Quest for a better shave

[thombrogan]

Wow, @GBerry , it seems you’ve got three out-of-the-park combinations to make the most of your Stirling Naked and Smooth and RazoRock Monster:

Edwin Jagger 3ONE6/Shark Platinum
Merkur 34C/Personna Lab Blue
Rex Envoy/Gillette Perma-Sharp

Great results and great looking razors. Congratulations

 

[GBerry]

@thombrogan

Right now, I would rank the combos:
1. Rex Envoy + Gillette Perma-Sharp
2. Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 + Shark Platinum
3. Merkur HD 34C + Personna Lab Blue

Stirling Naked & Smooth is a daily driver while Stirling Barbershop tends to dry out my skin.

I have some Proraso White that I may try out.

Then I also have a second wave of blades to check in the 3ONE6 and maybe the Envoy.

Things could get interesting!!!

 

[GBerry]

20211202
Razor: Rex Supply Co Envoy (12)
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (Russian) (2)
Brush: Razorock Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-shave: Hot shower
Lather: StIrling Soap Co Naked & Smooth
Aftershave: Cold water rinse;

No irritation: 5
No nicks or cuts: 5
Closeness: 5
Smoothness: 5

Rating: 10/10

The combo produced an excellent shave. No irritation, no nicks, very close and very smooth. A BBS result. A very pleasant shave.

Test Summary 20211119

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

20211203
Razor: Rex Supply Co Envoy (13)
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (Russian) (3)
Brush: Razorock Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-shave: Hot shower
Lather: StIrling Soap Co Naked & Smooth
Aftershave: Cold water rinse;

No irritation: 5
No nicks or cuts: 5
Closeness: 5
Smoothness: 5

Rating: 10/10

The combo produced an excellent shave. No irritation, no nicks, very close and very smooth. A BBS result. A very pleasant shave.

Test Summary 20211119

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

20211204
Razor: Rex Supply Co Envoy (14)
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (Russian) (4)
Brush: Razorock Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-shave: Hot shower
Lather: StIrling Soap Co Executive Man
Aftershave: Cold water rinse;

No irritation: 5
No nicks or cuts: 5
Closeness: 5
Smoothness: 5

Rating: 10/10

The combo produced an excellent shave. No irritation, no nicks, very close and very smooth. A BBS result. A very pleasant shave.

Stirling had given me a sample of Executive Man on one of my orders. A decent and effective soap.

Test Summary 20211119

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

20211205
Razor: Rex Supply Co Envoy (15)
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (Russian) (5)
Brush: Razorock Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-shave: Hot shower
Lather: StIrling Soap Co Naked & Smooth
Aftershave: Cold water rinse;

No irritation: 5
No nicks or cuts: 5
Closeness: 5
Smoothness: 5

Rating: 10/10

The combo produced an excellent shave. No irritation, no nicks, very close and very smooth. A BBS result. A very pleasant shave.

Shave Summary 20211205

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

Testing Summary 20211119 (a work in progress)

Derby Extra
3 blades 6 shaves
average score 0.983
Excellent first shave and then dulls fast resulting in a nick or not a close shave.

Derby Premium
3 blades 6 shaves
Average score 0.9875
This blade makes a very good first shave.
Second shaves yield either irritation, nicks or not close enough. An average shave.

Parker Premium Platinum
3 blades 6 shaves
Average score: 0.950
1/6 shaves had irritation
5/6 shaves had nicks or cuts
2/6 shaves were not close
2/6 shaves were not smooth
There is no reason to continue struggling with this blade.

Astra Superior Platinum
2 blades 8 shaves
Average score: 0.996875
This combo produces excellent shaves with few issues. No irritation, 1 nick in 8 shaves, very close and very smooth. The 1 nick was probably technique related. The shaves are near BBS.

Shark Super Stainless
2 blades 8 shaves
Average score 0.975
No nicks or cuts, no irritation, very smooth blade. Closeness was DFS or DFS+.

Shark Super Chrome (first set)
3 blades 8 shaves
Average score 0.981
Some nicks & cuts and closeness issues

Shark Super Chrome (second set)
2 blades 8 shaves
Average score 0.972
1 shave with irritation
2 shaves with nicks
6 shaves not very close. DFS or DFS+ results.
The blades stayed smooth 4 shaves each. It would be nice if I could consistently make DFS+.

Shark Platinum
3 blades 8 shaves
Average score 1.000
IMO the best of the Sharks

Silver Star Super Stainless
3 blades 8 shaves
Average score 0.997
A very good blade that retains smoothness and sufficient sharpness through 3 shaves in the EJ 3ONE6.

