Just ordered my DE razor

[TRXnMe]

OK, still following this thread and still thinking it is a good idea to put a nice razor and a few blades on my christmas list, but, more questions have arisen :)

I use the mach 3 cartridges, they usually last me between 10 and 15 shaves, so a pack will easily last me 6 weeks. I spotted a couple of commments about DE blades only lasting 1 to 3 shaves, is this common for all of them, or just the types mentioned? I know they'd still be cheaper, but if I've got to 'faff' with a razor blade at 04:00 in the morning in order to not carve my face off I see me keeping the current system for early starts :)

Also, what do you do with the old blades? I can see the bin man complaining if I chuck them in the metal recycling, well his mate would be complaining while he has his fingers stitched up

 

[Cyclops]

I usually chuck mine in the black bin wrapped back up in the packet it came in as each blade comes in its own paper packaging.

if you are using a mach 3 for that long then It must be pulling hairs as much as cutting them. The beauty of a DE is that is it a tugless shave every time you use it if you don't stretch the blade too far with multiple uses. The blades cost me £8 for 100 blades so for 8p a blade I am not going to be bothered about using one every 3 or 4 shaves when it is a 10 second change of a blade :)

 

[Aleman]

I spotted a couple of commments about DE blades only lasting 1 to 3 shaves, is this common for all of them, or just the types mentioned? I know they'd still be cheaper, but if I've got to 'faff' with a razor blade at 04:00 in the morning in order to not carve my face off I see me keeping the current system for early starts :)

I change my blades AFTER the shave, so I just pick the razor up and go.

Feathers do blunt quickly . . . I can get about 3 shaves from the feathers (but I do three passes per shave, With, Cross, and Against). Using the Futur on 6 for the With pass if I have missed a couple of days. Derby blades while not as sharp seem to last a couple of shaves longer.

I find it incredible that people can get a weeks worth of shaves out of the Mach 3 . . . I had to change cartridges every day . . . and the amount of pressure yo need to use really mashing the head into the face.

Also, what do you do with the old blades? I can see the bin man complaining if I chuck them in the metal recycling, well his mate would be complaining while he has his fingers stitched up

I dispose of mine in a sharps bin . . . I'm on fairly good terms with the (new) pharmacist down the road and he supplies me with mine . . . Commonly they issue them to the druggies as part of a needle exchange scheme . . . When full they go back to the same source

 

[TRXnMe]

I usually chuck mine in the black bin wrapped back up in the packet it came in as each blade comes in its own paper packaging.

if you are using a mach 3 for that long then It must be pulling hairs as much as cutting them. The beauty of a DE is that is it a tugless shave every time you use it if you don't stretch the blade too far with multiple uses. The blades cost me £8 for 100 blades so for 8p a blade I am not going to be bothered about using one every 3 or 4 shaves when it is a 10 second change of a blade :)

I think I have rather soft facial hair as the blade doesn't start to tug until the end of the second week, and I'm not presssing on very hard either.....

So there is every chance that the right blade will see 5 shaves through the week, so I'm not going to be swapping a blade while still half asleep in the morning then? I'd put a new blade in Saturday morning for the weekend and swap blades after my Sunday shave for a full week's shave, all done while wide awake.

I'm starting to be as much worried about my finger tips as I am my face, and while a swap may come down to 10 seconds with practice I have this vision of a blade change taking a couple of hours due to the trip to casualty to have my finger prints sewn back on, these feather things are soundling like surgical scalpels!! :)

 

[Cyclops]

the blades are not hard to handle, just don't touch the edges. They are pretty big the blades, bigger in size than those on a mach 3.

 

[Aleman]

The blades cost me £8 for 100 blades so for 8p a blade I am not going to be bothered about using one every 3 or 4 shaves when it is a 10 second change of a blade :)

When I first started I changed blades every shave . . . as they become blunt I found you pick up more nicks and cuts. Nowadays I can make them last just a bit longer, but for the cost it's nice to not worry about changing a blade.

The funny thing about all this is that I am actually afraid of razor blades . . . No seriously I hate and detest handling them. Yet I have no issues using a microtome (Basically a cut throat used for preparing thin tissue samples for microscope work), or scalpel blades or other sharp knives. The only thing I can think off that caused this phobia (XYROPHOBIA for those interested, Aichmophobia is the fear of sharp edges) Is the way my parents behaved and treated me when I was very young and my dad was shaving.

We definitely learn our fears . . . but we can overcome them.

 

[TRXnMe]

Right, thought I'd have a look around eBay and see what was available.

Would you recomend this starter set

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Derby-Astra-D ... 43bb3d9b79

or this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Merkur-34C-Do ... 43beb93e44

And if the latter, what makes it better?

Also spotted this, but I know my life insurance wouldn't be happy as I've not got the steadiest hand in the morning, not until my first cup of tea hits the spot anyway :)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300-DERBY-PRO ... 46089ddc86

Thanks for all the input, if this lets me narrow down a blade and razor to add to the christmas list I could be in for plastic surgery in January :p :)

 

[Jeltz]

Blade disposal: you just need a pot with a "letterbox" style opening in the lid. I use an old fishfood pot with the screw lid glued on and a slot cut in the lid it is yellow with an orange lid so looks like a "sharps" pot. Some people use a soup tin having cut the hole and drained the soup through that (obviously lumpy soup wouldn't work) it will take an age to fill with old blades. When full I wll duct tape it closed write used razor blades on it and chuck it in the bin. Feather also make a disposal bin, but its still just a tin with a slot.

