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Newbie... care to review my choice?

Hi all,

can't believe this excellent website. Realy amazing. Loooking at a Merkur 34c DH. Many feel it's the perfrct starter razor so what the heck.

Was thinking Feather, but they're unforgiving. Thinking about Iridium.

Seem logical to try?

Thanks,
 
My advice would be get a sampler of many different brands of blade. Then work your way through them one brand at a time. Don't be tempted to switch from one brand to another with every blade change.
 
Looking at a Merkur 34c DH. Many feel it's the perfrct starter razor so what the heck.
Was thinking Feather, but they're unforgiving. Thinking about Iridium.
Seem logical to try?

I would suggest to get a blade sampler pack and choose few that suits you well. Not that you need to push to instantly come with blades of choice (a common newbie mistake), but you will pretty soon know the ones you don't like and that is cool.

For razor, I would suggest Muehle R89 or equivalent Edwin Jagger. Why bother with good starting razor when you can have both good starting razor and one that you will hardly outgrow even when more experienced. Not that Merkur is bad, however, I'd give an edge to R89.

Btw, blade selection will, apart from your skin and technique, be greatly influenced by choice of razor and to some extent even by choice of shaving cream or soap.
 
I would suggest to get a blade sampler pack and choose few that suits you well. Not that you need to push to instantly come with blades of choice (a common newbie mistake), but you will pretty soon know the ones you don't like and that is cool.

For razor, I would suggest Muehle R89 or equivalent Edwin Jagger. Why bother with good starting razor when you can have both good starting razor and one that you will hardly outgrow even when more experienced. Not that Merkur is bad, however, I'd give an edge to R89.

Btw, blade selection will, apart from your skin and technique, be greatly influenced by choice of razor and to some extent even by choice of shaving cream or soap.

I can only echo the comments about the R89, it is a damn fine razor and as a Noob it did me well and now I am slightly more experienced it also suits me well.
 
Sampler packs are fine but if want to get a decent shave, perfect your technique. Pick a blade that works fine and stick with it a while. Most decent blades will shave people well, it's just a matter of adapting to it. Sometimes, people blame the blade when it's their own technique that fails them and they write it off. Switching variables, such as a new blade, will make it more difficult to refine your approach and determine your shaving short comings.

My suggestion is to pick a blade known for it's forgiveness and when you want to switch it, buy a sampler when you have your technique down. Blades that are relatively forgiving are Personna (Red Pack), Super+ Platinums (IP) and Derby Extra. However, if the blade just isn't working out despite your best effort, then move on to something else.
 
Thanks all. Pleant of good advice.

Interesting. I'm reading an R89 thread and some say the like the MerkHD a bit better.

Obviously faces vary.
 
Sampler packs are fine but if want to get a decent shave, perfect your technique. Pick a blade that works fine and stick with it a while. Most decent blades will shave people well, it's just a matter of adapting to it. Sometimes, people blame the blade when it's their own technique that fails them and they write it off. Switching variables, such as a new blade, will make it more difficult to refine your approach and determine your shaving short comings.

My suggestion is to pick a blade known for it's forgiveness and when you want to switch it, buy a sampler when you have your technique down. Blades that are relatively forgiving are Personna (Red Pack), Super+ Platinums (IP) and Derby Extra. However, if the blade just isn't working out despite your best effort, then move on to something else.

That is what I was trying to get at. He just put it better than I did.
 
100% agree on the sampler pack. I would also buy a new razor to learn on (versus by chance some bent up vintage razor). I purchased two new Merkur's the 1904 and the HD. Both are great...the 1904 is cheaper if you are cost conscious.

As far as blades go...I think everyone is different. I can only get one shave on a Feather and others get more. Get a sampler pack and see what works for you. If not you can't go wrong with Iridiums, Astras, etc.
 

Luc

"To Wiki or Not To Wiki, That's The Question".
Staff member
Another vote for the razor blade sample pack!
 
These sampler packs are available from places that sell the razors? I'll need a brush, bowl and soap I suppose. And something to hang them / dry them on...
 
These sampler packs are available from places that sell the razors? I'll need a brush, bowl and soap I suppose. And something to hang them / dry them on...

westcoastshaving and bullgoose shaving are two popular vendors for sample packs. The bowl can be an old cereal bowl, the brush can be a $15 tweezerman. As for stuff to hang & dry on -- I saw one guy here that used string. You can probably find a great deal on a razor down at B/S/T... a tech might run you ten bucks.

I recommend starting cheap and starting with cream... proraso or something like it. Learning to make a good lather you can use (easier to do with cream) is a great first step. If you change nothing but make the switch from the can to the brush and bowl, you will have already taken a great leap forward.

Hope it helps. Enjoy!
-- Chet
 

Slash McCoy

I freehand dog rockets
I would go with an adjustable. With an adjustable, you can get a decent shave out of most any blade. The Merkur Futur is a nice one, with a satisfying heft, though I would prefer it with a knurled handle and I am not a fan of the pop-off top. A vintage Gillette would be my choice. You can find a Fatboy on Ebay in the $25 range if you are patient, with a nice gold plated one starting for around $40. The TTO (twist-to-open) adjustables are nice because there are no parts to get loose and lost down the drain.

For blades, domestic Personna are okay for learning, but you might like the Israeli Personnas better and they are readily available online for cheap. The Gillette 7:00 ditto. Feathers are really sharp and very aggressive cutters but an adjustable tames them a bit and makes for a fairly newbie-friendly shave on a conservative setting.
 
I don't mind throwing a little cash at this. Seems worth it.

Shaver: Merkur 34c HD

Blades: I think I'll make a sample pack of some of the blades I've read about.

Brush: I suppose there's a section on brushes. I happen to like brushes, so any recommendation for a good brush would be appreciated.

Bowl and soap: Again, I can read up and I can try different soaps. Any recommendations are great.

I think I'll pick up a little metal stand to dry things. What the heck.

The feedback and help here is really someting else. Thanks so much!
 
I would advise you to start with a cream, because it's easier to achieve a good lather. Musgo Real would be a nice choice for a cream.
And about the brush, if you plan to use only creams, a badger brush would be a better choice, but with soaps a good boar brush would be wiser IMO.
But in case you want a soap, Mitchell's Wool Fat would be an inexpensive and very good soap.
 
Yea, but I like the idea of the whole thing, including the soap.

I just read a nice review anout the E. Jagger Best Badger. However there seem to be many models of this brush.
 

Luc

"To Wiki or Not To Wiki, That's The Question".
Staff member
These sampler packs are available from places that sell the razors? I'll need a brush, bowl and soap I suppose. And something to hang them / dry them on...

Yes, not all shop sell them but most of them. There are a few Vendors on the board that also sell them.
 
I'll be picking up a selection from wherever I buy all this stuff. Even if not a formal "sampler pack" the idea is excellent. Thanks
 

Luc

"To Wiki or Not To Wiki, That's The Question".
Staff member
I'll be picking up a selection from wherever I buy all this stuff. Even if not a formal "sampler pack" the idea is excellent. Thanks

No worries,

Make sure that you get at least Feathers, Astra Superior Platinum, Personna and Derby. I'm not a huge fan of Derby but a pack of 5 isn't too rough on the wallet. If you get more, it's good! (Sharks, Bic, Crystal, Iridium, Supermax) come to mind...
 
Thats good advice.

What's with all the numbers associated with these Badger brushes? The review for "Best Badger Brush" looks great, but there are so many BBBs ...
 
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