TheShaun
Bejeweled
I've tried you once and may never require your services again. 
Dear Derby,
- Thread starter TheShaun
- Start date
If you have the new Derbys with vertical writing on the cardboard insert, you should try to cork them on a piece of styrofoam before first use, then you may come to desire their services again 
I find an uncorked Derby to be utterly horrible, once corked, it's my favourite blade, very sharp and supersmooth.
I find an uncorked Derby to be utterly horrible, once corked, it's my favourite blade, very sharp and supersmooth.
In a related note, I've found many Derby blades to be scratchy the first few strokes but once it gets going it is a smooth shave. However, I'm not fond of the idea of corking a blade because of the risks of dulling it and handling a sharp blade. However, if you get good results then, by all means, continue to cork them.If you have the new Derbys with vertical writing on the cardboard insert, you should try to cork them on a piece of styrofoam before first use, then you may come to desire their services again
Personally I don't see the point in corking or hand stropping DE blades, they should be usable straight from the pack. And why bother when there all those lovely sample packs out there ? 
The point of corking a vertical Derby is definatly not hard to see or feel It makes a sharp, smooth and wonderful blade out of an otherwise useless blade.
I fully and TOTALLY agree that blades SHOULD be usable streight from the pack, not only usable, they should be sharp, smooth and a joy to use. But they're not, DE razorblades are not a handmade "highend" product. They are a very cheap massproduced product, often from countrys where labor is very cheap, that obviously are far from perfect. My choice is to either deal with it or return to Mach 3s (shivering). Corking does fix these production defects for me and transforms these blades into very sharp, long lasting and wonderful shavers.
I had only Merkur blades that was usable out of the box of the 5 different brands of blades I tried before I found out about corking. I have a very strong hunch that a buying a samplepack would only have resulted in me spending several years worth of Derbys on 10+ more, for me useless brands of blades. Corking actually allows me to use all my different blades, but Derby stands out as the best.
Btw. If you dull the blade, you're using either the wrong material or too much force, no force other than the weight of the blade is nessecary.
It makes a sharp, smooth and wonderful blade out of an otherwise useless blade.I fully and TOTALLY agree that blades SHOULD be usable streight from the pack, not only usable, they should be sharp, smooth and a joy to use. But they're not, DE razorblades are not a handmade "highend" product. They are a very cheap massproduced product, often from countrys where labor is very cheap, that obviously are far from perfect. My choice is to either deal with it or return to Mach 3s (shivering). Corking does fix these production defects for me and transforms these blades into very sharp, long lasting and wonderful shavers.
I had only Merkur blades that was usable out of the box of the 5 different brands of blades I tried before I found out about corking. I have a very strong hunch that a buying a samplepack would only have resulted in me spending several years worth of Derbys on 10+ more, for me useless brands of blades. Corking actually allows me to use all my different blades, but Derby stands out as the best.
Btw. If you dull the blade, you're using either the wrong material or too much force, no force other than the weight of the blade is nessecary.
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Popped a new Derby in my Senator this morning and got a wonderful shave using VDH soap.
I know WHY you cork blades, I just don't think you should have to complete someone else's manufacturing process. There are plenty of usable blades out there Feathers, Iridiums, Astras, Gilette Platiniums (for me).....The point of corking a vertical Derby is definatly not hard to see or feel
I fully and TOTALLY agree that blades SHOULD be usable streight from the pack, not only usable, they should be sharp, smooth and a joy to use. But they're not, DE razorblades are not a handmade "highend" product. They are a very cheap massproduced product, often from countrys where labor is very cheap, that obviously are far from perfect. My choice is to either deal with it or return to Mach 3s (shivering). Corking does fix these production defects for me and transforms these blades into very sharp, long lasting and wonderful shavers.
I had only Merkur blades that was usable out of the box of the 5 different brands of blades I tried before I found out about corking. I have a very strong hunch that a buying a samplepack would only have resulted in me spending several years worth of Derbys on 10+ more, for me useless brands of blades. Corking actually allows me to use all my different blades, but Derby stands out as the best.
Btw. If you dull the blade, you're using either the wrong material or too much force, no force other than the weight of the blade is nessecary.
No doubt everyone on this site has their favourites and recommendations, that is one of the joys of our hobby.
Can someone post a pic of the "vertical" Derby's? Vertical is a relative term in regards to blade.
I turn it this way and it is vertical, I turn it that way and it is horizontal.
I turn it this way and it is vertical, I turn it that way and it is horizontal.
I am afraid I have developed the same opinion - in the beginning it served me quite well - but then lately I have noticed that ASTRAs are giving me a much better shave !I've tried you once and may never require your services again.
I too find the Astra a very close shaving, more so than the Derby. However, like the Derby I find them scratchy the first few shave strokes and not quite as smooth.
I see you're relatively new to the site. My suggestion is to make sure you don't throw them away. I think almost everyone finds blades that they hated at first and then grew to like them - a lot - after a few more months. There are other variables at work when you start using a very sharp blade with every shave like you can with a DE. Your face will need more time to recover, but it adjusts. Your technique will improve which widens the choices in blades. Your lather and prep get better, and you just get better at all of it. I hated Derbys at first too, but love them now.
The vertical vs. horizontal has nothing to do with the blade itself. It has to do with the orientation of the text on the cardboard that lies inside of the plastic box.
Set the Derby blade box on it's longest side with the cardboard label facing you. If the text can be read from left to right those are the vertical blades. If you have to read up and down those are the horizontal blades.
Thanks
Here ye go!
Horizontal
VS.
Vertical
I just picked up a cork today so I can try to smooth out my derbys. The time it took me to polish off that bottle of wine was worth the measly 6 seconds I need to spend corking my derby blade for a weeks worth of shaves.
It takes me about 30 to 40 minutes to shave my head and face w/ a DE, I think I can spare 6 seconds to cork a blade.
Yah, I know, it's hard work to get great shaves but common! you can do it in a matter of seconds. Once they are smoothed out, I find them better than Red IP's, so for me it's worth it.
Doh, my mistake! I stand corrected. Must have had a brain fart.Here ye go!
Horizontal
VS.
Vertical
I just picked up a cork today so I can try to smooth out my derbys. The time it took me to polish off that bottle of wine was worth the measly 6 seconds I need to spend corking my derby blade for a weeks worth of shaves.
It takes me about 30 to 40 minutes to shave my head and face w/ a DE, I think I can spare 6 seconds to cork a blade.
Yah, I know, it's hard work to get great shaves but common! you can do it in a matter of seconds. Once they are smoothed out, I find them better than Red IP's, so for me it's worth it.
Doh, my mistake! I stand corrected. Must have had a brain fart.
No, your both correct. I think they should be referred to as small writing and big writing. The vertical and horizontal refrences really are relative and easily confused.
I asked because I too have experienced good and bad Derby's. The small writing Derby's tear my face up. The big writing Derby's seem to be pretty good.
