I feel like I'm about ready to step up to something more aggressive than my Merkur 180/23C, which seems to have a reputation as being a very mild razor. Any suggestions?
Ready to step up the aggressiveness. Suggestions?
- Thread starter DiG3430
- Start date
My question is why? Does your razor work for you? I would not get aggressive just for the heck of it. But if you are determined, I would recomment a FatIP open comb, or a vintage Gillette Tech New Long Comb (I prefer the latter).
I always (yea always) recommend that anyone wanting a closer shave try out either of the Merkur slant head razors (37c short handle or 39c long handle). They are mild yet very efficient. Most who try, stay. BUT... as in anything shaving YMMV
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/301979-8-Pass-Shave-Using-2-Merkur-Slants
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/301979-8-Pass-Shave-Using-2-Merkur-Slants
A vintage Gillette NEW, Long Comb or Short Comb, is a good next step. A bit more aggressive without being dangerous. 
I agree with one of the above posters. What issue are you trying to solve by using a razor with more blade exposure?
Curiosity.... not many other reasons.....
- Thread starter
- #7
I guess there are two reasons.
First, I kinda feel like I've reached the limit of how close a shave I can get with this razor. It's served me well and I get consistent DFS every time out, whether I load it with an Astra SP or Feather. I have a pretty coarse beard, so getting BBS will always be tough, but I'd like to get there. As it is, I feel like the buffing I do ends up just causing slight irritation rather than actually getting to the base of the whisker.
Second, lately I've noticed that the razor doesn't load blades perfectly symmetrically. I doubt any razor is perfect in this regard, but there seems to be a little bit of play with the holes in the blades and the posts they wrap around. The end result is one side of the razor sometimes showing a little more blade than the other. I've found that when the blades load unevenly like this, I really prefer using the more aggressive side. It cuts much cleaner and I feel like I'm accomplishing more with each stroke. I guess I'd like a razor that's more like that, but consistently, and with both sides of the blade.
And thanks to everyone for the suggestions so far! Please keep 'em coming
Well you can always opt for an adjustable razor, which would allow you to dial up the amount of blade exposure. Vintage examples would be a fatboy, slim, or super adjustable. For modern razors I believe you have to look to Merkur with their progress, futur, or vision. The Merkurs cover a wider range of aggressive settings, as I understand it, than the older Gillette razors.
Futur. I started with a Merkur 180 and jumped right to the Futur. It is such a perfect match for me that I haven't looked at another razor since.
One of the greatest models ever is the New Improved line. (1921-29). Not much talked about these days for some funny reason. Smooth and very effective- in my experience my New Improved razors provide me with the longest lasting shaves.
The NEWs (from the 30`s) are somewhat milder but very nice..
The vintage line is in my mind vast superior to the moderns of today. Had a go with my 34c the other day and I can´t say it gave me any thrills. At all. YMMV of course.
The NEWs (from the 30`s) are somewhat milder but very nice..
The vintage line is in my mind vast superior to the moderns of today. Had a go with my 34c the other day and I can´t say it gave me any thrills. At all. YMMV of course.
I've got an EJ89 and I actually find it fairly mild. However, load it up with an extra sharp blade (such as a Feather) and it's a great performer...smooth on the face, but death to the whiskers!I was kind of thinking EJ89 or R89. A little more aggressive, but not exactly R41 material...
I like how the vintage Gillettes have a "feature" that seems to align the blade better than the current Merkurs, et al. A Gillette NEW OC or adjustable such as a Fatboy can be pretty aggressive; a pre-war Tech is medium aggressive with forgiveness. Fatip is a nice aggressive OC for not much $$, but you do have to take care with blade alignment...it gives you a lot of control too so you can get a great shave or hurt yourself lol. I just picked up a new Weber and am pretty happy with it as it seems aggressive, but forgiving and blade alignment seems easy enough.
+1 on the Merkur Futur.
Un- (or at least under-) tested so far, the new RazoRock SLAB looks promising as a step up in aggression.
I like the Fatip, which is an aggressive razor, but it takes careful prep to prevent weepers for me. I very rarely get weepers with any DE I have, but the Fatip will do it with the slightest deviation from "best practices" for me. It also seems finicky for which blade, more so than other razors. YMMV of course.
I like the Fatip, which is an aggressive razor, but it takes careful prep to prevent weepers for me. I very rarely get weepers with any DE I have, but the Fatip will do it with the slightest deviation from "best practices" for me. It also seems finicky for which blade, more so than other razors. YMMV of course.
