Getting it straight-- the razor obsessed shaving megathread

[Mambo Dave]

Originally Posted by eric1514

Hi folks,

2 questions about DE stuff, if you please.

1) Is there much difference in a $20 Chinese handle vs. a $60 European or is it more of a pride-of-ownership thing?

2) When you're done shaving, do you have to open up the action on the handle to let things dry or will everything be OK if it just sits out on the counter?

TIA,
Eric

My take is that some Merkurs (like the ones most of us start with such as the 23c) are so simple, I just don't see how a Chinese handle could be worse (if it is actually used in China and other countries to shave with, as opposed to just being junk to dump on the American market).

I just about bought one in a shady dollar-type-store run by Pakistanis down here in south Florida, but never got around to it.

I leave my blade in the handle, and it does fine for up to, or over, 20 shaves. You will get build-up of shave-soap remnants on the handle that can be cleaned off between blade changes, but it's no biggie.

Part of it would depend if your bathroom stays so humid that nothing dries by the next time you use it... then I'd worry about bacteria and rust, but you'd have more problems with mold and such than just worrying about your razor at that point.

The shave brushes are the pieces of the kit that it's ideal to take care of. Rinse, shake / whip dry, and ideally hang with the bristles facing down.

----

This was an interesting read: http://www.bruceonshaving.com/2010/0...hinese-razors/

[P B G]

I'm curious about number 1 as well - While its just a metal handle, I feel as if the machining of the metal head is pretty important, as when you tighten the handle to the head, the two pieces clamp together and the gap between them at the end essentially bends the blade, leaves a specific amount of blade exposed for shaving, and holds things in place. But as your link shows, people shave with these things.

The "adjustables" vary the clamping to change the blades angle and exposure. So I'm not sure on the chinese one.

Get a shave stand, and that should be fine for drying.

[Mambo Dave]

Yeah, but it's best for guys just getting into it to ignore the adjustables if they want to save money. Standard DE handles served, and still serve millions (all together, billions?) of men.

Unless something was really, really unusual about the top of the handle-head's height that would make the overall angle crazy, any user will automatically adjust the angle and pressure of the razor based on what works. While a science, it isn't a complex one here.

Keep in mind that while DE razors limit angles for perhaps an easier shave or angle-reference, people still shave with straight razors just fine... it's about the angle you get used to applying for each shaving device. So even if Chinese ones are different than a Merkur, as long as the blade is exposed and as long as it is a stable and tight platform, shaving with one won't be that much different.

I'm sure there are really bad Chinese designs... maybe ones that don't easily allow cut beard hairs to flow out? But I'd also bet those are more rare.

I just read a review of one, however, that may be a scam... Apparently someone bought a cheapie new razor handle from ebay and found the entire handle was chrome-covered plastic that didn't last one shave. Yeah, that would be bad.

[ttpete]

One could do worse than finding a Gillette Super-Speed adjustable razor in decent condition. A little work with an old toothbrush would have it cleaned up and ready to go, I shaved with one for years, and never had a problem.

[d mc gee]

Originally Posted by eric1514

Hi folks,

2 questions about DE stuff, if you please.

1) Is there much difference in a $20 Chinese handle vs. a $60 European or is it more of a pride-of-ownership thing?

2) When you're done shaving, do you have to open up the action on the handle to let things dry or will everything be OK if it just sits out on the counter?

TIA,
Eric

Are you new to wet shaving? It's hard to go wrong with a used Gillette. If your interested I have a couple to choose from that I would be willing to ship to you for less than $20.

[eric1514]

Originally Posted by d mc gee

Are you new to wet shaving? It's hard to go wrong with a used Gillette. If your interested I have a couple to choose from that I would be willing to ship to you for less than $20.

Thank you for the offer, but I have already ordered this

Weishi Razor

I was just having a bit of buyers remorse.

Years ago, I used to use a some sort of multi-blade something or other, but I switched to electric. Recently, the electric has died and I dug out my old blade stuff but the price of replacement blades and the idea of throwing away a chunk of plastic every time I change a blade has me going the DE route.

Eric

[d mc gee]

Originally Posted by eric1514

the idea of throwing away a chunk of plastic every time I change a blade has me going the DE route.

Eric

Thats what got me started also.....being cheap.

