Switching to a DE safety razor or Cut Throat

FIFTY

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Tallman said:
Have you heard of this Japanese brand? Pretty impressive, they know how to make blades.

https://www.feather.co.jp/en/bh_Products/index.html

I used their double edged razor for a little while but it was too much fuss so back to the good old Gillette Mach 3 it was.
Click to expand...

Yup, not for me... They are very sharp granted but totally lack smoothness

I prefer KAI DE blades which are a similar Japanese brand.

Ask @CatmanV2 about Feather vs a
KAI blades
 
M

Mr Spoon

Member
Messages
407
I use Dollar shave club. I can shave all over (my head) no cuts, 6 blades and they send the blades on subscription. So I never run out and always got one for a friend ;)
 
Zep

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,283
FIFTY said:
Well it turns out this rabbit hole runs quite deep and while not filling up the tank of the Maser with super unleaded due to its ongoing drive train overhaul I have amassed a lot of gear.

View attachment 93619

I have almost entirely switched to shaving (my face) with a straight razor now which suits me great but admittedly is a bit of a faff with stropping and maintaining those facile invisible edges on natural whetstones.

I particularly like vintage razors - there's something special to repurposing 100-170 year old antiques. I also have some nice razors made by an artisan dalled Drew Dick, I have a fixed edge Damascus steel, a traditional folding straight and he made a Damascus steel kitchen knife for me as well, fantastic work and a great edge. I have recently ordered a Rigarazor and am also looking at a couple of Artrazors as well who are from other renowned modern razor makers.

View attachment 93620View attachment 93621

If anyone is interested in switching over drop me a line and I can let you know the best products to avoid having to buy a load of **** like I have... it can get addictive as you are buying shiny things all of which for the same purpose but each one achieves a slightly different outcome - thankfully the soap/aftershave acquisition disorder missed me as my skin reacts to heavily perfumed products.
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You have really got into that! Not sure my hands are steady enough….

Love the Damascus steel. Beautiful and the process is really interesting.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,789
FIFTY said:
Yup, not for me... They are very sharp granted but totally lack smoothness

I prefer KAI DE blades which are a similar Japanese brand.

Ask @CatmanV2 about Feather vs a
KAI blades
Click to expand...

Yes Feather were very much my go to blade for probably 10+ years. @FIFTY very kindly sent me a selection of his research blades and the Kais will absolutely be my replacement as soon as I finished the last box of the Feathers.....

C
 
FIFTY

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Zep said:
You have really got into that! Not sure my hands are steady enough….

Love the Damascus steel. Beautiful and the process is really interesting.
Click to expand...

Yeah it has been a pretty boring year which has enabled the obsessive behaviour

Re steady hands, it's not that bad... I know a guy with Parkinson's and another with carpal tunnel and they both are straight razor shavers.

The technique of holding the razor in one hand and stretching your skin with the other ties in with your breathing and concentration. I generally shave in the evening so I find it a great way to clear my mind and resetting.

It takes a while to pick up the muscle memory and adjust to the blade feel. Start small with sideburns, cheeks, build up to neck and so on. In 3-6 months you will have a decent level of competence.

Re Damascus razors, Drew does some incredible work in his little shop in Bracknell. This his insta: https://instagram.com/drewdick?utm_medium=copy_link

Also Yurii Kravchenko Art Razor https://instagram.com/art_razor_ua?utm_medium=copy_link
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,789
Holy thread resurrection!

Just treated myself to one of these based on another Facebook group conversation:

www.theenglishshavingcompany.com

Merkur 37C DE Safety Razor (Slant Head)

Merkur 37C DE Safety Razor (Slant Comb) Made in Germany COMPATIBLE WITH ALL STANDARD DE RAZOR BLADES One Merkur Super Platinum DE Razor Blade included Overall length: 80mm (3.1
www.theenglishshavingcompany.com www.theenglishshavingcompany.com

Certainly the most comfortable shave I have ever had.

Not recommended as a first DE razor, but, although it looks dangerous as an experienced DE shaver, execution has been zero issues so far.

C
 
MarkMas

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,933
Good luck with that. I'm sticking to my collection of good old Contour Plus razors. (Atra in the USA, due to a shortage of 'u's, I think.)

Blades are easy to find and relatively cheap (although supposedly discontinued in the UK last March), but replacement handles are now at 'collectable' prices. I paid £25 for a nice metal one in 2021, but they are crazy now.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294867818468?hash=item44a77dd7e4:g:dqMAAOSwInRgG9Bp
www.etsy.com

1980's Gillette Contour Plus New Old Stock Very Rare Item Solid Metal - Etsy UK

This Souvenirs & Events item is sold by myprecioushop. Ships from Portugal. Listed on 31 Dec, 2023
www.etsy.com www.etsy.com

If anyone is clearing out grandpa's shed and finds any, let me know!

Actually, I have just seen that you can buy the nasty plastic Atra handles in the USA for $20, so I will pick up a couple next time.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gillette...ra-Plus-Blades-No-Box/1827483347?from=/search
 
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