Anatomy of the DE razor (The Barrel)

[larysius]

Hi all,

I'm new here and have had a DE razor now (Edwin Jagger DE89L) for a couple of weeks and am very impressed with it. I originally got into DE shaving for the cost benefits of the blades because I was sick of spending $25 a pop on a package of cartridges. But now I'm reading more and more about the various brands of razors etc... and one thing that confuses me is the barrel length.

I'm used to razors having a good, lengthy handle and most of the DE razors I see have a shorter handle. My wife used mine and said it was heavy and short. The latter making it somewhat difficult to use. So, though it doesn't necessarily bother me, I guess I'm wondering why the barrels of these razors are so short? Is it possible to buy different barrels as long as the threading is the same etc...?

Going to be buying a sampler pack of blades too when the Derbies that came with the EJ run out, so I can test the various brands too. I also am seeing things about creams, soaps, and other things to use for lather and am going to try a couple of each from local retailers because I never used shaving cream regularly because I seemed to get more nicks and razor burn when I used it, but found shaving just with water doesn't work as well with DE shaving. So going to try lathering agents that don't involve an aerosol can and a ton of ingredients. What do you all use?

Thanks for the input.

 

[joshgambit]

Hi! Welcome to Badger & Blade! There is a lot of information on here, and it can be overwhelming, but it's really super. So, welcome to the best forum on the 'net.

So, to answer your first question. I thought the same thing when I first started wet shaving. But once I 'retrained' my hand/arm/brain that heavier is not a bad thing, it was okay. Parker razors have a longer handle, and I think the Feather All Stainless has a bit longer handle too. But what I've found is that the shorter handle works well. Use the weight of the razor to your advantage. You don't have to bear down like you did with a cartridge. I know that IKON sells handles, and I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure that they're all threaded about the same. Someone with more knowledge can chime in on that.

Asking what cream/soap we use...you're going to get 150 different answers from 50 different people. At last count, I have around 2 dozen different soaps and creams in my shave den. You can get some really good shave cream at Bath and Body Works called C.O. Bigelow. It has a menthol scent, but it lathers quite nicely and is a good value, especially with the deals they sometimes run. Otherwise, for starting out, the Van der Hagen line is satisfactory. Many people swear by Williams. Personally, I can't get it to lather very well. That may have to do with my water, though. I'm not sure where you live, but there are a few brick and mortar stores that sell wet shaving supplies around me. Larger cities will offer more selection. The Derby shave creams work well, and are inexpensive, as are the ARKO brand creams and shave stick.

You definitely want to use some soap or cream whipped up into a nice lather with a brush. Brushes are another "different answers from everyone". Boar or Badger? (or synthetic). Some drugstores (Walgreen's/CVS) sell a basic boar brush. The Omega brand is a good starter brush (in my opinion). There are lots of selections, and the price won't break the bank.

You have the razor and some blades. But what else do you *need*?

Cream or soap
Bowl (if bowl lathering) (If you face lather, you don't really need a bowl)
Brush
Styptic pencil (for those cuts you're bound to get)

I would say those are the *necessaries*. Some witch hazel would be a good buy, as it helps after you finish. A shaving balm or aftershave would be a good idea too.

I would suggest reading over this thread:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...STRUCTIONS-AND-TUTORIALS-New-READ-THIS-THREAD!

Also, Mantic's videos on YouTube are a huge help.

I would say that you can save money by getting into wet shaving. You can be as frugal or as extravagant as you want to be.

Don't be afraid to ask questions, and read over forums! We're here to help!

Hope this helps. Cheers!
Josh

 

[BBrad]

Hey, larysius . . . welcome to B&B!!

As I'm sure you have discovered, DE razors work quite a bit differently than cartridge shavers. The best results come from using as little pressure against the face as possible. Most guys grip the handle "high" just under the head. A low grip produces pressure through the effect of leverage. The length and weight of the handle is primarily to balance the assembly. Changing the length or size (weight) of the handle will change how the razor shaves.

There was a trend in the 1960s toward longer handles on DE razors. Schick's Krona, the Lady Gillette, the Gillette Knack, and the Gillette Super Adjustable (long) all featured handles longer than what was traditionally offered. Fat Boy, Slim, and SA (short) also had handles slightly longer than the Tech and Super Speed razors, but that was primarily to balance the heavier adjustment components. By the time the Gillette Trac II came out, the longer handle had established itself as the norm. Handle length probably doesn't affect cartridge razors as much, due to the different characteristics of carts.

Josh is right on with his advice above. The overwhelming majority of us are of the belief that proper prep is the most important component in classic wetshaving. Even the lowest priced boar brush and soap (the VDH kit is great for the price!) will improve your shave versus canned goo.

Many guys recommend buying a sampler assortment of blades, but I strongly recommend against that in the beginning of your journey. You will be better served using the same razor/blade combination, whatever it is, for the first month or two until your technique and prep is refined. You will only confuse yourself by trying different hardware while you are still "learning" how to use the DE. Once you are getting consistently good shaves, a sample pack will certainly help you figure out what blade works best for you.

Again, welcome, and enjoy your shaves!

 

[konijntjesbroek]

Welcome to the show. All the above + invest in an alum bloc and some witch hazel. Great stuff for cleaning up the learning process

 

[BlackBard]

Welcome aboard B&B. Hope you enjoy the ride.


Looks like you are off to a good start. Practice and patience will pay off with better and better shaves.

 

[celestino]

Welcome to the forum and good luck!

 

[PugslyCat]

Welcome to the good ship B&B!

You are correct that most of our razors have a shorter handle than the modern shaving systems. I never understood why this is, but it works for me. Josh is correct that Parker and EJ have some long handled razors, but I encourage you to try the short version first. The longer handle is likely to be more important to your wife as she shaves harder to reach areas than you are likely to shave yourself.

 

[Boro62]

I actually had similar train of thought when I first started traditional wetshaving not too long ago, and ended up starting out with a Merkur 180 which has a longer handle (pretty similar to the length of cartridge razor handles. It was pretty mild and I ended up using a feather blade with it almost exclusively but YMMV. But i eventually migrated to some shorter handled vintage razors. The handle length thing was mostly in my head and after getting used to shaving with a DE, I get great shaves out of both a razor with a longer handle as well as ones with the shorter ones.