First De razor for a newbie

[Reiss]

Hello all

I am 22 and have been using the cartridge razors since my teens and though I would have a go at using a De razor. I have done some research and found an old post on here, from 2009 I think, recommending the Merkur 34c as well as the Edwin Jagger 89l and the Muhle R89 and I was pretty much set on the Merkur 34c. But I also came across another post from about a month ago http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/372505-Merkur-quality-really?highlight=merkur+34c talking about the poor quality of both the Merkur and the Edwin Jagger becuase of the use of bot metal and poor chrome plating. The post also recommended a Weber which I liked but I do not want to pay 70 dollars for my first De razor.

So my question is are these brands still reliable or is it a crap shoot as far as the quality of the razor and if it will fall apart in about a year or so? If so any other recommendations for a first time De razor?

 

[johnmrson]

I've got two Edwin Jaggers and although they don't get much use these days I've had no quality issues with either. Go for a nice vintage Gillette Superspeed. A well tested performer.

 

[zygalski]

Edwin Jagger DE89 will have a better finish than any Merkur. The Muhle R89 is a decent alternative. As far as I know, most modern DE razors that have plating have pot metal base like zamak.
The logical alternative would be a vintage Gillette. Slim adjustables are a good, safe bet for a newbie.

 

[rockholger]

I love my slim adjustable AND my Merkur 34c. No quality issues with the Merkur. The finish is more rustic than the Jagger but that has nothing to do with quality imo. Built to survive anything is the feeling I get from it.

 

[Aimless1]

All three are still great choices for your first razor. The quality issues are not wide spread. A few people have gotten bad razors. My Edwin Jager de89 is well built and should last many years. I believe the head on the R89 is identical. The 34C deserves it's good reputation. It is more important for you to choose one and get started than to worry about whether they will hold up.

 

[rodmonster]

EJ89 is a great place to start. It is not as glamorous as a vintage razor but it will work well for years. While most DE shavers consider the EJ89 to be a mild razor, it is a significant step up in aggressiveness from the Gillette Fusion fare. When I started DE shaving almost 1 year ago, I was really surprised at how many weepers and nicks I got, even with a careful prep. Hey, I am 59 years old. I thought that I knew how to shave! Wrong! It didn't take long to master the EJ89 and I have now advanced to more aggressive razors. In fact I now think of the EJ89 as a ***** cat of a razor.

My only caution to you:

Your morning shave will never be the same. Be prepared to become obsessed with the perfect shave. Be prepared to be able to own several razors and hundreds, if not thousands, of razor blades. Be prepared to discuss the subtle distinction between creams, soaps and croaps, and the merits of boar v badger.

I want to thank Santa in advance for getting me an ATT OC.

Cheers

 

[dcobranchi]

So my question is are these brands still reliable or is it a crap shoot as far as the quality of the razor and if it will fall apart in about a year or so?

For the reasons you cited, there's a fair chance the razor will break in a year or so. If you don't mind vintage, the Gillette Superspeeds ('40s style or flare tip) are both terrific starter razors. Alternatively, the Schick Krona would be a good choice. Either is readily available on eBay or etsy for probably less money than you'd pay for the EJ.

 

[zygalski]

For the reasons you cited, there's a fair chance the razor will break in a year or so...

Really.... DE89's mostly break in a year?
Looks like I've been lucky

 

[hydro-magic]

I started with a Muhle R89 and have used it a lot. No issues with longevity in over a year and it really is a great razor. If you're worried about pot metal though and want to go vintage, another great option is a Gillette Tech. Nice mild shaver and a great way to get into DE shaving.

 

[Rockminer]

If I was starting over, knowing what I know now, I would have gone this route ( see link below) . It's a great starter kit for a reasonable price. It includes a vintage Gillette and everything you need with a promise to swap it for another razor or 10 bucks worth of extra product, if you want. You might even be able to PM Garry and see what razors he has. If you need help with how to PM someone let me know, I can walk you through it.

I have a Muhle R89 that had plating problems. I'm not going to discourage you from buying a modern pot metal razor.You should just know that they aren't built as well as vintage, stainless or brass razors, even though they look really good on the outside. Kinda like lipstick on a pig thing. Hope this helps.