Egyptian Bolzano Superinox
3 blades 10 shaves
Average score: 0.9925
This blade produced excellent shaves. Most were BBS or near BBS. Nicks or cuts were produced on 3 of the 10 shaves.

Personna Lab Blue
Razor: Merkur HD34C
2 blades 5 shaves
Average score 0.980
No nicks or cuts, no irritation, very smooth. Closeness was mostly DFS+.

ASCO Super Stainless Orange
Razor: Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 Knurled handle
2 blades 6 shaves
Average score 0.9875
No nicks or cuts, no irritation, very smooth. Closeness was mostly DFS+. Blades appear to be good for 3 shaves.

ASCO Super Stainless Red/Blue
Razor: Edwin Jagger 3ONE6 Knurled handle
2 blades 4 shaves
Average score 0.99375
No nicks or cuts, no irritation, very smooth. Mostly DFS+ or BBS shaves. Blade lasts two shaves.


Gillette Perma-Sharp Gold box
Rex Supply Co Envoy
3 blades 15 shaves
Average score: 1.0
No nicks or cuts, no irritation, mostly BBS in shave quality and closeness, very smooth result. All a pleasant shave experience.
The blades last 5 shaves easily.

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

20211206
Razor: Edwin Jagger 3ONE6
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (Russian) (1)
Brush: Razorock Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-shave: Hot shower
Lather: Stirling Soap Co Naked & Smooth
Aftershave: Cold water rinse; Alum

No irritation: 5
No nicks or cuts: 5
Closeness: 5
Smoothness: 5

Rating: 10/10

The combo produced an excellent shave. No irritation, no nicks, very close and very smooth. A BBS result. A very pleasant shave.

Alum sting: moderate. I’m shaving a bit too closely.

Shave Summary 20211205

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

@thombrogan I was reading your shave logs and saw that you had a RazoRock Mamba 0.53 on the way.

I thought you might like to know my experience with the Mamba 0.53.

08/13/2020 - first shave. Rapira Platinum Lux I put 3 shaves on this blade and concluded a sharper blade was needed. I was chasing BBS and the best I could get was DFS+.

08/16/2020 - Personna Lab Blue
This blade was smoother and would go 4 shaves easily. Still DFS+.

08/20/2020 - Gillette Nacet. Lasted about 3 shaves but was DFS+ at best.

08/25/2020 - Wilkinson Sword Classic. 4 shaves with nicks and DFS+.

08/29/2020 - Bic Chrome Platinum
4 shaves with nicks. DFS+. WS Classic was better.

09/03/2020 - Gillette Perma-Sharp
5 shaves on 1 blade and 3 shaves on a second blade. No nicks, no cuts, no irritation, DFS+ on closeness.

10/04/2020 - Feather Hi-Stainless. I was lucky to get 3 shaves on these. DFS+ at best.

10/10/2020 - Wilkinson Sword Classic
I could get 6 shaves on these. Sharpness degraded rapidly on the 6 shave. Near BBS.

10/16/2020 - Wilkinson Sword Classic. Very close and smooth. 6 shaves. My favorite for the Mamba 0.53

10/21/2020 - Gillette Silver Blue
This was interrupted.

07/17/2021 - Feather Hi-Stainless. They get rough on the 3rd shave.

07/20/2021 - Wilkinson Sword Classic
Much smoother than Feather and can get 5 shaves before dulling out.

All totaled 52 shaves.

 

[thombrogan]

Thank you, @GBerry !

Surprised the Wilkinson Sword Classic bested the Bic Chrome Platinum. I have a few of those Wilkies and lots of Bics, so I look forward to seeing how my mileage varies or conforms to yours.

 

[GBerry]

You are welcome.

I never got great results with Bic Chrome Platinums in any of my razors. I don’t know why.

Wilkinson Sword Classic and Gillette Perma-Sharp blades hit the sharp and smooth point in the Mamba.

I think Gillette Platinum and Gillette Silver Blue might do well also.

Revisiting the Mamba 0.53 might be interesting!

 

[GBerry]

20211207
Razor: Edwin Jagger 3ONE6
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (Russian) (2)
Brush: Razorock Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-shave: Hot shower
Lather: StIrling Soap Co Naked & Smooth
Aftershave: Cold water rinse; Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Astringent

No irritation: 5
No nicks or cuts: 5
Closeness: 5
Smoothness: 5

Rating: 10/10

The combo produced a good shave. No irritation, no nicks, very close and very smooth. A DFS result. A pleasant shave.

