Recommend a new DE Safety Razor for me.
- Thread starter Rez90
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- #3
Thank you. I will give it a try.
I don't know if it's available from a B&B vendor, but the Edwin Jagger DE89L is a fantastic razor at a very reasonable price, especially considering the quality.
What are your criteria for a new razor? Are you looking to go ultra-cheap? There is the Wilkinson Sword "Classic" razor that can be had for about a five-er. It's no treat but I started with it and it's certainly usable in the beginning.
Also keep your eyes on the Buy/Sell/Trade forum here as people are often selling shave-ready vintage razors for under $20. If you're willing to put in a bit of elbow-grease, you could also pick up a vintage razor that needs a good cleaning, often for under $10.
Good luck!
Also keep your eyes on the Buy/Sell/Trade forum here as people are often selling shave-ready vintage razors for under $20. If you're willing to put in a bit of elbow-grease, you could also pick up a vintage razor that needs a good cleaning, often for under $10.
Good luck!
- Thread starter
- #6
I am not looking for ultra cheap. I am looking to change my shaving routine because i have major face/irratation issue's. I've been told a good DE razor will be the first step in in the right direction.
I am looking for a quality DE razor. End of story. I'm not looking to break the bank on it, but i will gladly spend a little more if i know i'm buying a quality product.
This or a Muhle 89
same head same thing basically
Merkur makes good razors IMO
A Merkur 23 is a nice razor
and in the Parker line I like the Parker 91 - an aggressive razor but well built
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Raz90:
How about a Merkur 23C (for more info...see 'link' below)?
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?ltr=M&t=6044
Christopher
How about a Merkur 23C (for more info...see 'link' below)?
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?ltr=M&t=6044
Christopher
Gillette stopped making DEs in 1986 IIRC
Merkur is a good place to start.
Look for vintage Gillette's on Ebay.
Look for vintage Gillette's on Ebay.
also the BST forum and places like etsy
also check out local junk/antique stores, thrift stores, and yard sales... those would be your best bet for absolute rock bottom prices
When you are looking for cheap and a good shave I can recommend two razors; both have the same head but the handles are different. It depends on were you live which one is cheapest (shipping costs);
In the US: this Lord Smart
In Europe: this Lord LP1822
I know member iamdarkangel2005 has his own webshop and is planning on carrying more Lord stuff but the razors are not on his site yet.
There are more beautifull razors outthere but they are build well enough and give a pleasant mild, but not too mild, shave. I like them a lot while I can choose from much more expensive razors in my collection. You can't go wrong!
In the US: this Lord Smart
In Europe: this Lord LP1822
I know member iamdarkangel2005 has his own webshop and is planning on carrying more Lord stuff but the razors are not on his site yet.
There are more beautifull razors outthere but they are build well enough and give a pleasant mild, but not too mild, shave. I like them a lot while I can choose from much more expensive razors in my collection. You can't go wrong!
I suggest the Merkur 34C heavy...... 
There aren't any "new" Gillette DEs but they are still worth looking in to. They are excellent razors and are often less expensive than most new razors. You can find very nice Superspeeds and Techs on B/S/T for under $15 shipped. If you buy a new razor, Merkur, Muhle and EJ all have excellent reputations. Although you can buy a Parker for a little less (this is what I started with), they have a reputation of quality control problems. This isn't as big a deal for someone with enough experience to recognize a substandard razor and return it. I wouldn't recommend one to start out with. Good luck.
on the subject of cheap tech clones... send ntguy a PM he has chinese made concord brand tech clones and he gives discounts to B&B members
though you can also score a vintage tech for about the same price as a cheap clone
The Lords I pointed out are Merkur classic clones rather than Tech clones. I never held or shaved with a concord so no comments there but the Lords do shave a lot nicer (YMMV
) than my Gillette Techs as well as my 33C and 23C from Merkur. Oh, and they do have even blade gaps and spot on blade alignment, which I can't say of my Merkurs...My friend, you sound just like I did a couple of months ago. I have ultra sensitive skin.
Here's my story. Take from it what you will...
After much research here I went with the often recommended Merkur 34C (aka HD). Purchased from Phil at Bullgooseshaving.net. The quality and workmanship is top notch. I think it is a beautiful razor.
