First experiance with Black Super Speed

[Warpiper]

I used a 1976 E4 black super speed for the second time with a Shark SS blade and here's what I noticed. (caveat, I started shaving with DE about 3 months ago and have been using a Merkur HD 34 C).

It definitely feels lighter than my Merkur.
I didn't get as smooth a shave.
Seems to tug a little more than the Merkur (I think its the blade but I used a Shark in the Merkur last week for comparison).
I should have taken a picture but I think the notched end of the blade (non sharpened) sticks out the end of razor.
I seemed to nicked/scratched my face with the end (non sharp) part of the blade.

Has anyone else have similar experiences? I'll double check the end tonight when I get home but I don't recall seeing the end of the blade sticking out on my Merkur.

Another question I guess I have is are the newer razors being made today better designed for better shaves or are they about the same as the vintage razors? I have a 1959 E4 Super Speed (Flare tip?) that I'm cleaning up and will use next week for comparison as well. Thanks.

 

[kcb5150]

Well, it isn't as aggressive or heavy as the hd. The HD design has been made just as long I reckon. It is not new at all. Put a feather in the ss and see how it is, I find the SS like some blades more than others.

 

[Warpiper]

Well, it isn't as aggressive or heavy as the hd. The HD design has been made just as long I reckon. It is not new at all. Put a feather in the ss and see how it is, I find the SS like some blades more than others.

Hi ckb5150,

Thanks for the info. I didn't think designs changed much but I wasn't sure. I'll definitely try some different blades, I don't have any feathers yet but have read a lot of good reviews on them. Thanks.

 

[bryan1980]

I've only used my black-handled SS with a 7 O'Clock Yellow, and it didn't give me as smooth of a shave as I was expecting. I'll try a different blade in it at some point, not sure when that'll be. It's tough to give all of your razors a turn when you only shave three times a week!

 

[mblakele]

It can take time to adapt your technique to a different head design. Revisit your blade angle: it may be perfect with your usual razor, but too steep or too shallow with the new one.

 

[Warpiper]

It can take time to adapt your technique to a different head design. Revisit your blade angle: it may be perfect with your usual razor, but too steep or too shallow with the new one.

Thanks, didn't think of that. I'll play with it during tomorrow morning's shave. I'll have to do a side by side comparison and see what the difference may be.

 

[takeshi]

Another question I guess I have is are the newer razors being made today better designed for better shaves or are they about the same as the vintage razors?

That's really too broad of a generalization. Each head has to be assessed individually whether new or vintage.

 

[Warpiper]

That's really too broad of a generalization. Each head has to be assessed individually whether new or vintage.

Thanks takeshi,

I agreed but I guess I was wondering if they all have basically the same angle (probably should have said that instead LOL) or are they different and if the angles changed over the years. I tried to compare the 2 this morning and I think the SS may have a steeper angle than the Merkur. I changed the angle of shave too to see if that made a difference and it did. Worst razor burn to date. I'll be changing to a different blade to and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Shave_Rat]

The angles of the razors heads have been changing and are different from one model to the next, most often.

The tabs on the DE blade should not be sticking out the sides of the head on the Super Adjustable, if it is, the razor maybe missing the end caps. If so, it's still a serviceable razor, you'll just have to watch on those tabs to not catch your nostril or earlobe and such.

What blade selection do you have to try? I found for myself several blades that agreed with the head design on the Super Adjustable.... 7O'Clock blues, Personna meds/labs, Feather, and Voskhod are the ones I pop into the Super Adjustable.

 

[Warpiper]

Here's some pics to show how much more the end of the blade sticks out at the end. Twice, maybe 3 times more on the SS than the Murker. Sorry about the quality of the pictures, I took them with my iphone 4. I really do need to get a real camera some day....

 

[Warpiper]

The angles of the razors heads have been changing and are different from one model to the next, most often.

The tabs on the DE blade should not be sticking out the sides of the head on the Super Adjustable, if it is, the razor maybe missing the end caps. If so, it's still a serviceable razor, you'll just have to watch on those tabs to not catch your nostril or earlobe and such.

What blade selection do you have to try? I found for myself several blades that agreed with the head design on the Super Adjustable.... 7O'Clock blues, Personna meds/labs, Feather, and Voskhod are the ones I pop into the Super Adjustable.

Ops, to late on the nostril and ear lobes. LOL!! Thanks for the info on the angles, I'll have to pay a little more attention when I use it.

So far I've only used Shark SS in it, but in the Murker I've used the Murker blade, Astra SS and platinum, and I used a Shark SS in it last week. I have some Shark Super Chrome, 7 am platinum, Wilkerson, and Sharp that I haven't tried yet and I want to get some Feathers to try. I definitely don't like the Shark SS in either razor. I'll have to find some Personna and Voskhod and try those too.