My first razor?

[PinoySteel]

Hi guys. I've been shaving with Shavettes (single-edge shaper blades and long double-edged Dovo Shavette ones) since 1998 or so and have the scars to prove it (literally even)! I'm actually pretty good with them now and can get very good shaves with no weepers if I take my time.

I'd like to try DE shaving. A DE razor is actually the first razor I ever used: my dad's when I was around 13 or 14. I remember cutting myself and being horrified at the blood on the Wilkinson Sword blade, and thinking, crap, that's why it's called a Wilkinson Sword, and looking at the graphic on the blade. I rinsed it off and waited for the bleeding to stop and got on with my life, and didn't touch a razor again until I was 17 or 18.

I live in Hong Kong and Weishis are around $3.20 here I believe: should I go that route or try something fancier? I love the look of the old school Gillettes and got narrowly outbid on a 1959 E1 in pretty good shape yesterday.

 

[celestino]

It really depends on you. You can definitely shave with the Weishis, but they are not made very well. A vintage Gillette or a Merkur 34C might be the way to go, really. Good luck.

 

[Krona Kruiser]

Look into getting a Super Speed, Tech, or Gillette adjustable. Pretty smooth all around.

 

[dpmtherrien]

You can't go wrong with the Merkur HD as a starter razor, in fact that might be the only DE you'll ever need.

 

[VALevey]

+1 for the Super Speed. I'm new to DE shaving and having an excellent time with mine.

 

[Graybeard57]

Let me be the first to suggest Edwin Jagger DE89.

Welcome, and enjoy your shaves!


(Hey! How can I be Merkurious when I recommend EJ? Just yesterday I was annointed a DE Deity. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted )

 

[warhawk]

Look into getting a Super Speed, Tech, or Gillette adjustable. Pretty smooth all around.

+1

 

[PinoySteel]

Thanks guys! The Merkurs and Jaggers look decent, but I think I have my heart set on a Gillette. The 50s-60s Gillette DEs just look so cool to me, and the fact they're decades older than me is pretty enthralling too.

 

[neilyasno]

Just wait a little bit even though you're anxious. Great deals pop up on them here all the time. I got a K1 Superspeed here for $10 recently. K1 means that it was made in the first 3 months of '65. It's nothing special, but it is a vintage gillette after all

 

[PinoySteel]

I'm currently bidding on no less than five.

I live in Hong Kong. I'd love to snag a deal on the forums, but I'd have to find a deal from a member who was willing to ship to me. Not everyone is comfortable shipping outside the US, even though HK is the world's freest economy and I have never had a package go missing since I moved back in '05!

 

[neilyasno]

I'm currently bidding on no less than five.

I live in Hong Kong. I'd love to snag a deal on the forums, but I'd have to find a deal from a member who was willing to ship to me. Not everyone is comfortable shipping outside the US, even though HK is the world's freest economy and I have never had a package go missing since I moved back in '05!

Well thats because people don't know how much it is to ship. If you tell them that you are willing to pay for the shipping and assume liability for loss, there should be no problem.

 

[Lightning Boy]

Started with a Merkur 33C and got a 1960 Tech last week: I wish I'd got the Tech first. I cannot say enough about how comfortable the Tech shaves and they are easily to find of eBay for next to nothing.

 

[PinoySteel]

Well thats because people don't know how much it is to ship. If you tell them that you are willing to pay for the shipping and assume liability for loss, there should be no problem.

True, I will definitely give that a whirl (and I have on other forums/eBay with variable success over the years). Now I just have to be up early enough to catch the deals before they get jumped on!

Started with a Merkur 33C and got a 1960 Tech last week: I wish I'd got the Tech first. I cannot say enough about how comfortable the Tech shaves and they are easily to find of eBay for next to nothing.

Thanks, hopefully I manage to score a decent one for a good price. One of the razors I was bidding on went for $66!

 

[PinoySteel]

Well, it looks like my first razor is going to be a 60s SuperSpeed! It cost me $17.50 and $12 for Priority Mail shipping. The pics were pretty bad, but hopefully it is in good overall shape and the plating looks to be in fairly good shape. I can't wait to get it!

 

[JDTTO]

A good cheap razor that you should be able to find locally is the concord (or silvertone) 3 piece.

I like mine, it's a bit more agressive than an original Gillette Tech but I consider it to be a smooth shaver.

Just take care in ensuring the blade is even on both sides.

Should cost next to nothing in HK and you do not need to wait for shippong.

 

[PinoySteel]

Thanks, but I've never seen one of those in HK and have no idea where to get one. Are they Chinese?

 

[JDTTO]

Not sure. They are often offered on ebay from Hk that's why I assumed it might be something from the local market.

 

[PinoySteel]

Not sure. They are often offered on ebay from Hk that's why I assumed it might be something from the local market.

Chinese sellers (from China) use Hong Kong Post to ship items they sell on eBay since postage rates from HK are lower. China and HK are very different: very much like two different countries. There's a lot of stuff up there I can't get for a good price here and vice versa. For example, I buy tea from China since it is much more expensive here, and people from China buy designer products and imported food in HK since there is no tax on imports here (aside from on a select few imports, like fuel, cars, alcoholic beverages with over 30% strength and tobacco).

 

[PinoySteel]

Just picked up what was described as a 50s Fat Tech for around $25 shipped. Plating looks good: just a little loss on the underside of the head. Now hopefully my nickel allergy won't be an issue when I shave with them!

 

[PinoySteel]

The "Fat Tech" was in much, much better shape than I expected and cleaned up beautifully. Unfortunately my first shave with it wasn't very pleasant as I haven't got the angle down pat just yet. My throat is extremely irritated and I had a few weepers, but I know I'll get it down with practice.