Balin's Blade Bonanza

[Guido75]

Oh, that is what I meant. Platinum not Premium. Yeah, I was just curious if everyone had some from Shark Week or something.

Yeah I do - couple of trucks actually, but I used my open chrome package. Didn’t want to disturb @blethenstrom too much by having more than one tuck open. So I now have one tuck open…per type of blade, but I am sure that doesn’t count, does it?!

 

[cranewarrior]

Yeah I do - couple of trucks actually, but I used my open chrome package. Didn’t want to disturb @blethenstrom too much by having more than one tuck open. So I now have one tuck open…per type of blade, but I am sure that doesn’t count, does it?!

Haha. Let's see if this is too much to take. @blethenstrom, Good afternoon, sir!

 

[Pinto90]

For this game there is a solution and a gimmick.
Do as I do.
Just under one hundred and fift Euromax blades and various other loose types.

No open tuck.

 

[Guido75]

Date	12.04.2024
366 daily shaves	104/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Gillette Old Type	Lord Cool (6)	Razorock Beehive
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (86)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Process Quality (details here)	Blade Sharpness
10/10 (Clean)	5/10 (Sharp)
Effectiveness	Shave Comfort
8.25/10 (DFS++)	7.5/10 (Comfortably smooth)

Notes:

Summary. Again slightly better performance from the blade. The Old Type is the mother of all open combs. Wow!

For extended shave notes click here.

Another fine shave with the Cool blade. It is starting to go in upper directions of the charts, but I am still taken back by the harsher feeling post shave. Aftershave sting was less today I noticed as it was yesterday, but other days were more intense. I don’t mind a burn at all, but I have my preference for the level of burn! Easily double digits of I wanted to. Better than ASCO? I remember those to be smoother or more comfortable. Not sure. Need to check my notes.

Enjoy your shave!

 

[Pinto90]

Haha. Let's see if this is too much to take. @blethenstrom, Good afternoon, sir!

View attachment 1828402

What can you tell me about the Super Blue Blades razor blades with the cheetah?
Are they just a poorly made copy of the original Gillette Super Blue Blades?

 

[cranewarrior]

What can you tell me about the Super Blue Blades razor blades with the cheetah?
Are they just a poorly made copy of the original Gillette Super Blue Blades?

Stay away! Dull, dull, dull.

 

[Pinto90]

Today contrary to schedule I did not shave with the Sharp 7 AM blade, I cannot say it is a bad blade but it bored me.
I will try it again more times later.
Now I can leave some personal considerations and evaluations.

In my opinion it is an average sharp blade, less than a Russian Astra SP and many other platinum coated blades.
I did not check because I got to three shaves but in my opinion this Sharp 7 AM guarantees at least a fourth shave.
For me it is ideal in milder razors ,it is a good compromise for those looking for a rather mild but fairly sharp blade.

With respect to the youtube video where a guy reviews the Sharp 7 AMs reporting that they are sharper than the Wizamets I remain rather puzzled but I did not understand which Wizamets he is talking about.
The current production Wizamets I have not tried, I have only tested some Wizamet Polsiver in 2019 and I know they are completely different but the ones in past years were very noticeably sharp and aggressive, I couldn't say more.
My opinion of this blade Sharp 7 AM remains positive, I would definitely recommend buying it and trying it.

 

[Guido75]

Date	14.04.2024
366 daily shaves	105/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Gillette Super Adjustable 109	Lord Cool (7)	Abe's Brush Works Blutt STF
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (87)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Process Quality (details here)	Blade Sharpness
10/10 (Clean)	5/10 (Sharp)
Effectiveness	Shave Comfort
8/10 (DFS+)	7.5/10 (Comfortably smooth)

Notes:

Summary. Remembering my father-in-law today. Can´t believe it's 8 years already.

For extended shave notes click here.

This is the final shave with the Cool blade and I must admit that the last few shaves were very nice. I think I will revisit the blade in due time to explore it some more. This Sunday shave was a smooth performance.

Enjoy your shave!

 

[cranewarrior]

What is next? Silver Star, Sharp 7AM, Kai, Super-Max?

 

[Guido75]

What is next? Silver Star, Sharp 7AM, Kai, Super-Max?

Let’s go with Silver Star. One more Lord blade and then we’ll switch to something completely different.

Cheers,

Guido

 

[Pinto90]

In the afternoon I got the urge to shave.
To say goodbye to the 7 a.m. Sharp blade I wanted to use a Chinese razor handle combined with the Yaqi Tile 316 head.

The shaving soap still the Dutch De Vergulde Hand very much appreciated.
Today's experience very good the blade flowed smoothly without jamming or tugging, I experienced no burning or irritation in the post shave.
Blade very much appreciated with this razor.

With respect to the youtube video where a guy reviews the Sharp 7 AMs reporting that they are sharper than the Wizamets I remain rather puzzled but I did not understand which Wizamets he is talking about.

I got confused this morning, the guy in the video was talking about Sharp 7 in the morning sharper than Perma Sharp.
Unverified, I used the Perma Sharp many years ago I cannot compare.

