Mekur vs Personna blades

[Balto]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum AND teh art of shaving.

I have been reading and reading and reading about brushes/soaps/creams/blades/razors you name it hehe.

I plan to use my grandfathers old DE saftey razor and a good quality brush(around 50-100 and have not decided yet ERRR sooo many to pick from) I also plan to start off with the CO bigelow cream from Bath and body that is really just repackaged Proraso to start.

ATM I will probably just buy my blades from my local area then probably try different ones from ordering online.

BUT atm the two I have been able to find are the

Mekur's (the place wants around $6.00 for 10)

AND

Personna Red box Plats (believe it or not they sell at Walmart for $1.76 for 10) which seems like a killer price!!!

I have read the reviews on both and there seems to be a TON more followers of Merkur's, but a lot of not so great reviews on them (price for what you get is the biggest complaint).

So I'm just wondering which would be the better blade to start out with AND which is REALLY the better quality blade.

I have no problem spending the extra money for the Mekur's IF they are SOOO much better, but I do not want to waste money if they are teh same or even worse if you get my drift.

ANY info about these blades would be great (Also any tips on brushes would work too hehe. I think I want a softer brush and plan to use Cream and my budget is between 50 and 100)

Thanks guys and sorry for the LONG thread.

 

[chainfire]

I'd avoid Merkur blades at any cost - the Razors they make maybe great, but the blades are terrible. The Personnas have been generally for me and Derbys are good starter blades as well. Check out

http://westcoastshaving.com/
or
http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/

to get some blade samplers - it's usually the best way to see what you like.

 

[tlanning]

i'd avoid merkur blades at any cost - the razors they make maybe great, but the blades are terrible. The personnas have been generally for me and derbys are good starter blades as well. Check out

http://westcoastshaving.com/
or
http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/

to get some blade samplers - it's usually the best way to see what you like.

+1

 

[michiganlover]

I'd avoid Merkur blades at any cost - the Razors they make maybe great, but the blades are terrible. The Personnas have been generally for me and Derbys are good starter blades as well. Check out

http://westcoastshaving.com/
or
http://www.bullgooseshaving.net/

to get some blade samplers - it's usually the best way to see what you like.

Seconding this!!

Merkur blades in addition to being expensive are absolute garbage!! Stay away at any cost!

The Wal-Mart Personna's are probably passable. I shaved with one for the first time, today (previously had been using Derby), and it was an ok shave. Not the same quality as Derby, but they are available at my local Wal-Mart, so that is a slight plus.

You really should invest in a blade sampler as soon as possible.

 

[Balto]

Seconding this!!

Merkur blades in addition to being expensive are absolute garbage!! Stay away at any cost!

The Wal-Mart Personna's are probably passable. I shaved with one for the first time, today (previously had been using Derby), and it was an ok shave. Not the same quality as Derby, but they are available at my local Wal-Mart, so that is a slight plus.

You really should invest in a blade sampler as soon as possible.

Something like this?

Sample pack

 

[chainfire]

Something like this?

Sample pack

Yes. It even has the merkurs if you're really looking to test them, but with a lot blades to compare so you can see what works for you.

 

[Balto]

Thanks for the tips and info.

Any advice on a brush? I have a very cheap Boar that is very hard. I'm thinking I want a lot softer brush that I plan to use Cream with and would like to spend around 50-100 bucks. I saw a review that Vulfix brushes are the way to go BUT after reading a LOT of posts here it seems there are much better brushes out there? Any advice would be great

 

[michiganlover]

Yes. It even has the merkurs if you're really looking to test them, but with a lot blades to compare so you can see what works for you.

That pack likely has enough blades to keep you testing them for close to a year.

 

[michiganlover]

Thanks for the tips and info.

Any advice on a brush? I have a very cheap Boar that is very hard. I'm thinking I want a lot softer brush that I plan to use Cream with and would like to spend around 50-100 bucks. I saw a review that Vulfix brushes are the way to go BUT after reading a LOT of posts here it seems there are much better brushes out there? Any advice would be great

See here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=95015

The brushes from Penworks are great quality, and very beautiful. They would likely cost at least double what he asks for them if they were brand name brushes of the same quality.

I recently purchased the Finest Badger 22mm in Cream, and it is a wonderful brush, that looks great, and works perfectly.

