New US Maker of DE Razors - great article

[robrinay]

The story of 'above the tie'

http://craftsmanship.net/occupy-your-bathroom/

 

[Braz]

Neat story, but that sure is a lot of money for a razor, to my mind anyway.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Quote: To facilitate the process, Gillette and other razor manufacturers became experts at a kind of consumer shell game: As soon as customers became accustomed to a new model, and returned to stores to buy replacement blades, they discovered that their razor had just been discontinued in favor of a newer system. The new model was of course built for cartridges that were better, smoother, faster—and, of course, loaded with even more blades.

This is why I changed over to DE razors in the old style!

 

[William G.]

Double edge is the way to go, at least for me. I stockpiled blades years ago. Can't find 'em around here any more.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Double edge is the way to go, at least for me. I stockpiled blades years ago. Can't find 'em around here any more.

Apparently RiteAid carries them in some locations. The fellow I bought my vintage Gillette from bought a packet of RiteAid DE blades to check that the razor would take modern blades (it does), and then was nice enough to send them on to me at no charge. And I've seen Wilkinson blades at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Double edge is the way to go, at least for me. I stockpiled blades years ago. Can't find 'em around here any more.

I agree. I started DE-shaving in 2008 and perfected my system of classic short-handled open comb-razor, blade, brush and soap, so I would call me a veteran, now.
-a good, creamy shaving soap!
-a sharp blade!
-a grey badger-brush (no silvertip)!

 

[belfastboy]

I like the old school idea of it all but that is a lot of money for a razor. I pay about $2 a blade for the latest Gillette offering and they throw in the shaver with the blades. I get about 3 weeks from a blade and rinse it well after each shave so no clogging, bacteria and razor burn. Used to use a badger brush and shaving soap but when my brush wore out used just hand lathered bar soap that was in the shower and found it works just fine. Simple and easy is good! I have looked at the internet offerings such as Harry's etc and for the $24-$30 a year I spend on shaving is waaay tooo much bother. I am sticking with Costco and Gillette

 

[Edward]

A lot depends on what works best for the individual. My start-up costs weren't cheap, but if you discount the extra handles I've bought just because I loved them, you can get a decent starter package for about GBP25. A shaving soap last me a long time - at least a year. I use it right til the end. DE blades I go through about one a week, at GBP0.20 each. Even compare to bulk-buying the Mach 3 Gilette blades online to get them down to GBP1.00 each, that works out at a saving (I get 3-4 weeks out of one cartridge). I also find I get a far superior shave from the DE, as well as it being cheaper. Unfortunatley, I still have to buy cartridges to shave my head (can't get the angles right to do it by DE myself - found that out the hard and bloody way), but at least I can get a month out of one of the Mach3s, bulk buying online brings the cost down quite a bit (my local supermarket charges Upwards of GBP2.50 per cartridge).

Now all I need to find is some sort of odourless aftershave, but an alum block still seems the best option for that.

 

[Cap_7597]

Love my Above the Tie razors.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PeterGunnLives]

Several years ago I got a brand new Merkur (from Germany) DE razor for about forty bucks. They've probably been making the same designs for decades. And a bit later a friend who collects antiques gave me an adjustable vintage mid-century DE safety razor for free. Maybe I shouldn't have bought the Merkur in the first place!

I don't think blades are too expensive. Merkur blades seem best to me, better than the generic ones that are available at Rite Aid. Feather brand (in Japan) has good razors and blades as well, but the blades have sharper and thinner edges, and to me seem more finicky.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I like the old school idea of it all but that is a lot of money for a razor. I pay about $2 a blade for the latest Gillette offering and they throw in the shaver with the blades. I get about 3 weeks from a blade and rinse it well after each shave so no clogging, bacteria and razor burn. Used to use a badger brush and shaving soap but when my brush wore out used just hand lathered bar soap that was in the shower and found it works just fine. Simple and easy is good! I have looked at the internet offerings such as Harry's etc and for the $24-$30 a year I spend on shaving is waaay tooo much bother. I am sticking with Costco and Gillette

I hear you. I shave twice a week at the moment with a Mach 3. In the shower with whatever hand soap I have around, no brush needed, it takes about 3 minutes and is extremely smooth. I get about 8 weeks from a single blade. You can't cut yourself even if you try. I can't imagine wanting make shaving any more complex, time consuming or dependent on more products.

 

[FedOregon]

I have a DE Merkur razor at home with badger hair brush and nice shaving soap but I've gotten lazy again and started using the cheapest Gillette 2-blade disposables I can find. I do have several different kinds of DE blades and like the Derby blades the best. I've tried the Feather, Astra, Merkur, Personna, Gillette. As a rule I hate BIC and Personna. Feather are ok but seem to dull faster.

Since I let my goatee grow out all I have to shave now is the sides of my neck and my cheeks. These are pretty much soft hairs for me so no fancy regimen, just lather up and one pass, against the grain, and I'm done. And I only need to shave maybe 2 or 3 times a week.

Those 4 and 5 blade disposables are ridiculous, and the price is obscene. I can't even shave in tight places, like the edge of my nose, with those behemoths.