Super Iridium blades

[shyrlock]

Since the demise of the Gillette Platinum "Swede", I have been trying out currently available blades to replace the "Swede" as my favorite.
I have tried the Gillette Sharp Edge yellow pack, Astra Superiors, revisted the Feather and the Red Personna, and finally the Super Iridium.
We all know how subjective blade choices are, but to my mind, the Super Iridium is the best of the lot, for a few reasons:

It is sharp. I believe that it's sharpness is very close, if not equal to the Feather.

It shaves smoothly in most of my razors. In my EJ Chatsworth or my Futur it gave consistantly smooth comfortable shaves. Smoother than any other blade I've tried, except for the "Swede".

The edge stays good for a while. In my Futur, I got six good shaves. In my Chatsworth, I got about the same, or maybe five.
For reference sake, I get two very good shaves from a Feather and three from a Red Personna or Crystal.

The only downside I have found is that it does have the same annoying glue spots that the Gillette Sharp Edge has. The Iridiums, I think, are made in the same St Petersberg plant as the Sharp Edges.
By the way, I feel that the Iridium shades the Sharp Edge a little in both sharpness and smoothness.
So, until somebody digs up the old Gillette "Swede" process and starts making and selling them, my new favorite blade is the Super Iridium.

 

[soapbox]

So, until somebody digs up the ols Gillette "Swede" process and starts making and selling them, my new favorite blade is the Super Iridium.

You should post this as a review on the reviews section of the board. Nicely put. I'm a big fan of the Iridiums too.

 

[Jonnyfive]

I would love to try some of these blades. I've searched ebay and didn't find any and I can't seem to find a canadian store that sells them on or offline.

Anyone know of good place for me to get a hold of some?

 

[Jcof3474]

I just tried out a Iridium Super blade last night and it was the best shave I think I have ever had. The blade is very sharp, but it is so so so smooth. It really just felt effortless, and I got a very close shave with no irritation.
I only have 1 of these blades, but thankfully when I ordered a brush from the unnamable place in the UK I did order a pack of these, although now I wish I would have ordered more!

J.

 

[Audiolab]

Got to agree I have 300 of these and apart from being sharp they are consistent, not had a duff blade yet.

I had surgery a while back and had to change the dressings daily, I spoke nicely to the nurse and she gave me a couple of boxes of these to get rid of the glue left by the dressings http://www.gpsupplies.com/Product/C...rs/Appeel_Medical_Adhesive_Remover_wipes.aspx

(also availabe as a spray)

These take the glue off with one wipe. Obviously I will not buy any more but I have a small air tight tub and one of thse wipes can last through a dozen or so blades, I have about 6 boxes (about 300 wipes) so enough to last some time.

 

[Jonnyfive]

I'm just curious as to why the website cannot be said?

 

[GoldenMonkey]

Generally because of rules infractions on the part of the vendor. Usually because they are not following the guidelines about where to post their FS threads and the like. There are others as well...

 

[Cains Boy]

This week I've been using a Polsilver blade which is a tad below the Iridium in sharpness and in the "sweet spot" for me. The Iridium was smooth, but unless I'm at the top of my technique, I can't avoid nicks.

The Polsilver shares the glue spots with the Iridium and 7o'clock yellow, and was likely made in the same plant, though it's now discontinued. The glue spots are big, and as shown in the picture in this thread, encroach on the edge. I've been using a Schick Krona this week and the glue spots on the Polsilver cause the blade to stick to the underside of the doors, making it difficult to open the razor.

I have stashes of other blades not quite as sharp that suit me just fine. The glue spots are a deal breaker for me. I'll use up what Polsilvers and Iridiums I have some day, but won't be buying more.

Here's an interesting observation/question:

I used to use Super Iridiums exclusively, then I couldn't get them anymore, now I can get them again. However...

I just got a bunch of packs of them and the box and wrappers are sealed and say "Super Iridium", but the blades are stamped "PolSilver". I tried a sample from four different packs of nine that I received.

Anybody know what the deal is with that?

I've noticed that the "W" graphic on the SI's and the Pol's is the same. Are they both made by the same company or something?

BTW: You're right -- the Pol's (if that's really what I've got, although dressed up in Iridium's clothing) are less sharp than I remember the Iridiums to be, but they shave smoothly and well for me overall. I'll have to order some Iridiums from somewhere else and see if they're stamped, you know, with the actual name of the actual company that made them.....

