Trac II - what to expect?

[Horned Owl]

I have found a Trac II hidden in the possessions of my family and since noone claimed it, I took it over in the name of curiosity. I also have some GII cartridges, without a strip of lubricant. I was thinking that I should try it out and see what happens.
What can I expect from it? Are there any special tricks or techniques that would serve me well to know before I let it touch my face? Anyone here with any thought about it?

 

[knlgskr]

I started using one when safety razor blades became difficult to get and it is perhaps the best of the cartridge razors I have tried. It is a good razor to take when traveling by plane because you can take it on board.

 

[bryan1980]

Welcome!

The Trac II and Atra are probably the most well-liked cartridges on this site. The key is finding a decent handle to use them with, of which there are several options on places like eBay. As knlgskr stated, they are great for traveling since they are allowed in your carry-on luggage.

As far as any techniques, just check out the "Newbie Check-In" forum to find tips on shave prep, lathering, and so on. You can get an excellent shave from a Trac II, as long as your shave technique is sound, and you use a good quality soap or cream.

 

[Sir Lurkalot]

Like these?

 

[musicman1951]

It feels very light - as if it were made of cheap plastic (duh), so you may have to adjust your pressure to approximate the feel of a "real" razor. The first blade cut your hair and the second blade exfoliates your skin - so be nice to yourself with number of passes.

 

[Sir Chubbles]

Trac II is my go to cartridge when I don't feel like using a DE. The Bump Fighter handle is very well made and available at most CVS Pharmacy stores in the US.

 

[BBrad]

Expect a good shave.

This first multi-blade offering from Gillette actually works just like a DE (almost) since the blades are not spring-loaded. Be mindful of pressure and angle, as the head does not pivot, either. Treat it like a DE, along with proper prep, and you will be amazed at how well it performs.

Gillette needed a platform on which to sell patented blades and make tons of money. They failed with the Techmatic, but really hit a home run with the Trac II. It provided an instant "two-pass" shave (try shaving with just one of the blades . . .) that exceeded the smoothness of a single pass with a DE. Many men of that era just shaved with one pass (my father was one of them) and found the Trac II to be better on a single pass shave.

Overpriced blades are still available . . . or try the Dollar General Twin Blade cartridges (made in Korea by Dorco) for under $1.50 for a five-pack. Enjoy!

 

[StuMcB]

Its my only cart razor in GII form. Gives a nice smooth shave. Doesnt last the day but is good enough for about two thirds of the shift.

 

[Horned Owl]

So more pressure than with my DE and I presume short strokes so it wont clog with lather and hairs?

 

[BBrad]

So more pressure than with my DE and I presume short strokes so it wont clog with lather and hairs?

No, use the same "lack of pressure" that you use with DE. The blades are not spring loaded (like newer cartridge designs) and won't take the same "full-on" pressure that you can get away with on a Mach 3 without big time irritation.

I don't feel like I have to rinse mine any more than my DE, and yes, I use exact same strokes as I would with a DE.

 

[MondoJ]

+1 on the Bump Fighter handle

 

[Horned Owl]

I tried it and honestly, it was difficult to get the angle right at first since it was different than my DE's but once I got that it worked pretty well actually. Had to fight the stubble on my chin and the usual rough spots as usual, but the big surprise was the alum block which gave me no indication that I even had shaved.
But after 5-6 hours I could feel stubble on my face again, which is about half the time it takes for my face to make a comeback from a DE. Is this how it should be or do I need some extra experience with it to make it last longer?
As for handles, I just bought a feather handle for it from a member here, I think it will make a very good travel razor.

 

[Egmont]

Apply all the technique you use with a DE--take care with blade angle, WTG and ATG using what you know to be the direction of hair growth. For me, very light or almost no pressure works.

 

[DFSDAILY]

I always found the angle hard to keep with the trac 2 but the Atra is great for that kind of razor.

 

[Eeyore]

I've shaved for 30 years with a Trac II (GII in my case), and also with a Contour (Atra). Both are excellent systems. Actually shaving with a DE is not that much different from shaving with a Trac II. If possible, fo for the cartridges without a lubrication strip. The lubrastrip is a marketing invention, in my opinion; it makes you discard the blades sooner than needed. The plain cartridges, without that strip, last longer, and they do not clog.

Keeping the correct angle with a GII is just as easy as with a DE, and the whole shaving experience is pretty similar, despite the twin blades of the GII. To be fair, I've always used traditional soap and brush.