I shaved with it for a month. Of course it took me some time to get used to shaving with a DE and the whole bowl and lather. I got there though, with less irritation than I had with cartridges. I wouldn't say my shave was always as good though. I found the HD a bit hard to get right at the edges of my mouth, under my nose, and on my chin (I'd say I have a minor butt chin). The occasional nick was the result, most often on my chin but sometimes on my neck as well.
After the first month I got my first vintage Gillette, a 1961 Fatboy. What a world of difference. I dialed it all the way down to 1, the mildest setting, and found shaving nirvanna. It's like a cloud gliding over my skin. No nicks and no irritation. Pure bliss.
While I continue to keep an eye out for other vintage razors, and have bought a number of them in the past few weeks, none match the Fatboy. If I only had one razor the rest of my life this would be it.
I would note that just for fun one time I did my first pass on 1. For my second pass I dialed it all the way up to 7 (out of 9). I was had a great shave. Good enough that I didn't need to shave the next day. Since then I still stick to one pass with a setting of 1 just because I enjoy shaving daily.
For shaving soap I use Proraso Green Tea and Aloe ($9). It is listed for ultra sensitive skin and comes in a white bowl. Wonderfully mild scent that goes away shortly.
I also use a post shave balm after rinsing with cold water. It is Nivea for Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm ($5 or under anywhere). It is wonderfully soothing with a fantastic smell that goes away after 10-15 minutes. My wife is NUTS about the smell. Be warned about that if you shave before bed and just want to go to sleep in peace. I've taken to shaving in the mornings sometimes for just that reason!
My brush is a Vulfix 404 ($25) purchased from Phil at Bullgooseshaving.net. Great little boar/badger combo brush. A bit scritchy but I don't mind. A tiny bit of Proraso on that brush goes a LONG way. I'm sure there are just as good if not better brushes out there for more or less.
Thus for my favorite blade is the Personna Red. This is an Israeli made blade that is both sharp and mild. Also purchased from Phil at Bullgooseshaving.net. He sells them in packs of 10 or 100. I have a box of Personna medical prep blades on the way. Supposedly they are incredible. We'll see.
I don't know exactly what issues you are facing with your sensitive skin, but I can tell you that my combo of Gillette Fatboy razor, Israeli Personna blades, Proraso Green Tea and Aloe soap, and Nivea for Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm has worked wonders for my skin. Redness has been dramatically reduced and bumps on my neck are completely gone. I also no longer need a separate daily moisturizer for my face. I was using Aveeno Ultra Calming daily moisturizer and it sure isn't cheap.
I certainly won't claim Proraso and Nivea Sensitive are the best products out there. I bought them because they were inexpensive you still recommended for folks with sensitive skin. I couldn't be happier with the performance or price. Will I try something fancier in the future? Probably. But honestly it would only be for the fun of it. This is a great kit for the price.
I have a 2 week old Merkur Progress and about 50 feather and 25 Astra blades if your interested.I want to get rid of the blades without the razor too though. Just Pm me.Scott
Welcome to B&B!
So my theory is this: You want a razor to cut the whiskers as efficiently as possible, with as little irritation as possible.
The single biggest improvement you can make to your routine is the adoption of a brush with a quality soap/cream. Taylor of Old Bond Street - TOBS - makes a hypo allergenic cream called Jermyn Street, for example.
The Edwin Jagger DE89L is a fine razor, and is very mild. But it will take more passes to get the same result as other razors. For example, I get just as close, if not closer, with a Futur, and Slant Bar.
Every razor has a learning curve, some are just steeper than others. But as George Sheehan used to say, "We are each an experiment of one." So, ultimately, the decision rests on you based on the best information you have received.
And just to throw a wrench into the works, if you want a very smooth, comofortable shave, don't overlook the vintage GEM Single Edge razors like the 1912 model also sold under the names STAR and EVER READY .
Welcome.
Try the B/S/T section and you can pick up a decent razor. Not new.
Sometimes you can get a NOS on eBay but that could run you a few Shekles.
What are you looking for? Merkur makes a new Bakelite razor that can be bought for under $30.00, very light decent shave.
If you are looking TTO, I would suggest the feather popular.
Try Royal Shave or Classic Shaving.
John
Try the B/S/T section and you can pick up a decent razor. Not new.
Sometimes you can get a NOS on eBay but that could run you a few Shekles.
What are you looking for? Merkur makes a new Bakelite razor that can be bought for under $30.00, very light decent shave.
If you are looking TTO, I would suggest the feather popular.
Try Royal Shave or Classic Shaving.
John