 

[shyrlock]

I never got to use them, but I know the Polsilvers were very highly regarded blades.
Perhaps there is some lineage there.

 

[Rufust445]

I've noticed that the "W" graphic on the SI's and the Pol's is the same. Are they both made by the same company or something?

The "W" is for Wizamet, a company in Lodz, Poland that Gillette acquired from the government there in 1992. Once Gillette took over, they stopped making DE razors (A Wizamet Junior razor is listed in reviews here). Until recently the plant was making the two Wizamet blades, Iridium and Polsilver, along with the Gillette "Swedes."

After P&G took over Gillette, I suspect, the decision was made to convert the plant in Lodz to production of Mach3's and Fusions. Production of the two Wizamet blades and the "Swedes" was moved to St. Petersburg, Russia.

The pack of Iridiums I have has "Made in Russia" on it, but there is no indication on the Polsilvers. The glue spots are the giveaway, same as on the Iridiums, and the 7o'clock yellows I have.

The plant in St. Petersburg makes a lot of different blade brands, including Astras, Sputniks, and others going back to the old days. Adding three more blade brands from Lodz, plus the on-again/off-again discontinuation of the Wizamet brands, may have caused confusion in the plant, leading to Polsilvers in Iridium clothing.

 

[wundergussy]

How do these compare to the Gillette green packs?

 

[Stubblefield]

How do these compare to the Gillette green packs?

Better.

They are my favorite blade, next to NOS. I prefer them to the Swede.

 

[shyrlock]

RUFUST445, Thanks. That is some really good info. That clears up a few things.
I kind of imagined tgat the "Swedes" Polsivers and Super Iridiums had all been made at the Lodz plant.
Anyhow, I sure hope they keep making the S.I.'s I feel that they truly are the best blade made today. I could live without the glue dots though.
Mike

 

[Luc]

It appears that Iridiums are now on the list of 'to-try' blades... I will by trying blades for the next 20 years at that rate...

 

[npinn001]

They are my daily blade, love them, but i do concede the glue can be frustrating if it spills on the cutting edge.

 

[infotech]

Iridium Supers are great blades. I agree that they are a nice replacement for the Swedes. I'm on my 7th shave with one blade and it's still going.

Speaking of hoops to jump through, I find it hilarious when I use that Vendors shave cream and my shave of the day comes out like this: ********** Spearmint Shave Cream...

 

[Rufust445]

Amazing, the hoops we must jump through just to let someone know where shaving products can be purchased.

My biggest stash is the Treet Durasharp Classic, a carbon steel blade coated with PTFE that lasts almost like a stainless blade.

I don't think most members here are even aware of this blade because the two vendors are banned from B&B. (Would be interesting to see what happens if someone posted a review of it).

A Shark blade I tried recently was sent as a sample with an order last year from the other vendor besides the one referred to above. Unfortunately his site is down indefinitely.

I got eight shaves out of the Shark, and ordered more from B&B member Melyus, who is more active over at SMF.

Methinks people here are even less aware of the Shark blade.

 

[rbaloha]

The iridiums are my every day blade. Sharp and smooth. Glides effortlessly across the face. Easily lasts one week with close shaves 1-7. Available from the banned English vendor. Check the smf board for details.

The shark also provides wonderful shaves. $12 for 100 blades is a better deal than derbys. Provides a better quality shave.

 

[Brodirt]

I have been sent a PM admonishment for a much lesser offense regarding the same seller.

What is with this double standard?

 

[Jcof3474]

My biggest stash is the Treet Durasharp Classic, a carbon steel blade coated with PTFE that lasts almost like a stainless blade.

I don't think most members here are even aware of this blade because the two vendors are banned from B&B. (Would be interesting to see what happens if someone posted a review of it).

A Shark blade I tried recently was sent as a sample with an order last year from the other vendor besides the one referred to above. Unfortunately his site is down indefinitely.

I got eight shaves out of the Shark, and ordered more from B&B member Melyus, who is more active over at SMF.

Methinks people here are even less aware of the Shark blade.

I believe that the Treet Durasharp Classic and the Shark blade can both be purchased at shoeboxshaveshop.com. Of course from what I heard this vendor received his stock from one of the vendors that was banned from B&B. But, nevertheless shoeboxshaveshop is a great vendor to work with. I ordered from him recently and he had quick shipping and responed quickly to email.
So hopefully this vendor will begin getting talked about more and people can try some other blades.

J.