I'm starting this thread to help me keep track of my shaving-related todo list. In other words, this will be a sequence of posts where one opens a checkbox and another ticks it. But before writing down what's still left to do, I will develop my post here
www.badgerandblade.com
in more detail and then list pending problems.
I used my first DE as well as my first and only shavette razor in 2013 with the following goals, in this order:
Unfortunately, I found a new problem: low quality and/or quality control.
More specifically, one of the major challenges I used to have were the bad DE blades I ordered with my razor (5 varieties, don't remember which anymore) which didn't shave cleanly but pulled. I didn't give up so I ordered several other blades, among them Feather. It stood out as the only good blade of the pack. Later on I tried many more, my latest blade sampling attempt being from the beginning of this month. Up to this point, I have the following results:
In my experience, there are 2 factors: manufacturer (location) + blade coating. This also means, as can be derived from the above list, that I cannot distinguish between 2 different brands with otherwise same specs according to manufacturer, e.g. Lord = Shark and Rapira Stainless = Ladas for me. It is also unrealistic that 1 manufacturer would have a completely different production pipeline for every brand of blade, so I can imagine only the printing and packaging step differs.
The blades were not my only issue. There was another quality issue, that of razors. I have had the following razors with only the 6S being regularly used and the FOCS used on travels:
Merkur 15C, Fatip Piccolo, Parker 99R, Parker 22R, Weishi 9306, Croma, Dorco, Feather Popular, Rockwell 6S, FOCS (not in this order). Sans the last 2, every other got broken. In some cases, the Zamak failed due to bad chrome plating and water (the Merkur) which lead to skewed blades after insertion. In others, the process was faster, they eventually didn't fix the blade properly (the Parkers, Weishi) - though I couldn't see any signs of corrosion. Then I came up with the idea to buy a compatible head for my Merkur and in a year, I changed 2 heads. That's when I joined B&B and wanted suggestions for something reliable. Fortunately, my 6S dealt with my frustration.
The last part the quality problem were the brushes. I started with a badger made by Hans Baier, which lasted around 2 years. It shed too many hairs and I dropped it accidentally, causing the acrylic to shatter. I then bought a boar brush from Mühle, which was better and cheaper but after 5 years the plastic grip got cracked and soon after the brush starting shedding rapidly. Last year I bought a cheap aluminum grip, synthetic hair no-name brush which is my best (and cheapest) so far. Small but big enough, very comfortable and robust. Although it is difficult to tick this box, for the time being I'd say the quality issue is over.
But from the original 3 goals, the last is still not achieved.

How long until problems solved?
Some newbies report problems the first time they use a new kind of shaving equipment, e.g. DE razors. Some give up pretty soon. There is a thread on B&B where somebody put up with consistently poor shaves for years before turning back to carts. How about you? What was your bottleneck? What took...

I used my first DE as well as my first and only shavette razor in 2013 with the following goals, in this order:
- Eliminate skin issues. Ingrown hairs, rashes (carts), painful/tender skin and skin patches falling by themselves (electric).
- Cut time waste - 15m+ was the norm with my electric.
- If possible: cut money waste. A real PITN with my electric as the spare parts, advertised to last 18 months, only worked well for 3-6 months for me.
Unfortunately, I found a new problem: low quality and/or quality control.
More specifically, one of the major challenges I used to have were the bad DE blades I ordered with my razor (5 varieties, don't remember which anymore) which didn't shave cleanly but pulled. I didn't give up so I ordered several other blades, among them Feather. It stood out as the only good blade of the pack. Later on I tried many more, my latest blade sampling attempt being from the beginning of this month. Up to this point, I have the following results:
- Methodology: let the part of the face to shave be covered in beard. 3d+ minimum for the mustache area, I typically grow it for 5-7 days and then try a new blade.
- Apply lather, start shaving. If a blade can provide a comfortable, clean shave - classify as "buy again". By this I mean no pulling, no scratching. In my experience, most blades pull.