Scroll down the page a bit

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...s-Floid-Black-amp-Suave-Creed-Aventus-amp-GIT

 

[GoodAg]

If I was starting over, knowing what I know now, I would have gone this route ( see link below) . It's a great starter kit for a reasonable price. It includes a vintage Gillette and everything you need with a promise to swap it for another razor or 10 bucks worth of extra product, if you want. You might even be able to PM Garry and see what razors he has. If you need help with how to PM someone let me know, I can walk you through it.

+1
i started with a DE89 and have no regrets but I just like the shave of my 40s super speed better. I expect my DE89 to last several years- it is in great shape and don't see why it wouldn't last a long time.

 

[TSTemplar]

I started with a DE89 and I enjoyed it very much. I don't think you can go wrong with a Super Speed, Slim, or a Fatboy either. Although I really love modern razors I'm beginning to develop an affection for these oldies but goodies as well.

 

[Kilroy6644]

I have no first hand experience with Merkur, Muhle, or Edwin Jagger razors, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, and from what I've read, I think the whole pot metal/quality issue is overblown a bit. Pot metal isn't as durable as brass or stainless, but under normal use it should last a long time. Not as long as a vintage brass or modern stainless razor, but long enough to get your money's worth. If the Merkur or EJ have caught your eye, go for it. I see many more good reports about them than bad. That said, I prefer vintage. You will never go wrong with an old Gillette. My first instinct is to recommend a Tech or Super Speed, because they're cheap and easy to find. An adjustable is a good choice too, essentially giving you multiple razors in one.

 

[DaRnOk]

I like the thicker handle and the weight distribution of my de89l vs my gillette super speed.

I just switched from shaving with a super speed to the de89l and I prefer the shave I get with the Edwin Jagger.

Just like anything really the vintage razors are better build hands down.

 

[eezee]

I think any of those three razors would be great. I don't own the 34C but I do own a Merkur 1904 closed comb and a Merkur 47C. Both are solid razors. I will say that the chrome is good on the outside, but Merkur does not polish any of the chrome on the parts that you can't see, so the underside of the blade keeper looks a little ratty. I also own a DE-89L and it looks like a million bucks all over and shaves fantastic as well.

To the three that you have mentioned I would add the two Merkurs I listed above AND the Merkur 23C long handle. Any of those razors would give you many years of service and are fine razors to start out. Of far more importance IMHO is to get a decent brush, a good cream or soap, and a good sampler pack of blades. I convinced a friend of mine to try DE shaving and he started with the 23C long handle and was convinced that it wasn't for him. He had been using Merkur blades and getting a lot of razor burn. He tried a Derby blade and life is good. Make sure to try a variety of blades as you perfect your technique.

Also, give it time. You're re-learning how to shave.

Good luck with it and welcome to B&B.

 

[JW253]

Why not get a Edwin Jagger, and a Merkur 34c?

I could never get rid of my de86l, it is absolutely amazing!!!

A work of fine craftsmanship!!!

 

[Teppanyaki]

A Merkur, EJ, vintage Tech, vintage adjustable like a Slim or Super Adjustable, or a vintage SuperSpeed would all work well.

I've read around 4+ threads over the past 8 months where the screw into the cap on the EJ razors has snapped off. This may have included Merkur as well. I personally prefer vintage, so that's not an issue with brass. You do have to get a razor with plating, though, which means messaging Krona Kruiser ($30 for a brilliant chrome plated pre war Tech with a fat handle), getting lucky on b/s/t/ or Ebay/Etsy, or buying a razor knowing you'll need to get it replated (Krona does chrome and nickel, others like onotoman/RestoredRazors replate in pretty much anything besides Cerakote). Cerakoting is another option - at lest 1 member here does that (you can search Cerakote + badgerandblade.com).

 

[celestino]

There are a few other modern DEs that you can pick up new for $20; ItalianBarber sells some as does Cadet Razors.
The vintage Gillettes can also be found for $20 or so. Good luck.

 

[Reiss]

Thanks for all the help, your opinions are appreciated. I was mainly concerned when I noticed the post recommending these razors were from a couple of years ago and the posts reporting the problems were more recent and was wondering if the problem was wide spread or just a case of a couple of bad batches, witch the later seems to be the case. Anyway thanks for the help and now I have more razors to pick from, what a fun problem.

 

[Karlo]

My first DE is a Muhle of fairly recent production. No plating issues but I do dry the razor after use and I haven't dropped it.

I did worry about the construction, which is why I pulled the trigger on a Weber.