Anybody else notice blades from the same pack of Derbys are hit or miss?

[Craig de Tering]

Has someone else noticed this also when using Derbys?

I thought I was going crazy about a few months ago when I received my new order of Derbys.
The first blade I took out of a freshly-opened 5-pack shaved me all nice and smooth (with a 34c).
I got a good 7 shaves out of that one (usually 4xface + 3xhead).
Second blade also; everything honky-dory.
Then suddenly the third started cutting me all over. Used it twice. Same result; bleeding like a sieve.

After that (now from hindsight) it went on all hit-n-miss, hit-n-miss, all the f'n time. Yesterday I opened my third 5-pack and yet again a brand-new blade cut me all over my cheeks, throat and head. Looked like a G-D clown with all the bleeding splotches and nicks and now 24 hours later my skin still feels like someone went to work on me with a belt sander.
Absolutely ridiculous.
An yet the blade before this one gave me 8 beautiful BBS shaves. What gives?

(Still have like 7 packs to go, I think)

And yeah, prep is the same every time.

 

[auk1124]

Ouch, I hate to hear that, just bought a 100 of them. out of all the blades I've tried so far theu seem to have the best ratio of smoothness/sharpness for my face. I've gone through 5 so far and not noticed any difference but will keep an eye out.

 

[Craig de Tering]

out of all the blades I've tried so far theu seem to have the best ratio of smoothness/sharpness for my face.

That was the case with me also. When i started the whole DE thing early August 2008 I had bought single packs of Derbys from the Turkish grocer around the corner from me. I didn't have a single problem with any of those.
The grocer then stopped stocking the Derbys and switched to Divyut SuperMaxes (or however it's spelled - Tried one, sucked).
So I ordered from internet. This hit-n-miss thing is from the 10 packs I received in July.

 

[texbilly]

Ouch! I get the occasional dud blade (maybe one out of ten) and consider it to be the result of a less than perfect manufacturing process. But wow, nothing as consistently rough as you're describing. I will say I'm using Derby less and less since I've found a few others brands that perform just as well if not better. One blade in particular that I think is sharper and smoother are Red Pack Personnas. And a long-lasting choice for me is Gillette Super Thin.

I used Derbys exclusively for about 6 months and as mentioned, had generally good luck. But don't be afraid to branch out and try new ones. I did so fairly recently and realize there are great choices - one of them might work for you! Good luck!

 

[Craig de Tering]

One blade in particular that I think is sharper and smoother are Red Pack Personnas. And a long-lasting choice for me is Gillette Super Thin.

Thanks for the recommendations. Hadn't thought of those before but now I'll have to order me some from internet as finding other brands of DE blades in stores around me is futile.

 

[htownmmm]

Derbys seem to have more 'burn' blades in their packs than other brands. In fact, I do believe the quality level of Derbys has changed in the last couple of years.

At one time you consistently knew what you were getting with them and I am fortunate to still have my supply from 2 years ago. They were such that you could do no wrong with them. Now however, from everything I've been reading in the forum, I believe a change has occurred.

Whenever I needed a break from the Feathers or something sharper than the Israeli blue, I would grab a Derby. Now, since I have found sharper and smoother blades, I rarely touch one-I have no idea the last time I used one actually.

marty

 

[RichGem]

Inconsistency is the major reason I stopped using Derys. For a real treat, imho, try Gillette Yellows or Astra Superior Plats.

 

[Biffo]

Yes, same here got Derby's in a sampler pack, first blade was great, second was OK, third was totally duff, fourth was great, fifth was pants, threw the rest away

 

[sam2g70]

I tend to use my Derbs for anything that requires a razor edge besides my face. Its the only reason I still have a few instead of tossing all of them in the trash can. :9898:

 

[taffy]

On my first trip into de shaving i used derbys 90% of the time and had no problems with them, 2 years later i am back for good on de shaving and had a pack with a sampler of blades and thought "great some derbys" and i have the same problem, not as bad but 1st and 2nd blade 4 or 5 great shaves 3rd blade=raw neck and i felt through experiance the blade was bad

 

[SpyvSpy]

Have been using derbys and probably always will be I do want to try some astras. Also make sure you wipe the glue holding the wrapper off and not to get any on the edge of the blade.

