has to live with 35-45% shorter blade life. We all found "best" blades eventually (very individual results) and that excellent prep helped a lot. My favorite Irridium SPs and Russian Perma-Sharps gave me 3 shaves max as opposed to 4-5 with other razors. BTW, for me, Feathers can get only one decent shave per blade to this date.

Excellent analysis. Thank you!

 

[cpacamper]

As one of the first adopters of the R41 2011, one of the most baffling things we noticed was the shortened life that our usual blades had. This led to organized searches for "the best" blade--and eventual understanding that the R41 was simply hard on blades.

We found that a shallow blade angle worked best for us (as Muhle recommends) and that we has to live with 35-45% shorter blade life. We all found "best" blades eventually (very individual results) and that excellent prep helped a lot. My favorite Irridium SPs and Russian Perma-Sharps gave me 3 shaves max as opposed to 4-5 with other razors. BTW, for me, Feathers can get only one decent shave per blade to this date.

My blade life is more like 75% shorter with the handle closer to the skin, but YMMV of course. A blade quest is what I'm on, and I can now report that Shark Super Chromes do not work well for me. Yellow 7:00 and GSBs are the winners so far.

 

[Codfish]

My blade life is more like 75% shorter with the handle closer to the skin, but YMMV of course. A blade quest is what I'm on, and I can now report that Shark Super Chromes do not work well for me. Yellow 7:00 and GSBs are the winners so far.

Best of luck, It's not easy. Yellows were among my top finishers, along with Personna Meds and Labs and Russian Perms. GSBs? I'm not sure what your referring to. Have you tried a shallow blade angle? How did it work for you?

 

[nuclearblast]

I think he refers to Gillette Silver Blue, Jim.

And David ... your signature is hilarious .... Well done!

 

[aimsport]

We found that a shallow blade angle worked best for us (as Muhle recommends)

No such consensus. All R41 wetshavers owe it to themselves to give steep angle shaving a week or more. Typical findings are that the razor is better behaved, the BBSs last longer and the post shave skin is totally calm.

 

[nuclearblast]

No such consensus. All R41 wetshavers owe it to themselves to give steep angle shaving a week or more. Typical findings are that the razor is better behaved, the BBSs last longer and the post shave skin is totally calm.

I'll agree with this, even though the shallow angle works nicely too ... BUT, the steeper angle is safer, faster and more irritation free. Consumes more blades ... I don't really care.

 

[Badger Bill]

No such consensus. All R41 wetshavers owe it to themselves to give steep angle shaving a week or more. Typical findings are that the razor is better behaved, the BBSs last longer and the post shave skin is totally calm.

I have to agree. I definitely think that the shallow angle can work very well, but at aimsport's encouragement in another thread I gave the steep angle a go for several shaves, and I have concluded that for me, it yields the best results. As always, YMMV however.

 

[Kev Kev]

In......(happy owner of 3 of 'em)

 

[nuclearblast]

In......(happy owner of 3 of 'em)

Very nice! Welcome to the Zoo ...

 

[cpacamper]

Nice Kev Kev. Be sure to trick out your sig with the BEASTly moniker!

 

[cpacamper]

I think he refers to Gillette Silver Blue, Jim.

And David ... your signature is hilarious .... Well done!

Yes Gillette Silver Blues. Great blades in my slants also.

Thanks, but your sig is the classic.

 

[Boaz]

I will have to wait a bit longer to join, just came back to the dreaded red card from the Royal Mail

 

[nuclearblast]

I will have to wait a bit longer to join, just came back to the dreaded red card from the Royal Mail

Sorry to hear about that ... Sounds like it was a bad timing. Hope it won't take long until you get it and start taming the BEAST!