 

[pcb01]

Merkur blades are several degrees better than Walmart Personnas. I agree with the blade sampler recommendation -- don't wait too long to try the Red IPs/Crystals. Once I found them, I stopped searching.

For a cheap, serviceable brush, I'd suggest going back to Wallie's and picking up a VDH Boar for $5. Honestly, I've got several brushes -- including a $200 Rooney, and if you told me I had to use the VDH exclusively for the rest of my shaving life, I would not be heartbroken (as I would be if I had to confine myself to one soap, one DE, one straight, etc., etc.)

 

[Balto]

See here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=95015

The brushes from Penworks are great quality, and very beautiful. They would likely cost at least double what he asks for them if they were brand name brushes of the same quality.

I recently purchased the Finest Badger 22mm in Cream, and it is a wonderful brush, that looks great, and works perfectly.

Those brushes look GREAT!!!!

Silly question, BUT these brushes seem to be the "finest" badger. I'm not 100% sure where the Finest hair fall when it comes to quality? Pure? Best? Silvertip/Super?

Also, how would you say the quality of Penworks brushes are compared to others like Vulfix, Rooney and others?

EDIT: My wife wants to buy me a $70 dollar Kingsley at a place locally, but that seems WAY to much for a Kingsley and I haven't heard great stuff about them. Any advice?

 

[Balto]

Also, where can I buy those Red label IP's? I do not think they are included in that sample pack.

 

[michiganlover]

Those brushes look GREAT!!!!

Silly question, BUT these brushes seem to be the "finest" badger. I'm not 100% sure where the Finest hair fall when it comes to quality? Pure? Best? Silvertip/Super?

Also, how would you say the quality of Penworks brushes are compared to others like Vulfix, Rooney and others?

EDIT: My wife wants to buy me a $70 dollar Kingsley at a place locally, but that seems WAY to much for a Kingsley and I haven't heard great stuff about them. Any advice?

Finest seems to be the equivalent of Best. In other words a step down from Silvertip (which many people find too floppy to be really useful).

The only other brush I have to compare the Penworks too, is an Omega in Pure. The Penworks Finest is quite a bit softer in comparison.

 

[pcb01]

Also, where can I buy those Red label IP's? I do not think they are included in that sample pack.

www.westcoastshaving.com I'm pretty sure their sample pack includes them, as well as Crystals, which (to me) seem identical. Also, they are very economical -- $10 per 100 blades, last time I purchased.

 

[Luc]

+1 on the sample pack

Merkur are not so bad but they are not that great. Are they worth the extra money? No!

 

[REB]

I too vote no on Merkur blades. On a recent trip I had to fall back to Merkurs when exhausted my Feather supply. Revisiting the Merkur blades was comparatively expensive disappointing experience.

 

[Matsuey37]

I would go with this sample pack. It has most of what I consider as the best variety. The only blades missing that need to be tried are: Iridium Super, and Perma- Sharp Super. (IMHO)

Here is the link:

http://westcoastshaving.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=16

 

[el_zorro]

Balto,

Great advise from everyone here. You were on the right track with the CO Bigelow and using a razor that you already own. Very good choice on the Red pack Personnas and +++ on the Penworks brushes. I have been using one for a couple of months and it has helped me raise my lathering technique to another level. Many beginners get the tweezerman brush which isnt bad but it does hold you back a little on a luxury shaving experience. I think spending a little more on the brush instead of the razor right away is a good way to go.

Also my biggest mistake early was way too much water. Start out with little water and you can always add more. Also dont be afraid to get aggressive with the brush, thats where I made my mistake at first. Be aggressive with the brush but not with the razor, take it easy and dont use pressure.

Good luck, you will learn a lot here.

 

[Balto]

Thanks for ALL the great info guys!!!!!

I can not wait to get started.

I just ordered that sample pack. How do you recommend I find out which Blade does best for my face and razor? switch each day? week? I'm guessing all will be pretty close to each other so it might be hard to find just one hehe

 

[LittleJon]

I would go with this sample pack. It has most of what I consider as the best variety. The only blades missing that need to be tried are: Iridium Super, and Perma- Sharp Super. (IMHO)

Here is the link:

http://westcoastshaving.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=16

+1, if you're ordering from WCS I would get a few more items like the Tabac Soap just to save on shipping. Good gear though, good luck.