So I have been browsing for a good "beginner" safety razor, and I wanted something of high quality but wouldn't break the bank. It was narrowed down to a choice between the Merkur 34C and an Edwin Jagger DE89. I finally settled on the DE89 from West Coast Shaving. I also got myself a sample pack of Lord, Astra, and Merkur Blades, and got a nice stand for the brush I have coming in. Any thoughts? Anyone use the DE89? Is it good, bad, somewhere in the middle?
Just Pulled the Trigger on My First DE Razor!
- Thread starter Pipe Novelist
- Start date
Congrats!! Great start keep us posted
This^
EJ DE89 is a great razor i couldn't be happier with my as a newbie, the feel and the shave if provides is great, just what i was looking for when moving from carts to DE
Looks like a good start to me.
Enjoy!
-- Chet
Enjoy!
-- Chet
I probably own more razors (40+) than a person actually needs and the EJ89 is still a favourite.
- Thread starter
- #8
Sounds like I made a good choice! Anybody have a particular blade that goes well with this razor? I understand that different blades are better suited for different people, but I was just curious if anyone here had a favorite.
Ej89 is a very good modern razor. But I prefer 1920's-1930s Open combed Gillettes such as the New.
- Thread starter
- #12
This is something I have kind of been curious about. I have seen the words "Open Combed" thrown around but I have absolutely no idea what it means in terms of a razor. Can anyone help me on this one?
Go back a hundred years and most men shaved or were shaved with a straight razor. Typically, they shaved only every few days, or perhaps just for church on Sunday. The early DE razors were designed to cope with this pattern of behavior. If you look at a few pictures, you will see the bar looks like a comb. Today some men like to carry a little stubble for a few days so they use an open comb to mow down the beard. Alternatively some of our members have sensitive skin and can only shave every 2 or 3 days and again, an open comb razor is an excellent choice of tool. Hope this helps.
As has already been said, the EJ DE89 is a great razor. I have a Muhle R89 myself which, from what I gather, has the exact same head as the DE89 but with a different handle. It was the first razor I started DE shaving with and even now, three months after my first shave with it, I still love it. As for blades, I recommend getting a larger blade sampler; I got the supreme blade sampler from Straight Razor Designs which has 17 different blades to try as well as a free blade disposal case. However, even if you don't get another sampler I strongly advise that you pick up some feathers. Don't use them until you are comfortable and familiar with DE shaving; for me this was after about a month of daily use. Experience with blades differs, of course, from person to person but I personally find feathers to be the best Safety razor blade out there. When used properly and with care a feather blade can give the closest, smoothest, and most comfortable shave possible (at least as far as DE shaving is concerned; straight and SE razors are another matter and their relative performances are open for debate.) As always however, YMMV; but I think you should at least pick some up to try as they are one of those blades that most people either love or hate.
Good luck with your Journey into the world of traditional wet shaving!
Good luck with your Journey into the world of traditional wet shaving!
If that's the case, is the handle on the Muhle R89 really that much better than, say, the Edwin Jagger DE89BA11 Double Edge Safety Razor's Barley Chrome handle? There's nearly a 50% price differential moving up from the Edwin Jagger to the Muhle. I appreciate a better handle, but I'm having a tough time with the cost/benefit ratio here.
If cost were no object, I'd gladly buy an iKON to try, but unfortunately, cost is always an issue, isn't it?
The DE89 is an awesome razor! I have never seen a Muhle handle in person but I would assume that spending more money on the same style handle would give you diminishing returns.
I have the barley handle and it is flawless! Nice, heavy, and thick.
I will second that astra sp's go great with the DE89.
I have the barley handle and it is flawless! Nice, heavy, and thick.
I will second that astra sp's go great with the DE89.
For more info on razor anatomy such as 'open comb' nomenclature:
http://wetshaving.wordpress.com/2011/09/24/pictorial-razor-glossary/
http://wetshaving.wordpress.com/2011/09/24/pictorial-razor-glossary/
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- #20
Thanks for that link JaggerDragger. I have heard a lot of good things about Astra blades and thats probably where Ill start once I get my razors. Im a little nervous to try something like a Feather blade until I have a better technique. Thanks to the feedback that you guys have given me, I have confidence that I will like this razor once I get it.