Most people ditch the blade after 3 uses, I personally get 5-7 uses a lot depends on technique. The more polished your technique the less work you have to do to get a decent result so the blade lasts longer. Also your beard type affects blade life fine hair vs coarse wiry etc.

 

[Aleman]

For me it would be the Merkur 34C and hundred Derbys . . . Why I know Merkur and the build quality is exceptional. the 34C is often recommended for newbies on the shaving forums, and I wish I had listened and not gone for the Futur . . . although now I wouldn't part with it.

The only benefit of the other razor is the selection of blades, but you can get them from other sources

The other one recommended is the Edwin Jager DE 89

If I was going 'cut throat' then I'd go all the way and not get a halfway house

 

[stuey]

Disposal of feather blades (and most of the others that come in a plastic case) is easy. On the back of the case there is a slot... that is designed to take the used blades. Slide them in there and Bob's your uncle!
No sharps bins or other paraphernalia required

 

[iceo]

I use the blade box to hold old ones. Iv not to the steadyest hands and can struggle to do up shirt buttons but swapping out a blade is quick and easy. If you don't want to spend money off the bat boots sell a Wilkinson de handle and 10 blades for £5 it might not be the best but will give you an idea.

 

[TRXnMe]

If I was going 'cut throat' then I'd go all the way and not get a halfway house

Now that's what worries me about a cut throat razor, going all the way :)

 

[TRXnMe]

I use the blade box to hold old ones. Iv not to the steadyest hands and can struggle to do up shirt buttons but swapping out a blade is quick and easy. If you don't want to spend money off the bat boots sell a Wilkinson de handle and 10 blades for £5 it might not be the best but will give you an idea.

Brilliant, thank you for that tip.

I've put in a £10 bid on a secondhand Merkur 34C on eBay, based on build quality comments it's worth that at least, and if I get that I'll get some blades and keep my fingers crossed, if I don't then boots are only a 10 minute walk from my office so I'll pick up the £5 tester one lunch time this week.

I'm liking the look of the Merkur, the hatched handle give me some comfort that wet soapy hands aren't going to slip and add to the damage, I'm ugly enough to start with and as I'm married additional scars aren't going to be beneficial

 

[Will12283]

Went to the boots local to my work and they don't stick the DE razor, the odd thing to me is they stock the blades.

 

[sam.k]

Well day 3 and I think this is the smoothest my face has ever been.
It sounds strange but you have to learn the growth patterns and the shape of your face, you would think that you would know these things, I certainly didn't.
I'm still missing a few patches and I've nicked myself a few times but it's going well.
Iceo those blades arrived, thanks very much buddy.

I'm thinking about buying some of the bluebeards revenge stuff to give it a poke.

 

[iceo]

your welcome sam. i hope they help you find a blade that suits your face. it took me about 10 different one to get one i can use every day

 

[markmark]

I've used a DE razor for the past 4 years or so. It has revolutionised my shaving and my skin.
The problem with modern multi blade razors is they lift the hair and effectively cut it below the line of the skin and this used to give me all sorts of problems with pimples and ingrown hairs. You don't get this with a DE as it cuts at a right angle to the face.
My current weapons of choice are an old Gillette SuperSpeed or a Merkur Progress adjustable and I use either Feather or Derby blades.
Invest in a good brush.
My favourite creams/soaps are Proraso and anything by D. R. Harris.
Geo. F. Trumper does nice soap too and you can't go wrong with the very cheap Palmolive sticks.

 

[TRXnMe]

Went to the boots local to my work and they don't stick the DE razor, the odd thing to me is they stock the blades.

Same problem near me, odd innit?

I think I'm going to get a Timor butterfly opening razor, and then try different blades in it, starting with the Derby which sound like they'll work for me.

I want the Timor as my Dad's DE was a butterfly jobby, when I was growing up. My first ever shave (age about 8...) was with one like it, as such I'm feeling a bit sentimental, and I like the price and the fact it's German, not some shoddy Chinese knock off like a lot of other stuff on eBay.

I may regret not buying the Merkur 34C, I hope not, but I accept it's possible having read some of the stuff on the web about these razors, however the Timor has a few very nice comments so I'm hoping it's a good un :)

Now, about these styptic pencils, is there a better / less painful option to go for? I hate walking around with a bit of loo roll hanging off my chin all morning until the scab forms.

 

[Aleman]

Aabout these styptic pencils, is there a better / less painful option to go for?

I use an Alum Block :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

 

[iceo]

Ok if not from boots I have seen them in Boyes behind the tills. Styptic only sting if you cut your self but do stop any bleed quickly you have tried to remove your face then it's not going to help . I get ny pencils, brush and soap from savers s they are cheaper .
I got a parker 22 ( butterfly type) off Amazon for less then 20 as it is ment to be a little heavier