Please bear with me as I provide some background...
I started DE shaving about two months ago with a Merkur 38C. Shortly thereafter bought an open comb Merkur 41C. As I moved through my blade-sampling with these two, I eventually found I preferred the blades often considered "sharper" here on B&B. i threw out all my Derby's and bought more Feathers, as I was getting a smooth, comfortable shave with them (following the initial apprehension brought on by the many descriptions of them). I next went on the eBay hunt for vintage Gillettes. I first found a Tech (I think it's an older one. The baseplate has the "PATENT NOS ON PACKAGE" on top, and the bottom has the "REG U.S. PAT. OFF," Gillette Diamond logo, and "MADE IN USA" stamps. For the experts out there, what era would this be?).
I read all over B&B how the Tech is considered a very mild razor. My first shave with it, with a Feather, was a disaster. MAJOR irritation, multiple nicks and weapers, and my face was burning and irritated throughout the day. I had to put it away for a week to give my face a rest.
Meanwhile, I acquired an old open comb vintage 1904 design. This razor gives me a fantastic, comfortable shave with a Feather. My face recovered, I decided to give the Tech another try, this time with a Wilkinson, thinking the Feather may not have been the best starting point on the Tech. I had had good shaves with the Wilkinsons in my two Merkurs previously. I also made it a point to use soaps/creams that I knew would provide comfortable lubrication. The results this time around with the Tech were better than the first go-round, but still unacceptable, IMO (it's MY face, after all!).
I know the first rule of wetshaving is YMMV. But, is it typical for such a widely-accepted "mild" razor to cause this much irritation? I do not see anything obviously wrong or damaged on the Tech. Granted, my other three razors are all considered mild, too, but this Tech I find intolerable. It'd be a shame to have bought a nice vintage Gillette and not be able to use it...
I started DE shaving about two months ago with a Merkur 38C. Shortly thereafter bought an open comb Merkur 41C. As I moved through my blade-sampling with these two, I eventually found I preferred the blades often considered "sharper" here on B&B. i threw out all my Derby's and bought more Feathers, as I was getting a smooth, comfortable shave with them (following the initial apprehension brought on by the many descriptions of them). I next went on the eBay hunt for vintage Gillettes. I first found a Tech (I think it's an older one. The baseplate has the "PATENT NOS ON PACKAGE" on top, and the bottom has the "REG U.S. PAT. OFF," Gillette Diamond logo, and "MADE IN USA" stamps. For the experts out there, what era would this be?).
I read all over B&B how the Tech is considered a very mild razor. My first shave with it, with a Feather, was a disaster. MAJOR irritation, multiple nicks and weapers, and my face was burning and irritated throughout the day. I had to put it away for a week to give my face a rest.
Meanwhile, I acquired an old open comb vintage 1904 design. This razor gives me a fantastic, comfortable shave with a Feather. My face recovered, I decided to give the Tech another try, this time with a Wilkinson, thinking the Feather may not have been the best starting point on the Tech. I had had good shaves with the Wilkinsons in my two Merkurs previously. I also made it a point to use soaps/creams that I knew would provide comfortable lubrication. The results this time around with the Tech were better than the first go-round, but still unacceptable, IMO (it's MY face, after all!).
I know the first rule of wetshaving is YMMV. But, is it typical for such a widely-accepted "mild" razor to cause this much irritation? I do not see anything obviously wrong or damaged on the Tech. Granted, my other three razors are all considered mild, too, but this Tech I find intolerable. It'd be a shame to have bought a nice vintage Gillette and not be able to use it...