Persona Med Lab vs Persona Surgical Prep in Tech Razors

[DEGuy]

This morning I loaded two Tech razors with Personas: one with a Med Lab, just got them yesterday, and the other with a Surgical Prep. The Techs are pretty much identical, same 'Pat Off' number on the heads' bases and country of origin are the same--so the variables were, as much as possible, kept to a minimum. My sense was that these blades might be the same. So much for one's sense.

I did two passes with the Med Lab and some pickups--but the shave was not want I had expected or wanted. I couldn't get the stubble/pickups any closer with the Med Lab. Then I picked up the Tech with the Surgical Prep blade. What a difference! The Surgical Prep in the milder-shaving Tech did a great job and picked up everything the Med Lab missed. It was the cleanest shave the Tech has delivered for me thus far: clean, close, and comfortable. Tomorrow I'll do an entire shave with the same Surgical Prep blade. I didn't care for the feel of the Surgical Preps in my Progress--for me the blade felt a bit harsh (I had the Progress set on #3--mine locks on #1).

BigBull had given me some advice: Mild Razor + Mild Blade = Bad Shave; Mild Razor + Sharp Blade = Great Shave. BigBull has had success with the Med Lab blade in a Tech. I know each of us will have different results with various blades in a particular razor. BigBull's suggestion prompted my setting up the Techs with the both Persona blades. So for me, the Surgical Prep worked best in the Tech. However, with this said I'll have to confirm my finding and shave with the Tech/Surgical Prep exclusively tomorrow and see how an entire shave goes.

I would think a Med Lab or Astra SPP might be great is a more efficient razor, like an open comb (on order!), where the razor shaves more efficiently than a milder razor like the Tech--but this speculation on my part--I'll know when I get the OC razors. My thanks to BigBull for his advice--it was spot on.

 

[PhiGam]

To really minimize variables--

Switch the blades into opposite razors next time, and check results. Or, put a new blade in of the opposite type...

Razor A--med Razor B--lab on day 1, then
Razor A--lab Razor B--med on day 2

Also, having your significant other or some third party put the blades in will control for personal bias. Finally, shave half your face with each blade on consecutive days (switching sides) to remove the 'used first/last' variable.

I'm certainly not saying your results will be any different, just trying to keep the variables to a true minimum. Only because surgical preps are 3X the cost, you may want to be truly certain. (And, as a science nerd, I really do sit around thinking about these things while watching the olympics. Table tennis is only so enthralling, even to an olympic junkie).

 

[DEGuy]

Olympic games' junkie here, too. Your idea is valid and makes sense. I'm going to swap the blades and do the trial again tomorrow. Good idea. I'll be getting that much closer to the acid test for these blades. Yes, the cost is considerably greater for the Surgical Prep blades. I have to say, women's volleyball has been really good--far better than table tennis. Thanks for idea.

 

[PhiGam]

No worries! Thanks for the feedback on my post--I didn't intend it to be snarky at all, just thinking out loud more than anything. Let us know how it turns out! Also, there's a good post about where to buy meds from a supply company for $55 per 250 somewhere around here, I'll see if I can find it, but searvh for personna meds. Might save a few $$ anyway.

The women's V-Ball was more exciting than the table tennis, but the archery and fencing I watched were suprisingly interesting. I don't know anything about fencing, but I feel like going over to my best friend's house and slapping him to start a duel or something.

 

[DEGuy]

The post may have been mine re Persona Surgical Prep blades; the company is Robbins Instruments in NJ.
I didn't take your suggestion as sneaky--I thought it was a observant assessment of what I might do.
Indeed, head over to your friend's and do a little Zorro number: Z

 

[DEGuy]

And the winner is (drum roll)... The Persona Surgical Prep.

 

[Mick]

The only way test is to blind test them (have someone else load the blades so you don't know which is which).

 

[DEGuy]

I had my favorite lady (she's standing in back of me and I just got a smack on the shoulder), uh, only lady load and hand me the razors so I didn't know the blade I was using. But I was able to feel a difference in what turned out to be the Surgical Prep blade. It tackles my tough bead much more efficiently than the Lab in the Tech razor. I'll use my Med Labs in the open comb razors I'm getting. I think the Surgical Prep might too much blade is such efficiently cutting razors--the Surgical Prep is too much blade for me in my Progress, but it's nice in the milder Tech and really delivers a close shave. Both Techs have identical handles from my EJ DE89s, so I cannot tell them apart save when I open them to check the blade.

I forgot to mention that she loaded the Surgical Prep blade in the razor that, yesterday, had the Med Lab blade in it; and yesterdays Med-Lab-loaded razor had the Surgical Prep for today's shave.

 

[man00ver]

Not many of us use the moniker "Surgical Prep blades," but that one's easy to figure out. However, using "Med Lab" is going to lead to a bit of confusion.

Around here, the common labels are:

Personna Med Prep or Personna Med: These are the blades stamped "For Hospital Use," and are generally called "Meds" for short.
Personna Lab: These are the blades stamped "Super," and are so-called because they were found for sale at Electron Microscopy Services, presumably for use in sample preparation. When people say "Labs," these are what they mean.

So, "Med Lab" is sort of a mash-up of labels, and might cause some head-scratching.

The Meds are probably my favorite blades, and the Labs are so good to me that I have trouble telling them apart.

 

[DEGuy]

Surgical Prep Blade is the 'moniker' given by the first retailer from whom I bought them. Only after receiving them I saw that Persona calls these blades Double Edge Prep Blade #74-000. The 'Med Lab' blades I was told about on B&B--not a self-made moniker. Personas wrapping of each of these blades is identical save the boxes in which they're packaged; and, as you said, the prose on each of these blades is different, which I found is the only way to discern one from the other: the Persona DE Prep is labeled 'For Hospital Use' and the other Persona is in nondescript blue and black box, but the blades are marked 'Super'. Apart from this, on B&B it seems that the Surgical Prep is, in the interest of accuracy, used often and is nothing but a users' moniker. Referring to them as Persona Med Prep and Persona Lab blades narrows the choices to Persona's use for each blade. Smart advice.

I've found the Med Prep to be a smooth cutting blade; and one that works marvelously in a razor like Gillette's Tech.

Nitpicky is a good thing.

 

[my19]

I do prefer the Med Prep blades -- might all be in my head, but they feel sharper/smoother to me. Hard to beat the Labs for bang-for-the-buck, though. Very good shave, very good price.

 

[DEGuy]

I used, 3rd shave, with a Med Prep this a.m. in one of my Gillette Techs and it is still very smooth and efficient. Then I went to the track for three miles and did not have any stinging on my face. This is #1 blade. This blade turns the Tech into a fantastic razor: close shaving and very smooth. Love the Tech. I'm going to try an open comb, but the Techs with Med Preps are a permanent fixture. I prefer the Tech to my Super Speed.