 

[Craig de Tering]

Have been using derbys and probably always will be I do want to try some astras. Also make sure you wipe the glue holding the wrapper off and not to get any on the edge of the blade.

Do a few mils of glue make such a difference if I can just tighten the razor down well enough to "bite" through any glue remnants?

I haven't noticed there was ever any glue on the edges but I'll pay closer attention now and see if that's a problem.

To everyone passing out recommendations; thanks!

 

[menemsha43]

I've just recently started with DE shaving and first I used Dorcos from my sampler pack which were pretty good. Now I made a switch to Derbys and I'm really surprised that I'm not getting as good a shave as the Dorco and I'm also getting more nics. I need to work through the pack to try more than one Derby blade but so far I'm disappointed since I thought Derby was a superior product to Dorco

 

[SpyvSpy]

Do a few mils of glue make such a difference if I can just tighten the razor down well enough to "bite" through any glue remnants?

I haven't noticed there was ever any glue on the edges but I'll pay closer attention now and see if that's a problem.

To everyone passing out recommendations; thanks!

It shouldn't be a problem tightening down. I was just suggesting to do so as a little extra step to prevent glue from getting up it the head of the razor after time (rinsing razor). To clear up on the glue on the blade I was stating to be careful when you wipe the glue to make sure none gets on the edge of the blade. (hope this helps. Woohoo 777 posts)

 

[auk1124]

Anybody who likes Derbys (me definitely included) should try the Astras in the olive box. They seem just as smooth to me, maybe even a bit smoother. Just a great middle-of-the-road blade. I think I need to order a hundred of them, they are really growing on me.

 

[blue_titan]

I have really liked using Derby Extra blades, and in another Derby thread I had written a post that I did find a couple of Derby blades to be a little rough, but they are generally very, very smooth.

Now I am beginning to reconsider that sentiment. I recently opened another pack of Derby blades and the first blade provided incredibly smooth shaves with zero irritation and BBS finishes. The next blade, however, was a little rough and I tossed it after two shaves. The third blade from that pack, was rough as well, and I tossed it after two shaves.

I am beginning to think these blades are much more hit and miss than I had originally thought. One blade is phenomenally smooth and provides and incredibly close, irritation free, shave, then the next is a little rough. They don't cut me, but they seem to feel as though they are scraping my skin rather than smoothly cutting the hair.

The blade that I am really beginning to like a lot is the Super Iridium. They are smooth and sharp. A little less margin for error given their sharpness, but they seem to be more consistent and last for more shaves than a Derby.

 

[valmara1971]

Inconsistency is the major reason I stopped using Derys. For a real treat, imho, try Gillette Yellows or Astra Superior Plats.

This has got me thinking too. I was pif'ed a Astra Superior Plat and I found it to be awful YMMV. I switched out to my derby as my go to blade. I have had real problems ever since and wonder if being the 3rd blade in the pack this is the duff one? I have a "growth" on my cheek now which I think is an infected ingrowing hair this has been a problem in the past for me but I wonder if its return is the fault of not so perfect Derbs?

 

[kwk285]

I have found the difference of Derby blades to be dull to butter knife dull. Derbys are the only blades that I don't like.

 

[raisindot]

Agree with you totally.

I thought at first Derbys would become my go-to blades, but after 2 were heavently and the other 3 left me bloody irritable, I gave up on them.

Jeff in Boston

 

[insomniac]

Just wanted to add in my agreement with the OP - my first blade was a Derby, and it was smooth. The second was good, the third was lousy.

I think consistency is important when it comes to blades. I've found the other blades I've tried (Feather, Yellow 7 O'clock, Astra, etc.) to be consistent as far as sharpness, blade longevity, etc.

This inconsistency took Derby out the running for me.