[Mambo Dave]

Originally Posted by eric1514

Thank you for the offer, but I have already ordered this

Weishi Razor

I was just having a bit of buyers remorse.

Years ago, I used to use a some sort of multi-blade something or other, but I switched to electric. Recently, the electric has died and I dug out my old blade stuff but the price of replacement blades and the idea of throwing away a chunk of plastic every time I change a blade has me going the DE route.

Eric

I think you'll be fine with that if the reviews are any indication. I'm not sure you saved much over a 23c though.

anyway...

Keep in mind, as has been written before, that it's wet-shaving that you're getting into. I guess DE razors would work almost as well with canned foam, but the results many are getting with DE come from the process. So, that said, did you also buy shave soap and a brush?

[eric1514]

Originally Posted by Mambo Dave

(snip)...So, that said, did you also buy shave soap and a brush?

No, not yet. From reading this thread I'm thinking of buying Cella brand soap. The price of a brush is extreme, though, and I would prefer a synthetic hair, so I haven't made up my mind on one yet.

Eric

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by eric1514

No, not yet. From reading this thread I'm thinking of buying Cella brand soap. The price of a brush is extreme, though, and I would prefer a synthetic hair, so I haven't made up my mind on one yet.

Eric

Personally, I don't think the brushes and all the whatnot is necessary. I'm just rubbing my bar of soap over my beard then working that into a thick lather with my hand. It works great.

[P B G]

Originally Posted by Xeraux

Personally, I don't think the brushes and all the whatnot is necessary. I'm just rubbing my bar of soap over my beard then working that into a thick lather with my hand. It works great.

Some shave soap seems to prefer the brush more than others. I use mostly stuff in a tub, so need the brush to get it out.

[dlearl476]

Originally Posted by eric1514

Hi folks,

2 questions about DE stuff, if you please.

1) Is there much difference in a $20 Chinese handle vs. a $60 European or is it more of a pride-of-ownership thing?

2) When you're done shaving, do you have to open up the action on the handle to let things dry or will everything be OK if it just sits out on the counter?

TIA,
Eric

1-Like I told a guy who was on a rant about "the Ducati illusion" and how his Honda was every bit the bike any Ducati was: Giorgio Armani and men's wear house both make suits, if the Giorgio Armani doesn't do something for you, go with the men's wear house.
I notice a little bit of difference between my Tavel razor and one I found in an antique store with an identical design. IMO it's due to the fact the chrome finish on the bit that meets your face is a tiny bit pitted on the antique causing it to drag.

2-when I finish shaving I open the razor up s little bit and rinse it out to get the soap/stubble spooge off the underside of the blade, then I re-tighten it and side. FWIW, you wanna make sure you re-tighten it. DAMHIK

[Josephvman]

That's kind of cool, but I can promise it's not made the way a nice 60's vintage Gillette is, so why not just buy the vintage Gillette?

I've got a '66 Gillette adjustable (my birth-year razor) and the workmanship is fantastic. When you click through the settings it feels like an piece of expensive hi-fi gear.

Originally Posted by eric1514

Thank you for the offer, but I have already ordered this

Weishi Razor

I was just having a bit of buyers remorse.

Years ago, I used to use a some sort of multi-blade something or other, but I switched to electric. Recently, the electric has died and I dug out my old blade stuff but the price of replacement blades and the idea of throwing away a chunk of plastic every time I change a blade has me going the DE route.

Eric

[Josephvman]

Check out some of the lower priced Vulfix and Omega brushes. Get a real brush, it's worth the money and it will last for decades. No point in going cheap for something that most guys use 300 time a year. Buy the big 1kg brick of Cella and save some money there.

I shaved with Proraso this morning for the first time in nearly a year, and I remember why I love Cella the way I do. My face is on fire today.

Originally Posted by eric1514

No, not yet. From reading this thread I'm thinking of buying Cella brand soap. The price of a brush is extreme, though, and I would prefer a synthetic hair, so I haven't made up my mind on one yet.

Eric

[Josephvman]

I lather up my face with bar soap in the shower after I've shaved, find any spots I've missed, and give them the final pass. Bar soap is definitely slicker than most shave soaps and great for that final run, but it doesn't give me enough safety for my first pass.

Originally Posted by Xeraux

Personally, I don't think the brushes and all the whatnot is necessary. I'm just rubbing my bar of soap over my beard then working that into a thick lather with my hand. It works great.