- If a blade causes discomfort (e.g. I get tears during shaving) or if the shaven area flames up after shaving, classify as "don't buy". Of everything I have tried, only both Astras were the ones to cause neck irritation. Only Loi, non-PTFE Lord, Treet, Topaz, and all Dorcos scratched. As said in the previous bullet point, the rest just pulls.
- If a blade feels good, but there are other issues, put in the "buy again" category but set lower priority. Those are written in italic below. Other issues may be e.g. fluctuating consistency.
- Results:
buy | Feather Hi-Stainless, Personna Med, Personna Lab, Gillette Nacet, Rapira – Platinum Lux, Voskhod, Ying Jili Blue, Zorrik – Super Platinum |
don't | abest-hi-platinum, asco, ASP, astra-superior-stainless, baili-super-blue-bp005, baili-platinum, bic-astor-stainless, bic-chrome-platinum, bluebird, bolzano-superinox-inossidabile, cloud-super-stainless, cloud-bruce-lee, concord, croma-diamant, derby-extra, derby-extra-blue, derby-premium, dorco-prime-platinum, dorco-st-300-platinum, dorco-st-301-stainless, dorco-titan, elios-inoxidable, euromax-emp800, gillette-365, gillette-7-0clock-sharpedge, gillette-7-oclock-super-platinum, gillette-7-0clock-super-stainless, gillette-platinum, gillette-sputnik, gillette-rubie-platinum, gillette-silver-blue, gillette-super-thin-platinum, kai, ladas-super-stainless, laser-ultra, loi-titanium, lord-classic-super-stainless, lord-extra, lord-platinum, lord-platinum-premium, lord-superior-platinum, lord-super-stainless, merkur-super-platinum, muster-shaver, perma-sharp, personna-crystal, personna-platinum (both Israeli and German), polsilver-super-iridium, racer-super-stainless, rapira-super-stainless, rapira-swedish-super-steel, rimei-stainless, shark-platinum, shark-super-chrome, shark-super-stainless, souplex, super-max-blue-diamond, super-max-diamond-edge, super-max-platinum, super-max-stainless, super-max-super-stainless, tatra-platinum, tiger-platinum, tiger-superior, topaz-platinum, timor-stainless-steel, treet-carbon-steel, treet-platinum, wilkinson-sword |
In my experience, there are 2 factors: manufacturer (location) + blade coating. This also means, as can be derived from the above list, that I cannot distinguish between 2 different brands with otherwise same specs according to manufacturer, e.g. Lord = Shark and Rapira Stainless = Ladas for me. It is also unrealistic that 1 manufacturer would have a completely different production pipeline for every brand of blade, so I can imagine only the printing and packaging step differs.
The blades were not my only issue. There was another quality issue, that of razors. I have had the following razors with only the 6S being regularly used and the FOCS used on travels:
Merkur 15C, Fatip Piccolo, Parker 99R, Parker 22R, Weishi 9306, Croma, Dorco, Feather Popular, Rockwell 6S, FOCS (not in this order). Sans the last 2, every other got broken. In some cases, the Zamak failed due to bad chrome plating and water (the Merkur) which lead to skewed blades after insertion. In others, the process was faster, they eventually didn't fix the blade properly (the Parkers, Weishi) - though I couldn't see any signs of corrosion. Then I came up with the idea to buy a compatible head for my Merkur and in a year, I changed 2 heads. That's when I joined B&B and wanted suggestions for something reliable. Fortunately, my 6S dealt with my frustration.
The last part the quality problem were the brushes. I started with a badger made by Hans Baier, which lasted around 2 years. It shed too many hairs and I dropped it accidentally, causing the acrylic to shatter. I then bought a boar brush from Mühle, which was better and cheaper but after 5 years the plastic grip got cracked and soon after the brush starting shedding rapidly. Last year I bought a cheap aluminum grip, synthetic hair no-name brush which is my best (and cheapest) so far. Small but big enough, very comfortable and robust. Although it is difficult to tick this box, for the time being I'd say the quality issue is over.
But from the original 3 goals, the last is still not achieved.