Shave Summary 20211205

YMMV

 

[thombrogan]

Revisiting the Mamba 0.53 might be interesting!

After several hundred neutral-angle shaves, please remember it’s a shallow stubble shucker (or so I’ve read - will know more in the future).

 

[GBerry]

20211208
Razor: Edwin Jagger 3ONE6
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (Russian) (3)
Brush: Razorock Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-shave: Hot shower
Lather: StIrling Soap Co Naked & Smooth
Aftershave: Cold water rinse; Alum; Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Astringent

No irritation: 5
No nicks or cuts: 4.5
Closeness: 5
Smoothness: 5

Rating: 9.75/10

The combo produced a good shave. No irritation, 1 nick, very close and smooth. A DFS+ result. A pleasant shave.

Alum sting: moderate

Shave Summary 20211205

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

20211209
Razor: Edwin Jagger 3ONE6
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (Russian) (4)
Brush: Razorock Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-shave: Hot shower
Lather: Stirling Soap Co Naked & Smooth
Aftershave: Cold water rinse; Alum;

No irritation: 5
No nicks or cuts: 4.5
Closeness: 5
Smoothness: 5

Rating: 9.75/10

The combo produced a good shave. No irritation, reopened 1 nick from yesterday, very close and smooth. A DFS+ result. A pleasant shave.

Alum sting: moderate

Shave Summary 20211205

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

20211210
Razor: Edwin Jagger 3ONE6
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (Russian) (5)
Brush: Razorock Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-shave: Wash with Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
Lather: StIrling Soap Co Naked & Smooth
Aftershave: Cold water rinse; Alum;

No irritation: 5
No nicks or cuts: 4.5
Closeness: 5
Smoothness: 5

Rating: 9.75/10

The combo produced a good shave. No irritation, reopened 1 nick from yesterday, very close and smooth. A DFS+ result. A pleasant shave.

Alum sting: moderate

Shave Summary 20211205

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

20211211
Razor: Merkur HD 34C
Blade: Voskhod Teflon coated (2)
Brush: Razorock Plissoft Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-Shave: Cetaphil Facial Cleanser
Lather: Stirling Soap Co Barbershop
Aftershave: Cold water rinse

No nicks: 5
No irritation: 5
Closeness: 4.5
Smoothness: 5

Score: 9.75/10

No nicks, no irritation, close and smooth. Shave result is DFS.

Since the last three shaves with the 3ONE6 + Gillette Perma-Sharp developed or reopened a nick, I decided to use a Clark Kent of DE shavers. A more accurate description of the Merkur HD 34C + Voskhod Teflon Coated would be dull and smooth. It served it’s purpose without issues.

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

20211212
Razor: Above The Tie Atlas R1
Blade: Astra Superior Platinum (2)
Brush: RazoRock Plissoft Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-Shave: Cetaphil Facial Cleanser
Lather: Stirling Soap Co Naked & Smooth
Aftershave: Cold water rinse; Alum; Shower; Nivea Sensitive Post Shave Balm

No nicks: 5
No irritation: 5
Closeness: 4.5
Smoothness: 5

Score: 9.75/10

No nicks, no irritation, close and smooth. Shave result is DFS+. Small amount of stubble along the jaw bones. I was riding the cap to prevent issues. A very pleasant and uneventful shave.

Alum sting: mild to medium

My skin appears ready to resume with the 3ONE6 on Monday.

YMMV

 

[GBerry]

20211213
Razor: Edwin Jagger 3ONE6
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp (Russian) (1)
Brush: Razorock Monster Synthetic Shaving Brush - 26mm
Pre-shave: Wash with Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
Lather: StIrling Soap Co Naked & Smooth
Aftershave: Cold water rinse; Alum; Dickinson’s Witch Hazel

No irritation: 5
No nicks or cuts: 5
Closeness: 5
Smoothness: 5

Rating: 10/10

The combo produced a very good shave. No irritation, no nicks, very close and very smooth. A BBS result. A very pleasant shave.

Alum sting: moderate

Shave Summary 20211205

YMMV

 

[thombrogan]

I was worried the Permasharp was returning with your 3ONE6, but glad to read you’ve tamed it.

 

[never-stop-learning]

@GBerry - I really enjoy reading your journal. Very informative.

 

[GBerry]

I was worried the Permasharp was returning with your 3ONE6, but glad to read you’ve tamed it.

@thombrogan I am not really sure it is tamed. I am setting the stage to see what will happen on shaves 3, 4 and 5. It is my understanding the Gillette Perma-Sharp sharpens up at some point after the first shave. The user needs to be prepared for the increase in sharpness. This user apparently let his guard down!!!