I follow with interest your preferences for Egyptian Lord blades, at the moment it seems that Asco is more below.
I will read your posts and this summer I will order some samples of the various brands Lord Cool, Silver Star,Racer, other razor blades and I will not keep ordering whole packs hundreds of blades without trying them first.

 

[cranewarrior]

I got confused this morning, the guy in the video was talking about Sharp 7 in the morning sharper than Perma Sharp.
Unverified, I used the Perma Sharp many years ago I cannot compare.

I want to do a side-by-side test. I am gravitating to a preference of high sharpness blades, so I would like his comparison of a Sharp 7AM Platinum to a Gillette Perma-Sharp to be apt.

 

[Balin]

I was truant this weekend on the Lord Cools, and ended up using my WR3. I will be back with the Silver Star Monday!!

@Balin As delicacy and sweetness how would you classify them Asco, Lord Cool and Racer?

In that group of 3 I would go Lord Cool, Racer and then Asco. I am looking forward to the Silver Star before because looking back through my notes I had some very nice shaves with that blade.

 

[Guido75]

Date	15.04.2024
366 daily shaves	106/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Gillette Rocket HD500	Silver Star (1)	Mühle Rocca ST
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (88)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Process Quality (details here)	Blade Sharpness
10/10 (Clean)	4.5/10 (Sharpish)
Effectiveness	Shave Comfort
8/10 (DFS+)	10/10 (GlideFest)

Notes:

Summary. Comforting and easy shave this morning as we kick off another week. Enjoy everyone!

For extended shave notes click here.

I have used this blade once before and was able to get double digits with it even though I also used it for intermediate head shaves (nowadays I use injectors or GEMs for that) so this first shave was a breeze. Manufactured by Lord, but the tuck seems to mention another producer. The blade has been around for some time and I have seen references been made to the Star razor as well. Anyway great first performance - it was advertised as “the blade your face can’t feel”. It is smooth and comfortable. Sharpness is below that of the Cool on this first run. But it could also be the razor as this is in the milder category for me.

 

[Guido75]

Date	16.04.2024
366 daily shaves	107/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Gillette NEW LC	Silver Star (2)	Abe’s Brush Works Big Boy G5C
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (89)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Process Quality (details here)	Blade Sharpness
10/10 (Clean)	4.5/10 (Sharpish)
Effectiveness	Shave Comfort
8.25/10 (DFS++)	10/10 (GlideFest)

Notes:

Summary. Nice and comfortable shave this morning. No frills no issues.

For extended shave notes click here.

The blade is a solid performer this second shave. While I have the impression that all the blades I have used lately are on the milder side (judging by the smoothness of my skin post shave) I do think these are very capable of doing the job free from irritation as was the case today.

Enjoy your shave!

 

[Guido75]

With the Lord Cool series completed it is time to update my chart again.

Blade	Sharpness	Comfort	Excalibur potential
Shark Chrome	5	5	Yes
GSB	4	5	Yes
ASCO	4	4	Yes
Sharp Titanium	5	3	Maybe
Racer	3	4	Maybe
Lord Cool	3	3
Sputnik	3	2	No

 

[Balin]

Shave 1 on the Silver Star.

The Silver Star performed well on 2 days growth. I find this blade really smooth but not quite as sharp as some of my favourites. I had zero alum feedback on a BBS shave .

 

[cranewarrior]

Shave #1 - Silver Star (by Lord)
Muhle R89
Irish Spring Bath Soap

I went with a bath soap which generates a decent lather but is low cushioning to me. This is so I can get maximum feel of the blade as I go through a first shave test with the Silver Star.

The blade felt fairly muted, but I have always thought the R89 gives a dampened feel. Hair came off efficiently but I did not get the impression that the Silver Star was sharper than the Lord Cool if at all which honestly surprised me to an extent. The Cool might even be a tad sharper?

Overall, very comfortable with no hitches. If I can get 4 more similar shaves from this very blade, the Silver Star would be a real "star" in my book.

 

[blethenstrom]

Haha. Let's see if this is too much to take. @blethenstrom, Good afternoon, sir!

View attachment 1828402

Good morning sir!

 

[Guido75]

Date	17.04.2024
366 daily shaves	108/366

Razor	Blade	Brush
Gillette NEW SC	Silver Star (3)	Abe’s Brush Works Saturn Synbad
Preshave	Soap	Postshave
Cold splash KCG Face Wash	Mike’s Natural Soaps Barbershop (90)	Cold splash Proraso Green Balm

Passes	WTG XTG ATG and touch up
Process Quality (details here)	Blade Sharpness
10/10 (Clean)	4.5/10 (Sharpish)
Effectiveness	Shave Comfort
8.25/10 (DFS++)	10/10 (GlideFest)

Notes:

Summary. A very fine and close shave with the Short Comb. Marvellous lather using Andrew’s @apshaveco Synbad knot.

For extended shave notes click here.

Third run with the Silver Star and nothing worthy of mentioning. Simply a good performance this third run. Combination with the SC seems to be working as well.

Enjoy your shave!

Boris @blethenstrom!!