discovering the right DE bade for me ... and maybe more

[La Malice]

Howdy folks,

A generous soul on this forum sent me through a PIF 13 different blades so I will go ahead and test them all and will use this thread to keep track of my result.

My current set up is below and I will try to keep it similar for the whole experience

Prep : warm shower / Bulldog original face wash
Pre shave : Proraso white
Brush : Proraso boar by Omega
Cream : Proraso white in a tube
Razor : Merkur 34 C
Blade : one of the 13 + whatever I got on hand
Post : alum block and then Proraso White after shave balm

I shave every other day and will do three shave per blade before moving to the next one ... this should take a couple of month

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Treet Platinium
2 pass result : poor needs lot of touch up
Alum block feedback : high and unpleasant
Irritation : high and long lasting for me
would I buy a tuck of it ? : already did and regret it , this is stashed on the top of a shelf far from the eyes
Would I buy 100 of it ? : nopes
Would I try that blade again later ? : unlikely for a long while

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Shark Stainless Steel
2 pass result : not the sharpest I have used so far lot of touch up
Alum block feedback : minimal
Irritation : minimal and not lasting after the balm is applied
would I buy a tuck of it ? : probably to do a couple more shave and test it farther
Would I buy 100 of it ? : we shall see at this point
Would I try that blade again later ? : probably

First blade with which I managed a full shave with a cut or visible nick

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Derby Premium
2 pass result : slightly sharper than the Shark SS above plenty of touch up though Alum block feedback : minimal
Irritation : minimal and not lasting after the balm is applied
would I buy a tuck of it ? : unlikely
Would I buy 100 of it ? : nope
Would I try that blade again later ? : I doubt it for a very long time

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Derby Premium
2 pass result : slightly sharper than the Shark SS above plenty of touch up though Alum block feedback : minimal
Irritation : minimal and not lasting after the balm is applied
would I buy a tuck of it ? : unlikely
Would I buy 100 of it ? : nope
Would I try that blade again later ? : I doubt it for a very long time

Well I had a to get a post wrong at one point or another and can't find a way to edit it ...

Blade Name : Derby Premium
2 pass result : slightly sharper than the Shark SS above plenty of touch up though
Alum block feedback : high and unpleasant
Irritation : medium and lasting for an hour or two after the balm is applied
would I buy a tuck of it ? : unlikely
Would I buy 100 of it ? : Nope
Would I try that blade again later ? : not sure I want to try something unpleasant again

 

[hangblague]

Interesting-looking mix. Zaza and "Double Edge Blades" I haven't seen before.

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Astra Green
2 pass result : on par with the Shark SS for sharpness plenty of touch up though
Alum block feedback : minimal
Irritation : minimal and non lasting
would I buy a tuck of it ? : already did 3 blades left to use
Would I buy 100 of it ? : maybe
Would I try that blade again later ? : yes

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Astra blue
2 pass result : slightly under the green packaging blade needed touch up all around
Alum block feedback : mild
Irritation : minimal after the shave but growing irritation a couple of hours later
would I buy a tuck of it ? : nope
Would I buy 100 of it ? : nope
Would I try that blade again later ? : unlikely due to the irritation later on in the day

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Voshkod
2 / 3 pass result : not the sharpest but gives good result overall
Alum block feedback : low
Irritation : minimal to non existent
would I buy a tuck of it ? : already did will shave for a month exclusively with it in June must likely
Would I buy 100 of it ? : probably if the next 1 month shave gives good results
Would I try that blade again later ? : yes

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Personna Platinum (Red)
2 / 3 pass result : too sharp for me for the time being, cut and nicks all around
Alum block feedback : high due to overall cut and nick
Irritation : medium non lasting
would I buy a tuck of it ? : maybe once I have perfected my technic
Would I buy 100 of it ? : who knows at this point
Would I try that blade again later ? : probably once I have perfected my technic

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Personna Blue
2 / 3 pass result : too sharp for me for the time being, cut and nicks all around
Alum block feedback : high due to overall cut and nick
Irritation : medium non lasting
would I buy a tuck of it ? : maybe once I have perfected my technic
Would I buy 100 of it ? : who knows at this point
Would I try that blade again later ? : probably once I have perfected my technic

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Zaza blade
2 / 3 pass result : the dullest blade I have tried so far I believe. the first 2 shave provided an acceptable shave, no nick or cut the third one was barely passable.
Alum block feedback : barely any on the first two shave, more on the 3rd
Irritation : barely any
Would I buy a tuck of it ? : yes for good result this newbie got and must likely will limit to 2 shaves per blade
Would I buy 100 of it ? : unlikely
Would I try that blade again later ? : yes

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Dorco ST301
2 / 3 pass result : a nick or two on each shave.
Alum block feedback : some feedback
Irritation : barely any
Would I buy a tuck of it ? : maybe
Would I buy 100 of it ? : unlikely
Would I try that blade again later ? : probably

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Bic Chromium
2 / 3 pass result : too sharp for my current skill set resulting in multiple cut nick on each shave
Alum block feedback : yes due to above issue
Irritation : some mild non lasting irritation
Would I buy a tuck of it ? : already bought one for this test
Would I buy 100 of it ? : would depend on my ability to use the blade
Would I try that blade again later ? : probably once I get better at wet shaving … if that ever happened

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Battle Brother Shaving Co
2 / 3 pass result : not sharp, not smooth , a bit tuggy
Alum block feedback : yes due to above issue
Irritation : some mild non lasting irritation
Would I buy a tuck of it ? : unlickely
Would I buy 100 of it ? : nope
Would I try that blade again later ? : unlickely

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Super-Max super Stainless
2 / 3 pass result : mid range sharpness, not very smooth, not a pass without a cut or nick
Alum block feedback : yes due to above issue
Irritation : some mild non lasting irritation
Would I buy a tuck of it ? : unlickely
Would I buy 100 of it ? : nope
Would I try that blade again later ? : unlickely

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Shark Super Chrome
2 / 3 pass result : mid range sharpness, not very smooth, not a pass without a cut or nick, lower result than the super stainless
Alum block feedback : yes due to above issue
Irritation : some mild rritation
Would I buy a tuck of it ? : already did by error
Would I buy 100 of it ? : nope
Would I try that blade again later ? : unlickely

 

[La Malice]

Blade Name : Rockwell Razor
2 / 3 pass result : mid range sharpness, not very smooth, not a pass without a cut or nick,
Alum block feedback : yes due to above issue
Irritation : some mild irritation
Would I buy a tuck of it ? : unlikely
Would I buy 100 of it ? : nope
Would I try that blade again later ? : unlickely

 

[La Malice]

Well after a few month of trial and error and even though each blade tested would have deserved more time before a final decision is made, I guess the result above indicate that 3 blade provided me with better result than the others.

In the next 3 month, I will spend a full month with each one of the 3 blade that came on top , Voshkod, Shark Super Stainless and the Zaza blade and see which one will be put on a long term rotation

 

[La Malice]

February … one blade challenge

March … fixed four march set setup for the whole month

April - April Frugal Follies Cheapskate Challenge (sub 30.00 shave den)
July - Shark Week
August/September? - Tiger Week, 7 o'clock week
October - OCtober, SOCtober

• August - Arko August (Arko products)
• September - Speicktember (Speick products), Slantember (slant razors)
• November - NOvember (Noble Otter soaps)
• December - Decemboar (boar brushes), Derby December (Derby blades, creams and/or soaps)