Stahly Live Blade

[tadas]

I won a Stahly Live Blade vibrating DE razor recently on eBay:



The mechanism works, but there's no way I was going to shave with something that reminded me of a 50's tin Japanese robot toy.

Of course, I'd heard of how good the head on these was, and my plan was to Frankenrazor it. I was fortunate that my model had a machined brass head - some come with pot-metal heads.

I married it to my Griest big thick brass handle, and, without much thought, transferred a blade from the Tech head I'd had on that handle before.

My first shave with the combo was a disaster. The combo was so heavy that 'just the weight of the razor" wound up being too much pressure. I wound up with the worst cuts (base of neck) I've had in about 3 years - I normally don't get cuts at all, ever.

I shaved the next two days with one pass of a Gillette Guard. I normally do one day with the Guard if I've drawn any kind of blood...

I returned the heavy brass handle to Tech duty (a great combo), and replaced it with a Griest stainless steel handle. I replaced the blade (a Wilkinson) with a Shark, which I should have done in the first place - Sharks are my go-to for more aggressive razors.
I paid a little more attention when I used it.

The combo gave me a great shave.

 

[ojinsa]

Sweet set up. I too recently bought a Stahly and am using it with a BRW flared tip handle. Like you, my first shave with the Stahly head was not great, but the next few shaves with it got better (and closer). I didn't think the razor was very intuitive to use, but once I got used to the razor's dimensions the shaves got better. Congrats!

 

[TheVez2]

You need to give the Stahly handle a try. It's awesome.

 

[JaxJim]

You need to give the Stahly handle a try. It's awesome.

+1, it's not nearly as awkward as it may appear at first glance.

 

[alex2363]

Sweet set up. I too recently bought a Stahly and am using it with a BRW flared tip handle. Like you, my first shave with the Stahly head was not great, but the next few shaves with it got better (and closer). I didn't think the razor was very intuitive to use, but once I got used to the razor's dimensions the shaves got better. Congrats!

+1, it's not nearly as awkward as it may appear at first glance.

I think the handle weight and roundish girth is what really make the shave perfect. i also like the vibrating features but recently i put a ATT/Titan handle on it and got a surprise great shave result. This head is versatile , i love that springy flexible feel that the G-bars have.

 

[tadas]

I'm continuing to get enjoyable shaves with the Griest stainless handle and Shark blades. I can't imagine why I'd want the vibrating action --- I'd have less control, like shaving if I had hand tremors.

An interesting article about Stahlys: http://voices.yahoo.com/resurrecting-past-stahly-live-blade-razor-7942584.html?cat=37

Apparently Richard Nixon switched to a Stahly after the five o'clock shadow torpedoed his debate against Kennedy in 1960. He was able to cut back from having to shave 3 times a day to one time....

 

[TheVez2]

I can't imagine why I'd want the vibrating action --- I'd have less control, like shaving if I had hand tremors.

You have the wrong impression of what the vibrating action is. It's not that strong. The handle vibrates, and that vibration is transferred to the springs on the head, giving it a very slight, but quick, oscillation. Seriously, when shaving, it goes through whiskers like a hot knife through butter.