Hi everyone! As the title says I'm new to DE razors and wet shaving in general (aside from the occasional "shave" with a disposable). The razor I chose as my starter is a Merkur Long Handled #180 (matte finish). So far the razor is great especially compared to the electrics that I've used for years. However, one thing I've noticed about it that I find slightly annoying is that when I install a blade I have to make slight adjustments to the blade before tightening the handle completely to make sure I have even exposure on both sides. Is this something that's common with 3 piece razors or is it a QC issue? I do remember reading a thread here on B&B where a member mentioned that Merkur has had issues with QC lately, so it got me wondering.
New to DE/wet shaving
- Thread starter Iceman0803
- Start date
Yes. I too have seen people people talk about Merkur's declining QC. My father (whom I reintroduced to DE shaving) has a 37C slant-bar and when I inspect his razor it is covered in scoring marks and bumps from, what I assume, is the injection mold process. My DE81 has none of these marks and it was cheaper too.
HOWEVER that being said, I have several old Gillette Tech razors and a few of them have blade alignment issues even though their safety bars are straight. I suppose it's a problem which is much more likely to occur in a 3-piece design, hence why many shaving vets prefer a TTO since it means less fiddling with the blade.
HOWEVER that being said, I have several old Gillette Tech razors and a few of them have blade alignment issues even though their safety bars are straight. I suppose it's a problem which is much more likely to occur in a 3-piece design, hence why many shaving vets prefer a TTO since it means less fiddling with the blade.
- Thread starter
- #3
I've actually considered getting a TTO. Are there any particular brands that are better than others with regards to build quality?
A Schick Krona....
Most modern brands are made of "pot metal" and even then TTO is not very common among high-end brands.
If you want a TTO that will outlive you then consider getting a vintage Gillette. Any of the SuperSpeed's (excluding red tip as it's really aggressive) would probably do you fine. They're almost all nickel-plated brass so they are tough as nails.
What you're talking about is common to 3-piece razors. TTO razors have a bar that holds the blade in place. I recommend vintage Gillette razors such as the Super Speed.
Welcome to B&B, you have made a wise choice to join our great community. I would recommend a adjustable TTO razor such as a Gillette Slim. As you get better at shaving you will be able to adjust to various levels of aggression with just a few clicks. Also, get yourself a sampler pack of blades to see what your preference may be. Blades vary in sharpness and some brands such as Astra and Polsilvers may be an economical and functional choice.
Dont forget the very all important shave prep. Preparation is key, try to get a good Badger brush so you can apply the shave cream/soap. It will also exfoliate and hydrate your face which would yield great shave results with minimal irritation.
+1 to what Alex said.
Welcome to B&B. Having to pay attention to the alignment before tightening down the handle is not an uncommon "problem." Even the Gillette Old types can allow the blade to wiggle a bit if you're not paying attention.
That said, I concur with the advice about trying a vintage TTO. The flare tip SuperSpeed is a great starter razor and is dirt cheap. The Schick Krona, as mentioned above, is another good choice, although a bit harder to come by.
That said, I concur with the advice about trying a vintage TTO. The flare tip SuperSpeed is a great starter razor and is dirt cheap. The Schick Krona, as mentioned above, is another good choice, although a bit harder to come by.
